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The Windsor Knot

S.J. Bennett

Why we're reading this: This was a charming mystery. The mystery itself was interesting, but not mind-blowing, but the mystery co…more
[close] This was a charming mystery. The mystery itself was interesting, but not mind-blowing, but the mystery coupled with the appeal of the queen and the other characters made this a lovely rea

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Dec 27, 2022 Becky rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mystery, humor, library, social-justice

Who knew the Queen of England is brilliant at solving mysteries? In this first-in-a-series book, she oh so very discreetly looks into a murder of a young Russian musician that happens in Windsor Castle. She relies on her female connections, this time her new Assistant Private Secretary (APS) Rosie Oshodi, brilliant, voung, black, not posh, Nigerian; and a chain of former female APS's including Aileen Jaggard. The Queen has to because the head of MI-15, Humphreys, and all her male secretaries inc Who knew the Queen of England is brilliant at solving mysteries? In this first-in-a-series book, she oh so very discreetly looks into a murder of a young Russian musician that happens in Windsor Castle. She relies on her female connections, this time her new Assistant Private Secretary (APS) Rosie Oshodi, brilliant, voung, black, not posh, Nigerian; and a chain of former female APS's including Aileen Jaggard. The Queen has to because the head of MI-15, Humphreys, and all her male secretaries including Sir Simon, Rosie's Boss, think they trust her totally, but they don't . Aileen Jaggard explains "Simon thinks he knows best. All her private secretaries do. They always have. They think they're brilliant, which to be fair they usually are, and they think the other men in their clubs are brilliant, and the heads of the big organizations who went to Oxbridge with them are brilliant, and they're all being brilliant together and she should just sit there and be grateful." So with great effort to keep those guys in the dark about their investigation, the queen quietly gathers info that she strategically leaks to underling males in charge of investigating so that they will get off their foolish, misguided notions of Russian conspiracies. And they do. But instead of making sure the bombastic Humphreys gets fired, she patiently listens to him "explain" ad nauseum how he and his brilliant (male) staff ID'd the killer. I wish she would have just slapped him up the side of the head, but no, then I guess she would not be the serene, practical, extremely strategic queen she is if she did that. This book is really a total hoot! I might read more of the series.

has the queen herself investigating a murder with the help of undersecretary Rozie (black, young, Nigerian, pretty). This is the first of Windsor series about the Queen's detective abilities. In this fiction the queen is in her 90’s, much beloved by her staff, favorite house Windsor Castle with 500 people in house at the time of murder of unknown young Russian pianist Maksim. MI -15 head is a putz and queen doesn’t like him, he thinks Queen is just an old lady, but rather than write him off the queen averts him and her oh-so-proper secretary Simon so they don’t know she is investigating and in the end gives him credit (a knighthood) for solving the case though she fed him clues to get him on the right track through intermediaries. Fun, not exceptional. Funniest part is the end where the MI-15 guy sits in her chambers and BOASTS to her about how clever he is in solving it while she just raises her eyebrows and thanks him. ...more

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Apr 26, 2021 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery

Appeal factors: Starring Famous Figures, likable, witty.
This was a charming mystery. The mystery itself was interesting, but not mind-blowing, but the mystery coupled with the appeal of the queen and the other characters made this a lovely read.

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Mar 29, 2021 Melissa rated it it was ok

It was okay. I probably wouldn't continue if it becomes a series. I got a little annoyed by the queen referring to herself as "one". I might have enjoyed it more if I was more familiar with the locations, people, and relations between them. ...more

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