Her Majesty the Queen Investigates: A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett
| Her Majesty the Queen Investigates: A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett | |
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| Category: Crime | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: The second book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series is another cracker and if you enjoy cosy crime you'll be in for a treat. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 288 | Date: November 2021 |
| Publisher: Zaffre | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1838774820 | |
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It's 2016 and the Queen's Private Secretary, Sir Simon Holcroft has decided that too much good claret and too little exercise is putting a strain on his waistband. Swimming, he decides, is the way to go and he can use the Buckingham Palace pool which is how he came to be there early one morning and discovered the body of Cynthia Harris at the side of the pool. There was broken glass - a crystal tumbler, by the look at it - probably one of the young royals being careless - and it looked as though Mrs Harris had slipped and cut herself so badly that she had bled out. Still, it was a shock for Sir Simon.
Her Majesty the Queen has something else on her mind. She's just been to Portsmouth and seen a painting which she is sure was last seen hanging outside her bedroom at Buckingham Palace. She's convinced that it was the same painting and it isn't a matter about which one could be mistaken. She wants her Assistant Private Secretary, Captain Rozie Oshodi, to investigate - and she wants the painting back. As quickly as possible.
It's a year since I first encountered the investigative prowess of the queen in Her Majesty the Queen Investigates: The Windsor Knot and it was a delight. Despite having a long list of books to read there was no way that I could resist slipping A Three Dog Problem in immediately: I knew that it would be a quick read as I'd be unable to put the book down once I started to read - and I'm never averse to having a treat. And so it proved - just over twenty-four hours later (why is sleep so necessary?) I closed the book with a very satisfied sigh. Don't worry if you haven't read The Windsor Knot as both books read well as standalones and there are no spoilers in this second book. The best news of all is that this is the second book in a planned five-book series. What's not to like?
There seems - at the moment - to be an atmosphere of criticising the royal family where ever possible but A Three Dog Problem is, like its predecessor, written with a great deal of genuine affection. The queen emerges as wise and considerate. One might be doing the careful thinking behind the investigation and directing one's APS as to what needed to be done, but that's no reason why other's should not have the credit. And - it must be said - Her Majesty must have been in the wide-awake club to work out exactly what was going on in her castles and palaces.
It was an excellent read and a real treat. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
For more cosy crime - and another second book in what's looking like an excellent series we can recommend The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman.
S J Bennett's Her Majesty Investigates Novels in Chronological Order
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