Royal Flush
125. Rhys Bowen, Royal Flush
In this third installment of the “Royal Spyness” series (after Her Royal Spyness and A Royal Pain), Lady Georgiana Rannoch is up to her usual shenanigans. Though she is a member of the English royal family, as well as 34th in the line of succession, she is virtually penniless and must earn her own living. When her latest moneymaking scheme goes awry, she leaves London for the seclusion of her ancestral estate in Scotland. En route, she learns that several mysterious accidents have recently befallen members of the royal family, and that someone might be trying to eliminate the heirs to the throne. Since most of the royal family is at nearby Balmoral Castle for a shooting party, Georgie is uniquely placed to watch for suspicious activity. But when several more gruesome “accidents” occur, including the death of one young houseguest, Georgie realizes that the perpetrator is even more dangerous than she’d thought - and that she might be the next victim!
This book is yet another light, frothy installment in a fun little series. As usual, the mystery itself is not particularly riveting, but Georgie’s social interactions are always enjoyable to read about. The setting of 1930s England is quite vivid, and I feel drawn into Georgie’s world. (I can’t speak to actual historical accuracy, but the setting of the novel feels real to me.) I thought there were a few too many characters in this installment of the series, and it was hard for me to keep them all straight. Georgie’s constant obsession over losing her virginity also got on my nerves a bit. Still, I liked the book overall and will probably continue with the series.