Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett

November 18, 2023

Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett

December 2016. The Queen and Prince Philip have just arrived at their home in Sandringham to celebrate Christmas with their family, when news arrives that a severed hand has washed up on a nearby beach. Not wanting to spoil the holiday, the Queen asks Rozie Oshodi, one of her private secretaries, to quietly monitor the situation and keep her updated.

I really enjoy this charming cozy mystery series featuring the late queen and Rozie. This third installment was a little disappointing, partly because Rozie isn't in it that much, and partly because the who aristocracy and inheritance thing is complicated and quite honestly archaic. But it's central to the mystery so it has to be explained to those of us outside of that realm. I also figured out who the killer was about halfway through the story but kept reading to make sure I was right. Hoping for better on the next book.

Sandringham Estate in Norfolk - to quote the Three Stooges, reminds me of the reform school

All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett

April 13, 2022

All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett

After successfully investigating a case for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Captain Rozie Oshodi is once again on duty as one of the queen's private secretaries. The Queen relies on Rozie to keep her updated on the goings-on at the palace and head off any delicate issues. When there is a sudden flurry of disturbing letters to Buckingham Palace staff (including Rozie), senior staff tell Rozie that they have the matter in hand and not to bother the queen. But when one of the targeted staff, an unpopular housekeeper, is found dead by the palace swimming pool, Rozie knows it's time to alert the queen, since she knows something the rest of the staff don't: the Queen is the best sleuth among them and can often see things that others miss.

This is the second installment in Bennett's series featuring Rozie and Queen Elizabeth II as palace detectives. This one isn't as much fun as the first mystery was, although it did continue to flesh out Rozie's background and her relationship with the queen. With the queen's passing (God rest her, she will be greatly missed especially now that Charles is king), I hope that the author will continue the series. 

Buckingham Palace

The Windsor Knot by S. J. Bennett

March 13, 2021

The Windsor Knot by S. J. Bennett

It's spring 2016, and Queen Elizabeth II is at Windsor Castle just before her 90th birthday celebrations are to begin. But preparations are interrupted when an overnight guest at the castle is found dead in one of the bedrooms. Is is suicide, death by misadventure, or murder? The queen enlists her Assistant Private Secretary, Captain Rosie Oshodi, a British Nigerian and captain in the Royal Home Artillery, to help her investigate.

This is a delightful mystery, offering a wonderful portrait of the queen when not about her public duties:  intelligent, kindly, decisive, and a good judge of character. It also offers a peak behind the curtain at life and work in one of the royal residences. The corgis make a few appearances. First of a new series, there are more mysteries to come for the queen and Rosie to solve.

Windsor Castle

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.