Publication date – November 7, 2023

Summary

In this, the 17th of the Royal Spyness series, it is the summer of 1936, and a lot of exciting things are happening in Georgie’s life. Her new chef has arrived from France, she’s hosting her first dinner party, and her baby’s arrival is only a matter of weeks away. 

Following her dinner party, an eccentric author, Sir Mordred Mortimer, approaches Georgie about the possibility of borrowing her chef, Pierre, for an evening to help him host a banquet, and Pierre seems enthusiastic about the opportunity to share his talent with a wider audience. 

When several people become ill following the banquet, and one of them dies, Pierre becomes the prime suspect. Georgie is convinced Pierre didn’t do anything wrong and is determined to clear his name. 

My Thoughts

The Royal Spyness mysteries are an absolute favorite of mine in the historical mystery genre. 

This was a light and enjoyable read. The pacing was spot on, the creepy house with a garden filled with poisonous plants provided the perfect location for the murder, and the characters were well-developed.

The mystery itself was a bit less complex than I had come to expect from the series. There were enough clues and suspects, but I felt like the who, how and why jumped out at me a bit too early and too easily. Normally, that makes me grumpy, but there were so many other things to love about this story that I happily forgave it. 

This series is character driven, and the author is adept at developing interesting characters. Admittedly, because I am so invested in those characters and their stories, I am more tolerant of blips in the mystery than I might be with other authors. 

The Characters

Georgie is delightful! She’s sweet, innocent, and a wee bit clumsy,  but also bright, intuitive, fiercely loyal, and willing to channel her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, when the situation calls for it. 

Her greatest challenge has always been that she suffers from poor self-esteem. In “The Proof of the Pudding”, a more confident Georgie is finally starting to emerge. In solving the mystery, she makes decisions and moves ahead with them without the uncertainty that so often seems to plague her. Because she is more confident, she also seems less inclined to rush headlong into dangerous situations.  

Meanwhile, Queenie has never been one of my favorite characters. It’s not that she isn’t well-written, she is, but I find her a thorn in Georgie’s, and therefore, my, side. At the beginning of this book, I was actually relieved to think she might finally be forced to leave. Then, when she became so sick, all I could think was that I would be broken hearted if poor loyal Queenie didn’t survive. Now I finally understand why Georgie struggles to fire her.

What Else I Like

• I loved the inclusion of new historical figures in this story. The royal family has appeared in past books, as has Coco Chanel, and of course, Wallis Simpson, but I was very excited by one of the guests at the banquet.

• Georgie and Darcy seem to be in sync with one another again. Their relationship has matured. I love the way their eyes meet across the room. 

• That buffet sounded so delicious! The aftermath, not so much, but I would even risk that creepy house for some of the crab mousse.

• Other things, but they are spoilers.

My Rating 5/5

I received a free eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Subscribe to keep up to date with my new reviews.

About the Author

Credit: Douglas Sonders

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, including The Victory Garden, The Tuscan Child, and the World War II-based In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Left Coast Crime Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel. 2021’s The Venice Sketchbook was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel of the Year. Bowen’s work has won over twenty honors to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans around the world, including over 60,000 Facebook followers. A transplanted Brit, Bowen divides her time between California and Arizona.

To learn more about Rhys and her work be sure to visit her website.