Full of intrigue and investigation of a murder with Queen Elizabeth along for the assist. What's not to love?! The main characters are endearing and the audio was a delightful escape. Four enthusiastic stars.

Such a fun book to listen! I liked the narrator, the British accent made it all the more believable. The Windsor Knot was an interesting twist on a mystery and involving Queen Elizabeth and her Corgi’s was a genius idea. I highly recommend this book.

**i received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

This was a fun cozy mystery!

I listened to it courtesy of Netgalley and HarperAudio. The narrator did a really good job. She was easy to understand and I could tell the characters apart. The total length is a bit over 8 hours and being thoroughly engaged, I powered through it within a day.

Because I was listening to it, I will warn other listeners. The first chapter throws a LOT of names and people at you. In the first scene, you meet the protagonist and sleuth, the Queen of England, and learn of the death of one of her guests at the previous evening's dine and sleep. The second scene is at a breakfast table at Windsor Castle. You're quickly introduced to all the guests. Following the guests are the staff. Then more names. It left me feeling like, there was no way I could keep track of everyone! However, information is repeated and key information is highlighted. My fears were relieved by the next chapter.

I mentioned the Queen is the sleuth. At 90 years of age, she's still quite sharp but being the queen she needs someone to do some of the sleuthing for her. Being the queen does have obligations, you know, such as attending her birthday party where Nadia, winner of the Great British Bake Off, provides the cake and meeting with the Obamas on their visit to Windsor. Rosie, her newest secretary, catches on quickly as the Queen obliquely assigns Rosie some extra duties, that Rozie proves to be most adept at.

The mystery was engaging and not the easiest to solve. I didn't solve it, not really, prior to the reveal, but the clues are there.

I found the story delightful! You don't need to know anything about the Royal family to enjoy it, but I wouldn't be surprised if knowing who was whom might increase your enjoyment. Overall, I highly recommend it.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not a big fan of mysteries but I hoped this one would at least be entertaining. The concept is great of a royal sleuth being a queen but I feel a little duped. This story isn't the queen investigating much of anything. It's more the story of her secretary, Rosie, doing all the work and then reporting back. I feel like this story would be much more effective had this been a historical piece where young Princess Elizabeth solved a murder.

The mystery was fine and in ways, intriguing but it all felt very slow-paced and not exciting.

I don't recommend this book but it is appropriate for ages 18+ for violence, language, and sexual content (non-graphic).

Winter is here, snow is coming, so now is the time to pick up a cozy murder mystery. #partner @williammorrowbooks⁣
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If you are a detective loving, royal fan, I’ve got a book for you! The Windsor Knot is a cozy murder mystery that is an absolute treat.⁣
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I loved the Queen Elizabeth is the investigator in this book (the first in a series) along with her assistant, Rosie. Together they figure out who was behind the murder at Windsor Castle during one of the Queen's Dine-and-Stays. ⁣
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This is perfect for fans of Maggie Hope, Maise Dobbs, and the Royal Family.⁣

How could I possibly not be interested in a book about THE Queen Elizabeth as a detective on the sly. It's genius! Americans, by and large, love the English royalty. There is just something about them that fascinates us, whether our ancestors agreed or not.
A guest turns up dead and the casework is bungled. What else is the Queen to do besides subtly investigate on her own? With the help of Rozie, her secretary, she makes inroads to finding the killer.
The narrator is spot on. Her posh voice was both perfect for the character and made the listen interesting and fun. I am crossing my fingers that the series and the chosen narrator remains.
Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I am a total Anglophile, so when given the opportunity to read The Windsor Knot, I was elated. We’ve been given lots of looks at QEII in her younger years recently, but this one looks at what would happen if the Queen took on a mystery at 90.

When a dinner guest gets murdered and MI5 bungles the case, Queen Elizabeth II steps in to solve the mystery. This is a good one for fans of the monarchy and cozy mysteries.

Jane Copland adds to the caper with her narration. Run time is 8 hours and 5 minutes.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A very enjoyable cozy mystery + British royal family mashup. I've read several fiction and (supposedly) nonfiction accounts of Queen Elizabeth and her family members. This one struck a tone I like of the Queen being regally-aloof but also curious and enterprising behind the scenes. I hope there are more in the series. Of course, QEII is in her nineties so there may not be many more books in this series that are set in the present day, but the author cleverly referred to previous inquiries the Queen had initiated in the past. So I hope we have a long series of adventures to look forward to.

3.5 lighthearted stars

Fun and entertaining “whodunit”. The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett is the first in an upcoming series called Her Majesty the Queen Investigates. I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley as an audiobook. The book takes place in 2016 after a man who had been a guest of the Queen, is found dead at Windsor Castle. An investigation is conducted by Scotland Yard but quickly, the Queen starts to question some of the findings and conclusions of the investigators and quietly starts looking into the situation herself, with the help of her trusted staff. I love a good crime novel and this did not disappoint. I was also charmed by the depiction of the Queen, which to me is quite believable. I gave this book 4 stars and would definitely read Her Majesty the Queen Investigates, book 2, when it is available.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I must say, this is without a doubt one of my favourite books of the last few years, nevermind 2021. I find it incredibly difficult to find a well-written mystery that I enjoy. I don't want a ton of on-page violence or anything graphic, which cuts out many modern-day mysteries. I also don't need a ton of friendship building or romance, which tends to be a lot of cozies right now. Bennett perfectly balances the mystery itself with world-building, and I couldn't put this down. The murder was certainly interesting, and I didn't see the ending coming at all.

This isn't a royal read that is a mystery- this is a mystery that happens to be set at Windsor. As someone who loves the royals, I appreciated the setting of Windsor and the Queen as the detective here. I know some people were disappointed in the "royal" side of it, but I think that you need to go into this knowing that it is a (fantastic) mystery. I thought it was quite a fun and interesting setting that we don't normally see in fiction, and I think that Bennett handled it well! Cannot wait for the next one!

I haven't listened to anything by Jane Copland before, but I will certainly be looking out for her work now. She didn't use any additional accents or voices, but perfectly differentiated between all characters. I think her voice is spot-on for a mystery where the queen is the detective- she has gravitas and wonderful pacing.

When someone is murdered while spending the night at Windsor Castle the Queen turns detective in order to solve the crime.
A blurb from Ruth Ware describes this as The Crown meets Agatha Christie and this is exactly how to describe it!
Sweet seems like the wrong word to use to describe a book about murder yet that’s how it felt. I listened to the audiobook of this one and thought it was fantastic.

Is it earth shattering or life changing? No, but I really enjoyed it, it held my attention throughout and I’d definitely read a follow up!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

"The first book in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties. The morning after a dinner party at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth is shocked to discover that one of her guests has been found murdered in his room, with a rope around his neck. When the police begin to suspect her loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they are looking in the wrong place. For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life ever since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes."  

Well-written and great narration, but I just couldn't get past the Queen solving crimes on the sly - just not my cup of tea.

I enjoyed this fun mystery. But I do wish it wasn’t based on the actual Queen and her real family. It was a little jarring. I loved Rosie! The audiobook was great. I loved the narrator.

First question, will the Queen read this book where she solves a murder? If I were her, I’d find so much great joy in it. Oh, I did that, how lovely! The tone of this book was tongue in cheek. RIP to that Fergie joke and the poor man found in the cupboard… This humorous tone carries as much mystery as it does wit. The narrator of the audiobook captures it with gusto. Do not underestimate this book as they do the queen. It was a delight to read, and I’m happy to know that it is a series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harper Audio for allowing me to read this voice galley in exchange for an honest review.

What a great story. The author makes you feel as if you are with the Queen trying to solve this murder.
It was a great listen. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for allowing me to preview this book on audio. Unfortunately, I dnf’d this book at 13 %. It was on my most anticipated reads as I closely follow the Queen and the royal family and find them fascinating, so was surprised this story didn’t work for me. I think the premise of the story was interesting but it just didn’t keep my attention. I may revisit this by reading a physical copy of the book to see if that makes a difference.

This was just okay for me. I'm completely obsessed with the crown, which is what made me want to read this in the first place. This can be described as a cozy mystery, and if you want to picture Queen Elizabeth solving crimes, then this is the book for you. I thought the book was really well written, and the murder was solved in a very interesting way, but most of the book just wasn't that riveting in my opinion.

Thank you so much the #netgalley for this #arc for an honest review.

The Windsor Knot
Fun, Witty and Classy

I had a lot of fun while listening to the audiobook version of this book, very well narrated, the writing is beautiful and classy. The Windsor Knot is a fun mystery book, it's not one of those creepy, slow burn, atmospheric mystery novel, I didn't find it that way, but the book is very good, very well-written. Stands out in its own way.

The story begins on a party held at The Windsor Castle on early Spring 2016, The Queens preparation for her 90th Birthday. The next morning they heard a news that one of the guest has been killed( or had had a heart attack) Maksim Brodsky a young handsome, attractive, seductive, Russian pianist was found in his room naked, with a knot around his neck. It may look like a suicide, so the Queen leave the investigation to her Loyal servants, however she was not satisfied by their work, in fact she reasonably think that they are looking in the wrong place, so The Queen worked on her own private investigation, she hired a private secretary Rosie who helped her investigate Brodsky's death and as they dig deeper and deeper, they found some interesting facts about Brodsky.

But who killed him?


This is so much fun to read and listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Jane Copland narration is absolutely marvelous. I like how humorous and fun it is. It reminds me so much of Murder, She Wrote staring Angela Lansbury. Everything about The Windsor Knot reminds me of Murder, She Wrote. This book is fun. If you are more into scary, atmospheric, dark mystery novel this is not it but if you like cozy mystery. Fun just nice read. This book is for you. If you like the Netflix series "The Crown" then this book is no doubt for you.


The Queen at The Windsor Castle with her adorable corgies!

Thanks so much to Netgalley, S.J. Bennet, Harper Audio for the opportunity to hear the unabridged copy of the audiobook version which will be released on 9 March 2021.
2 likes

A murder has taken place at Windsor Castle. Queen Elizabeth II has been enjoying her Easter holidays there when a young Russian pianist, Maxsim Brodsky, is found dead in his room after a Dine and Sleep. Her staff and the authorities jump immediately into action. From her conference with the powers that be, QE II is concerned that they are going down the wrong path entirely. It is time for the queen to enlist the new assistant secretary, Rozie Oshodi, into assisting her in redirection. It should really not be a surprise that a woman who has remained on the throne since 1953 would have the detective and diplomacy skills to unravel this mystery. Miss Marple could not have done a better job. This new series is so engaging and I love the hints of past mysteries solved as well as the promise of future successes for the Elizabeth/Rozie team. I am intrigued by the possibilities of going both back in time and forward from 2016. Narrator Jane Copeland strikes the perfect notes with her narration of the audiobook. I found the conversations between Queen Elizabeth and husband Philip were such a brilliant vehicle for showing us her most authentic version of herself.

Thank you to Harper Collins, Random House Audio, and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I hated how everyone talked down to her. But I enjoyed the moments things came together and the strong female characters. I would enjoy reading more of these. I may grow tired of everyone talking down to her because... I mean she’s the queen. If the queen can’t be taken seriously what hope do the rest of our gender... but maybe not. Maybe it all comes together enough to balance that plot line. Either way I really enjoyed this book and am very grateful Net Galley gave me a chance to read it.