A Royal Spyness Mystery Book # 17

I started this series at this point and I assure you that in no way was I lost not knowing what had previously happened, Ms. Bowen does excellent work in introducing her characters and melting them smoothly into a new story. Although it may be great the read this series in order since snippets of the past does pop in from time to time.

Georgie is home awaiting the birth of her child, and to show off her new French chef, a party is set to celebrate Sir Hubert’s return from his last expedition. One of the guests is Gothic horror novelist Sir Mortimer Mordred who lives nearby wants to borrow Georgie’s chef for his own party. He loves to give his guesses a tour of his garden, then a banquet is served where several of the them suddenly became sick......everything points to Pierre the French chef but Georgie wants none of it and goes all out to defend him.....

This is amateur sleuth at its best. Clues come very slowly to stretch the suspense and it is done beautifully. At first I thought this drama was way to slow moving for my taste but lo and behold I got caught in the excitement and held captive till the murderer was known. Along the way we meet colourful characters, a mix of celebrities such as Agatha Christie and Laurence Olivier. The maid and house help played roles to a tee and were entertaining along the way. Not forgetting the dreadful sister in law. In my mind, I told her to buzz off many times but Georgie was graceful and tolerant....

I like the simple style and the active narration with lack of frills or posh words used by British Aristocracy and hard for some of us to comprehend. Most of all the detective work is sound and captivating and the story can move on with Georgie now a mother..... Till next time....what will Ms. Bowen come up with to give us another entertaining read...well-said and well-done.

The books in this series are always delightfully entertaining, filled with eccentric, unique, and unforgettable characters, and there is always a head-scratching mystery to go along with all of that. This time around, we even have a character who seems perfect for a book that is released so close to Halloween! We do, of course, have some wonderful cameo appearances by famous people of the time – such as author Agatha Christie and film star Laurence Olivier.

Georgie may be the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the 35th in line to the throne, but she and her dashing husband Darcy are poor as church mice. With their first child due within a few weeks, they are confined to Eynsleigh, the estate on which they live. They are immensely grateful to Sir Hubert, Georgie’s Godfather, who has requested they live at Eynsleigh and see to its care – and part of that care is to see to its staffing, mainly acquiring a chef who can cook for gatherings. That chef – a FRENCH chef – is on his way and they cannot wait for a decent meal.

The trouble all began when Sir Hubert wanted to have a dinner party to show off Chef Pierre’s skills. And goodness, did he have some skills! Attending the dinner party was the gothic author Sir Mordred Mortimer, a long, thin man with long silver hair. Sir Mortimer loved the meal and wanted to borrow Chef Pierre to cook for a charity dinner he was hosting. Yep – dark, dreary home – a host who could be Dracula – and a poison garden – what could go wrong there?

After the charity dinner, several people sickened – and one died. The police – and everyone else – blame Chef Pierre. He is an easy target – especially since he speaks very little English, but Georgie is determined to prove him innocent. So, if not the chef – who? More importantly, how and why?

You’ll love Darcy and Georgie working against the clock to identify the murderer and the method while constantly dealing with unwanted family and guests arriving to witness the impending birth. Yes, for Georgie, the birthing process will be a rest!

I loved this book! It is witty and entertaining and still delivers a first-class mystery. If you have read previous books, you will be familiar with many of the characters and if you haven’t read previous books, it doesn’t matter because you can pick right up with the characters and story. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Despite being royalty (Lady Georgiana Rannoch is the King of England's cousin, don't you know - he who's at the moment off galavanting with some woman named Simpson) - she's like most first-time mothers in being apprehensive about giving birth. And that big event is imminent in this, the 17th installment of the "Her Royal Spyness" series. She and hunky hubby Darcy O'Mara are close to penniless (not sure why since he has a job as some kind of investigator, but hey), so she has yet to hire a nanny or even buy enough nappies for the nursery. Some of the feet dragging, though, comes because - based on her own past experiences with an off-putting mother - she wants to be more involved with her own child. For now, they're living quite well at the estate of Sir Hubert in Eynsleigh, which comes with more rooms than Buckingham Palace and a slew of people to cook and clean.

But alas, there's no chef; and Sir Hubert, an explorer readying to return home, will expect to be fed in his usual custom. So, Georgie hires a Frenchman named Pierre she met on one of their trips - a man who claims to be a chef but who's an almost total stranger. Happily, when she throws a welcome back dinner party for Sir Hubert, it's a hit - and so is Pierre. So much, in fact, that one of the guests, Gothic horror writer Sir Mortimer Mordred, wants to "borrow" him to cook up a feast for a party he's hosting at his manor - a rather spectacular residence that includes a "poison" garden.

That dinner, too, is a culinary success - that is, until several guests become quite ill and one dies. But how could that be? Everyone ate the same things (perhaps some ate more than others), and most of the guests felt no ill effects. Beyond that, no one seemed to have been alone with the pre-served food, at least not long enough to doctor up a dish or two. That is, with one exception: Chef Pierre.

Georgie, though, is certain her chef is innocent, even though he's an avowed Communist who isn't fond of an "upper class." But most of the guests (and more importantly, the police) are ready to truss him up like a Christmas goose, so she's got her work cut out for her if she wants to prove that he's not the culprit. Solving the mystery becomes more of a treat for readers once Georgie meets none other than mystery writer Agatha Christie (who's at Mordred's party with her husband, who was one of the guests who became ill). Georgie and Agatha hit it off at once, bouncing ideas off one another until the end (after which they pledge to remain friends, so methinks we may see the indominable Agatha again soon).

On the other hand, Darcy, a favorite character of mine, was barely there; even when he was present, he was, shall I say, rather lackluster. And Georgie? I know she's trying to stop saying "golly" so much, but I sure wish she'd hurry it up. Overall, though, this is another great romp back in time as always, and I'm already looking forward to the next adventure. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this one.

The fun factor in this series never diminishes. In this outing, Lady Georgie is awaiting the arrival of her baby. She’s settled in her godfather’s house, and her big issue is finding a chef. At the moment, her longtime employee Queenie is running the kitchen, but she’s not a trained chef and Georgie has found a candidate in Paris who is about to appear. Queenie is in a classic huff, saying she won’t take orders from foreigners, when the dashing Pierre appears at the front door and all Queenie’s objections disappear.

As the kitchen settles into a new routine – and Pierre turns out to cook amazing food (Georgie had encountered him as a waiter who was an aspiring chef) – when of course a spanner is thrown in the works. When Georgie throws a successful dinner party, with many compliments to the chef, her eccentric neighbor, Sir Mortimer, asks to borrow him for an event at his home. He’s charging for the dinner to raise money for charity, and gives the chef carte blanche.

The dinner is a mix of celebrities and more ordinary neighbors, including an old school chum of Sir Mortimer’s. The celebs include Laurence Olivier and Agatha Christie. The dinner also features a tour of Sir Mortimer’s poison garden. It’s a success and all seem to head home happily enough when the next morning it turns out there’s been a rash of food poisoning affecting various members of the party, including Sir Mortimer.
When one of them dies, suspicion turns to the chef. Not only does he proclaim his innocence, but so does Queenie, who had been working as his assistant for the evening. Not only that but Queenie comes down with a case of food poisoning herself. However, the police chief, suspicious of foreigners, is sure Pierre is the culprit. Of course, Georgie and Darcy are on the case, finding Pierre a lawyer, and combing the countryside and interviewing party goers for clues. Agatha Christie proves especially helpful.

It's obvious the denouement will come with the arrival of Georgie’s baby (her dreaded sister in law Fig has appeared to help out). It’s always a bit tricky when an author features real people as characters, and in a book like this one, a traditional detective story owing much to Christie’s template, it’s even trickier and Bowen pulls it off. If it’s a bit of a reader’s fantasy to accompany Lady Georgie and Agatha Christie as they stroll through a poison garden together, so be it.

The detective work, as always, is sound and even better, the characters are specific and interesting. I never read a Rhys Bowen book where I finish it uncertain of a mushy swatch of characters populating the story. In her capable hands all of the personalities are memorable, as was this fun read. This has long been a favorite series and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

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 for the neighbors, 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 Liked

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.

Another fabulous installment of this series. Perfect for cool weather, a cozy blanket and a cup of tea

This is the seventeenth volume of Bowen's Her Royal Spyness. In this one Georgie is very pregnant and overwhelmed by managing the large estate. She hires a new French chef, Pierre in anticipation of Sir Hubert's return. A rather sketchy neighbor, Sir Mortimer borrow's Pierre's culinary expertise for a banquet raising money for an orphanage and featuring a tour of his acclaimed poison garden. Of course there are deaths, false accusations, family problems and a new baby in this easy-going romp. Recommended.

I have only recently begun reading this long running series and am so glad to have immersed myself in Georgie’s world. This newest book has everything within its pages that makes these titles so delightful. I enjoy the characters, especially Darcy (what a name, straight from P &. P) and Georgie. They are currently eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, although Georgie is not too eager to experience labor.

As the story opens Queenie, who series regulars know, is up in arms at losing her position as cook to a French chef…that is, until she meets him and wants to be IN his arms.

As Georgie hosts her big dinner party, readers meet the odd Sir Mordred. He has a poison garden, among other things. It is obvious that trouble will follow. The fun is in going along for the ride with this author.

Highly recommended to those who enjoy sparkling historical mysteries. Readers can’t go wrong with this one..

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

"Lady Georgiana Rannoch is looking forward to her first ever turn as hostess for her very own house party when the festivities lead to murder...

Georgie, back home at her estate in Eynsleigh, impatiently awaits the birth of her baby. But she has plenty to occupy her: her new chef, Pierre, has arrived from Paris, and Sir Hubert, who owns Eynsleigh, is back from his latest expedition. It's time for Georgie to throw her first house party to celebrate his return and show off her new chef. The dinner party is a smashing success. Sir Mortimer Mordred - famous author of creepy Gothic horror novels - is one of the guests. He recently purchased a nearby Elizabethan manor nearby because it has a famous poison garden. After the dinner, Sir Mortimer approaches Georgie and asks to borrow her new chef for his upcoming party, and Georgie and Darcy, her dashing husband, are invited!

The tour of the poison garden is fascinating, as is Sir Mortimer's laboratory. Shockingly, just after the banquet several of the guests become sick. And one dies, apparently poisoned by berries from the garden. But how could this be when they all ate the same meal and the same delectable dessert? Georgie has to find the culprit to save her new chef and her own reputation - all before her bundle of joy arrives!"

Rhys Bowen has said the magic words that are my catnip; poison garden.

Another fun entry in Her Royal Spyness series. I always enjoy catching up with Lady Georgiana and her family and friends, although I still find Queenie one of the most annoying characters in fiction. I liked the addition of Agatha Christie to the mix.

The latest entry in this long running series is a fun and entertaining read. Lady Georgians is back from Paris and has brought a new French chef with her. He turns out to be a find, and her neighbor, mystery writer Sir Mordred asks to borrow him for a charity dinner he's hosting at his neighboring estate. The dinner is superb but some of the guests fall ill the next day, and when one dies, they police suspect the culprit is chief Pierre with his known communist leanings.

It's up to Georgie to clear her chef's name with the help of author Agatha Christie who also attended the banquet. Together they uncover the motive and unmask the killer.

Recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Georgie gets help solving a crime by Dame Agatha Christie herself. This was a cute mystery with the O'Mara's new chef in the hot seat, after he is loaned out for a house party given by a reclusive author and several of the high profile guests get sick. When one of them dies, Chef Pierre is arrested for murder. With a houseful of suspects, Georgia, now nine months pregnant, must try to save her chef from taking the fall But did the communist chef have a grudge against the elite guests and enact his own revenge? Or did someone else have a reason to want party guests dead? Although the culprit's identity is fairly obvious throughout the book and some parts were a tad repetitive I still found this highly enjoyable and a great addition to this series. The ending was adorable. This would be a perfect way to end the series, but I hope it continues. I love checking in with Georgie and Darcy each year and I'd love to see what they get up to next. 5 stars Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun historical series by prolific author Rhys Bowen, featuring distantly-related to the king noblewoman Lady Georgiana. Fans of the series have followed the impoverished and irrepressible Georgy and now she is married and expecting her first child.

She and husband, dashing government spy and fixer Darcy, are staying indefinitely in her stepfather's home. They hire a French chef and soon one of the neighbors, a very odd man who writes strange gothic thrillers, begs to borrow their chef for a fundraiser at his spooky castle. The dinner is a great success until guests start getting sick overnight and two die.

Georgy, even while 8 1/2 months pregnant, can't resist a mystery, and she wants to clear her chef's name. In an interesting side story, one of the guests at the fatal dinner happens to be Agatha Christie and her archaeologist husband Max Mallowan.

These are great fun, clever, and very readable. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book 17 of Her Royal Spyness series, The Proof of the Puddingfinds Georgiana Rannoch pregnant with her first child and almost ready to deliver. Since her godfather, Sir Hubert, who owns the estate, is coming back from a climbing expedition, she is getting the manor ready and has hired Pierre, a chef from France since Queenie, a servant who is always causing trouble and has accidents has been doing the cooking. In celebration of Sir Hubert’s return, she plans her first dinner party, and Sir Hubert has invited several interesting and famous people, including a mystery writer Mordred Mortimer, who is planning a fundraiser and wants to hire Pierre to cook for his guests. Some of Mordred’s guests get food poisoning, and two of them die. Mordred and other guests insist that it was Pierre, the chef. Georgie and her husband, Darcy don’t think the chef is guilty and set out to find out who the real killer is.

Even though this is the 17th novel in this series, Bowen gives enough information that those who haven’t read the previous novels can still follow and enjoy this one. The characters are well developed, and the protagonist and her husband, as well as most supporting characters are likeable. Bowen has done her research, and the mores fit well with the time, which is in the 30s in England when royalty and proper protocol was prevalent. Bowen also includes real people (like Agatha Christie) who lived during the time and weaves them into her story. The plot is feasible, and the dénouement is unexpected.

Although the story is a light cozy, it is still a bit suspenseful, and there are surprises. Those who read this novel will definitely want to read the previous novels in the series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I've recommended the Royal Spyness series twice this week and am so glad for advanced reader copies that let me read the fun early! Love watching the character development in this series and appearances from all the dear old friends.

I found the newest installment in the Royal Spyness series to be somewhat less exciting than others. With Georgie less than a month from her due date, it makes sense for the mystery to be closer to home and a little tamer. The introduction of Agatha Christie was interesting and timely for the period, but it felt a tiny bit forced. I do love Rhys Bowen's stories and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite. Her books are always my go-to recommendations for historical or cozy mysteries!

"Proof of the Pudding" by Rhys Bowen is a delightful mystery set in the 1940s. When Lady Georgiana Rannoch, a penniless royal, becomes a housekeeper in a grand English estate, she stumbles upon a murder mystery involving a stolen pudding recipe. Georgie's wit and charm shine as she unravels the secrets of both the kitchen and the upper crust, making this cozy historical mystery a treat for fans of the genre.

I have enjoyed every single one of these books in the series, and this one is no exception. Georgie finds her ground with her maid, is expecting her baby, and has a poisonous mystery on her hands. I did figure out whodunit it early on in the book, but it was a delight to see how it all came together. With a nod to another (real) famous mystery author, this was another solid installment in the Her Royal Spyness series!

The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen carries on the story of Georgiana and Darcy, this time while waiting for the birth of their child, find themselves embroiled in a murder involving their new Parisan chef Pierre and a poisoning. As usual all their friends and family are involved in solving this mystery. These are well loved characters and a new story concerning their life and the history of the Royals in the 1930s is always fun to read.

“The Proof of the Pudding” is another Royal Spyness mystery by Rhys Bowen. In this book the chef Lady Georgiana has hired is asked to cook at a neighboring estate. The estate is owned by Sir Mortimer Mordred, mystery writer who is having an open house with dinner party. After the dinner party several guests become sick or die and the new chef is the main suspect.

I love reading this series, it’s a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the infusion of real life characters, like Agatha Christie in the story, And although I guessed who the murderer was early on in the book, I still enjoyed reading the rest of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy!