Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Mystery

This is the first book in a new series by Agatha winning author Rhys Bowen. The series features Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie. Lady Victoria is 34th in line to the British throne explaining the title of the book, Her Royal Spyness. Her bother has cut off her allowance and there are plans to marry her off, so she decides to strike off on her own. Leaving her brother’s home in Scotland, she travels to London where nothing in her education has prepared her for work. After a brief and unsuccessful job as a store clerk she comes up with the idea to start a cleaning service. On her first job she finds a body and plays a part in solving the crime. There are a wide range of characters in the book. Some are fictional and some are historical. The two blend seamlessly to move the story forward. This is a gentle little mystery. There is not a lot of violence or blood. The story is characters rich and character driven. While a lot of the book helps set the scene for the series there is enough plot to hold a readers interest. Rhys Bowen gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of British Royalty in the 1930’s. In this setting Lady Victoria should have ample opportunity to solve mysteries. If you like mystery and enjoy historical settings you will love Her Royal Spyness. I look forward to many other books in this series.