Book Beginnings on Friday

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Katy from A Few More Pages. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

Today's beginning is from Naughty in Nice, A Royal Spyness Mystery, by Rhys Bowen. For any of you who have not read any of this series the main character is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, daughter of the second Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch and thirty fourth in line to the throne of England. All that means is that she has no money and is not allowed to work.  The books are set in the 1930's.  Here is the beginning of Naughty in Nice.

"The Riviera had never looked more inviting.  The sun sparkled on a sea of deepest blue."

Just a small spoiler.  In the next paragraph we find that Georgiana is looking at a poster of the Riviera while working in a soup kitchen in Victoria Station.  This is a really fun series that includes real people from the era with fictional characters who solve mysteries.

Royal Pain and Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen

Mystery

I recommended Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen in my November 18, 2008 post. In that post I mentioned that much of the book was devoted to setting the scene and background for the series but it still had enough plot to hold a readers interest. With the background setup out of the way A Royal Pain and A Royal Flush move forward at a brisk pace. Lady Georginna, “34th in line to the throne and a penniless heiress”, finds her unique background aids in solving mysteries. Of course, if not for her background she would never be involved in the mysteries at all. Again there is the fascinating mix of real and imaginary characters. Set in 1932 the historical background becomes a part of the story in each book. Added to the mix is Lady Georginna’s attraction to someone who is also penniless and Catholic, a no-no for an heir to the British throne.

The promise seen in Her Royal Spyness is fulfilled in Royal Pain and Royal Flush. While each can be read as a stand alone the books are better if read in order.

Berkley Prime Crime published Royal Pain in 2008 and Royal Flush in 2009.

Rhys Bowen lives in California but was born in England. She has written two other series.