Peril in Paris

Her Royal Spyness #16

by Rhys Bowen

Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her dashing husband, Darcy, are awaiting a bundle of joy, but an unexpected trip to Paris will thrust them straight into a tangled web of international intrigue in the next mystery of the New York Times bestselling Royal Spyness series from Rhys Bowen.

What a delight it is to finally be able to enjoy a simple meal again! I have been in the throes of morning sickness for the last few months as Darcy and I prepare to welcome a brand-new addition to our little family. Now that I am feeling better, I have realized I am dreadfully bored!

Happily, it seems that Darcy has read my mind. When I receive a letter from my glamorous best friend, Belinda, Darcy suggests we take a trip to Paris to visit her. It seems he also has a spot of business to take care of, so I will be staying in Belinda’s flat as she works feverishly on Coco Chanel’s fall collection. I happen to know Coco from a disastrous encounter in Nice years ago, and I am hoping this visit will go much more smoothly. But I soon learn that nothing about my time in Paris is going to be simple . . . or safe for that matter.

Darcy has asked me to take on a small chore as a part of his latest assignment. I am to covertly retrieve something from an attendee of Coco’s show. It seems easy enough, but I discover that this little errand could have terrifying consequences for a world on the brink of war. When things go horribly wrong, I am left to find a killer all while trying to fend off a French policeman who is certain that I am a criminal mastermind. But I have no plans to deliver my darling little one in a prison cell, and so I will muster every ounce of my courage to save the day . . . and, quite possibly, the world!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical, Historical Mystery, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

I'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.

I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.

My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.

I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.

I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries

Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law

Reviews

[Melike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off strong, but halfway through it got repetitive and a bit boring. Not my favorite.

[Mary Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment to me. It lacked the charm and humor of most of the other entries in this series. I understand that Bowen is trying to introduce the fact that Europe is becoming darker and more dangerous as WWII approaches, but I just didn’t enjoy the change in the tone of the book.

I also had some problems with some of the events in this book and continuity within the series.

Darcy has always had misgivings about Georgie’s involvement in mysteries that she accidentally stumbles into and now he asks her to become involved in a handoff of documents that the Nazis will want to prevent. It doesn’t make sense to me.

Early in the book Belinda is going to introduce Georgie to Chanel. Georgie met Chanel in Naughty in Nice. Belinda was also in Naughty in Nice so she would have known that Georgie had already met Chanel.

A smaller point, but it seems out of character. Georgie and Darcy’s puppies are not housebroken and badly behaved. When they get to be too much, she sends them off to the servants’ area of the house.
While this does seem like upper class behavior, I always felt that Georgie was more considerate about her staff and wouldn’t do that to them.

It was also annoying that after 16 books, Georgie still doesn’t fully trust Darcy. Previous books have had her think he is being unfaithful to her and now she thinks he may be betraying his country. This distrust thing is getting old.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring of 1936 finds a pregnant Lady Georgiana Rannoch feeling a bit restless. When her husband, Darcy, suggests they go to Paris to visit Georgie’s friend, Belinda, Georgie is delighted. Belinda is there interning with Coco Chanel, and it isn’t long before Georgie finds herself roped into helping with an upcoming fashion show. Darcy, meanwhile, has a small assignment to accomplish, and asks for Georgie’s help. That request winds up putting Georgie in a very uncomfortable spot when someone winds up dead at the fashion show. Can she get out of it without sparking an international incident?

The further along this series gets, the finer the line is between the seriousness of Europe during the era and the fun tone of the series. This book walks that tension perfectly. It also starts more quickly than some of the books in the series do. Some foundation for the plot is laid before it truly takes off, and once it did, I was fully invested until we reached the logical climax. Several of the series regulars are involved, and I enjoyed getting to spend more time with them. We even see a different side of a supporting player. Fans of the series will enjoy this latest outing. If you haven’t met Georgie yet, I definitely recommend you fix that soon.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golly - another stellar installment of this wonderful "Royal Spyness" series set in 1930s England (more accurately, Paris, where Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her husband, Darcy O'Mara, are visiting - he on spy business, she, at least at the outset, on holiday). Of note in this one is that Georgie, as her friends call her, is pregnant - finally moving past the morning sickness that made her early months miserable.

When they arrive in Paris, Georgie is content to visit friends and see the sights, providing readers with one of the most interesting elements of the series (well, at least to me): descriptions of the period in which the stories are set and her "connections" to the rich and famous (would you believe her cousin is the King of England and she's well acquainted with Wallis Simpson, who has a somewhat prominent role in the plot)? Georgie's friend works for noted designer Coco Chanel, who is preparing for the latest fashion show, and Georgie gets tapped to model a Chanel-created maternity dress (albeit rather outlandish). Georgie also goes to a party in one famous writer of the day's apartment, where another famous writer drops by, and her mother currently lives in Germany and runs in the same social circles as Adolf Hitler.

But of course, best-laid plans aren't meant to go smoothly, and Darcy asks for Georgie's help with his secret mission. Then comes Chanel's fashion show, where an unlucky guest turns up rather dead - and Georgie is a suspect (French policemen, it seems, have very little respect for British aristocracy). Readers, of course, know she's not guilty, but it's great fun to find out the lengths to which she'll go to prove her innocence and, in the process, find the real killer. Overall, it's another truly enjoyable adventure - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to ride along on a pre-release journey. Well done!

[Jude: The Epic Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

God, waiting for WWII is giving me a lot of anxiety. I wonder how far the author is going to go with this series. Maybe she'll just go to twenty books and stop at the beginning of the war (I don't know how I would feel about that though). All this Nazi and spy stuff is nerve wreaking and someone really needs to get Georgie's mother out of Germany. I like Max but, for obvious reasons, I really hope she doesn't marry him.

Also, Mrs. Simpson is kind of growing on me, maybe, so I decided to finally google her. For some reason, I didn't think she was a real person or that she ever got to marry David. But she was and she did. . There was some interesting stuff. For an American that married a British prince and became a duchess, I'm surprised I've never heard about her.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for light enjoyable entertainment you can’t go wrong with Georgie and Darcy. Number 16 in the series, for best enjoyment, I hope you have read some of the previous books.

Darcy is going on ‘business’ (wink-wink) to Paris and he has invited Georgie – who is expecting their first child – to join him, but she will be staying with BFF Belinda while Darcy is off doing whatever it is Darcy does.

Set in 1936 there is much talk about Hitler and Europe is nervous the author has introduced a bit of a twist to the series whereby Darcy has asked Georgie to help him in his secret mission involving German secrets so you know high jinks are in the making.

Belinda is working with Coco Chanel who is in a tizzy on the eve of her fall show and Belinda invites Georgie to visit the salon in the midst of all the confusion. Chanel immediately has the idea to design a special outfit for the newly expectant Georgie and insists that Georgie show this new creation at the end of the show.

Oh horrors! A murder occurs during the show and Georgie becomes the prime suspect.

The series is not meant to be taken too seriously it is, after all, simply a delightful fun read.

I wish there was more of Queenie (my favourite character) as she would have been perfect in Paris.

[Natalia R · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure enjoyed this one set in Paris between The Great War and World War II. The only thing that really bothered me was that Georgie drank too much while she was pregnant. Rhys Bowen explains it at the back:

"You are probably cringing every time Georgie takes a drink of alcohol. At that time it was not frowned upon. (except by my Dissenter ancestors who left England for this reason). No research had been done on the dangers; in fact a pregnant mother might be instructed to have brandy and hot milk to fortify her."

I did not have a clue who the murderer was and it came as a giant surprise for me.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the same here from Bowen, but with a touch less going on.

Peril in Paris follows the same general formula. Darcy & Georgiana travel to Paris, because Darcy has some super secret government assignment. Georgiana thinks that this is more of a vacation and less of a work assignment. Once she finds out, she’s a little annoyed but quickly fixates on worrying that her husband is a spy for the nazis.

At this point the plot primarily revolves around Georgies escapades and is much more of a historical slice of life than a cozy mystery. We visit Coco Chanel, & Georgie is recruited to model in a show.

Have I mentioned Georgie is heavily pregnant? Because she is. Darcy repeatedly tells Georgie he will quit his job as a spy for the British government, and she always tells him not to. But then she complains when he actually does go off and work because she’s pregnant? Georgie is kind of annoying in this book, and I usually don’t find her annoying.

Georgie also visits Gertrude Stein and Hemingway and many other famous names are dropped. Not sure why this is relevant or necessary, and it felt out of place. I know we are in Paris in the time period that these people would’ve also been in Paris… but Atleast tie it a bit more to the plot?? Maybe someone dies here? Nope.

The actual murder part of the plot occurs well into the story and everything that happens prior isn’t interesting enough to really carry my interest. However, everything after this point is pretty interesting. This leads me to my three stars. This novel is pretty low on the list of my favorites of The Royal Spyness Series. Partially because the setting of Paris feels more important than the actual story. If I wanted to read a novel about Paris, I’d pick something else. Giovanni’s room, perhaps.

Hoping the next one is better??

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited whenever I see a new title in the Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen. I love Georgie and always look forward to her new adventures. Peril in Paris did not disappoint! Georgie and Darcy head to Paris for a vacation and mishaps and murder ensue.

I loved the recurring characters that showed up in this story. I loved seeing Georgie out of her element but staying true to herself.

I can't wait for the next installment!I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Heather Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
points off for a super slow build and Georgiana still not trusting Darcy (like he’s really working for Berlin, c‘mon) but bonus points for making me like Mrs. Simpson in this one.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, to be in Paris now that spring is here. Well, the spring of 1936 might not be the best spring to visit, although things were, relatively speaking, normal as to what they would be when the Nazis seized control in a few years. Peril in Paris takes place when the dangers of what is to come is trying to be averted by those who work undercover, behind the scenes of the beauty and thrill of a Paris spring. Peril in Paris is a title that covers so much in the story. While the Royal Spyness (Lady Georgie) mysteries have a pleasant and often humorous leaning, there is always something going on underneath that delight that involves murder and mayhem. Paris and this story could be interchangeable metaphors for one another. It’s rather like taking the good with the bad, but under Rhys Bowen’s deft hand, it’s always spellbinding.

Lady Georgie finds herself in Paris in March 1936. Three months pregnant, her morning sickness has finally subsided, and her dashing husband Darcy has asked her to accompany him to Paris. For Darcy it will be work, and certain to be spy work, but for Georgie, she will visit with her best friend Belinda. Belinda is working as an intern under Coco Chanel, furthering her designing skills and enjoying life in Paris. Since Darcy will be working, Georgie is staying with Belinda so they can better catch up with one another. However, Belinda is swamped with work for Coco’s new fall collection preview taking place in a few days. Georgie, who already knows Coco, becomes involved in the show, too, as Coco designs an elegant maternity dress for Georgie and insists Georgie model it in the show. Georgie is worried about the modeling part because she can barely walk in the tight-legged skirt, and the memories of falling on the runway in a previous modeling stint she did for Coco still haunt the expectant mother.

As it turns out, modeling the maternity dress isn't the only thing Georgie has to worry about at Coco Chanel’s show. Darcy needs her help. There is a German delegation, known Nazis and their wives, in Paris for a few days, and that delegation includes Hermann Goring’s wife and her friend, Greta Goldberg, who has a Jewish husband. That woman is trying hard not to be noticed, but she and her husband are secretly part of the effort to undermine Nazi Germany. Frau Goldberg has some documents and microfilm to pass to Darcy, but she is being constantly watched, which makes it hard for Darcy to obtain the documents. The German women are going to attend the fashion show, and Darcy must ask Georgie to take the hand-off of materials in a plan he devises. The dress and the hand-off are causing this newly pregnant Georgie quite a lot of stress, and there’s an unexpected presence that makes it all just a little harder. Georgie’s narcissistic mother, Claire, is with the German women and eager to buy some Chanel garments to take back to Germany where she is now living with her rich industrialist German fiancé. As if that weren’t enough, Wallace Simpson shows up. With Georgie’s cousin David now King, Wallace is flouting her new status as the woman who will become Queen. Of course, she won’t, and nobody realizes that more than Georgie’s mother, who has never missed a chance to put Wallace in her place.

When the murder of an American woman occurs at Coco’s show, Georgie quickly realizes that the German woman she was to receive the documents from was the actual target. Georgie is in a bad position of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the French detective is looking very closely at her as a suspect. There’s so much at stake now-Darcy’s opportunity to gain information that could be used against the Nazis, the German woman having a target on her back, and Georgie needing to prove she was not involved in the American woman’s death. The resolution to the murder is not an obvious one, and the hate behind it is steeped in a twisted deception.

I’m pleased with the way Rhys Bowen has brought the Lady Georgie series to the current events involving France and Germany and the UK, the years leading up to WWII. It had to be addressed because of the time frame, and this story was a perfect fit, as Georgie already had a connection to Coco Chanel, and Coco Chanel was accommodating to the German clientele who were Nazis. It was an excellent place to show the beginnings of German encroachment into French life. I’m not a fan of Coco Chanel. I think she was strictly an opportunist who cared only about herself and her business surviving, and her fraternization with the Nazis was deplorable. But again, to introduce the stirrings of a world that was rapidly moving towards war needs a stage that touches upon the disbelief that an iconic city like Paris will change. Chanel’s showing of her fall line in spring represents the expectation that life will continue as usual, with the Nazis mostly an annoyance.

The challenge the author faced of keeping the charm of this series alive while an unprecedented dark cloud hovered was a hard one, but Rhys Bowen was able to do just that. Lady Georgie is Lady Georgie, and her personality and less serious problems are going to be there, even amidst the world changing. I was still able to enjoy the essence of Georgie and Darcy, their relationship and their smaller world. Daily life does go on in a vacuum of sorts, but, of course, at this time in history, all the characters’ lives are facing major shifts when daily life shares in common all too many hardships. I heartily applaud Rhys Bowen for the transitions she has successfully started for the coming war. Peril in Paris is a book that is going to appeal to a wide range of readers, and although there are some nuances between characters that might be missed, I think this book can be read as a fascinating stand-alone. Well done, Rhys Bowen.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022 bk 359 Why oh why do I do this to myself. Once again, I started a Rhys Bowen mystery after 10pm, telling myself that I'll read for a half hour and then go to sleep. Three and a half hours later I realize that my neighbor is leaving for work and I've read half of the night away. Another wonderful spinning of the story of Georgie and Darcie and the madcap cast of characters. Set in 1936 Paris, but not on a romantic weekend together, the two become tangled in a plot to smuggle information out of Germany. Along the way, an American woman is murdered, Georgie is told to not leave Paris by the police, and the surprise is in not that Georgie is rescued, but rather who does the rescuing. A fun read that I will re-do within a week to see what I might have missed in my bleary eyed first read.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

When I began this story it was like meeting up with old friends. I enjoyed it. About half way, it got less interesting. There wasn't as much humor in this one as the early books had. Belinda used to be one of the absolute funniest characters! Not so much in this installment. I would love to see more of the old humor. I still enjoyed the book and look forward to the next...

[LeahBethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peril in Paris was a fun little mystery and it was great to be back with Georgiana and friends.

[Deanna]

DNF

At almost halfway through, there is still no mystery to solve. It seems to be a pointless book.

Before she married, Georgie was clever and independent, a woman with initiative, goals, and interests, curious and unafraid to figure things our and take things in hand. She solved problems and got herself and others out of tough spots.

Now that she’s married, with an upperclass home, she is dependent—on husband, mother, friends, servants, fate— and passive, unable to stand up to anyone, practically brain dead. For the past few books, the only thing she has needed to do is hire a cook and fret after the briefest of time about not being pregnant.

She was clueless about hiring and gave up after one effort. Pregnancy happened quickly and now—what? She’s trailing behind her spouse, awed at being in Paris, suspecting her husband of treason for absolutely no reason and the flimsiest of suspicions. She doesn’t do anything about her suspicions besides wring her hands and be pushed along the story conveyor belt by others.

This is so annoying and boring that it’s not worth continuing. There’s no atmospheric immersion in Paris or the time, only a series of name dropping about famous people of the time and tourist-worthy sites. There is plenty of opportunity to build the tensions of 1936 France, but the issues are only barely name-dropped. I don’t feel like any of it is real. The whole thing seems phoned-in.

I gave up on this series once before, then came across a well-written book later in the series and picked it up again. Since this seems to be the year I drop series I’ve enjoyed before, here’s another one for the pile.

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

It was a fun little romp with Georgie though it fell short in a couple areas. I loved that we once again get to travel and get away from “missions” from the queen. Paris was a great destination and revisiting Chanel and a more serious and reflective Belinda was nice to see. As well as rising German tensions and what that means for her mother.

The mystery/murder was a little too easy to call but the location and muddle that Georgie finds herself in was so in character. What wasn’t in character, and totally threw me, was Darcy’s actions. I do not believe that with all that was going on that he would so easily leave his pregnant wife behind for even a moment. I just don’t see it playing out the way it did. And it still nags at me.

What I did love was Wallace Simpson’s role. That was not only a great way to insert her into the story but also a believable change of pace and interaction. Loved it.

Overall, the book somehow felt way too short (even though the page numbers clock in at more than many previous in the series). It just came out thin. Enjoyable but not one of the more memorable for me. Still looking forward to many more stories in this series, though, cause even the “lesser” additions give me a reading thrill when it’s a Royal Spyness book.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

After waiting a year for the newest title in Her Royal Spyness to be released, I read it all in one sitting! I love how the characters have matured over the years and the lead up to World War 2 is interesting, but mostly I appreciate that this is the ultimate in comfort reading. Now, that I’ve read it, I think I’ll get the audio so I can enjoy it again from a different perspective.

[C Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment. Georgianna gets weaker and weaker. Unable to solve much on her own now that she is married! The fashion world was fun. Makes me want to read more about Chanel

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful, Her Royal Spynes sseries installment. So happy that Georgie and Darcy are having a baby! Of course we have her friend Belinda and the ex patriot Americans living in Paris after World War I and we have a mystery. I just love the characters; I love the intrigue, and I love the time period that this is taking place in. Of course, there's always the growing threat of the Nazis as England heads toward World War 2. I recently saw the PBS special "The Traitor King," which of course was about the prince who fell in love with Wallis Warfield Simpson and abdicated. Evidently he was thick as thieves with the Nazis in truth. This has come out now that documents which had been protected until recently are being exposed. Quite chilling. So it's interesting that this series follows what was really happening. Love this series!

[Laura de Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just not enjoying these books as much as I used to.

It may be the change in narrator. Georgie is sounding very whiny to me, and I don't know if it is how she is read, or how she is written. I'm definitely getting tired of the whole Woe is me, I'm so unhappy that Darcy is traveling and at risk and unreachable, but I can't ask him to change, he would be so unhappy stuck at home. This was something they needed to come to terms with before getting married and getting pregnant.

The books have always been more about the characters than the mysteries, but the characters are feeling stuck, not changing. Belinda seems to be the only one growing over time.

I'll probably keep reading, at least the next one, but I wish I would get back the delight of the earlier books.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this series has matured as Georgie has. She's much more serious now as a married woman expecting a child. Europe, also, is more serious, as they move towards WWII. The tension with Georgie's mom living and traveling with the German delegation adds complexity at a more personal level. The mystery itself was so fascinating and although I figured out who the killer was early on, it in no way took away from my enjoyment of this story. I am not a huge couture fan (probably because I can't afford it) but it was eye-opening to see what goes into executing a fashion show. This series just keeps getting better and better.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bowen pretty much phoned this one in. I had to just make myself finish reading this book. It was boring, predictable and flat. I think this series is winding itself up, I just hope the author knows it. I don't know that I would recommend this book.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peril in Paris is the 16th mystery in Her Royal Spyness series. The author publishes one book a year at an incredibly rapid pace. Unfortunately, this does translate to the content which “golly” is quite repetitive.

This is the basic setup: Georgie is bored, gets invited to “somewhere” with the usual suspects turning up: her mother, her bestie Belinda, her beau Darcy and some other royal members particularly Miss Simpsons. After a long set-up someone dies and Georgie will be in the middle of things, soon wishing for less excitement while at the same time she cannot leave the mystery alone – leading to some stupid decisions. In the end all is well and then the cycle repeats.

Not sure why I still bother, I guess, it’s just easy reading in busy times…

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to be with Georgie again, but not a standout in the series for me. Will look forward the next entry and hope for better reading magic!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series, and have missed a few books I believe. Georgie (lady Georgiana), goes on a trip to Paris where Darcy is "doing business", and she stays w/ her good friend Belinda. She is pregnant and Belinda promises to make her a suitable outfit when she is finished w/ her work for Channel. What could go wrong?

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her husband, Darcy are expecting their first child. Darcy asks Georgie if she would care to travel to Paris; of course Georgie was delighted. Meanwhile, Darcy is off to some unknown clandestine assignment for the British Government. It is never clear what exactly Darcy does for the government. Georgie assumes that her husband is a spy.

It is 1936 and the Nazis are gaining more power in Germany.

Coco Chanel, a friend of Georgie, has asked her if she would model some of her fashions for pregnant women. Georgie reluctantly agrees.

While in Paris a German woman has been murdered. She was among the guests invited to view Coco Chanel's latest collection. Georgie, an amateur sleuth, sets out to solve the crime.

This edition of "A Royal Spyness Mystery" is not, to this reader, among Ms. Bowen's best. It took longer than most of her previous Mysteries to move the story and plot along.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very enjoyable. Georgianna, and her husband Darcy are expecting a baby. Darcy surprises her with a trip to Paris, where her dear friend Belinda is working with Coco Chanel . Her mother shows up with Max, and high ranking Germans, and of course Darcy has some national business to attend to. Coco decides to design a maternity dress for Georgie, and she expects her to be a model in the show. I don’t want to give anything away, but Georgie happens to find dead people a lot. That hasn’t changed. This time a French Detective feels Lady Georgianna is probably the murderer. This was a very clever murder mystery mystery. You will enjoy running into many of the usual cast of people from her books in Paris. I always enjoy these books. They are exciting, with a touch of romance, and lots of suspense. I enjoyed the exciting, but frightful ending, and the Epilogue is always a plus. I gave it 5 stars.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the mystery series, but sometimes the adventure falls short. Maybe the antics of Lady Georgiana Rannoch fall on deaf ears. In this selection, Georgie and her husband Darcy head to Paris. March 1936 looms as Hitler attempts to rule the country. Darcy, as usual, must secretly hunt the villains. A pregnant Georgie rooms with her good friend Belinda as Darcy darts in an out of Paris. Belinda, training under Chanel gives Georgie a good time, but danger looms. Many of the outstanding tourist attractions draw Georgie to visit and explore. So much eating and drinking, even for Georgie. So much mention of Wallis Simpson and her involvement with Edward VIII. Enter a monster of a woman, Mrs. Rottenburger, a social climber who unfortunately drinks champagne mixed with cyanide and dies. Now to find the killer and the motive. Not the best novel of this series.

[Sigrid A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this latest installment in the reliably cozy Royal Spyness series. The story gets most interesting about halfway through when all of the side characters (her mother, Belinda, Mrs. Simpson, and Coco Chanel) show up and Georgie gets entangled in a mystery along with a bunch of socially-awkward situations. As the series gets closer to WWII in its chronology, the Nazi threat continues to loom large.

My only complaint about the series at this point is that Darcy is less interesting as a devoted husband than he was as a slippery love interest.

Thanks to Berkley Books and Edelweiss for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.