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Her Royal Spyness #14
Son Espionne royale vole au secours de Belinda
Lady Georgiana Rannoch is just back from her honeymoon with dashing Darcy O’Mara when a friend in need pulls her into a twisted Gothic tale of betrayal, deception and, most definitely, murder. . . .
I am a bit at loose ends at the moment. My cook, Queenie, is making my new role as mistress of Eynsleigh something akin to constant torture as Darcy is off on another one of his top secret jaunts. And Grandad is busy helping wayward youths avoid lives of crime. So when my dearest friend, Belinda, inherits an old cottage in Cornwall and begs me to go with her to inspect the property, I jump at the chance.
After a heart-stopping journey in Belinda’s beast of a motorcar, we arrive at the creaky old cottage called White Sails and quickly realize that it is completely uninhabitable. Just when I’m starting to wonder if I would have been better off trying to get Queenie to cook a roast that hasn’t been burnt beyond all recognition, we meet Rose Summers, a woman Belinda knew as a child when she spent time in Cornwall. Rose invites us to stay at Trewoma Hall, the lovely estate now owned by her husband, Tony.
Belinda confesses that she never liked Rose and had a fling with Tony years ago, so staying with them is far from ideal but beggars can’t be choosers as they say. Trewoma is not the idyllic house Belinda remembers. There’s something claustrophobic and foreboding about the place. Matters aren’t helped by the oppressively efficient housekeeper Mrs. Mannering or by the fact that Tony seems to want to rekindle whatever he and Belinda once had right under his wife’s nose.
Our increasingly awkward visit soon turns deadly when a member of the household is found murdered and all clues point to Belinda as the prime suspect. I soon learn that some long buried secrets have come back to haunt those in residence at Trewoma Hall and I’ll need to sift through the ruins of their past so Belinda doesn’t lose her chance at freedom in the present. . . .
I am a bit at loose ends at the moment. My cook, Queenie, is making my new role as mistress of Eynsleigh something akin to constant torture as Darcy is off on another one of his top secret jaunts. And Grandad is busy helping wayward youths avoid lives of crime. So when my dearest friend, Belinda, inherits an old cottage in Cornwall and begs me to go with her to inspect the property, I jump at the chance.
After a heart-stopping journey in Belinda’s beast of a motorcar, we arrive at the creaky old cottage called White Sails and quickly realize that it is completely uninhabitable. Just when I’m starting to wonder if I would have been better off trying to get Queenie to cook a roast that hasn’t been burnt beyond all recognition, we meet Rose Summers, a woman Belinda knew as a child when she spent time in Cornwall. Rose invites us to stay at Trewoma Hall, the lovely estate now owned by her husband, Tony.
Belinda confesses that she never liked Rose and had a fling with Tony years ago, so staying with them is far from ideal but beggars can’t be choosers as they say. Trewoma is not the idyllic house Belinda remembers. There’s something claustrophobic and foreboding about the place. Matters aren’t helped by the oppressively efficient housekeeper Mrs. Mannering or by the fact that Tony seems to want to rekindle whatever he and Belinda once had right under his wife’s nose.
Our increasingly awkward visit soon turns deadly when a member of the household is found murdered and all clues point to Belinda as the prime suspect. I soon learn that some long buried secrets have come back to haunt those in residence at Trewoma Hall and I’ll need to sift through the ruins of their past so Belinda doesn’t lose her chance at freedom in the present. . . .
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
897 people are currently reading
2747 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Bowen
123 books9,566 followersI'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
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 847 reviews
August 6, 2020
A little different then the rest of the series, but very good. My only complaint is that there was less Darcy again.
This series is my happy place. Is it Aug. 4 yet?
This series is my happy place. Is it Aug. 4 yet?
August 5, 2020
It’s fall 1935, and Lady Georgiana O’Mara is back from her honeymoon and settling into her new married life until Darcy is called away on another of his assignments. Suddenly at loose ends, Georgie jumps at a chance to join her friend Belinda is looking at the cottage she just inherited in Cornwall. However, the cottage turns out to be more of a shack. The friends are deciding what to do when they run into Rose, a childhood friend of Belinda’s. Rose announces she is now the mistress of one of the nearby mansions, and insists that Georgie and Belinda stay with her. However, something is off about life at the mansion. Will Georgie figure out what is going on before tragedy strikes?
It's always fun to slip back into Georgie’s world, and I picked up this book with anticipation. As usual, the book opens with updates on Georgie’s various friends and family, and I enjoy finding out how life is going for them. Once the story gets going, we are treated to a mystery filled with confusing happenings and plenty of atmosphere. The plot is minimally inspired by the classic Rebecca, and it uses the gothic elements well. I’m not familiar with Rebecca, but not picking up on nods to that book didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all. The new characters we meet along the way help pull us into the book. Naturally, everything makes sense once Georgie figures it all out. When you pick up this book, be prepared to be swept back in time. Fans of the series will be thrilled to catch up with Georgie’s latest adventures.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
It's always fun to slip back into Georgie’s world, and I picked up this book with anticipation. As usual, the book opens with updates on Georgie’s various friends and family, and I enjoy finding out how life is going for them. Once the story gets going, we are treated to a mystery filled with confusing happenings and plenty of atmosphere. The plot is minimally inspired by the classic Rebecca, and it uses the gothic elements well. I’m not familiar with Rebecca, but not picking up on nods to that book didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all. The new characters we meet along the way help pull us into the book. Naturally, everything makes sense once Georgie figures it all out. When you pick up this book, be prepared to be swept back in time. Fans of the series will be thrilled to catch up with Georgie’s latest adventures.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 1, 2020
I am a huge fan of Lady Georgiana's cozy mysteries. I like fish out of water stories and Georgie is that. The great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and 135th in the line of succession, she has no real home. Her mother is always chasing a man and her brother lives in the family home, a gloomy Scottish castle, whose wife doesn't like Georgie. Her grandfather, her mom's dad, is a commoner which presents its own problems. Georgie has no real home.
Now she is married to her handsome Irish beau, Darcy, and living on the estate of one of her mother's ex-boyfriends and happy and settled at last. Her best pal, Brenda, has inherited a small fortune from her grandmother and invites Georgie to accompany her to Cornwall to check out a real estate inheritance. Brenda has fond memories of Cornwall from growing up.
The inheritance turns out to be a disappointment and when an invitation from childhood friends to stay is received, the girls jump at it. The estate turns out to be be rather creepy and the story turns into a homage to "Rebecca" by Daphne DuMaurier and is a lot of fun. There are some murders and Georgie is left to discover what is going on before Brenda is sent to prison.
It is a fun romp and I love the tribute to Rebecca. I really enjoyed this.
Now she is married to her handsome Irish beau, Darcy, and living on the estate of one of her mother's ex-boyfriends and happy and settled at last. Her best pal, Brenda, has inherited a small fortune from her grandmother and invites Georgie to accompany her to Cornwall to check out a real estate inheritance. Brenda has fond memories of Cornwall from growing up.
The inheritance turns out to be a disappointment and when an invitation from childhood friends to stay is received, the girls jump at it. The estate turns out to be be rather creepy and the story turns into a homage to "Rebecca" by Daphne DuMaurier and is a lot of fun. There are some murders and Georgie is left to discover what is going on before Brenda is sent to prison.
It is a fun romp and I love the tribute to Rebecca. I really enjoyed this.
September 18, 2024
Another nicely plotted mystery, I was somewhat suprised at the ending. I would recommed this one too.
July 29, 2020
Series: Royal Spyness #14
Publication Date: 8/4/20
Number of Pages: 304
I always look forward to Georgie’s next adventure because you never know what she’ll get herself into. While I enjoyed this read, it was my least favorite so far – not sure why. Maybe there was too little Darcy or maybe it just didn’t seem to ‘ring true’ to the series – I’m not sure, but I am pretty sure the problem was mine and not the book.
Georgie and Darcy are home from their African honeymoon and Darcy is headed back to work for the Crown. At Georgie’s urging, he turned down a desk job and is headed back to the field. Georgie encouraged it because she knew he loved his work and wouldn’t be happy with a desk job. However, she is now presented with the fact that he has to leave on an assignment and he cannot tell her where he is going nor how long he’ll be gone. She’s at loose ends and has no idea what to do with herself, so she heads to London to meet up with her friend and to see her grandfather. Bummer – the friends aren’t in town and her grandfather has new tasks to see to as well. So – now what is she to do. Well, hang on to your hats because she’s off on a most unexpected adventure.
As she is returning home, having walked from the train station, she is almost run down by a speeding, very sporty, shiny new, red, Aston Martin Le Mans – named Brutus. Brutus is being driven by Georgie’s good friend Belinda who has just returned from Paris where she had studied clothing design with none other than Chanel. Belinda is excited because her grandmother’s will has finally been settled and she is now a very rich lady. Belinda also inherited a small cottage in Cornwall and she wants Georgie to go with her to check it out. She fondly remembers one property her grandmother owned there, but her grandmother sold it years ago, and she has absolutely no clue about the small cottage called White Sails.
And … the adventure begins. When the cottage turns out to be all but uninhabitable, they are at a loss because in this part of the country, finding a place to stay is near impossible. Then – their fortunes change when an old ‘friend’ recognizes Belinda and asks them to stay with her and her new husband for a few days. Belinda and Georgie are very hesitant – especially once Belinda learns the husband’s name – but it is almost impossible to refuse the invitation.
There is, of course, a murder, and then another, and hints of one from years ago. The house is forbidding even though the host and hostess are not. Something is definitely amiss in the household, tensions are thick, but nothing obvious – at first.
Given that the book-blurb likens the book to a Daphne du Marier murder, you immediately know who the villain is. What you don’t know is why or how. You especially don’t know why that villain might want to harm Belinda by causing her to be arrested for murder. You’ll find the answers to all of that as you move through the story to its exciting end.
I was so afraid the author was going to commit one of my cardinal sins – making me really like a character before killing them off. Luckily, it didn’t happen, because I have a really hard time liking a book after that happens. I didn’t dislike the victim but wasn’t in love with them either.
I really enjoyed the read and hope you will as well!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 8/4/20
Number of Pages: 304
I always look forward to Georgie’s next adventure because you never know what she’ll get herself into. While I enjoyed this read, it was my least favorite so far – not sure why. Maybe there was too little Darcy or maybe it just didn’t seem to ‘ring true’ to the series – I’m not sure, but I am pretty sure the problem was mine and not the book.
Georgie and Darcy are home from their African honeymoon and Darcy is headed back to work for the Crown. At Georgie’s urging, he turned down a desk job and is headed back to the field. Georgie encouraged it because she knew he loved his work and wouldn’t be happy with a desk job. However, she is now presented with the fact that he has to leave on an assignment and he cannot tell her where he is going nor how long he’ll be gone. She’s at loose ends and has no idea what to do with herself, so she heads to London to meet up with her friend and to see her grandfather. Bummer – the friends aren’t in town and her grandfather has new tasks to see to as well. So – now what is she to do. Well, hang on to your hats because she’s off on a most unexpected adventure.
As she is returning home, having walked from the train station, she is almost run down by a speeding, very sporty, shiny new, red, Aston Martin Le Mans – named Brutus. Brutus is being driven by Georgie’s good friend Belinda who has just returned from Paris where she had studied clothing design with none other than Chanel. Belinda is excited because her grandmother’s will has finally been settled and she is now a very rich lady. Belinda also inherited a small cottage in Cornwall and she wants Georgie to go with her to check it out. She fondly remembers one property her grandmother owned there, but her grandmother sold it years ago, and she has absolutely no clue about the small cottage called White Sails.
And … the adventure begins. When the cottage turns out to be all but uninhabitable, they are at a loss because in this part of the country, finding a place to stay is near impossible. Then – their fortunes change when an old ‘friend’ recognizes Belinda and asks them to stay with her and her new husband for a few days. Belinda and Georgie are very hesitant – especially once Belinda learns the husband’s name – but it is almost impossible to refuse the invitation.
There is, of course, a murder, and then another, and hints of one from years ago. The house is forbidding even though the host and hostess are not. Something is definitely amiss in the household, tensions are thick, but nothing obvious – at first.
Given that the book-blurb likens the book to a Daphne du Marier murder, you immediately know who the villain is. What you don’t know is why or how. You especially don’t know why that villain might want to harm Belinda by causing her to be arrested for murder. You’ll find the answers to all of that as you move through the story to its exciting end.
I was so afraid the author was going to commit one of my cardinal sins – making me really like a character before killing them off. Luckily, it didn’t happen, because I have a really hard time liking a book after that happens. I didn’t dislike the victim but wasn’t in love with them either.
I really enjoyed the read and hope you will as well!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 20, 2025
Another entertaining addition to a favorite series. This time Georgie and bf Belinda travel to Cornwall, where Belinda has inherited property from her grandmother. It turns out the little house is uninhabitable so it's fortuitous when they are invited to be guests at the home of a Rose and Tony, who Belinda knew years before. When Tony ends up murdered, it looks bad for Belinda, who had a fling with him years before. There's a nice gothic feel to this and the author mentions in a forward that a favorite book of hers is Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca which is obviously an inspiration for this mystery. I loved this one and am looking forward to the next one.
August 23, 2020
While I hope the Queen will call on Georgie again in future books, but this installment features her friend Belinda and is an homage to Daphne du Maurier's REBECCA. I haven't read gothic novels in some time, but I enjoyed this book - and the surprises along the way. Only downside is my hubby isn't with us any longer to also read the authors he loved. Maybe he read over my shoulder. No I'm eager for Her Royal Spyness #15!
July 19, 2025
Fabulous descriptions of Cornwall but now I am glad I didn't get there to see it as there is no place to stay! (very surprising). Georgie's friend gets accused of murder which is super traumatic for them both. This is somewhat based on the famous classic Rebecca and she advises to read it first if you have not read it. I have already read it twice and own a copy. So far I love all the Royal Spyness series.
August 26, 2020
This has been a fun, easy read from the very beginning with some charming and captivating characters.
This one has been a little less amusing and my favourite character Queenie, Lady Georgiana’s maid, only made a brief appearance.
Also, since Georgie is now married to Darcy and having given up any claim to the throne (she was 34th in line after all!) she seems to be a bit more circumspect in her activities and probably won't be called upon to assist the Royals anymore (more's the pity!).
While Darcy is off on one of his secret missions Georgie is invited by dear friend Belinda to accompany her to Cornwall where Belinda has inherited a derelict cottage. They have quite the adventure when Belinda is accused of murder.
I won’t stop reading the series - I hope Georgie, Queenie and Darcy will have more adventures.
This one has been a little less amusing and my favourite character Queenie, Lady Georgiana’s maid, only made a brief appearance.
Also, since Georgie is now married to Darcy and having given up any claim to the throne (she was 34th in line after all!) she seems to be a bit more circumspect in her activities and probably won't be called upon to assist the Royals anymore (more's the pity!).
While Darcy is off on one of his secret missions Georgie is invited by dear friend Belinda to accompany her to Cornwall where Belinda has inherited a derelict cottage. They have quite the adventure when Belinda is accused of murder.
I won’t stop reading the series - I hope Georgie, Queenie and Darcy will have more adventures.
October 2, 2021
I much prefer her Molly Murphy series to these Royal Spyness books. This one was ok! I’d say too many unnecessary household & food details and way too many inane conversations! It just seemed to drag on! I think it’s just not for me, and I understand how so many could love these books that take them to places that make them feel happy! they’re easy reading and comfortable.
I love Jacqueline Winspears, Maisie Dobbs books. Great plots, plus her intrinsic understanding of human behaviour…! they always make for a great read.
I love Jacqueline Winspears, Maisie Dobbs books. Great plots, plus her intrinsic understanding of human behaviour…! they always make for a great read.
April 21, 2024
One of my favorite mystery series plus my all-time favorite book! I loved it. Had a lot of our Royal Spyness aspects added with some Rebecca vibes that made it perfect. It was a retelling of Rebecca where there were enough elements to know how it relates to the source but enough differences to make the mystery still interesting. I loved being with Belinda! I have high hopes for her future, I hope she gets settled eventually. Everything seems to be going her way now.
September 14, 2020
I have read all the books of this series and continue to enjoy the adventures as well as the sleuthing our heroine is always faced with. We get a trip to Cornwall with her friend Belinda where they intend to check out a cottage on the coast Belinda has recently inherited. This turns out to be far more than a bit of escape and enjoyment when they are invited to stay in a stately home by an old acquaintance.
Murder, danger and deceit await the two young women.
Kindle Purchase
Murder, danger and deceit await the two young women.
Kindle Purchase
September 20, 2020
Georgie and Darcy are back at Eynsleigh after their crazy honeymoon in Kenya, but Darcy is off again on another secret adventure while Georgie is left kicking her heels home alone. While Darcy suggests hosting the neighborhood ladies to tea, Georgie can't face the thought of doing so alone, especially not with Queenie in the kitchen. She decides to head to London to see Zou Zou and invite Grandad to stay but both are too busy for Georgie and she's alone again. As luck with have it, Belinda is back from Paris with a new car and a generous new inheritance from her grandmother. Belinda invites Georgie to Cornwall to check out the property she inherited there. "It was a dark and stormy night..." when they arrive in Cornwall and Belinda's new house is not what they expect. Far from the manor house where Belinda spent summers growing up, White Sails is nothing more than a humble cottage and entirely unsuitable. When an intruder arrives in the middle of the night, the friends know they can not stay there. While searching for some place more suitable for them, Belinda runs into an old playmate, Rose, the daughter of her grandmother's cook. Rose is now married to Tony Summers who owns Trewoma Hall, inherited from his first wife, Jonquil Trefusis. Belinda isn't thrilled to accept Rose's offer of a place to stay. For one thing, she never liked Rose and to make matters more awkward, Belinda had a brief fling with Tony awhile ago. Looking on the bright side of things, Georgie assures Belinda all will be well and they don't have to stay long. Matters go from bad to worse when the gloomy atmosphere of the estate starts making the friends feel nervous. Then Rose reveals she thinks her husband is trying to kill her and Tony tries to resume his relationship with Belinda who is not interested. When Georgie awakens late at night to a scream or cry, she spies Belinda standing over Tony's naked, dead body holding a bloody knife. Belinda swears she didn't do it and Georgie believes her friends but the police see an open and shut case. It's up to Georgie to find some answers and figure out who killed Tony and framed Belinda before her friend's newfound freedom is snatched away.
This story is based on Rebecca which I have not read. I looked at the Wikipedia summary after my mom refused to tell me the plot and Georgie's mystery is different but certainly inspired by Rebecca. You have the same gloomy Cornish atmosphere, the autocratic housekeeper, the second wife who isn't good enough and mysterious happenings. Rhys Bowen says she didn't know whodunit until she was halfway through writing but I think it was obvious that it was one of two people or both. I was leaning towards both. I wasn't entirely surprised by the revelation of the murderer but I was shocked by the person's motive. This story is a bit dark but not as bad as I expected. It's missing a lot of the light humor that makes this series so much fun. However, the plot contains some events that may be deeply upsetting to some readers so read cautiously.
It takes too long to get to the murder and even longer for Georgie to investigate. A side plot about the shady man who purchased Belinda's grandmother's home seems pointless. It serves as a convenient plot device to put certain characters in place and nothing more.
I grew to know and love Cornwall watching and reading the The Poldark Saga: Books 1 - 3. I remember the Bodmin moor, the Bodmin jail (now a hotel and apparently old but not the same one as Jim Carter was held in), the estate with rare tropical flowers, the fishing and smuggling and of course Truro jail where Ross was held (alas, that one is also no more by the time of this book). I was delighted to see those references updated for the 1930s setting but still a part of the Cornish way of life. The gloomy atmosphere and Cornish rain makes this a good Halloween read. It's very creepy. I could feel the rain and fog all around me. In Poldark, Cornwall is as much a character as the people and it is the same in this novel to a certain extent. I wished for more about the Cornish people though. I couldn't hear the West Country accent in my head. I don't know what that sounds like in the 1930s. I know the period Cornish dialect of the Poldark saga but in the Poldark stories the speech patterns are different from standard English and Cornish words are used. In the 1930s they all sound like they're speaking standard English to me.
Georgie has really grown and matured a lot. She's smarter and more thoughtful than she was a few years earlier and better at investigating. Georgie has become really good at the spying thing and being undercover. I especially liked how she handled the shop being closed when she was supposed to meet someone in secret. However, she's still elitist and rude to Queenie. Georgie is awful and doesn't care that the only thing to eat in the house is the servants' dinner and if she eats it, they will have to eat toast and drippings. That's completely unacceptable behavior. Belinda has money and Georgie had enough money for a train ticket to London and back and a taxi. They could go out to eat while the servants are literally penniless and need food more than Georgie and Belinda do. I also don't feel sorry for her that she and Belinda weren't brought up with any practical skills and can barely survive a night on their own.
Even though Queenie brings out the worst in Georgie, she also brings out Georgie's compassion. Georgie may be rude at times but she isn't so bad she is willing to get rid of Queenie. As a member of #TeamQueenie, I wanted more of her. I miss her and the humor she provides. The two scenes she has here aren't enough and she's rude and belligerent in response to Georgie's snobbishness. I also really missed Darcy. He's soooo swoony and level-headed when Georgie is either too optimistic or too silly. This time she's all on her own. I missed the romance too. They're so cute together.
I also missed the royal family. Isn't the main charm of the series Georgie's royal connection? I felt sad for her that she missed her family and the adventures she had with them. I can't believe they'd cut her off completely because she renounced her claim to the throne. She's still their cousin! I bet we see them again soon.
Belinda is even more rude and snobby than Georgie. She dismisses the Cornish, she overlooks the most important clue to the investigation because of her elitist views. Her childhood explains a lot about why she is the way she is with men. I was pleased she's swearing off men and focusing on her career. She's realized she isn't Georgie's Mummy after all. I also liked how Georgie realizes that Belinda is relying on HER now rather than the other way around the way it used to be. I don't believe Belinda is a murderer but the situation makes her look guilty and her past history doesn't help. I don't like how Georgie doesn't have 100% faith in her friend. I'm a super loyal friend and I would KNOW my friend would not do something like that if she said she didn't. Everyone seems to think it was self-defense and that would be OK but I don't think that's right either.
A new character Georgie and Belinda meet in Cornwall is Jago. Belinda and Georgie don't like him at first and that's understandable given the not so cute way they meet. That's literally one of my worst fears. They think he's nefarious but I think he's a charming rogue. He reminds Georgie of Darcy and I think he could be Belinda's Darcy. She's a bit snooty because he's NOCD but he seems to care about her enough to try to break down her barriers. I hope we see him again.
The next person they meet is Belinda's Uncle Francis. He is completely despicable and belongs in jail - or worse- in hell. Is it too much to ask that he's a murder victim or a murderer?
I don't like the inhabitants of Trewoma Hall either. Rose sounds like she was a Peter Pettigrew. She was a hanger-on, wanting to be with the cool kids but never good enough. Even if she was a sneak and tattle-tale, I feel sorry for her because Belinda and the cool kids looked down their aristocratic noses at her. They still do. Rose is insecure in her house and her marriage. She craves the comfort and security of a home and money of her own and I don't blame her. She's also terrified her husband is trying to kill her, which doesn't make much sense. I do fault her for not really trying to be a good wife and for not having enough backbone to stand up to Mrs. Mannering.
Mrs. Mannering is super creepy. She's crazy efficient, to the point of being obsessive compulsive about it. She wants everything done as it always has been and won't allow anyone to change anything. This extends to her obsession with the Trefusis family, especially Jonquil, which is super creepy. She won't let anyone use the west wing and has it left as a shrine to the child she raised. She constantly compares Rose unfavorably with Jonquil and doesn't try to accept Rose or allow Rose to manage her own household. Mrs. Mannering probably snoops, eavesdrops and uses what she learns to make it seem like she's an eerie mind reader. She tries too hard to put other people down, for example, she's obsessed with giving people "what they're used to" without knowing exactly what it is they're used to or caring that they might want more or less than they're used to. She doesn't ask. Georgie grew up in a drafty castle in Scotland but because she's a LADY born, Mrs. Mannering believes Georgie is used to the best of everything.
Mrs. Mannering's obsession with breeding is also creepy because none of the people of breeding are likable. Jonquil sounds like a mean girl type and completely awful. She had no redeeming qualities whatsoever but Mrs. Mannering seems to think the sun rose and set on this woman just because she was from an old Cornish family. I did end up feeling sorry for her. Tony is no prize either. He may enjoy farming but he's also a womanizer. I don't fault him for raising rents if they haven't been raised since WWI but he is capitalist and doesn't even consider how people will pay the increased rents during the Depression. I do fault him for his treatment of women. He's awful to his own wife and his brief relationship with Belinda was inappropriate in the circumstances and then to try to resume the relationship, which she broke off, under his roof with his wife right there is completely unacceptable. He didn't deserve to be murdered though.
Tony, Jonquil, Belinda, Rose and the gang of children who spent summers running around Cornwall were a bunch of awful kids. I don't really fault Belinda for going along with the bullies. I know how that feels to want to fit in and not lose your own street cred so you accept the bullying of someone lower down the social scale. What they did to Colin was worse than bullying and the fact they just forgot all about what happened that summer! HOW can you forget such a thing? At 14, Belinda was old enough to understand what happened have it make an impression. You would think it would have made her more cautious. She and Rose should at least make amends to the boy's parents and Belinda should sponsor a holiday in Cornwall for a grammar school kid. Hopefully she will reflect on what happened at least.
The police are as incompetent as ever. Inspector Watt is automatically prejudiced against aristocrats based on what he's heard/been told. He would love to lock up Belinda even if she's innocent just because she's an aristocrat. I didn't appreciate how Georgie tells Belinda not to tell the whole truth even when it will make her seem more guilty but given the lack of brains in this inspector, he would have ended his investigation there and arrested Belinda. Everyone is overlooking the clue Georgie notices. Where did the murder weapon come from? They also ignore poor Old Harry. It was obvious he knew more than he let on and he wasn't such a crazy old man after all. His story sounds terribly tragic and needs more filling in. How did he get to be a homeless vagrant everyone ignores and thinks is crazy? What did he see and what happened to make him crazy?
This wasn't my least favorite of the series but I wish for a return to the charm of the early books! Next: Christmas with the Goebbels? That does not sound light and fun.
Trigger warnings:
The author's note is a good warning but if you need more specific details:
Tony
The villain's motive is also a trigger warning
Nothing is graphic but given the time and place, these things were common and overlooked because females had little value in society.
This story is based on Rebecca which I have not read. I looked at the Wikipedia summary after my mom refused to tell me the plot and Georgie's mystery is different but certainly inspired by Rebecca. You have the same gloomy Cornish atmosphere, the autocratic housekeeper, the second wife who isn't good enough and mysterious happenings. Rhys Bowen says she didn't know whodunit until she was halfway through writing but I think it was obvious that it was one of two people or both. I was leaning towards both. I wasn't entirely surprised by the revelation of the murderer but I was shocked by the person's motive. This story is a bit dark but not as bad as I expected. It's missing a lot of the light humor that makes this series so much fun. However, the plot contains some events that may be deeply upsetting to some readers so read cautiously.
It takes too long to get to the murder and even longer for Georgie to investigate. A side plot about the shady man who purchased Belinda's grandmother's home seems pointless. It serves as a convenient plot device to put certain characters in place and nothing more.
I grew to know and love Cornwall watching and reading the The Poldark Saga: Books 1 - 3. I remember the Bodmin moor, the Bodmin jail (now a hotel and apparently old but not the same one as Jim Carter was held in), the estate with rare tropical flowers, the fishing and smuggling and of course Truro jail where Ross was held (alas, that one is also no more by the time of this book). I was delighted to see those references updated for the 1930s setting but still a part of the Cornish way of life. The gloomy atmosphere and Cornish rain makes this a good Halloween read. It's very creepy. I could feel the rain and fog all around me. In Poldark, Cornwall is as much a character as the people and it is the same in this novel to a certain extent. I wished for more about the Cornish people though. I couldn't hear the West Country accent in my head. I don't know what that sounds like in the 1930s. I know the period Cornish dialect of the Poldark saga but in the Poldark stories the speech patterns are different from standard English and Cornish words are used. In the 1930s they all sound like they're speaking standard English to me.
Georgie has really grown and matured a lot. She's smarter and more thoughtful than she was a few years earlier and better at investigating. Georgie has become really good at the spying thing and being undercover. I especially liked how she handled the shop being closed when she was supposed to meet someone in secret. However, she's still elitist and rude to Queenie. Georgie is awful and doesn't care that the only thing to eat in the house is the servants' dinner and if she eats it, they will have to eat toast and drippings. That's completely unacceptable behavior. Belinda has money and Georgie had enough money for a train ticket to London and back and a taxi. They could go out to eat while the servants are literally penniless and need food more than Georgie and Belinda do. I also don't feel sorry for her that she and Belinda weren't brought up with any practical skills and can barely survive a night on their own.
Even though Queenie brings out the worst in Georgie, she also brings out Georgie's compassion. Georgie may be rude at times but she isn't so bad she is willing to get rid of Queenie. As a member of #TeamQueenie, I wanted more of her. I miss her and the humor she provides. The two scenes she has here aren't enough and she's rude and belligerent in response to Georgie's snobbishness. I also really missed Darcy. He's soooo swoony and level-headed when Georgie is either too optimistic or too silly. This time she's all on her own. I missed the romance too. They're so cute together.
I also missed the royal family. Isn't the main charm of the series Georgie's royal connection? I felt sad for her that she missed her family and the adventures she had with them. I can't believe they'd cut her off completely because she renounced her claim to the throne. She's still their cousin! I bet we see them again soon.
Belinda is even more rude and snobby than Georgie. She dismisses the Cornish, she overlooks the most important clue to the investigation because of her elitist views. Her childhood explains a lot about why she is the way she is with men. I was pleased she's swearing off men and focusing on her career. She's realized she isn't Georgie's Mummy after all. I also liked how Georgie realizes that Belinda is relying on HER now rather than the other way around the way it used to be. I don't believe Belinda is a murderer but the situation makes her look guilty and her past history doesn't help. I don't like how Georgie doesn't have 100% faith in her friend. I'm a super loyal friend and I would KNOW my friend would not do something like that if she said she didn't. Everyone seems to think it was self-defense and that would be OK but I don't think that's right either.
A new character Georgie and Belinda meet in Cornwall is Jago. Belinda and Georgie don't like him at first and that's understandable given the not so cute way they meet. That's literally one of my worst fears. They think he's nefarious but I think he's a charming rogue. He reminds Georgie of Darcy and I think he could be Belinda's Darcy. She's a bit snooty because he's NOCD but he seems to care about her enough to try to break down her barriers. I hope we see him again.
The next person they meet is Belinda's Uncle Francis. He is completely despicable and belongs in jail - or worse- in hell. Is it too much to ask that he's a murder victim or a murderer?
I don't like the inhabitants of Trewoma Hall either. Rose sounds like she was a Peter Pettigrew. She was a hanger-on, wanting to be with the cool kids but never good enough. Even if she was a sneak and tattle-tale, I feel sorry for her because Belinda and the cool kids looked down their aristocratic noses at her. They still do. Rose is insecure in her house and her marriage. She craves the comfort and security of a home and money of her own and I don't blame her. She's also terrified her husband is trying to kill her, which doesn't make much sense. I do fault her for not really trying to be a good wife and for not having enough backbone to stand up to Mrs. Mannering.
Mrs. Mannering is super creepy. She's crazy efficient, to the point of being obsessive compulsive about it. She wants everything done as it always has been and won't allow anyone to change anything. This extends to her obsession with the Trefusis family, especially Jonquil, which is super creepy. She won't let anyone use the west wing and has it left as a shrine to the child she raised. She constantly compares Rose unfavorably with Jonquil and doesn't try to accept Rose or allow Rose to manage her own household. Mrs. Mannering probably snoops, eavesdrops and uses what she learns to make it seem like she's an eerie mind reader. She tries too hard to put other people down, for example, she's obsessed with giving people "what they're used to" without knowing exactly what it is they're used to or caring that they might want more or less than they're used to. She doesn't ask. Georgie grew up in a drafty castle in Scotland but because she's a LADY born, Mrs. Mannering believes Georgie is used to the best of everything.
Mrs. Mannering's obsession with breeding is also creepy because none of the people of breeding are likable. Jonquil sounds like a mean girl type and completely awful. She had no redeeming qualities whatsoever but Mrs. Mannering seems to think the sun rose and set on this woman just because she was from an old Cornish family. I did end up feeling sorry for her. Tony is no prize either. He may enjoy farming but he's also a womanizer. I don't fault him for raising rents if they haven't been raised since WWI but he is capitalist and doesn't even consider how people will pay the increased rents during the Depression. I do fault him for his treatment of women. He's awful to his own wife and his brief relationship with Belinda was inappropriate in the circumstances and then to try to resume the relationship, which she broke off, under his roof with his wife right there is completely unacceptable. He didn't deserve to be murdered though.
Tony, Jonquil, Belinda, Rose and the gang of children who spent summers running around Cornwall were a bunch of awful kids. I don't really fault Belinda for going along with the bullies. I know how that feels to want to fit in and not lose your own street cred so you accept the bullying of someone lower down the social scale. What they did to Colin was worse than bullying and the fact they just forgot all about what happened that summer! HOW can you forget such a thing? At 14, Belinda was old enough to understand what happened have it make an impression. You would think it would have made her more cautious. She and Rose should at least make amends to the boy's parents and Belinda should sponsor a holiday in Cornwall for a grammar school kid. Hopefully she will reflect on what happened at least.
The police are as incompetent as ever. Inspector Watt is automatically prejudiced against aristocrats based on what he's heard/been told. He would love to lock up Belinda even if she's innocent just because she's an aristocrat. I didn't appreciate how Georgie tells Belinda not to tell the whole truth even when it will make her seem more guilty but given the lack of brains in this inspector, he would have ended his investigation there and arrested Belinda. Everyone is overlooking the clue Georgie notices. Where did the murder weapon come from? They also ignore poor Old Harry. It was obvious he knew more than he let on and he wasn't such a crazy old man after all. His story sounds terribly tragic and needs more filling in. How did he get to be a homeless vagrant everyone ignores and thinks is crazy? What did he see and what happened to make him crazy?
This wasn't my least favorite of the series but I wish for a return to the charm of the early books! Next: Christmas with the Goebbels? That does not sound light and fun.
Trigger warnings:
The author's note is a good warning but if you need more specific details:
Tony
The villain's motive is also a trigger warning
Nothing is graphic but given the time and place, these things were common and overlooked because females had little value in society.
August 20, 2020
Before I started reading The Last Mrs. Summers, I had heard the author Rhys Bowen talk about being inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca for its creation. Knowing going into this book that there would be shades of one of my all-time favorite books in its storyline was Pavlov ringing the bell. And, knowing that one of my favorite contemporary authors had created this new story was a guarantee that I had a memorable reading experience in store for me. But, could that all-consuming atmosphere that permeated every page of Rebecca and every pore of your skin be recreated? The answer is a resounding yes. Rhys Bowen did a brilliant job of ensuring that the crucial element of atmosphere never lagged. So many of my favorite trope boxes were checked in The Last Mrs. Summers. English countryside, large estate, cottage, romantic attraction of seemingly opposites, a scary housekeeper, a laid-out breakfast (yes, that’s important), sea cliffs, the sea, secret caves, and the delicious revenge served up cold. Well, to say I was in my reader’s paradise would come close to capturing the sustainable thrill I enjoyed throughout every page.
It is fall 1935 and Lady Georgiana, now Mrs./Lady Georgiana O'Mara, is back from her Kenya honeymoon with Darcy and ensconced in their home sweet home of Eynsleigh, a generous gift from Georgie’s former step-father. The biggest problem Georgie has is wondering who she is going to hire as a cook to replace Queenie, who is a deft hand at baking, but not so much main meal fare. Georgie and Darcy have barely unpacked their suitcases when Darcy gets called up on one of his mysterious missions for the Crown, with Georgie not knowing where he's off to. Left by herself with a few staff, including the ever-exasperating Queenie, Georgie goes searching for company in London, first to her friend Zou Zou and then to Georgie’s grandfather. Neither of those work out, and she thinks her best friend Belinda is still in France, so it’s back to Enysleigh for Georgie. To Georgie’s delight, she finds Belinda there wanting a travel companion.
Belinda, who has had financial uncertainty in common with Georgie in the past, is now a rich woman due to the settlement of her grandmother’s estate, and one of the less impressive inherited properties include a cottage in Cornwall. Belinda is off to check out the cottage, and, with little urging, Georgie agrees to join her on the trip. After a wild ride in Belinda’s new sports car, the friends arrive after dark at the seaside cottage called White Sails. Its state of disrepair is anything but inviting, but being a remote area, Georgie and Belinda must spend the night in its chilly structure. After a night of discomfort and a surprise visitor, the friends decide they must find another place to reside while assessing the cottage’s needed repairs. Belinda, who used to spend summers with her grandmother in a lovely large house in the area, knows that it won’t be easy to find a place. But, as has often happened with Georgie and Belinda, a chance encounter, this time with an old childhood acquaintance of Belinda’s, produces an invitation from the acquaintance, Rose, to stay with her and her husband at their grand home called Trewoma. Although Belinda has some good reasons to refuse the offer, the overriding need for shelter yields to acceptance.
And, so we come to Manderly, I mean Trewoma, where it is one delightful trope after another that mirrors the novel Rebecca. Rich widowed man (Tony Summers) marries mousey woman (Rose) who is undermined by the creepy housekeeper, who seems to appear out of thin air at times. The death of the man’s first wife haunts the home and is a constant reminder to Rose, the second wife, just how much she falls short of her role as mistress of the house. Georgie is already having uneasy feelings about the inhabitants of Trewoma when one of the household is found murdered. To extricate Belinda and herself from a murder investigation, Georgie will have to dig deep and determine what part the past has played in the present circumstances. Lots of surprises and twists ensue.
What a gift this book was to this reader, who was swept away into the perfect reading adventure. One of my favorite books in one of my favorite series! I adored the similarities to Rebecca, but there is no mistaking that this is a Royal Spyness book. Lady Georgie is clearly at the helm of the action and proving her mettle quite impressively. Georgie has come a long way from the directionless, wandering Royal extra she began the series as. While she remains our loveable, trouble magnet, Georgie has come into her own as a strong, reliable partner, friend, and descendant of Queen Victoria. Rhys Bowen is a master at creating characters readers can’t get enough of and stories in which they persevere, while including a good dose of humor and optimism. Readers of this series have a treat in store for them with The Last Mrs. Summers.
It is fall 1935 and Lady Georgiana, now Mrs./Lady Georgiana O'Mara, is back from her Kenya honeymoon with Darcy and ensconced in their home sweet home of Eynsleigh, a generous gift from Georgie’s former step-father. The biggest problem Georgie has is wondering who she is going to hire as a cook to replace Queenie, who is a deft hand at baking, but not so much main meal fare. Georgie and Darcy have barely unpacked their suitcases when Darcy gets called up on one of his mysterious missions for the Crown, with Georgie not knowing where he's off to. Left by herself with a few staff, including the ever-exasperating Queenie, Georgie goes searching for company in London, first to her friend Zou Zou and then to Georgie’s grandfather. Neither of those work out, and she thinks her best friend Belinda is still in France, so it’s back to Enysleigh for Georgie. To Georgie’s delight, she finds Belinda there wanting a travel companion.
Belinda, who has had financial uncertainty in common with Georgie in the past, is now a rich woman due to the settlement of her grandmother’s estate, and one of the less impressive inherited properties include a cottage in Cornwall. Belinda is off to check out the cottage, and, with little urging, Georgie agrees to join her on the trip. After a wild ride in Belinda’s new sports car, the friends arrive after dark at the seaside cottage called White Sails. Its state of disrepair is anything but inviting, but being a remote area, Georgie and Belinda must spend the night in its chilly structure. After a night of discomfort and a surprise visitor, the friends decide they must find another place to reside while assessing the cottage’s needed repairs. Belinda, who used to spend summers with her grandmother in a lovely large house in the area, knows that it won’t be easy to find a place. But, as has often happened with Georgie and Belinda, a chance encounter, this time with an old childhood acquaintance of Belinda’s, produces an invitation from the acquaintance, Rose, to stay with her and her husband at their grand home called Trewoma. Although Belinda has some good reasons to refuse the offer, the overriding need for shelter yields to acceptance.
And, so we come to Manderly, I mean Trewoma, where it is one delightful trope after another that mirrors the novel Rebecca. Rich widowed man (Tony Summers) marries mousey woman (Rose) who is undermined by the creepy housekeeper, who seems to appear out of thin air at times. The death of the man’s first wife haunts the home and is a constant reminder to Rose, the second wife, just how much she falls short of her role as mistress of the house. Georgie is already having uneasy feelings about the inhabitants of Trewoma when one of the household is found murdered. To extricate Belinda and herself from a murder investigation, Georgie will have to dig deep and determine what part the past has played in the present circumstances. Lots of surprises and twists ensue.
What a gift this book was to this reader, who was swept away into the perfect reading adventure. One of my favorite books in one of my favorite series! I adored the similarities to Rebecca, but there is no mistaking that this is a Royal Spyness book. Lady Georgie is clearly at the helm of the action and proving her mettle quite impressively. Georgie has come a long way from the directionless, wandering Royal extra she began the series as. While she remains our loveable, trouble magnet, Georgie has come into her own as a strong, reliable partner, friend, and descendant of Queen Victoria. Rhys Bowen is a master at creating characters readers can’t get enough of and stories in which they persevere, while including a good dose of humor and optimism. Readers of this series have a treat in store for them with The Last Mrs. Summers.
December 14, 2024
A bit melodramatic at the end, but still good!
June 7, 2020
Georgie, of Her Royal Spyness fame, travels to Cornwall with her friend Belinda, who has inherited a cottage there from her late grandmother.
They meet Rose, an old childhood acquaintance of Belinda's, who invites them to stay at her mansion, where Rose lives in lonely splendor, waiting for her husband Tony to return from his business travels.
The author says this book is loosely based on DuMaurier's Rebecca, but the plot is different enough to make it interesting. There is a spooky and threatening housekeeper who runs things efficiently, as in Rebecca, and Rose seems out of her comfort zone in the stately mansion, as did the heroine of DuMaurier's novel. However, there is enough difference to make the mystery novel suspenseful enough to keep your interest. There is a murder, for one.
I give this a five for entertainment and originality in spinning the plot of Rebecca into a new weave!
They meet Rose, an old childhood acquaintance of Belinda's, who invites them to stay at her mansion, where Rose lives in lonely splendor, waiting for her husband Tony to return from his business travels.
The author says this book is loosely based on DuMaurier's Rebecca, but the plot is different enough to make it interesting. There is a spooky and threatening housekeeper who runs things efficiently, as in Rebecca, and Rose seems out of her comfort zone in the stately mansion, as did the heroine of DuMaurier's novel. However, there is enough difference to make the mystery novel suspenseful enough to keep your interest. There is a murder, for one.
I give this a five for entertainment and originality in spinning the plot of Rebecca into a new weave!
May 22, 2020
I always look forward to a new Royal Spyness mystery, but for me The Last Mrs. Summers was just okay.
Georgie gave Belinda bad advice during the aftermath of the murder and I just didn’t think it was in her character to encourage a lie.
The suspect was obvious. This is not something that disqualifies a mystery for me, but the suspect was never on anyone’s radar and that is usually not the case with these mysteries.
I have always disliked the Queenie character and was hoping Rhys Bowen would leave her at Darcy’s relatives in Ireland. Georgie is not her best self around Queenie. Georgie will chastise her, then defend her in the same breath. This dynamic has run its course for me.
The energy is always better when Georgie and Darcy are together. I hope the next book has them working as a team again. I keep thinking that it’s 1935, the war is coming, and they need to make plans!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC
Georgie gave Belinda bad advice during the aftermath of the murder and I just didn’t think it was in her character to encourage a lie.
The suspect was obvious. This is not something that disqualifies a mystery for me, but the suspect was never on anyone’s radar and that is usually not the case with these mysteries.
I have always disliked the Queenie character and was hoping Rhys Bowen would leave her at Darcy’s relatives in Ireland. Georgie is not her best self around Queenie. Georgie will chastise her, then defend her in the same breath. This dynamic has run its course for me.
The energy is always better when Georgie and Darcy are together. I hope the next book has them working as a team again. I keep thinking that it’s 1935, the war is coming, and they need to make plans!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC
August 31, 2020
Me thinks the author has run out of gas......
January 25, 2021
A very enjoyable read. What should’ve been a simple girls’ trip to explore an inheritance turns into a race to save Georgie’s friend. Interesting characters and twisty premise. 4.5 stars.
March 21, 2022
Great time! It seems Mystery March Madness is going well. This was my first read from Rhys Bowen! Apparently the author has an AC writing style and perhaps that is why it felt so familiar and delightful reading experience. I’m looking forward to reading more. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries. So much fun!
August 8, 2020
The worst thing about this series is that now I’m done, and I have to wait for the next installment.
This isn’t great literature that’s going to set the world on fire, but Georgie and company are wonderful companions when you want to get away. It’s cozy mystery at its best.
Loved the “Rebecca” homage storyline, the heavy dose of Belinda, just right amounts of Darcy, and the broody setting in Cornwall. My only complaint is there was no Queen Mary and not enough Queenie and Grandfather in this one.
This isn’t great literature that’s going to set the world on fire, but Georgie and company are wonderful companions when you want to get away. It’s cozy mystery at its best.
Loved the “Rebecca” homage storyline, the heavy dose of Belinda, just right amounts of Darcy, and the broody setting in Cornwall. My only complaint is there was no Queen Mary and not enough Queenie and Grandfather in this one.
November 6, 2020
I'm a big fan of this series, though this book was not one of my favorites- 3.5 rounded down to 3. Compared to others in the series, I found the mystery in this book less interesting and the supporting characters less intriguing. It also lacks some of the charming humor of the other books. There are a few funny/awkward moments for Georgie, but not enough, given the other weaknesses of the book. The location (Cornwall) is also not interesting enough to make up for the less compelling mystery and supporting characters.
All that said, I look forward to the next book in the series!
All that said, I look forward to the next book in the series!
June 1, 2022
After some heavy reading, I chose something a lot lighter, but The Last Mrs. Summers was probably too light. This is the 14th book in the Her Royal Spyness series and while I have enjoyed them all, they are getting a bit to repetitive. Long story short: Georgie is bored leading to some excursion that quickly goes wrong, then there is a lot of wishing she hadn’t done it leading to some researching and action that ends in blissful happiness. The last part is of course exactly, why I read these kinds of stories and yet… it is not sustainable for long!
August 24, 2020
This was one of those books I didn't want to read fast because I didn't want it to end. The balance between mystery and comedy is just right for my taste. The Royal Spyness mystery series has been a good read and there is more to come.
August 6, 2020
Every year, for many years now, I’ve set aside a day. If I’m lucky, and there are no distractions, it’s a whole delicious day devoted to Rhys Bowen. This year that day came August 4, when I cracked open the new Lady Georgie mystery, The Last Mrs. Summers, Rhys Bowen’s take on the classic Rebecca.
Georgie is a newlywed with her own house to run – Queenie making scones in the kitchen and starting (hardly any) fires – and life with Darcy to enjoy. Unfortunately, in the first chapter Darcy is off on assignment and when the lonely Georgie goes up to town her friends and even her grandfather are all busy. Dejected, she heads back home, only to run into her buddy Belinda, who has just inherited a place in Cornwall. She and Georgie decide to head to Cornwall to check it out together in quick order.
Even though Belinda had spent summers in Cornwall with her grandmother, the two women have a tricky time finding the remote fishing cottage she’s inherited, one that’s poorly equipped for any kind of comfort. The basement bathroom without a door sends them into town the next day looking for better accommodations.
That’s where they run into Rose, childhood playmate of Georgie’s, now married to another childhood friend, Tony, and living in one of the poshest mansions in town. She begs them to stay with her, which is awkward because Tony and Belinda had an affair before his first marriage, but Rose is insistent.
The two women turn up at the house to be greeted by the most efficient and creepiest housekeeper of all time, Mrs. Mannering. Readers of Rebecca will see her likeness to the creepy Mrs. Danvers in pretty quick order. Things at Rose’s house seem off in lots of ways. Rose’s mother was a cook and the servants have trouble treating her respectfully, and Belinda is frankly puzzled that the dashing Tony has married the dowdy Rose.
When Tony turns up dead and Belinda is accused of the murder, the mystery becomes far more tricky. Because Bowen is such a master of her craft, she can write a truly tricky mystery despite supplying the reader with very few suspects, as well as having the template of Rebecca guiding the proceedings. A lesser writer could not pull it off.
I will say your enjoyment of the novel will be helped if you are also a fan of Rebecca, but the story, the characters, and the Cornwall setting are treasure enough for any reader. This year’s Rhys Bowen day was not spent in vain. But now, I have to wait another full year for the next Rhys Bowen day….
Georgie is a newlywed with her own house to run – Queenie making scones in the kitchen and starting (hardly any) fires – and life with Darcy to enjoy. Unfortunately, in the first chapter Darcy is off on assignment and when the lonely Georgie goes up to town her friends and even her grandfather are all busy. Dejected, she heads back home, only to run into her buddy Belinda, who has just inherited a place in Cornwall. She and Georgie decide to head to Cornwall to check it out together in quick order.
Even though Belinda had spent summers in Cornwall with her grandmother, the two women have a tricky time finding the remote fishing cottage she’s inherited, one that’s poorly equipped for any kind of comfort. The basement bathroom without a door sends them into town the next day looking for better accommodations.
That’s where they run into Rose, childhood playmate of Georgie’s, now married to another childhood friend, Tony, and living in one of the poshest mansions in town. She begs them to stay with her, which is awkward because Tony and Belinda had an affair before his first marriage, but Rose is insistent.
The two women turn up at the house to be greeted by the most efficient and creepiest housekeeper of all time, Mrs. Mannering. Readers of Rebecca will see her likeness to the creepy Mrs. Danvers in pretty quick order. Things at Rose’s house seem off in lots of ways. Rose’s mother was a cook and the servants have trouble treating her respectfully, and Belinda is frankly puzzled that the dashing Tony has married the dowdy Rose.
When Tony turns up dead and Belinda is accused of the murder, the mystery becomes far more tricky. Because Bowen is such a master of her craft, she can write a truly tricky mystery despite supplying the reader with very few suspects, as well as having the template of Rebecca guiding the proceedings. A lesser writer could not pull it off.
I will say your enjoyment of the novel will be helped if you are also a fan of Rebecca, but the story, the characters, and the Cornwall setting are treasure enough for any reader. This year’s Rhys Bowen day was not spent in vain. But now, I have to wait another full year for the next Rhys Bowen day….
February 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It's part homage to Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca, part whodunit, part satire of the upper classes in 1930's Britain.
June 17, 2022
A very nice circa 1930’s Cornwall mystery.
January 9, 2024
This cozy mystery series always puts a smile on my face and is a nice change of pace from my steamy romances
August 18, 2021
October 14, 1935. Eynsleigh, Sussex. Rhys Bowen’s The Last Mrs. Summers (Royal Spyness Mystery #14 & final book of this fine series) finds Georgie married for three months to The Honorable Darcy O’ Mars and living in a large country house, Eynsleigh in Sussex. Georgie discovers that Sir Hubert Anstruther, one of her mother’s former husbands, is leaving his home, Eynsleigh, to Georgie in his will, and until that ‘time’ has invited Georgie and Darcy to live at Eynsleigh and consider it their home. Darcy is off on one of his secret missions for the government, and Georgie is trying to figure out how to spend her time. Enter: Belinda, Georgie’s best friend, who has just inherited her grandmother’s estate which includes among other goodies , a cottage in Cornwall. So off they go in Belinda’s new
Aston Martin Le Mans to check out White Sails, the cottage in Cornwall only to find it uninhabitable. While Belinda and Georgie are trying to find a place to stay, they run into a childhood acquaintance of Belinda’s who has married another childhood friend, and they are living in Trewoma Hall, a large beautiful estate with plenty of room. Rose invites them to stay with her and her husband, Tony Summers. Belinda is hesitant, but what choice do they have? One thing leads to another when a death occurs in Belinda’s room, and she is holding a bloody weapon. Georgie, who has been involved in solving other crimes, realizes that she must clear Belinda as she knows that she is innocent, but can she prove it? The author involves the local constable who must call another law officer in a different town. Scotland Yard is even called. In the background is an ultra efficient housekeeper ( think Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca) who is taking excellent care of everyone while everyone waits for all the law officials to arrive. The author tied the end of this series with twists and turns so well, I just could not stop reading. Beautifully done. Highly recommended! 5 stars.
Aston Martin Le Mans to check out White Sails, the cottage in Cornwall only to find it uninhabitable. While Belinda and Georgie are trying to find a place to stay, they run into a childhood acquaintance of Belinda’s who has married another childhood friend, and they are living in Trewoma Hall, a large beautiful estate with plenty of room. Rose invites them to stay with her and her husband, Tony Summers. Belinda is hesitant, but what choice do they have? One thing leads to another when a death occurs in Belinda’s room, and she is holding a bloody weapon. Georgie, who has been involved in solving other crimes, realizes that she must clear Belinda as she knows that she is innocent, but can she prove it? The author involves the local constable who must call another law officer in a different town. Scotland Yard is even called. In the background is an ultra efficient housekeeper ( think Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca) who is taking excellent care of everyone while everyone waits for all the law officials to arrive. The author tied the end of this series with twists and turns so well, I just could not stop reading. Beautifully done. Highly recommended! 5 stars.
August 20, 2020
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the E-galley in exchange for my honest review.
I haven’t visited Georgie, Darcy, and company for quite a while. I read the first few books in the series and then it got away from me. That’s all to say I wasn’t lost jumping back in at this late date.
Darcy is off on assignment leaving Georgie at loose ends. When Belinda asks her to accompany her as she takes a look at a Cornwall cottage she’s inherited Georgie accepts. In due course they find themselves involved in a mystery and among the suspects of a murder. Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Well, parts are but other parts are laugh out loud funny. I was completely invested in the crime solving and can’t wait to read another of this wonderful series. Highly recommended to fans of the genre!
Note: I also used an Audible credit to listen when I couldn’t sit and read. Narrator Jasmine Blackborow did a fabulous job voicing the various characters. What a treat!
I haven’t visited Georgie, Darcy, and company for quite a while. I read the first few books in the series and then it got away from me. That’s all to say I wasn’t lost jumping back in at this late date.
Darcy is off on assignment leaving Georgie at loose ends. When Belinda asks her to accompany her as she takes a look at a Cornwall cottage she’s inherited Georgie accepts. In due course they find themselves involved in a mystery and among the suspects of a murder. Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Well, parts are but other parts are laugh out loud funny. I was completely invested in the crime solving and can’t wait to read another of this wonderful series. Highly recommended to fans of the genre!
Note: I also used an Audible credit to listen when I couldn’t sit and read. Narrator Jasmine Blackborow did a fabulous job voicing the various characters. What a treat!
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