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Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #6
Death on the Royal Yacht
Not yet published
Expected 15 Oct 26THE ROYALLY RIVETING SIXTH BOOK IN THE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY SERIES - NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER IN HARDBACK, EBOOK & AUDIOBOOK!
It's 1966 and Queen Elizabeth II is touring the Caribbean aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Her schedule is measured in ten-minute increments for five weeks, and nothing can afford to go wrong.
But something does. Early in the trip, the Queen's new diary secretary, Pamela Sinclair, is found dead in her cabin. Rumours abound about how she died, but the truth is, nobody really knows. However, this time, suspicion falls on the Queen's longstanding confidante, Joan McGraw.
The royal yacht is a busy, working ship, from the admiral at the bridge to the chefs in the galleys and the engineers attending to the turbines. It houses a crew of hundreds. Is one of them a murderer?
The Queen and Joan, must use every skill and trick to solve the mystery while seeming to glide, unflustered, from one be-hatted engagement to the next, as the multi-island visit unfolds with the whole world watching.
PRAISE FOR S.J. BENNETT'S HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY
'A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth' - Good Housekeeping
'A flawless gem. A perfect score on the '3 Cs': charm, character and comedy' - CJ Wray
'The most unique sleuth you're ever likely to encounter' - Benjamin Stevenson
'James Bond in pearls and a twinset. Cracking story, joyfully researched' - Angela Clarke
'A cache of insider information and a satisfyingly twisty plot' - Jane Thynne
'A pitch-perfect murder mystery' - Ruth Ware
'A masterclass from start to finish' - Ian Moore
'Written with wit and brio' - Daily Express
'Miss Marple with a crown' - Daily Mirror
'Bennett strikes gold' - Publishers Weekly
'Delightfully charming' - Adele Parks
'Pure confection' - New York Times
'Warm & witty' - Woman&Home
'A delightful read' - BBC Radio 2
'I loved it' - Joanne Harris
'A total joy' - Nina Stibbe
'Charming' - Guardian
'What a hoot!' - Saga
It's 1966 and Queen Elizabeth II is touring the Caribbean aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Her schedule is measured in ten-minute increments for five weeks, and nothing can afford to go wrong.
But something does. Early in the trip, the Queen's new diary secretary, Pamela Sinclair, is found dead in her cabin. Rumours abound about how she died, but the truth is, nobody really knows. However, this time, suspicion falls on the Queen's longstanding confidante, Joan McGraw.
The royal yacht is a busy, working ship, from the admiral at the bridge to the chefs in the galleys and the engineers attending to the turbines. It houses a crew of hundreds. Is one of them a murderer?
The Queen and Joan, must use every skill and trick to solve the mystery while seeming to glide, unflustered, from one be-hatted engagement to the next, as the multi-island visit unfolds with the whole world watching.
PRAISE FOR S.J. BENNETT'S HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY
'A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth' - Good Housekeeping
'A flawless gem. A perfect score on the '3 Cs': charm, character and comedy' - CJ Wray
'The most unique sleuth you're ever likely to encounter' - Benjamin Stevenson
'James Bond in pearls and a twinset. Cracking story, joyfully researched' - Angela Clarke
'A cache of insider information and a satisfyingly twisty plot' - Jane Thynne
'A pitch-perfect murder mystery' - Ruth Ware
'A masterclass from start to finish' - Ian Moore
'Written with wit and brio' - Daily Express
'Miss Marple with a crown' - Daily Mirror
'Bennett strikes gold' - Publishers Weekly
'Delightfully charming' - Adele Parks
'Pure confection' - New York Times
'Warm & witty' - Woman&Home
'A delightful read' - BBC Radio 2
'I loved it' - Joanne Harris
'A total joy' - Nina Stibbe
'Charming' - Guardian
'What a hoot!' - Saga
- GenresMysteryHistoricalCozy
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 15, 2026
About the author
S.J. Bennett
14 books1,267 followersAuthor of the bestselling series featuring Queen Elizabeth II as a well-placed secret sleuth.
You can find her on Instagram @sophiabennett_writer and sign up to her author newsletter at sjbennettbooks.com
Podcast: Prepublished. Conversations with authors and editors about what it takes to get your book published. Available via sjbennettbooks.com
Sophia does not correspond directly via Goodreads. (Beware scammers. Honestly, who are these people?) You can contact her via her website.
Series:
The Windsor Knot
A Three Dog Problem (aka All The Queen's Men)
Murder Most Royal
A Death in Diamonds
The Queen Who Came In From the Cold
Death on the Royal Yacht
You can find her on Instagram @sophiabennett_writer and sign up to her author newsletter at sjbennettbooks.com
Podcast: Prepublished. Conversations with authors and editors about what it takes to get your book published. Available via sjbennettbooks.com
Sophia does not correspond directly via Goodreads. (Beware scammers. Honestly, who are these people?) You can contact her via her website.
Series:
The Windsor Knot
A Three Dog Problem (aka All The Queen's Men)
Murder Most Royal
A Death in Diamonds
The Queen Who Came In From the Cold
Death on the Royal Yacht
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To read this book, I had to violate one of my “rules” – no circuses, no ships, no fairs (state or world). This is one of my favorite series however, so I was forced to make an exception. Along with Allison Montclair, Bennett writes one of the smartest, most tightly plotted series around. If you love the golden age schematic but welcome an update, these are the books for you. Set on the Royal Yacht in 1966, we follow the Queen’s tour of the Caribbean. As always the central character is the Queen’s personal assistant, Joan McGraw, but also as always, when a dead body crops up, it’s the united efforts of the Queen and Joan that solve the crime.
These are slyly feminist books. The Queen is surrounded by mansplainers – including Prince Philip – and Joan, a highly placed and successful woman, is viewed by staff as a bit unapproachable and cold. The Queen has a personal assistant as well as security detail who like to think they solve the crimes that pop up, but they are wrong, as the Queen gently and subtly guides them to a solution after she has figured everything out.
The body in question is that of a glamorous young woman, Pamela, who was sensational to look at and extremely bold. She had been driving Joan a bit crazy but Joan is all in when it comes to searching for the reason behind her death, an apparent overdose. Joan and the Queen aren’t so sure it’s that simple and of course they are correct.
What’s so strong about these books are not just the settings – and this one, aboard the Royal Yacht, is a delight – but the way the Queen’s household functions, with the Queen’s day and schedule broken up into 5 minute increments. Elizabeth as portrayed by Bennett is dutiful and intelligent with a wicked sense of humor. She and Joan have a wonderful partnership which involves mutual trust and appreciation of the other’s intelligence. It’s a lovely portrayal of friendship.
The other part that’s really strong are the mysteries themselves. The one in this novel is quite complex and though Bennett never leaves the reader behind, you still might not quite be catching up with the intelligence of her plot. There are red herrings, an array of suspects, and an incorrect solution before the Queen gently supplies the correct one, one which has been fairly laid out, clues and all. These are “cozy” in the way Agatha Christie is cozy – there’s a high body count, and there are some dark undertones though the ultimate tone of the story is lighter and more hopeful, which slides it into cozy territory. Bennett is still writing about the loss of a child, drug use, and racism, but it’s organically integrated into the plot.
I’ve been telling people since the first book to try this series, especially if traditional detection is your favorite type of story. The Queen is technically an amateur detective, but she has some world class support. She can go wherever she wants to, and where she can’t be seen, there’s Joan. These books really could not be better.
These are slyly feminist books. The Queen is surrounded by mansplainers – including Prince Philip – and Joan, a highly placed and successful woman, is viewed by staff as a bit unapproachable and cold. The Queen has a personal assistant as well as security detail who like to think they solve the crimes that pop up, but they are wrong, as the Queen gently and subtly guides them to a solution after she has figured everything out.
The body in question is that of a glamorous young woman, Pamela, who was sensational to look at and extremely bold. She had been driving Joan a bit crazy but Joan is all in when it comes to searching for the reason behind her death, an apparent overdose. Joan and the Queen aren’t so sure it’s that simple and of course they are correct.
What’s so strong about these books are not just the settings – and this one, aboard the Royal Yacht, is a delight – but the way the Queen’s household functions, with the Queen’s day and schedule broken up into 5 minute increments. Elizabeth as portrayed by Bennett is dutiful and intelligent with a wicked sense of humor. She and Joan have a wonderful partnership which involves mutual trust and appreciation of the other’s intelligence. It’s a lovely portrayal of friendship.
The other part that’s really strong are the mysteries themselves. The one in this novel is quite complex and though Bennett never leaves the reader behind, you still might not quite be catching up with the intelligence of her plot. There are red herrings, an array of suspects, and an incorrect solution before the Queen gently supplies the correct one, one which has been fairly laid out, clues and all. These are “cozy” in the way Agatha Christie is cozy – there’s a high body count, and there are some dark undertones though the ultimate tone of the story is lighter and more hopeful, which slides it into cozy territory. Bennett is still writing about the loss of a child, drug use, and racism, but it’s organically integrated into the plot.
I’ve been telling people since the first book to try this series, especially if traditional detection is your favorite type of story. The Queen is technically an amateur detective, but she has some world class support. She can go wherever she wants to, and where she can’t be seen, there’s Joan. These books really could not be better.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This wonderful and compelling newest instalment brings us on a tour of the Caribbean islands on the Royal Yacht Brittanua in 1966. This haven of quiet comfort for the Queen and Philip, designed just how they wanted it, homely rather than opulent, with an attentive and trusted crew of 'Yotties' is sullied by the death on board of the Diary Secretary, Pamela. She's taken an overdose, but those in the know can't see her as a druggie, and her family DEFINITELY don't want this stain on her reputation. Once a hint of foul play arises, the fact she had barred the door confuses things. Joan is conflicted as she wasn't fond of Pamela and the feeling was mutual - it seems likely Pamela had her eye on Joan's role, and because Pamela is 'the right sort', where Joan doesn't feel herself to be, she had made a lot of friends on the staff, and there are some side-eyes turned in Joan's direction.
An anti royalist islander seen on the beach arguing with Pamela has to make himself scarce and hope that the truth will come out to exonerate him.
A quartet of Royal Marines Bandsmen are tight lipped about their interaction with Pamela, but who are they really protecting?
The Queen's personal protection officer, 'Pots' and relatively new-in-role private secretary Dominic, are jockeying for position as to who's actually in charge of everything going on, but the two of them are often barking up the wrong tree in their eagerness both to serve Her Majesty and come up with a straightforward solution to the mystery, with circumstances that stubbornly refuse to bend themselves to fit the facts.
The sense of tension and danger mounts as the book proceeds, with Bennett's usual fabulous attention and sense of time, place and detail, and her obvious affection for our monarch.
The culprit may not come as a complete surprise to you - you may well work it out before Pots does, but the 'how' will almost certainly elude you for longer than the 'who', and your advance knowledge of it isn't a disappointment, I'm sure it's deliberate on the part of the author, because of the increased sense of peril you experience as the reader, while you wait for everyone to catch up!
I have an enormous affection for this series, with its meticulous research, colourful detail and consummate storytelling that is both gripping and illuminating. Keep em' coming!
An anti royalist islander seen on the beach arguing with Pamela has to make himself scarce and hope that the truth will come out to exonerate him.
A quartet of Royal Marines Bandsmen are tight lipped about their interaction with Pamela, but who are they really protecting?
The Queen's personal protection officer, 'Pots' and relatively new-in-role private secretary Dominic, are jockeying for position as to who's actually in charge of everything going on, but the two of them are often barking up the wrong tree in their eagerness both to serve Her Majesty and come up with a straightforward solution to the mystery, with circumstances that stubbornly refuse to bend themselves to fit the facts.
The sense of tension and danger mounts as the book proceeds, with Bennett's usual fabulous attention and sense of time, place and detail, and her obvious affection for our monarch.
The culprit may not come as a complete surprise to you - you may well work it out before Pots does, but the 'how' will almost certainly elude you for longer than the 'who', and your advance knowledge of it isn't a disappointment, I'm sure it's deliberate on the part of the author, because of the increased sense of peril you experience as the reader, while you wait for everyone to catch up!
I have an enormous affection for this series, with its meticulous research, colourful detail and consummate storytelling that is both gripping and illuminating. Keep em' coming!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the third book in this series that I’ve read after picking up The Windsor Knot on vacation a year ago. It’s such a great premise: that crimes happen in Queen Elizabeth’s orbit and she uses her powers of observation and access to solve them - but without taking any credit as it would be unseemly for her to do so. Therefore, there is a cast of characters from private secretaries to police and MI5 officers that support the plot.
This latest murder happens in 1966 while Elizabeth and Phillip are touring the Caribbean on the royal yacht. While the yacht was used as a location in the previous book, now the group is stuck on it for over a month sailing and docking at islands. This gives the plot a bit of a locked room mystery feel except for a subplot involving a local revolutionary who may be involved due to his desire for freedom from the monarchy.
There are A LOT of characters from sailors to band members to police and doctors. Clearly, Bennett realizes that as there is a character list in the front of the book and I found myself referring to it especially because characters had nicknames and titles which they were also referred by. The mystery was complex and there were many red herrings which is good in this type of Christie-esque story but I do wish a couple fewer sailors were involved.
Another thing that can make these books confusing when read in sequence is the time jumps. The book before this one took place in 1961 so in the intervening five years people changed in the Queen’s inner circle and over the course of this novel it was set up that her partner in solving crimes would be leaving service. I wonder if I read this novel as a stand alone if that would make it clearer (so I didn’t have the mental baggage of wondering about the last few years) as it certainly could be which is a nice selling point. Nothing in the previous books would be needed in order to understand how and why the young junior staffer dies on the yacht in this one.
The book is a fun romp through this fictional version of Elizabeth II’s life and mind and the mystery, as always, is finely plotted. I’ll definitely keep joining her Majesty’s service through S.J. Bennett’s pen.
This is the third book in this series that I’ve read after picking up The Windsor Knot on vacation a year ago. It’s such a great premise: that crimes happen in Queen Elizabeth’s orbit and she uses her powers of observation and access to solve them - but without taking any credit as it would be unseemly for her to do so. Therefore, there is a cast of characters from private secretaries to police and MI5 officers that support the plot.
This latest murder happens in 1966 while Elizabeth and Phillip are touring the Caribbean on the royal yacht. While the yacht was used as a location in the previous book, now the group is stuck on it for over a month sailing and docking at islands. This gives the plot a bit of a locked room mystery feel except for a subplot involving a local revolutionary who may be involved due to his desire for freedom from the monarchy.
There are A LOT of characters from sailors to band members to police and doctors. Clearly, Bennett realizes that as there is a character list in the front of the book and I found myself referring to it especially because characters had nicknames and titles which they were also referred by. The mystery was complex and there were many red herrings which is good in this type of Christie-esque story but I do wish a couple fewer sailors were involved.
Another thing that can make these books confusing when read in sequence is the time jumps. The book before this one took place in 1961 so in the intervening five years people changed in the Queen’s inner circle and over the course of this novel it was set up that her partner in solving crimes would be leaving service. I wonder if I read this novel as a stand alone if that would make it clearer (so I didn’t have the mental baggage of wondering about the last few years) as it certainly could be which is a nice selling point. Nothing in the previous books would be needed in order to understand how and why the young junior staffer dies on the yacht in this one.
The book is a fun romp through this fictional version of Elizabeth II’s life and mind and the mystery, as always, is finely plotted. I’ll definitely keep joining her Majesty’s service through S.J. Bennett’s pen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Queen is touring the West Indies aboard Britannia when a body is discovered in one of the cabins. Initially, it is suspected that it was an accidental overdose. However, the Queen and Joan McGraw, her Assistant Private Secretary, aren't so sure and set out to uncover what really happened.
Death On The Royal Yacht by S. J. Bennett is the sixth book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' cosy crime series. The first three books in the series focus on Queen Elizabeth II during the later years of her reign, while books 4, 5, and 6 feature a much younger Queen. You can find reviews of all of the books in the series here on my blog.
The action takes place during a royal tour of the West Indies in 1966. This tour actually took place, so it is great to see fact and fiction woven together. The first thing that really strikes you is how much organisation is involved in a tour of this nature, and that, despite a hectic schedule, the Queen still kept up to date with everything that was happening back at home (long before the days of email and the internet).
Onboard Britannia are a mixture of household staff and crew. The one thing that comes across very clearly is how devoted everyone is to the Queen, and it is obvious that she holds them all in high regard. It is, therefore, quite a shock for the Queen to consider that someone on board may be supplying drugs.
Life on board Britannia comes across as very glamorous, in spite of how 'homely' the state rooms are described. Tours around various islands, alongside events hosted on Britannia, highlight how elegant and prestigious everything is. Despite all of this, you also get a clear indication of how exhausting the work is: for the staff who are on call at a moment's notice, and for the Queen whose life is split in to five minute slots.
I loved the way that the Queen manipulates everyone, with the aid of Joan, so that it doesn't look like she is controlling the investigation. While I thought the villain was obvious from the outset, I did enjoy the way that the events surrounding the death were slowly revealed. For me, however, the most important element of the storyline was the dilemma that Joan had to deal with.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
Death On The Royal Yacht by S. J. Bennett is the sixth book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' cosy crime series. The first three books in the series focus on Queen Elizabeth II during the later years of her reign, while books 4, 5, and 6 feature a much younger Queen. You can find reviews of all of the books in the series here on my blog.
The action takes place during a royal tour of the West Indies in 1966. This tour actually took place, so it is great to see fact and fiction woven together. The first thing that really strikes you is how much organisation is involved in a tour of this nature, and that, despite a hectic schedule, the Queen still kept up to date with everything that was happening back at home (long before the days of email and the internet).
Onboard Britannia are a mixture of household staff and crew. The one thing that comes across very clearly is how devoted everyone is to the Queen, and it is obvious that she holds them all in high regard. It is, therefore, quite a shock for the Queen to consider that someone on board may be supplying drugs.
Life on board Britannia comes across as very glamorous, in spite of how 'homely' the state rooms are described. Tours around various islands, alongside events hosted on Britannia, highlight how elegant and prestigious everything is. Despite all of this, you also get a clear indication of how exhausting the work is: for the staff who are on call at a moment's notice, and for the Queen whose life is split in to five minute slots.
I loved the way that the Queen manipulates everyone, with the aid of Joan, so that it doesn't look like she is controlling the investigation. While I thought the villain was obvious from the outset, I did enjoy the way that the events surrounding the death were slowly revealed. For me, however, the most important element of the storyline was the dilemma that Joan had to deal with.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
S. J. Bennett has carved out a wonderfully distinctive niche in the world of cosy crime with Queen Elizabeth II as sleuth.. Her novels are everything I look for in the genre: intelligent, beautifully observed and utterly compelling. They combine the warmth and charm of a traditional whodunnit with plots that are clever enough to keep even seasoned crime readers guessing.
What I particularly enjoy is Bennett's ability to create genuine suspense without relying on graphic violence or relentless darkness. The mysteries unfold at just the right pace, making each book a real page-turner. There are enough twists to keep the reader engaged, while the characters are so well drawn that spending time in their company is a pleasure in itself.
The attention to detail is exceptional, and the settings are vividly realised, creating an immersive atmosphere that is both comforting and intriguing. Bennett writes with wit and elegance, balancing moments of humour with genuine emotional depth.
For anyone who enjoys cosy crime with substance, memorable characters, well observed relationships and attitudes, not to mention expertly constructed mysteries, S. J. Bennett's novels are highly recommended. They are thoroughly entertaining, difficult to put down and leave you eager for the next instalment. Incidentally when is the next book in the series due?
What I particularly enjoy is Bennett's ability to create genuine suspense without relying on graphic violence or relentless darkness. The mysteries unfold at just the right pace, making each book a real page-turner. There are enough twists to keep the reader engaged, while the characters are so well drawn that spending time in their company is a pleasure in itself.
The attention to detail is exceptional, and the settings are vividly realised, creating an immersive atmosphere that is both comforting and intriguing. Bennett writes with wit and elegance, balancing moments of humour with genuine emotional depth.
For anyone who enjoys cosy crime with substance, memorable characters, well observed relationships and attitudes, not to mention expertly constructed mysteries, S. J. Bennett's novels are highly recommended. They are thoroughly entertaining, difficult to put down and leave you eager for the next instalment. Incidentally when is the next book in the series due?
July 31, 2026
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review 'Death on the Royal Yacht' by S. J. Bennett.
Book 6 in the 'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates' series is set in 1966 aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia as her Majesty the Queen tours the islands of the West Indies. Everything seems to be smooth sailing but trouble is brewing below deck and it's not long before Britannia becomes the scene of a suspicious death. With the aid of her loyal APS (Assistant Personal Secretary) Joan McGraw, her Majesty the Queen begins making discreet inquiries and soon discovers that the chain of events leading up to the death are far more complicated that her team aboard ship believe.
I have been a fan of this series since the first book 'The Windsor Knot' was released back in 2020. Not only do these books entertain, they also educate. Besides the well-constructed narratives, the intriguing mysteries, and the genuinely likeable characters, one of my favourite things about this series is how SJ Bennett builds the story around historical events and includes factual details throughout. As I read 'Death on the Royal Yacht' I had a strong desire to rewatch 'The Crown' and search for archival videos and photos of the Queen's Royal Tour of the Caribbean.
A highly enjoyable read. I am already looking forward to the next instalment.
Book 6 in the 'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates' series is set in 1966 aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia as her Majesty the Queen tours the islands of the West Indies. Everything seems to be smooth sailing but trouble is brewing below deck and it's not long before Britannia becomes the scene of a suspicious death. With the aid of her loyal APS (Assistant Personal Secretary) Joan McGraw, her Majesty the Queen begins making discreet inquiries and soon discovers that the chain of events leading up to the death are far more complicated that her team aboard ship believe.
I have been a fan of this series since the first book 'The Windsor Knot' was released back in 2020. Not only do these books entertain, they also educate. Besides the well-constructed narratives, the intriguing mysteries, and the genuinely likeable characters, one of my favourite things about this series is how SJ Bennett builds the story around historical events and includes factual details throughout. As I read 'Death on the Royal Yacht' I had a strong desire to rewatch 'The Crown' and search for archival videos and photos of the Queen's Royal Tour of the Caribbean.
A highly enjoyable read. I am already looking forward to the next instalment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for my copy. These opinions are my own.
Another fantastic read from S J Bennett, I truly adore this series. The stories are always immersive and enchanting as they circle the royal family and I love to think that the Queen was an amateur sleuth with a penchant for solving mysteries and riddles.
If you love cosy murder mystery books then this is a great series to delve into. The Queen is always charming, clever and conscious of her role and of those around her. Her APS Joan has been an absolute favourite character of mine for several books now. She's determined, brave and resilient, sensing the mood and needs of the Queen and being the bridge when needed to get things done.
The story is scattered with historical references to the period and has us sailing the high seas around the Carribbean with the royal yacht. It's a perfect beach read for sure. The story is clever and plausible and definitely kept my attention.
I really recommend this series if you love cosy fiction, they are great standalones but I've loved reading them in order personally. I'm looking forward to more.
Another fantastic read from S J Bennett, I truly adore this series. The stories are always immersive and enchanting as they circle the royal family and I love to think that the Queen was an amateur sleuth with a penchant for solving mysteries and riddles.
If you love cosy murder mystery books then this is a great series to delve into. The Queen is always charming, clever and conscious of her role and of those around her. Her APS Joan has been an absolute favourite character of mine for several books now. She's determined, brave and resilient, sensing the mood and needs of the Queen and being the bridge when needed to get things done.
The story is scattered with historical references to the period and has us sailing the high seas around the Carribbean with the royal yacht. It's a perfect beach read for sure. The story is clever and plausible and definitely kept my attention.
I really recommend this series if you love cosy fiction, they are great standalones but I've loved reading them in order personally. I'm looking forward to more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in return for an honest review of the book.
It's 1966 and Queen Elizabeth is touring the Caribbean Islands on the royal yacht Britannia. As the ship leaves Trinidad, her diary secretary, Pamela Sinclair, is found dead in her cabin from an apparent overdose of seconal. Was young vibrant Pamela a party girl? Was it an accidental overdose or something more sinister? The Queen's chief personal protection officer opens an investigation with the assistance of a Scotland Yard detective flown in from London, but the Queen doesn't think they are on the right track and she begins an investigation of her own with help from her assistant personal secretary, Joan McGraw. The Queen solves the case behind the scenes and uses her diplomatic skills to convince her personal protection officer of the solution so he can take all the credit.
This is another delightful series entry with a well constructed mystery and fascinating peeks into the running of the royal household and life aboard Britannia. An entertaining read.
It's 1966 and Queen Elizabeth is touring the Caribbean Islands on the royal yacht Britannia. As the ship leaves Trinidad, her diary secretary, Pamela Sinclair, is found dead in her cabin from an apparent overdose of seconal. Was young vibrant Pamela a party girl? Was it an accidental overdose or something more sinister? The Queen's chief personal protection officer opens an investigation with the assistance of a Scotland Yard detective flown in from London, but the Queen doesn't think they are on the right track and she begins an investigation of her own with help from her assistant personal secretary, Joan McGraw. The Queen solves the case behind the scenes and uses her diplomatic skills to convince her personal protection officer of the solution so he can take all the credit.
This is another delightful series entry with a well constructed mystery and fascinating peeks into the running of the royal household and life aboard Britannia. An entertaining read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A really good fun mystery where the mysterious unknown detective is the late Queen Elizabeth II. If you think this premise is far fetched and silly then scroll on, save your money, you won't like it. If you think the premise is fun, then you'll love this. This mystery is engaging and twisty like all classics, it's not overly grizzly and there are clues to work out who done it, if you look closely enough. It's also really lovely to think about the Queen again - she was a grandmother to all of us really and it paints her in a very flattering light. No scandal here.
This is the sixth book in the series and you need to have read the latest ones (with Joan) if you really want to understand who is who in the Household.
Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sixth book in the series and you need to have read the latest ones (with Joan) if you really want to understand who is who in the Household.
Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of an advance copy from NetGalley
The 6th book in the series by S J Bennett where her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a secret sleuth. These books are a foray into a make believe world in which the Queen uses her well known powers of observation and deliberation to point her assistant in the right direction to solve whatever crime has happened to pass her path.
With much detail about Royal Yacht Britannia (the venue for this particular book) detailed descriptions and explanations of the workings of both the Royal Navy crew and the Royal Household on Board. Always deferring to protocol and the optics of the Queen being “involved” in the detection keeps the idea from becoming too far fetched. Entertaining and with twists and turns and interesting details in line with the actual tour of the Caribbean in 1966 this is an easy read cosy crime perfect for fans of her late Majesty.
The 6th book in the series by S J Bennett where her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a secret sleuth. These books are a foray into a make believe world in which the Queen uses her well known powers of observation and deliberation to point her assistant in the right direction to solve whatever crime has happened to pass her path.
With much detail about Royal Yacht Britannia (the venue for this particular book) detailed descriptions and explanations of the workings of both the Royal Navy crew and the Royal Household on Board. Always deferring to protocol and the optics of the Queen being “involved” in the detection keeps the idea from becoming too far fetched. Entertaining and with twists and turns and interesting details in line with the actual tour of the Caribbean in 1966 this is an easy read cosy crime perfect for fans of her late Majesty.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 out of 5
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
During a 1966 tour of the Caribbean, one of the Queen's aides is found dead. With the help of her 'executive secretary' Joan, the Queen guides a clandestine investigation, all the while keeping up with royal obligations and visits.
I was fascinated by the descriptions of life on board the royal yacht - like a small city - and the amount of organization and planning it would have taken to make and keep a schedule like the one described.
The author's portrayal of the Queen is always delightful and charming. This is a great addition to the 'Her Majesty Investigates' series.
Recommend for fans of smart female-led historical and cosy mysteries.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
During a 1966 tour of the Caribbean, one of the Queen's aides is found dead. With the help of her 'executive secretary' Joan, the Queen guides a clandestine investigation, all the while keeping up with royal obligations and visits.
I was fascinated by the descriptions of life on board the royal yacht - like a small city - and the amount of organization and planning it would have taken to make and keep a schedule like the one described.
The author's portrayal of the Queen is always delightful and charming. This is a great addition to the 'Her Majesty Investigates' series.
Recommend for fans of smart female-led historical and cosy mysteries.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A satisfactory cozy crime/mystery novel which will obviously suit fans of the royal family but also anyone who loves a murder mystery that doesn't get too gory or gritty. There are a lot of characters and I think that reading the previous volumes would be a definite advantage. The story does stand alone though. It would also be appealing to those who like historical element in their reading list. I would have preferred more humour but maybe that's not what the author was aiming for here. I did enjoy the way the queen was one step ahead of everyone and was able to control the situation without openly doing so.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Death on the Royal Yacht is the sixth cozy mystery in a fun series with Queen Elizabeth II playing a starring role. I have enjoyed this series. Queen Elizabeth is entirely believable in her role as a crime solver. During her long reign she had access to foreign leaders, intelligent services, and a wide range of social connections. She also comes across as extremely intelligent and intuitive. In this book we are aboard the Royal yacht as Queen Elizabeth tours the Caribbean. This was not my favorite book in the series although I learned a lot about the royal yacht! There were so many characters and the plot was convoluted. Still worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Definitely recommend
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the sixth book in this fun and engaging series! Queen Elizabeth II solves mysteries, but without revealing that she is doing it! So wickedly devious and creative. This time, the storyline is set against the 1966 Royal Visit to the Caribbean.
The writing, character development, and plotline are very good.
If you like cozy mysteries, Queen Elizabeth as an investigator, or just love good books, this is the book for you!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/mt2w2zed
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the sixth book in this fun and engaging series! Queen Elizabeth II solves mysteries, but without revealing that she is doing it! So wickedly devious and creative. This time, the storyline is set against the 1966 Royal Visit to the Caribbean.
The writing, character development, and plotline are very good.
If you like cozy mysteries, Queen Elizabeth as an investigator, or just love good books, this is the book for you!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/mt2w2zed
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve enjoyed this series and this one is no exception. I don’t think it’s quite as strong as the other books and found myself drifting a bit in the middle but it all came together nicely in the end. There’s no need to have read any previous books, it just helps you with the recurring main characters. A good cozy mystery book with wonderful descriptions of the Caribbean.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of my favorite cozy/historical mystery series. The plots are always complex; I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight in this one, but I still enjoyed it!
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love this series
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