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Her Royal Spyness #7
Heirs and Graces
As thirty-fifth in line for the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch may not be the most sophisticated young woman, but she knows her table manners. It's forks on the left, knives on the right, not in His Majesty's back.Here I am thinking the education I received at my posh Swiss finishing school would never come in handy. And while it hasn't landed me a job, or a husband, it has convinced Her Majesty the Queen, and the Dowager Duchess to enlist my help. I have been entrusted with grooming Jack Altringham, the Duke's newly discovered heir fresh from the Outback of Australia, for high society.The upside is I am to live in luxury at one of England's most gorgeous stately homes. But upon arrival at Kingsdowne Place, my dearest Darcy has been sent to fetch Jack, leaving me stuck in a manor full of miscreants, none of whom are too pleased with the discovery of my new ward.And no sooner has the lad been retrieved than the Duke announces he wants to choose his own heir. With the house in a hubbub over the news, Jack's hunting knife somehow finds its way into the Duke's back. Eyes fall, backs turn, and fingers point to the young heir. As if the rascal wasn't enough of a handful, now he's suspected of murder. Jack may be wild, but I'd bet the crown jewels it wasn't he who killed the Duke
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2013
734 people are currently reading
2957 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Bowen
123 books9,572 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 1,000 reviews
November 8, 2017
Cosy mysteries are not really my favourite things and I never start a series in the middle, but both these things apply to my reading this book. Why? For a Challenge of course - simply that I needed to read a book with a horse on the cover:) I am very glad I did.
I read Heirs and Graces in one evening. It was such fun I did not want to put it down. I can see already that Georgie and Darcy are the sort of characters who become the reader's friends and as soon as one book is finished there is an instant need to move onto the next one. I really enjoyed the dialogue between these two and there were many laugh out loud one liners.
The mystery was okay and the murderers were a little unusual. The English setting and the frequent references to royalty were great fun. The author writes well and it never became too quirky for its own good which is my usual complaint about cosies!
Four stars for this one and I will now seek out book one and start at the beginning:)
I read Heirs and Graces in one evening. It was such fun I did not want to put it down. I can see already that Georgie and Darcy are the sort of characters who become the reader's friends and as soon as one book is finished there is an instant need to move onto the next one. I really enjoyed the dialogue between these two and there were many laugh out loud one liners.
The mystery was okay and the murderers were a little unusual. The English setting and the frequent references to royalty were great fun. The author writes well and it never became too quirky for its own good which is my usual complaint about cosies!
Four stars for this one and I will now seek out book one and start at the beginning:)
August 21, 2013
I had mixed feelings as I read this addition to the irresistibly cute Her Royal Spyness mystery series. The story was interesting and the resolution had a twist that was at once disturbing and yet ballsy of Bowen at the same time. Not many authors are willing to go there, especially with a cozy. On the other hand, though, it just didn't feel like a Georgie book.
Things started going wrong when Georgie went out with Belinda her last night in London. The setting was classic for our leading lady: dinner and dancing, high society men, and evening shoes. Fans have come to recognize this mixture as a disaster in the making, but the whole thing resolved itself in a quick sentence or two in which we learned that Georgie went out, danced with a rich American, had a wonderful time ... AND DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE CLUTZY MOMENT!!! What?! That's not Georgie! Sure she'd already disgraced herself earlier by squirting eclair cream down her front during tea with HM, but that was tame compared to what generally befalls her when she's attempting to be graceful while dancing with a rich man. And this seemed to set the theme for the remainder of the book. Georgie didn't crash into any priceless vases, get lost and walk in on an embarrassing encounter, drop her earrings in the soup tureen, etc etc etc ... she just wasn't her usual "not-again-Georgie!" self. It's what makes her character really sparkle and not having her on her game was a disappointment.
Another sadness I had with this book was Darcy. HE WASN'T HELPFUL AT ALL!!! He showed up in typical, out-of-the-blue, oh-my-girlish-heart fashion and set himself up in a position to provide us with humor, insightful comments, and blushes. He wasn't as smart with his wit as he usually is and he really didn't contribute anything at all to the investigation. Okay, he helped Georgie discover the secret passage in the folly, but that was it. Usually he's all tail up, nose down, sniffing out the culprit, but this time around he seemed to spend his time telling Georgie to stay out of it (SAY WHAT?!?!) in between their lip-locks. He didn't have any heroic scenes of nabbing the murderer, chasing someone in a Bently, or catching Georgie before she plummets off the edge of some high place. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Okay, I've stopped my ranting, promise. Setting all that aside, Heirs and Graces really is a good little cozy fueled by one of the best brain-benders Bowen has come up with yet. True, our leading lady and her still-my-heart Irish beau were off their game characterization-wise, but the plot carries you along effortlessly. Bravo!
Things started going wrong when Georgie went out with Belinda her last night in London. The setting was classic for our leading lady: dinner and dancing, high society men, and evening shoes. Fans have come to recognize this mixture as a disaster in the making, but the whole thing resolved itself in a quick sentence or two in which we learned that Georgie went out, danced with a rich American, had a wonderful time ... AND DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE CLUTZY MOMENT!!! What?! That's not Georgie! Sure she'd already disgraced herself earlier by squirting eclair cream down her front during tea with HM, but that was tame compared to what generally befalls her when she's attempting to be graceful while dancing with a rich man. And this seemed to set the theme for the remainder of the book. Georgie didn't crash into any priceless vases, get lost and walk in on an embarrassing encounter, drop her earrings in the soup tureen, etc etc etc ... she just wasn't her usual "not-again-Georgie!" self. It's what makes her character really sparkle and not having her on her game was a disappointment.
Another sadness I had with this book was Darcy. HE WASN'T HELPFUL AT ALL!!! He showed up in typical, out-of-the-blue, oh-my-girlish-heart fashion and set himself up in a position to provide us with humor, insightful comments, and blushes. He wasn't as smart with his wit as he usually is and he really didn't contribute anything at all to the investigation. Okay, he helped Georgie discover the secret passage in the folly, but that was it. Usually he's all tail up, nose down, sniffing out the culprit, but this time around he seemed to spend his time telling Georgie to stay out of it (SAY WHAT?!?!) in between their lip-locks. He didn't have any heroic scenes of nabbing the murderer, chasing someone in a Bently, or catching Georgie before she plummets off the edge of some high place. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Okay, I've stopped my ranting, promise. Setting all that aside, Heirs and Graces really is a good little cozy fueled by one of the best brain-benders Bowen has come up with yet. True, our leading lady and her still-my-heart Irish beau were off their game characterization-wise, but the plot carries you along effortlessly. Bravo!
May 4, 2017
"I had one grandmother who was a princess and one who was a London policeman's wife. I never met either, unfortunately. But I've always felt suspended between two worlds and never wholly belonging in either of them."
This is one of my favorite 'go-to cozy mystery series' as it has humor, a likable main protagonist and the more important aspect of a cozy mystery- a murder with delicious mix of characters who are suspects.
In this book Lady Georgiana Rannoch (who is also related to Her Majesty the Queen) lands herself a job with the Dowager Duchess. The Dowager Duchess is the epitome of snobbery among the English gentry.
"I know that silly policeman is holding up his hand to stop traffic," she boomed into her speaking tube from the backseat, "but that can't possibly apply to us. He must see that we're the kind of people who should not be kept waiting. Drive straight past, Wilkins."
And then there is the future heir of the Dowager Duchess who needs to be trained (by Georgina) and who finds the Royalty ways absurd.
"None of it makes sense, does it?" he asked. "I suppose you take it for granted, but to me it all seems bloody silly. This dressing up for dinner and using one fork for this and another for that. What's it all for?"
"Tradition, I suppose. We behave in a way that sets us apart from ordinary people, to remind us that we're special. And you're right. It really is silly."
It was fun to know the new set of characters and reacquaint with a few older ones. The location was a gorgeous stately home and I think it makes one of the best locations for a good cozy murder mystery.
All in all I did enjoy the book hence the 3 stars.
I was able to partially guess who the killer is but part of it still surprised me.
I would recommend to read this series in order to get the most out of it as the more you know Georgina's history the more you enjoy the story.
This is one of my favorite 'go-to cozy mystery series' as it has humor, a likable main protagonist and the more important aspect of a cozy mystery- a murder with delicious mix of characters who are suspects.
In this book Lady Georgiana Rannoch (who is also related to Her Majesty the Queen) lands herself a job with the Dowager Duchess. The Dowager Duchess is the epitome of snobbery among the English gentry.
"I know that silly policeman is holding up his hand to stop traffic," she boomed into her speaking tube from the backseat, "but that can't possibly apply to us. He must see that we're the kind of people who should not be kept waiting. Drive straight past, Wilkins."
And then there is the future heir of the Dowager Duchess who needs to be trained (by Georgina) and who finds the Royalty ways absurd.
"None of it makes sense, does it?" he asked. "I suppose you take it for granted, but to me it all seems bloody silly. This dressing up for dinner and using one fork for this and another for that. What's it all for?"
"Tradition, I suppose. We behave in a way that sets us apart from ordinary people, to remind us that we're special. And you're right. It really is silly."
It was fun to know the new set of characters and reacquaint with a few older ones. The location was a gorgeous stately home and I think it makes one of the best locations for a good cozy murder mystery.
All in all I did enjoy the book hence the 3 stars.
I was able to partially guess who the killer is but part of it still surprised me.
I would recommend to read this series in order to get the most out of it as the more you know Georgina's history the more you enjoy the story.
August 13, 2013
I was very disappointed with this book for many reasons. First, the main story didn't start until about halfway through the book. I was beginning to wonder if it is ever going to have a mystery.
Second, there were a lot of repetition. Georgianna explained the whole story to Darcy, his grandfather, the inspector and herself over and over without adding any details or getting to any new conclusions. (Seriously, what was the point of going and visiting her grandfather again?! And why didn't they investigate the secret chamber anymore?! )
Third, unlike the other books in this series where the reader didn't know the killer till the end, this time it was very obvious from the beginning who had done it and it was just a matter of time when Georgianna would find it out.
Overall, I think the story would be a lot better if the author had added more sophistication and removed the boring repetition parts.
Second, there were a lot of repetition. Georgianna explained the whole story to Darcy, his grandfather, the inspector and herself over and over without adding any details or getting to any new conclusions. (Seriously, what was the point of going and visiting her grandfather again?! And why didn't they investigate the secret chamber anymore?! )
Third, unlike the other books in this series where the reader didn't know the killer till the end, this time it was very obvious from the beginning who had done it and it was just a matter of time when Georgianna would find it out.
Overall, I think the story would be a lot better if the author had added more sophistication and removed the boring repetition parts.
July 25, 2015
I have read all of this series and enjoyed all the books. Now I will need to wail until August 4, 2015 for the next book to read more about Georgie and friends. My book was a large print copy from my library. This book is one of the best of the series.. The Queen asked Lady Georgiana to aid the Dowager Duchness of Eynsford with her Australian Grandson, the heir to the dukedom. Jack has lived his life in the outback on a sheep farm. Brought to England he doesn't understand the pomp and ceremony at the estate. The current duke is making himself unpopular and is found murder with evidence pointing to the heir. Queenie, Belinda, Grandfather and Darcy are presented. The twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.
December 26, 2023
This one was not the most exciting or interesting one in this series but it did have a lot of good and important parts in it. I didn't really like the mystery or the way it was solved. The family this revolved around was quite boring but there were a lot of other interesting side characters in it though, who I doubt we'll see again. Not a big fan of bringing children into this...
August 16, 2018
I retraced my steps back to the grand staircase. I was standing in that central foyer, wondering where the Long Gallery might be when a most imposing figure in a black frock coat appeared. I’d been in enough great houses, including our own, to know that butlers often look grander than their masters,
London, 1934. Lady Georgiana Rannoch, a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, is summonsed to Buckingham Palace by her Majesty Queen Mary and her grace, Edwina, dowager Duchess of Eynsford. The current Duke, Cedric, middle-aged with a penchant for young men, refuses to marry and produce an heir, which will allow the title to languish and the lands returned to the crown.
But a successor is found. The dowager’s younger son, John, killed in the Great War, went to try his luck in Australia, met and married a schoolteacher in south-west Queensland, who bore him a son named Jack. Jack has been tracked down and brought back to England by Darcy, the man Georgiana hopes to marry, and Georgiana is to guide the Australian in the ways of the aristocracy.
She arrives at the stately home in the Kent countryside ahead of Jack and Darcy, and meets the family: the dowager’s two widowed sisters, the penniless daughter, Countess Streletzki, with her three children and tutor, and the self-centred Duke who controls the wealth, dismisses a footman on a whim, and is about to evict servants from tied cottages to bulldoze them to make way for a theatre. Before this can happen there is a fox hunt, a séance and the dreadful business of a murder … As family and the servants are interviewed by the police, the household is kept running by Huxstep, the butler and “Cook”, Mrs Broad. In the midst of it all Belinda, Georgiana’s best friend from finishing school, turns up.
Belinda had undergone the usual ordeal by fire of the aristocracy. Those time-honoured questions. Who are your family? Do we knew them? Are we related to them? In other words, is she one of us and does she belong here? Now that a relationship had been proven, she was accepted.
Author Rhys Bowen produces a cosy murder mystery / historic timepiece which hits all the right notes. The mannerisms of family and servants, and the nasal Australian twang of reluctant heir Jack, are caught perfectly in this light read. I admit that I did guess who the murderer was until the last few pages.
Verdict: great fun.
London, 1934. Lady Georgiana Rannoch, a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, is summonsed to Buckingham Palace by her Majesty Queen Mary and her grace, Edwina, dowager Duchess of Eynsford. The current Duke, Cedric, middle-aged with a penchant for young men, refuses to marry and produce an heir, which will allow the title to languish and the lands returned to the crown.
But a successor is found. The dowager’s younger son, John, killed in the Great War, went to try his luck in Australia, met and married a schoolteacher in south-west Queensland, who bore him a son named Jack. Jack has been tracked down and brought back to England by Darcy, the man Georgiana hopes to marry, and Georgiana is to guide the Australian in the ways of the aristocracy.
She arrives at the stately home in the Kent countryside ahead of Jack and Darcy, and meets the family: the dowager’s two widowed sisters, the penniless daughter, Countess Streletzki, with her three children and tutor, and the self-centred Duke who controls the wealth, dismisses a footman on a whim, and is about to evict servants from tied cottages to bulldoze them to make way for a theatre. Before this can happen there is a fox hunt, a séance and the dreadful business of a murder … As family and the servants are interviewed by the police, the household is kept running by Huxstep, the butler and “Cook”, Mrs Broad. In the midst of it all Belinda, Georgiana’s best friend from finishing school, turns up.
Belinda had undergone the usual ordeal by fire of the aristocracy. Those time-honoured questions. Who are your family? Do we knew them? Are we related to them? In other words, is she one of us and does she belong here? Now that a relationship had been proven, she was accepted.
Author Rhys Bowen produces a cosy murder mystery / historic timepiece which hits all the right notes. The mannerisms of family and servants, and the nasal Australian twang of reluctant heir Jack, are caught perfectly in this light read. I admit that I did guess who the murderer was until the last few pages.
Verdict: great fun.
October 28, 2016
I know I'm out of the pack with three stars? Yes, I have read the whole series up to this point, and I love these characters, but I honestly could not get into this one. I had to restart several times and when the story finally started it was already half way through. Georgiana is one of my favorite, cozy characters and always cracks me up, however, in this addition she just seemed rushed and not very comical. Oh well, still reading the next soon.
Georgiana is summoned by the queen, who then sends her onto Kent. She is to attend a Royal function and help an Australian Heir get assimilated to the Royal ways and surroundings. Of course there is a murder and the detective in Georgiana comes out and we are off to the races. Some of the usual characters are wound into the story but to me it all felt somewhat forced along with KK's narration, (a bit shrill). Looking forward to the next in the series and the return of more comedy. Fingers crossed.
Georgiana is summoned by the queen, who then sends her onto Kent. She is to attend a Royal function and help an Australian Heir get assimilated to the Royal ways and surroundings. Of course there is a murder and the detective in Georgiana comes out and we are off to the races. Some of the usual characters are wound into the story but to me it all felt somewhat forced along with KK's narration, (a bit shrill). Looking forward to the next in the series and the return of more comedy. Fingers crossed.
April 28, 2024
Another good entry in a favorite series. This one was a bit different than previous books in that the murderer(s) are a surprise worthy of Agatha Christie. The victim really was an odious man, yet it seems as if no one-including his family- seemed to miss him. Georgie and Darcy are a delight, as always.
November 7, 2020
'As thirty-fifth in line for the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch may not be the most sophisticated young woman, but she knows her table manners. It's forks on the left, knives on the right, not in His Majesty's back.
Here I am thinking the education I received at my posh Swiss finishing school would never come in handy. And while it hasn't landed me a job, or a husband, it has convinced Her Majesty the Queen, and the Dowager Duchess to enlist my help. I have been entrusted with grooming Jack Altringham, the Duke's newly discovered heir fresh from the Outback of Australia, for high society.
The upside is I am to live in luxury at one of England's most gorgeous stately homes. But upon arrival at Kingsdowne Place, my dearest Darcy has been sent to fetch Jack, leaving me stuck in a manor full of miscreants...none of whom are too pleased with the discovery of my new ward.
And no sooner has the lad been retrieved than the Duke announces he wants to choose his own heir. With the house in a hubbub over the news, Jack's hunting knife somehow finds its way into the Duke's back. Eyes fall, backs turn, and fingers point to the young heir. As if the rascal wasn't enough of a handful, now he's suspected of murder. Jack may be wild, but I'd bet the crown jewels it wasn't he who killed the Duke...'
___________________________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
Heirs and Graces is the seventh book in Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series and is a murder mystery in 1930s England.
Honestly Queenie is losing her charm for me and I don't think she is deserving of Georgie's patience any longer. I initially found her bumbling and failing attempts at being a proper lady's maid to be charming and amusing. But now she has become far too comfortable in her belief that Georgie will put up with the destroyed clothing her she often putting her own comfort and wants before Georgie's despite the free food, housing, and travel. She has grown arrogant knowing that Georgie cannot afford a better maid, but Georgie has done just fine without a maid before and I'm think Queenie needs to be given the boot.
Belinda is back again, I'm losing my patience with her character too. Georgie describes her correctly when she say that Belinda sees herself as the center of her own universe and everyone serves as supporting characters, there only to benefit her. They may have been friends for sometime now, but Georgie is so great and she deserves a more caring and less selfish friend.
I have found this book to be one of the least intruiging from the series so far. It seemed to me that the mystery unfolded at a slower pace than the previous books in the series and there really wasn't much of a sense of danger at all, which is tthe number one thing I look for in any mystery. I'm still loving this series, I just didn't find this book as compelling as the others. I hope the mystery in the next book grabs me more.
Here I am thinking the education I received at my posh Swiss finishing school would never come in handy. And while it hasn't landed me a job, or a husband, it has convinced Her Majesty the Queen, and the Dowager Duchess to enlist my help. I have been entrusted with grooming Jack Altringham, the Duke's newly discovered heir fresh from the Outback of Australia, for high society.
The upside is I am to live in luxury at one of England's most gorgeous stately homes. But upon arrival at Kingsdowne Place, my dearest Darcy has been sent to fetch Jack, leaving me stuck in a manor full of miscreants...none of whom are too pleased with the discovery of my new ward.
And no sooner has the lad been retrieved than the Duke announces he wants to choose his own heir. With the house in a hubbub over the news, Jack's hunting knife somehow finds its way into the Duke's back. Eyes fall, backs turn, and fingers point to the young heir. As if the rascal wasn't enough of a handful, now he's suspected of murder. Jack may be wild, but I'd bet the crown jewels it wasn't he who killed the Duke...'
___________________________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
Heirs and Graces is the seventh book in Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series and is a murder mystery in 1930s England.
Honestly Queenie is losing her charm for me and I don't think she is deserving of Georgie's patience any longer. I initially found her bumbling and failing attempts at being a proper lady's maid to be charming and amusing. But now she has become far too comfortable in her belief that Georgie will put up with the destroyed clothing her she often putting her own comfort and wants before Georgie's despite the free food, housing, and travel. She has grown arrogant knowing that Georgie cannot afford a better maid, but Georgie has done just fine without a maid before and I'm think Queenie needs to be given the boot.
Belinda is back again, I'm losing my patience with her character too. Georgie describes her correctly when she say that Belinda sees herself as the center of her own universe and everyone serves as supporting characters, there only to benefit her. They may have been friends for sometime now, but Georgie is so great and she deserves a more caring and less selfish friend.
I have found this book to be one of the least intruiging from the series so far. It seemed to me that the mystery unfolded at a slower pace than the previous books in the series and there really wasn't much of a sense of danger at all, which is tthe number one thing I look for in any mystery. I'm still loving this series, I just didn't find this book as compelling as the others. I hope the mystery in the next book grabs me more.
January 14, 2020
Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen is the 7th book in the Royal Spyness Mystery series. This time Lady Georgiana Rannoch is asked by the Queen to help her friend who has recently found a long lost heir in Australia, the son of her youngest son who was killed in the war. When the current Duke is murdered, Lady Georgiana once again finds herself in the middle of the investigation. Another fun and entertaining book in the series. I especially love listening to these books on Audible as the narrator is superb with the various character voices. A delightful, typically cozy mystery.
July 20, 2021
A fun and cosy mystery romp. Tally ho!
May 2, 2019
Actual rating: 3.50
July 9, 2022
The Her Royal Spyness series is a comfort read for me but one I haven't been back to in a while. Summer has finally arrived here and I wanted something that I could sit in the shade and relax with, knowing nothing terrible is going to happen but that there'll be a mix of humour and mystery that will keep me entertained, so I read the seventh book in the series, Heirs And Graces.
The start was a little slow but that worked for me this time as it let me get comfortable with Georgie again before the mystery plot started in earnest. This time, Georgie is a guest in a very posh country house where, at the request of the Queen, she is helping out a Dowager Duchess by coaching her newly discovered grandson on the manners expected of him as a Viscount and heir to a Dukedom. The coaching is necessary because the grandson was born and raised on a sheep station in Australia.
I'd expected this to be a book that was heavy on the social faux pas that an out-of-his-depth Australian station hand might make and light on plot. I'm pleased to say it wasn't like that at all. Yes, the Australian was out-of-his-depth but the resulting humour was pointed as much at the absurdities of the daily routines of the country house life of the aristocrats as at the odd behaviour of a 'wild colonial'.
The biggest surprise was that this episode of Her Royal Spyness actually has a pretty good mystery at its heart. The current Duke, a thoroughly objectionable man who has given everyone around him a reason to be glad to see him dead, is found murdered in the grounds of his estate with the Australian's knife in his back. I thought the characters of the family and guests who make up most of the suspect pool were well-drawn. I was at a loss to know who had killed the Duke and why. As Georgie investigated, I bounced from suspect to suspect without ever once figuring out what really happened. I was kept guessing almost until the final chapter. When the truth was revealed, it made a lot of sense but I hadn't seen it coming.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Katherine Kellgren who won an Audie for this performance. Her narration is a big part of my enjoyment of the Her Royal Spyness books. She has given the recurring characters such distant voices that I always know who is talking even before a character's name has been given.
The start was a little slow but that worked for me this time as it let me get comfortable with Georgie again before the mystery plot started in earnest. This time, Georgie is a guest in a very posh country house where, at the request of the Queen, she is helping out a Dowager Duchess by coaching her newly discovered grandson on the manners expected of him as a Viscount and heir to a Dukedom. The coaching is necessary because the grandson was born and raised on a sheep station in Australia.
I'd expected this to be a book that was heavy on the social faux pas that an out-of-his-depth Australian station hand might make and light on plot. I'm pleased to say it wasn't like that at all. Yes, the Australian was out-of-his-depth but the resulting humour was pointed as much at the absurdities of the daily routines of the country house life of the aristocrats as at the odd behaviour of a 'wild colonial'.
The biggest surprise was that this episode of Her Royal Spyness actually has a pretty good mystery at its heart. The current Duke, a thoroughly objectionable man who has given everyone around him a reason to be glad to see him dead, is found murdered in the grounds of his estate with the Australian's knife in his back. I thought the characters of the family and guests who make up most of the suspect pool were well-drawn. I was at a loss to know who had killed the Duke and why. As Georgie investigated, I bounced from suspect to suspect without ever once figuring out what really happened. I was kept guessing almost until the final chapter. When the truth was revealed, it made a lot of sense but I hadn't seen it coming.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Katherine Kellgren who won an Audie for this performance. Her narration is a big part of my enjoyment of the Her Royal Spyness books. She has given the recurring characters such distant voices that I always know who is talking even before a character's name has been given.
June 13, 2019
Another humorous addition to the series. Queenie is getting a bit stale though. She obviously knows that Georgie will never fire her so she has absolutely zero motivation to improve her skills and, in fact, seems to be intentionally slacking off because she knows she can get away with it.
June 19, 2019
Heirs and Graces
4 Stars
Queen Mary requests that Lady Georgiana Rannoch come to the aid of her old friend, the Dowager Duchess of Eynsford. It would seem that the long lost heir to the Dukedom has been found in the Australian outback, and is in dire need of some etiquette training. Unfortunately, the young heir, Jack Altringham, is soon accused of murder when his uncle, the current Duke, is found dead with Jack's knife in his back. Can Georgie prevent another scandal for Her Majesty's friend?
These books are such light-hearted fun with some very subtle yet insightful satire thrown in.
Georgie is as delightful as ever as she attempts to help young Jack navigate the rough seas of the English Aristocracy and their oftentimes illogical social dictates. Jack's incredulous reactions to it all lead to several laugh-out-loud moments.
The mystery itself is one of the more convoluted in the series with several red-herrings to keep the reader guessing. The eventual explanation is logical overall despite one or two strange twists toward the end.
Looking forward to Georgie's next adventure.
4 Stars
Queen Mary requests that Lady Georgiana Rannoch come to the aid of her old friend, the Dowager Duchess of Eynsford. It would seem that the long lost heir to the Dukedom has been found in the Australian outback, and is in dire need of some etiquette training. Unfortunately, the young heir, Jack Altringham, is soon accused of murder when his uncle, the current Duke, is found dead with Jack's knife in his back. Can Georgie prevent another scandal for Her Majesty's friend?
These books are such light-hearted fun with some very subtle yet insightful satire thrown in.
Georgie is as delightful as ever as she attempts to help young Jack navigate the rough seas of the English Aristocracy and their oftentimes illogical social dictates. Jack's incredulous reactions to it all lead to several laugh-out-loud moments.
The mystery itself is one of the more convoluted in the series with several red-herrings to keep the reader guessing. The eventual explanation is logical overall despite one or two strange twists toward the end.
Looking forward to Georgie's next adventure.
June 14, 2017
I'm always a little bereft when I finish one of these books. Happy hours fly by far too quickly in the charming company of Georgie, heroine of the Royal Spyness Mystery novels. As 35th in line to the throne Lady Georgiana Rannoch is a member of the royal family and expected to keep up appearances, she's a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria after all, but it's difficult to live like a royal when you're broke.
To keep a roof over her head and food in her stomach she often does favors for Queen Mary, and this time around Georgie has been invited to stay as a guest at luxurious Kingsdowne Place so she can help polish the duke's new found heir Jack Altringham, a rough around the edges but friendly young man who's fresh from the wilds of an Australian sheep farm. There are tensions naturally, one wouldn't expect anything else, especially since the current duke seems to be doing his best to alienate his entire family, and before Georgie has had a chance to make much progress with Jack there is a murder.
Set in the Downton Abbey era after WWI, these novels are a little lighter than that show and they have a little more humor, in spite of being a murder mystery series. There are recurring characters in every book, including Georgie's dashing boyfriend Darcy, her wild bright-young-things friend Belinda, and her ex-cop grandfather who comes from the non-royal side of her family, but each book also has delightful new characters that it's fun to get to know. The settings vary also, sometimes sumptuous and sometimes quaint, but always a joy to inhabit during the all too brief time spent reading these novels.
To keep a roof over her head and food in her stomach she often does favors for Queen Mary, and this time around Georgie has been invited to stay as a guest at luxurious Kingsdowne Place so she can help polish the duke's new found heir Jack Altringham, a rough around the edges but friendly young man who's fresh from the wilds of an Australian sheep farm. There are tensions naturally, one wouldn't expect anything else, especially since the current duke seems to be doing his best to alienate his entire family, and before Georgie has had a chance to make much progress with Jack there is a murder.
Set in the Downton Abbey era after WWI, these novels are a little lighter than that show and they have a little more humor, in spite of being a murder mystery series. There are recurring characters in every book, including Georgie's dashing boyfriend Darcy, her wild bright-young-things friend Belinda, and her ex-cop grandfather who comes from the non-royal side of her family, but each book also has delightful new characters that it's fun to get to know. The settings vary also, sometimes sumptuous and sometimes quaint, but always a joy to inhabit during the all too brief time spent reading these novels.
January 21, 2020
3.5*
This 7th book in the Her Royal Spyness series was a good murder mystery. Bowen seems to have hit her stride in this series with the previous book, "The Twelve Clues of Christmas", abandoning some of the more absurd plots of the earlier books for more straightforward mystery plots.
This 7th book in the Her Royal Spyness series was a good murder mystery. Bowen seems to have hit her stride in this series with the previous book, "The Twelve Clues of Christmas", abandoning some of the more absurd plots of the earlier books for more straightforward mystery plots.
February 3, 2023
Book 7 of 16
Cannot start out the year without the British Drama Queen, Georgiana.
This book was such a come up from the last book. The audio made the story very engaging. I loved the characters and all the twist and turns.
Once again the murder was solved and who knew? You never know until you know.
Cannot start out the year without the British Drama Queen, Georgiana.
This book was such a come up from the last book. The audio made the story very engaging. I loved the characters and all the twist and turns.
Once again the murder was solved and who knew? You never know until you know.
February 11, 2015
I think long-time fans of the Royal Spyness series would generally agree that the strongest aspects of these stories are the characters and the vivid world of the period (the upper class and their pomp and circumstance in particular) that Rhys Bowen has always managed to paint in such rich detail. Most of all I absolutely adore Georgie and Darcy both separately and together, so any adventure with them is a good adventure as far as I’m concerned. The change in their relationship dynamic in this book is a joy to read – as much as I’ve enjoyed the push-and-pull between them in the earlier books, it was welcome to see that commitment can bring exchanges that are just as sparked with romantic tension. There’s something so touching about a happy couple with thoughts of a future together.
On the other hand, the murder mystery portion has always played second fiddle to the rich characters and setting – hardly a problem once expectations are adjusted and I’ve loved the blend of historical period, romance, comedy and mystery. However, I was dismayed to find that the distribution of time spent on the mystery versus other aspects was clearly uneven. Rather than having a solidly structured murder mystery/investigation running in the background even as Georgie navigated the murky waters of upper class society (as had been the case in previous novels), it was over halfway before the actual murder occurs in this book and not until the last 50 pages or so before there was a last minute rush of key information related to the case (such as the results of the autopsy), which led to the pieces of the puzzle falling conveniently into place for Georgie and a confrontation with the culprit.
In essence, the mystery was in every sense an afterthought – as much as I enjoyed seeing Georgie getting to know members of the duchess’ household and taking more and more initiative in her role as detective rather than relying on Darcy, the good build-up of tension and Georgie’s sense of something being wrong with the picture simply wasn’t enough to sustain a really good mystery. It’s a bit of a letdown to realize that everyone had stumbled in the dark without any clues until the last 50 pages of the book and receive a rushed, lackluster conclusion where all was smoothly taken care of. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy Heirs and Graces (I really rather did!), but hopefully Book 8 would give us a stronger mystery that would match the characters and historical setting in focus.
On the other hand, the murder mystery portion has always played second fiddle to the rich characters and setting – hardly a problem once expectations are adjusted and I’ve loved the blend of historical period, romance, comedy and mystery. However, I was dismayed to find that the distribution of time spent on the mystery versus other aspects was clearly uneven. Rather than having a solidly structured murder mystery/investigation running in the background even as Georgie navigated the murky waters of upper class society (as had been the case in previous novels), it was over halfway before the actual murder occurs in this book and not until the last 50 pages or so before there was a last minute rush of key information related to the case (such as the results of the autopsy), which led to the pieces of the puzzle falling conveniently into place for Georgie and a confrontation with the culprit.
In essence, the mystery was in every sense an afterthought – as much as I enjoyed seeing Georgie getting to know members of the duchess’ household and taking more and more initiative in her role as detective rather than relying on Darcy, the good build-up of tension and Georgie’s sense of something being wrong with the picture simply wasn’t enough to sustain a really good mystery. It’s a bit of a letdown to realize that everyone had stumbled in the dark without any clues until the last 50 pages of the book and receive a rushed, lackluster conclusion where all was smoothly taken care of. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy Heirs and Graces (I really rather did!), but hopefully Book 8 would give us a stronger mystery that would match the characters and historical setting in focus.
September 17, 2019
Finished today. Another fun episode with Georgie and gang! I love Belinda! She makes me laugh! If you enjoy English humor and murder mysteries you should enjoy these. On to book 8.....
March 20, 2025
3.5 stars
Georgie, once again, needs a place to live. She will head to the home of one of the queen’s friends’ (a dowager duchess) to help acclimate the woman’s grandson (Jack), her heir, who is coming from Australia to England. He does not understand the intricacies of “society” and he is pretty rough around the edges. Technically, the home Georgie is now living in belongs to the duchess’s other son, Cedric, who is not married and has no heirs. So, Jack from Australia is who the heir has to be. But it’s not long before someone is killed! And, of course, that someone was not much liked by anyone, and many people had a reason to kill him.
This was another enjoyable mystery. I still think Queenie (Georgie’s maid) is (mostly) funny (at other times, I feel like Georgie really should get rid of her… at the same time knowing she can’t afford to hire someone else). Of course, Darcy ends up at the house, as well (he escorted Jack from the airport to the house and ends up stuck there while the police need to question everyone).
Georgie, once again, needs a place to live. She will head to the home of one of the queen’s friends’ (a dowager duchess) to help acclimate the woman’s grandson (Jack), her heir, who is coming from Australia to England. He does not understand the intricacies of “society” and he is pretty rough around the edges. Technically, the home Georgie is now living in belongs to the duchess’s other son, Cedric, who is not married and has no heirs. So, Jack from Australia is who the heir has to be. But it’s not long before someone is killed! And, of course, that someone was not much liked by anyone, and many people had a reason to kill him.
This was another enjoyable mystery. I still think Queenie (Georgie’s maid) is (mostly) funny (at other times, I feel like Georgie really should get rid of her… at the same time knowing she can’t afford to hire someone else). Of course, Darcy ends up at the house, as well (he escorted Jack from the airport to the house and ends up stuck there while the police need to question everyone).
July 13, 2024
This was a different book, Georgie was asked by the Queen, to help her friend. Georgie was asked to help teach manners and etiquette to a man from an Australian Sheep Farm. There wasn't going to be an heir to be a duke. There is a lot of backbiting in the family. Then there was a murder. The police came in, but the poor would be Viscount was considered the killer. Read this book to find out what happens.
July 31, 2013
Rhys Bowen's historical mysteries, Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, are some of my very favorite historical mysteries. They are sweet and sassy, smart and thrilling. The latest in the series, Heirs and Graces, tops off the series with amateur sleuth, Lady Georgiana Rannoch, yet again in the middle of a murder scene!
Lady Georgiana is bored in the city and unable to bear the thought of visiting her brother at his Scottish castle (which is far too drafty with an unbearable sister-in-law included). The perfect opportunity to leave the city comes when Her Majesty the Queen asks Georgiana to help the dowager duchess groom a new heir - a heir that has been discovered in Outback Australia. As Georgiana tries to show Jack Altringham proper table manners, the dowager duchess's son looks on in disgust. When her son, Cedric, shows up with a knife in his back, everyone points their finger at Jack as the murderer. It is going to take a lot of help from Georgiana and her dearest Darcy to keep Jack out of the gallows!
I am a diehard Agatha Christie fan. I love my english cozies and I'm also Australian by birth. Heirs and Graces comes very close to being the most absolutely perfect cozy mystery that I've ever read. In fact page after page I almost felt like it was written just for me. It had a thrilling mystery and a fantastic returning cast. In the previous books I've always enjoyed reading about Georgiana's best friend, Belinda's exploits, as she does all she can to snag a rich man, without actually marrying him. Belinda and Queenie, Georgiana's maid, are back with lots of laughs and giggles. However it was Jack Altringham who completely stole the show. From his lack of table manners to his inability to fit into the royal ways (and not wanting to fit in) he was a perfect addition to this great cast. His aussie slang was spot on and he made a already fantastic mystery series even better!!
With a few stolen romantic moments between Georgiana and Darcy (isn't that the most perfect male name ever?), a compelling mystery and a English country setting, Heirs and Graces was a dynamite read and one that I strongly recommend be on your summer reading list.
Lady Georgiana is bored in the city and unable to bear the thought of visiting her brother at his Scottish castle (which is far too drafty with an unbearable sister-in-law included). The perfect opportunity to leave the city comes when Her Majesty the Queen asks Georgiana to help the dowager duchess groom a new heir - a heir that has been discovered in Outback Australia. As Georgiana tries to show Jack Altringham proper table manners, the dowager duchess's son looks on in disgust. When her son, Cedric, shows up with a knife in his back, everyone points their finger at Jack as the murderer. It is going to take a lot of help from Georgiana and her dearest Darcy to keep Jack out of the gallows!
I am a diehard Agatha Christie fan. I love my english cozies and I'm also Australian by birth. Heirs and Graces comes very close to being the most absolutely perfect cozy mystery that I've ever read. In fact page after page I almost felt like it was written just for me. It had a thrilling mystery and a fantastic returning cast. In the previous books I've always enjoyed reading about Georgiana's best friend, Belinda's exploits, as she does all she can to snag a rich man, without actually marrying him. Belinda and Queenie, Georgiana's maid, are back with lots of laughs and giggles. However it was Jack Altringham who completely stole the show. From his lack of table manners to his inability to fit into the royal ways (and not wanting to fit in) he was a perfect addition to this great cast. His aussie slang was spot on and he made a already fantastic mystery series even better!!
With a few stolen romantic moments between Georgiana and Darcy (isn't that the most perfect male name ever?), a compelling mystery and a English country setting, Heirs and Graces was a dynamite read and one that I strongly recommend be on your summer reading list.
July 16, 2013
Heirs And Graces is the seventh book in the Her Royal Spyness Series.
It is never a disappointment for me to pick up the next Lady Georgiana book.
Lady Georgiana saves the day for the aristocracy once again. Georgie's mom has left for Switzerland and she is concerned that she will have to return to cold and drafty castle is Scotland when the Queen invites her to tea.
The Queen, "asks" Lady Georgianna if would return home with Edwina, Duchess of Eynsford, well sure!! Edwina current son has no heirs and little chance of providing any. Edwina has mounted an extensive search and has found that her other son, John, who had gone to Australia and was killed in WWI, has a son Jack living on a sheep station in Australia. Darcy O'Mara, Georgie's boyfriend, has secretly been sent to bring Jack back to England to groomed to become the next Duke of Eynsford. Georgie's job is to give Jack the good stiff upper lip that any Duke worth his Dukedom needs. Georgie soon learns that it will be an uphill battle with Jack.
When the Duke is found dead, Jack comes under suspicion, as his knife is protruding out of the Duke's back. Georgie and Darcy are off to investigate, as the Chief Inspector and his men seem incompetent.
Cedric certainly had his enemies who would like for him to be dead. It was humorous to me to read how Edwina and her sisters, and even the Duke's sister, handled this terrible tragedy. Their biggest concern was how inept the commoners were.
And to add a little additional humor, Belinda is back. She provide her usual wit, but her hopes of finding a good Duke to party with, fails her.
Even the bumbling Queenie is around to torment Georgie. It always fun to see what trouble she can cause and she does.
Very much looking forward to the next book in this light-hearted series.
It is never a disappointment for me to pick up the next Lady Georgiana book.
Lady Georgiana saves the day for the aristocracy once again. Georgie's mom has left for Switzerland and she is concerned that she will have to return to cold and drafty castle is Scotland when the Queen invites her to tea.
The Queen, "asks" Lady Georgianna if would return home with Edwina, Duchess of Eynsford, well sure!! Edwina current son has no heirs and little chance of providing any. Edwina has mounted an extensive search and has found that her other son, John, who had gone to Australia and was killed in WWI, has a son Jack living on a sheep station in Australia. Darcy O'Mara, Georgie's boyfriend, has secretly been sent to bring Jack back to England to groomed to become the next Duke of Eynsford. Georgie's job is to give Jack the good stiff upper lip that any Duke worth his Dukedom needs. Georgie soon learns that it will be an uphill battle with Jack.
When the Duke is found dead, Jack comes under suspicion, as his knife is protruding out of the Duke's back. Georgie and Darcy are off to investigate, as the Chief Inspector and his men seem incompetent.
Cedric certainly had his enemies who would like for him to be dead. It was humorous to me to read how Edwina and her sisters, and even the Duke's sister, handled this terrible tragedy. Their biggest concern was how inept the commoners were.
And to add a little additional humor, Belinda is back. She provide her usual wit, but her hopes of finding a good Duke to party with, fails her.
Even the bumbling Queenie is around to torment Georgie. It always fun to see what trouble she can cause and she does.
Very much looking forward to the next book in this light-hearted series.
October 17, 2019
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Heirs and Graces is the 7th in Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series, and I’m happy to say it continued in the vein of the 6th book, which I think was the best in the series so far.
Things I Liked
- We got more of Darcy and Georgie together! This made me so happy, as I feel like Darcy was really in the background unnecessarily for several books.
- Jack, the Australian heir, was a breath of fresh air to the stodgy British household of his grandmother. I loved it.
- The mystery was one of those that was clearly a framing of another person from the very start, but I was really unsure of who I liked for the actual culprit until much closer to the end. I love mysteries like this, because it’s just not as much fun if you figure it out a quarter of the way through the book!
Overall 4/5 Stars
This was another solid addition to the series! Nothing spectacular, but a very enjoyable read with mostly characters we’re familiar with – which is exactly what I want out of a cozy mystery!
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Heirs and Graces is the 7th in Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series, and I’m happy to say it continued in the vein of the 6th book, which I think was the best in the series so far.
“Nothing more dangerous than an educated woman.”
Things I Liked
- We got more of Darcy and Georgie together! This made me so happy, as I feel like Darcy was really in the background unnecessarily for several books.
- Jack, the Australian heir, was a breath of fresh air to the stodgy British household of his grandmother. I loved it.
- The mystery was one of those that was clearly a framing of another person from the very start, but I was really unsure of who I liked for the actual culprit until much closer to the end. I love mysteries like this, because it’s just not as much fun if you figure it out a quarter of the way through the book!
Overall 4/5 Stars
This was another solid addition to the series! Nothing spectacular, but a very enjoyable read with mostly characters we’re familiar with – which is exactly what I want out of a cozy mystery!
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August 5, 2013
I adore Lady Georgiana Raddoch and her penchant for so innocently finding herself in the middle of a murder somewhere in the world. This book does not disappoint. We know someone is going to die (but believe me, in this book, there are several who could easily go), and we get the opportunity to figure out who the murderer is. I was close, just not close enough this time. And with the delightful Darcy O'Mara, the love of Lady Georgie's life, always showing up at the right time, then mysteriously taking his leave on some business or another, this series has become one of my romantic favorites as well. My advice: start with the first of the series, and keep on reading. Then, when you finish this book, you can join the rest of us who wait impatiently for Rhys Bowen to write another!
September 14, 2015
This installment finds Georgie on another assignment from Her Majesty. This time to help polish up a newly-found heir just arriving from Australia.
There is the usual cast of interesting characters and then a murder.
There is a sense of fun in this one as the new heir hasn't a clue on how to behave and inadvertently makes many mistakes. The characters is well done as you can see where he's going to go wrong, but he is crafted in an endearing way and you'll hope for the best.
Fun, entertaining, cozy mystery.
There is the usual cast of interesting characters and then a murder.
There is a sense of fun in this one as the new heir hasn't a clue on how to behave and inadvertently makes many mistakes. The characters is well done as you can see where he's going to go wrong, but he is crafted in an endearing way and you'll hope for the best.
Fun, entertaining, cozy mystery.
October 16, 2019
Effervescent.
January 16, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
Another will written British 🏰 family and friends relationships with a little romance murder mystery adventure thriller novel by Rhys Bowen (The Royal Spyness Series book seven). Georgiana is asked by the queen 👑 to help one of her friends get the Australian grandson adjusted to life in England. The older son dies. Who did it? Georgiana and Dorsey investigate and in the end find out the truth. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels..Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 🌙👒☺
This is the only series I listen 🎶 to by Rhys Bowen available from the local library as an ebook. Happy reading in 2023
Another will written British 🏰 family and friends relationships with a little romance murder mystery adventure thriller novel by Rhys Bowen (The Royal Spyness Series book seven). Georgiana is asked by the queen 👑 to help one of her friends get the Australian grandson adjusted to life in England. The older son dies. Who did it? Georgiana and Dorsey investigate and in the end find out the truth. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels..Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 🌙👒☺
This is the only series I listen 🎶 to by Rhys Bowen available from the local library as an ebook. Happy reading in 2023
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