In the tenth installment of the Royal Spyness series, Bowen delivers a novel that I concluded with mixed feelings. The mystery was average, at best, but I was totally sucked into Lady Georgianna Rannoch’s personal life and feelings. As I’ve now read ten of her novels, I’ve concluded that Bowen does an extraordinary job with the mystery or an extraordinary job with the romantic plot, but not an extraordinary job at both. In her defense, however, it must be incredibly difficult to piece together all of the chaotic nuances of Georgie’s life into a satisfying and believable storyline.
As for this novel, it’s believable. All of them have been. Bowen is talented at reporting events through Georgie’s eyes that readers know didn’t really happen, but wish they did because the picture she paints is so clear. This novel is no different: Georgie is once again lost at having to accompany a royal princess around London, accompanied by her less-than-pleasant companion. She flies by the seat of her pants, using her limited contacts to get invitations to parties, plays and the like. All too soon, however, she is embroiled in another mystery as a well-known socialite (and former lover of Prince George) winds up dead at the foot of Kensington Palace.
To protect the royal family’s reputation ahead of Prince George’s looming wedding, Georgie is asked by a high-ranking government official to keep her eyes and ears open. She works alongside Darcy, her unofficially-betrothed, to find the culprit without kicking up a scandal that the newspapers are likely to get wind of. In doing so, her romantic, domestic, and social life proves to get ever more complicated – never mind her task of finding a killer.
Bowen outdoes herself by adding new twists and tensions to Georgie’s relationships in Malice at the Palace. I, for one, am reading the next novel just to satisfy my curiosity about the ending of this one (no, I am not giving you spoilers here!). However, the mystery is a little lacking. I found myself guessing who the culprit was about 25% of the way through. Her last novel was similar; the mystery was not awesome, but all of the period detail and personal relationship work was awesome. If you want to read what I consider her best plot, try The Twelve Clues of Christmas. I was totally sucked into this book and consider it Bowen’s best mystery so far.
Even though the mystery didn’t do it for me this time, this series is still enjoyable. It has a lightheartedness about it that’s hard to achieve in murder mystery writing, and you’ll enjoy Georgie’s antics, issues, and ability to handle whatever is thrown at her. If there is one criticism I have, it’s that her bumbling maid, Queenie, has become more of an annoyance for me than entertainment. I feel it’s time she was cut loose from the series.