Queen of Hearts

by Rhys Bowen

Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 35th in line for the British throne, is back.

In this latest entry to the Royal Spyness series, Georgie is going to spend some quality time with her mother. Their relationship can best be summed up by the following: “With a mother like her, I thought, who needs a Mrs. Simpson to deliver catty remarks?”

Nevertheless, penniless Georgie cannot reject her mother’s offer of adventure: a trip to the States. Yes, it’s true. Georgie’s mother is crossing the pond in search of a quickie divorce in Reno.

The journey begins with a jewel theft aboard the ship. But it also begins with Georgie’s mother being spotted by a Hollywood director. Cy Goldman would love to cast her in his latest film.

So, the ladies’ trip to Reno becomes a trip to LA, and the fun begins. . .

I won’t go into any more detail about the plot. As other reviewers have stated, this mystery is a dud. It is really not good. I would rather wait 2+ years for a really good mystery than read a mediocre-to-bad one every year. The author needs to go back to the winning formula of this series. It is a lovely little cozy series with an utterly charming sleuth. The sleuth, dear Author, should be the focus, not some inane plot.

10/6/14