"The Windsor Knot" by S.J. Bennett (re-read)

"The Windsor Knot" by S.J. Bennett is the January pick for my Childless Collective Nomo Book Club (previously read in May 2021 and reviewed here).  

At first glance, this book might seem like an odd choice for a group of CHILDLESS woman, looking to read about non-motherhood-related topics and childless/free protagonists.  The Queen, of course, was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother before her death in September 2022 at age 96. However, her new Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, is single and has no children, and plays a pivotal role in helping the Queen with more than just her royal duties -- and I enjoyed focusing a little more on Rozie as I read the book this time around.   

The plot:  It's spring 2016, and Queen Elizabeth II is at Windsor Castle, getting ready to celebrate her 90th birthday, when an overnight guest is found dead in his room. Initially it's thought to be suicide, then an accident (with some kinky overtones) -- but it quickly turns into a murder investigation. Dissatisfied with the direction the investigation is taking, Her Majesty enlists Rozie's help to make some discreet enquiries on her behalf. 

I first read this book shortly after Prince Philip's death in April 2021, which gave his appearances here a special poignancy. (Also making appearances: the Obamas! the corgis!! and plenty of horses. :)  )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book the first time I read it. It's still an engaging read (and I had forgotten a lot!), and I loved the behind-the-scenes glimpses of palace life.  :)  

My original rating of 4 stars (on both Goodreads & StoryGraph) stands.   

This was Book #33 read to date in 2024 (and Book #1 finished in December), bringing me to 73%  of my 2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 45 books. I am (for the moment, anyway...!) 9 (!) books behind schedule to meet my goal. :(  You can find reviews of all my books read to date in 2024 tagged as "2024 books."    

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There are three other books in this series ("Her Majesty the Queen Investigates") -- so far!  Here are the links to my reviews:  Links to my reviews of previous books in this series: 

• #2:  "All the Queen's Men" (alternate title: "A Three-Dog Problem") 
• #3:  "Murder Most Royal" 
• #4:  "A Death in Diamonds" (which takes place in 1957, early in the Queen's long reign, with a different assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw, who is also single and childless).  (The author herself actually popped into the comments on my review to address a complaint I had with this one! -- and I wrote about it in another post, here.)  

A fifth book, "The Queen Who Came in from the Cold,"  set in 1961, is expected to make its debut in February (2025) -- in the U.K., anyway;  North American publication date still to be confirmed. I can't wait!  : )