I've read and enjoyed the previous books in the series, and they're all reviewed here on my blog (see the links below), as well as Goodreads and StoryGraph. The books feature Queen Elizabeth II, juggling royal duties, family, corgis, and solving mysteries on the side, with a little help from her assistant private secretary (APS).
The first three books take place in 2016, when the Queen was 90, and feature her new APS, Rozie Oshodi. #4 takes place in 1957, during the early years of the Queen's reign -- before Rozie was born! -- and so features a different (but equally engaging and resourceful) APS, Joan McGraw, who did intelligence work at Bletchley Park during the war.
Joan has returned for book #5, which takes place in 1961 (the year I was born!). The Cold War is in full swing, and there are timely references to James Bond novels, Yuri Gagarin's historic space flight, the (unsuccessful) American invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, and an upcoming visit from President & Mrs. Kennedy. .
The Queen and Joan are travelling from London to an engagement in Liverpool aboard the royal train, along with Princess Margaret and her new husband, Tony Armstrong-Jones (who will be continuing on to Balmoral), when Margaret's lady-in-waiting claims to have glimpsed a body being disposed of near the tracks, as the train passed by. The victim turns out to be a photographer friend of Tony's, who may have been involved in a plot to help a dissident Soviet scientist escape. The Queen and Joan race against time to uncover the truth while preparing for the Queen's official state visit to Italy, aboard the royal yacht Britannia -- a trip that suddenly becomes a lot more complicated than expected....
This was another fast-paced, fun read, full of twists, turns and red herrings, and packed with details about royal life and life in Britain generally in the early 1960s. Bennett has done her homework! Be sure to read both the Afternotes and Letter from the Author for details on the historic truths -- some of then surprising -- that are present in the story! (Also, my copy contains the first chapter of the next book in the series, due in fall 2026: "Death on the Royal Yacht.")
Queen Elizabeth is gone now, but long may she reign in these delightful books. :)
ALI note: Princess Margaret is newly pregnant (with her son, David -- previously the Viscount Linley, and now Lord Snowdon, since the death of his father) in this book. The Queen juggles her roles as monarch and mother, and a young Princess Anne makes a brief appearance at an equestrian event with her mother. There is a "child in jeopardy" plot, and the suggestion of adoption by a childless couple late in the book (which I will admit I found mildly irritating).
Not ALI-related, but I found it both infuriating and funny to read about the sexism both the Queen and Joan endure throughout this book (and the previous ones), with men assuming and taking credit for all their hard work! (Necessarily, given the times and the Queen's need to remain neutral in such matters -- but still...!)
4.5 stars on StoryGraph, rounded down to 4 on Goodreads (after some thought).
Previous reviews of the other books in this series:
- #1: "The Windsor Knot" (original review)
- (Re-read of "The Windsor Knot")
- #2: "All the Queen's Men" (alternate title: "A Three-Dog Problem")
- #3: "Murder Most Royal"
- #4: "A Death in Diamonds"
- Related/Bonus post: "#MicroblogMondays: You never know who's reading your blog...!"
This was Book #5 read to date in 2026 (and Book #4 finished in February), bringing me to 13% of my 2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 40 books. I am (for the moment, anyway...!) 1 book behind schedule to meet my goal. :) You can find reviews of all my books read to date in 2026 tagged as "2026 books."
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