Even a cursory glance at the books I review will reveal that I do love a good mystery, but like any lover, I’m picky. I am especially careful of so-called “cozy” mysteries. Sometimes they’re fun and witty, but all too often they are twee and downright gummy with trying to be cute and English or featuring (shudder) talking cats. However, one series that I unabashedly love is Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series. Set in 1930s England, the books feature Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 35th in line to the throne, in all her geeky glory. Georgie is funny and relatable, complaining about the tartan wallpaper in the loo of her family’s ancestral Scottish castle, and offering an irreverent look at the lives of the nobility, while somehow consistently turning up bodies. She’s flat broke, struggling to survive the Great Depression without bringing open shame on her royal relatives, and her attempts to earn money can be very funny. I’ve read several in the series, and enjoyed them immensely.

In Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding, Georgiana is engaged at last to Lord Darcy, himself an irreverent dark-haired Irish (and Catholic!) lord who’s featured in these books from the beginning and who is as broke as her ladyship. The two are attempting to house-hunt, finding only very depressing and tiny flats as options, when Georgie’s godfather offers his own stately country house as an option. He’s a mountain climber who has been out of country for a couple of years at this point, and in his postscript he wonders if all is well at Eynsleigh House.

Georgie heads down there alone and soon finds that all is far from well! Whether it’s a butler who seems a little too Cockney for the job, a maid who leaves the gas on in Georgie’s room, or gardeners who not only don’t do their own work but also seem determined to keep her away from certain parts of the grounds, Georgie begins to suspect that something sinister is afoot. She’s joined by her mother, the actress-turned-duchness who ran away when Georgie was a baby and with whom she has a somewhat uncertain relationship, her grandfather, a retired policeman who’s very uncomfortable with the upper class, and her maid Queenie, a strong-willed young woman who is not a great lady’s maid but who is turning out to be a good cook. Many adventures ensue, but all ends well.

I highly recommend this series if you enjoy nice, relaxing murder mysteries—and no, that’s not an oxymoron! With amusing and original characters who have a decidedly unsentimental outlook on life, the Royal Spyness books are a delight to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the free review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Five stars for Georgie and Darcy! This one - the 12th in Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series - was SO good! I have loved this series since book one, and it has not lost any of its charm or appeal; in fact, it only gets better!

Georgie and Darcy are planning their upcoming nuptials, having received the blessing from the King and Queen to proceed, even though it means Georgie will have to relinquish her claim to the throne. Georgie couldn't care less - she is madly in love with Darcy and cannot wait to be his wife! They just need to figure out their wedding details, and find a place to live, despite having next to no money. When Georgie gets a surprise offer from one of her mother's previous husbands (who always adored Georgie) to live in his country estate and oversee things while he's traveling in South America, she jumps at the idea of having a proper home to call her own. But she quickly discovers things are not as they should be - the staff is clearly not up to snuff, there are strange noises in the night, and someone even turned the gas on in her room while Georgie was sleeping! Was her life in danger? Meanwhile, Georgie's mother's upcoming wedding is on permanent hold, and now the former Duchess of Rannoch needs a place to stay. Georgie offers her new home, and is glad to have someone there to help investigate the strange happenings. Soon her grandfather also takes up residence, and puts his sleuthing skills to work, too! Will they figure out what's going on before it's too late?

I loved that Georgie proved how strong her investigative skills are in this book! Darcy did make his appearance at the end, but it was truly Georgie who solved the mystery - and together they saved the day! I also loved seeing a softer side to Georgie's mother, and that the two of them grew a little closer over the course of this book. They've always had a strained relationship, so this made me really happy! And I just adore Georgie's grandfather, and loved his storyline, too. And of course...the very happy ending was the icing on the cake! Can't wait to see where Georgie and Darcy take their honeymoon, and what mystery they'll solve along the way!

Georgie and the Royal Spyness series are something I look forward to reading every year when the newest one is released! This is usually around my birthday, so I use that excuse to read it cover to cover. (insert smile)
Georgie, Darcy, Queenie and the whole crew are present here in another hilarious adventure. She tries to ready an inherited estate for herself and Darcy to live in after their very soon-to-happen-hopefully-marriage. As we have come to expect, things go awry, and there is a murder or 2 (or 3 or 4) that need solving. Loved this as usual and can't wait until August 2019!

*Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Rhys Bowen for a reading copy to honestly review*

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The Lady Georgie series is so much fun to read, and I love seeing Rhys Bowen when she comes to our book store for her book tour. I am looking forward to the next installment.

I have been trying to get into Her Royal Spyness series for years.The first book was alright, but left me wanting. However, this was a cute story that could stand alone. Georgie grew on me in this series. I particularly loved the drama that took place in the book. The mystery could have been better, but it was not the focus in the novel. Still, this novel has gotten me interested to read the whole series in order to get to know the characters. I am slowly becoming a Rhys Bowen fan.

I enjoy following Lady Georgina and her beau, Darcy on their grand adventures. Their eventual (hopefully) trip to the altar has been their goal since they met, and this book is bringing them closer(no spoilers). Of course, this book contains a mystery and another British country manor., which, with the help of Darcy, Georgina solves.
All in all, a good British cozy, can't wait to see what the next adventure brings.

This book is cute, fun and likable. It has some good humor and a mystery, of course. I adore the British flair of this tale and it had a great ending. Now, I need a spot of tea.

I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book via Net Galley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series has been one that I've been following for many years and I always enjoy reading about the latest series of unfortunate events Georgie has fallen on, the delightful cast of new and old characters that join her, and the continued romance between her and Darcy.

Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding takes place only a short time before the much awaited wedding between Georgie and Darcy. But of course there are problems: they can't find a place to live, the wedding is turning into a much larger affair then either of them hoped for, and Darcy is off on a mission leaving Georgie to fend for herself. When they are offered a future home at her godfathers currently empty house in the country, she leaps at the chance to at last have a place to call home. But things are not as they should be at Eynsleigh estate and Georgie is again thrust into mysterious circumstances.

A entertaining mystery, featuring some of my favourite series characters (Queenie! Her mother!), and a wedding twelve books in the making makes for a very fun instalment in a wonderful cozy mystery series.

In the days leading up to her wedding to Darcy O'Mara, Lady Georgiana Rannoch takes on the responsibilities of a grand estate, but proving she can run a household just may be the death of her. As she prepares for her wedding, she also must find a place to live. House hunting turns out to be a pretty grim affair. Just as they start to lose hope, her globetrotting godfather offers them his fully staffed country estate. She heads to Eynsleigh alone, only to have her hopes dashed. The grounds are in disarray and the small staff is suspiciously incompetent. Something rotten is afoot.

This was a truly fun book with some really unsavory characters. And a lot of twists and turns before the reader gets to the end and finds out just what is happening in the estate. Georgiana is one of my favorite characters. She can truly get herself into so many interesting situations barely escaping with her life in some instances. And in this book, her mother also drops in to take up residence. She too is a very colorful character. But I don't know if I will like it that Georgiana has to give her title. It was very useful to her at times.

I did enjoy guessing who would be the next person requiring a funeral. And I cannot reveal whether the wedding actually happened. That would be totally unfair. But reading and guessing was what made this book such fun. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the first book of the Royal Spyness series that I have read and I loved it! It was a quick read and I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you Netgalley and Rhys Bowen for the opportunity to read this title. I will definitely be looking into reading the first eleven books in the series and recommending the series to the library.

That being said, joining the party in the twelfth book detract from the story at all. Georgiana is a month away from saying "I do" to Darcy. And as with all weddings, things are going smoothly. First, their is the whens and wheres of the wedding since she still is a royal and the guest list. Over and over again, Georgiana wishes that she and Darcy could have just eloped. Secondly, on the list of worries is where will they live? She and Darcy aren't rich, and the flats that they have looked at are horrendous at best. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, Georgiana's ex-stepfather sends a letter and invitation to live in his estate. Delighted by this gift, Georgiana is fast to go to the estate and set up home before the wedding.

Of course, her arrival does not go as planned when she is welcomed by the most unwelcoming staff. Even worse, the house is in terrible disarray. What has the staff been doing all this time? The butler is rude, the maid doesn't want to help with duties, the cook is a disaster, and the gardeners apparently don't garden. Worst yet, it seems that someone wants to kill her. With a staff that refuses to be fired, Georgiana finds some relief when Mummy decides to come stay with her after her engagement ends.

Can Georgiana get the estate back on track before the wedding or before the staff kills her? Something is definitely wrong...can she figure it out before it's too late?

In the days leading up to her wedding to Darcy O'Mara, Lady Georgiana Rannoch takes on the responsibilities of a grand estate, but proving she can run a household just may be the death of her in the new Royal Spyness Mystery, FOUR FUNERALS and MAYBE a WEDDING (St.Martin'sPress)from the New York Times bestselling author of On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service, Rhys Bowen.

If only Darcy and I had eloped! What I thought would be a simple wedding has been transformed into a grand affair, thanks to the attendance of the queen, who has offered up the princesses as bridesmaids. Silly me! I thought that withdrawing from the royal line of succession would simplify my life. But before Darcy and I tie the knot in front of queen and country, we have to find a place to live as man and wife...

House hunting turns out to be a pretty grim affair. Just as we start to lose hope, my globetrotting godfather offers us his fully staffed country estate. Mistress of Eynsleigh I shall be! With Darcy off in parts unknown, I head to Eynsleigh alone, only to have my hopes dashed. The grounds are in disarray and the small staff is suspiciously incompetent. Not to mention the gas tap leak in my bedroom, which I can only imagine was an attempt on my life. Something rotten is afoot--and bringing the place up to snuff may put me six feet under before I even get a chance to walk down the aisle...

(Thank you St. Martin's for summary)

*****



Rhys Bowen is the New York TimesBestselling Author of the Royal Spyness Series, Molly Murphy Mysteries, and Constable Evans. She has won the Agatha Best Novel Award and has been nominated for the Edgar Best Novel. Rhys’s titles have received rave reviews around the globe.

On March 1, 2017, Rhys is excited to announce the publication of her first big stand-alone thriller, In Farleigh Field, set in World War Two at an English stately home.  It has already received stellar reviews.

Rhys currently writes two mystery series, the atmospheric Molly Murphy novels, about a feisty Irish immigrant in 1900s New York City, and the funny and sexy Royal Spyness mysteries, about a penniless minor royal in 1930s Britain. Her books have made bestseller lists, garnered many awards, nominations, and starred reviews. She was born in England and married into a family with historic royal connections. She now divides her time between California and Arizona.

Thanks to Penguin Random House, we have one copy to giveaway. Just tell us what your favorite mystery series is. We'll announce a winner soon. Good luck.

GIVEAWAY: USA only please.

It’s always a treat to spend time with Georgie and her off-beat friends and relatives. This time she is (finally!) planning her wedding to the dashing and mysterious Darcy O’Mara. As par for the course, things take a bit of a turn and, once again, Georgie finds herself in a muddle. This is one girl who seems to attract trouble and mystery.

I like Georgie for several reasons. Even though she is part of the royal family and 35th in line to the throne, she is unassuming and undemanding. She enjoys her life, most of the time, and she loves her friends and family. She’s not one for airs and is somewhat clumsy, especially in formal settings. Something I can totally relate to!

The characters in Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness Mysteries are varied and vivid. From her grandfather, a retired police officer, to her often-married mother who is an accomplished actress. And, there’s her friend and confidant, Belinda, as well as her maid, Queenie, who is even more clumsy than Georgie. What a great cast of characters! And, of course, there’s the royal family members that come and go throughout the stories. What fun!

I thoroughly the Royal Spyness Mysteries but I recommend that new readers start with the first book in this series, so they will have a proper introduction to Georgie. These books are perfect for a quick read that will bring a smile to your face while also giving you a satisfying mystery.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Like all the books in this series, this one was fun and entertaining but a little slow in getting to the mystery. I am happy to see that some things are finally going right for Georgie.

It's always a pleasure to read a new Rhys Bowen & this one was no exception. Although sometimes the mystery in the plot is not the most exciting, just following her characters makes it great fun.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Will Georgie and Darcy finally walk down the aisle? Not only is Georgie planning her own nuptials, plans that get more complicated by the day given her royal relatives, but her mother and grandfather also have impending weddings. Always insecure about where she will land, Georgie jumps at her ex-stepfather’s offer to set up house in his Sussex manor. However, it is quickly obvious that something fishy is going on with the house’s diminished staff. As usual, Georgie finds herself smack in the middle of a mystery.

Time spent with Georgie is always time well spent. Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding is a solid entry in the Royal Spyness Mystery Series. Even though it gets off to a rather slow start, once Georgie arrives and Sir Hubert’s Sussex home the pace and intrigue pick up. This book is a bit different in that there is no murder right away. What does it say about me that I was impatient for someone to die? I also feel like I figured it all out way before Georgie.

I like Georgie. She is a unique protagonist with her royal connection yet diminished financial circumstances. To me, she shows a great deal of character growth in this installment, finding her own voice. It is nice to see her mother evolve a bit, too, and Georgie’s grandfather is one of my favorite recurring characters. As always, I wish Darcy had been around more. Perhaps that will change as the series moves forward. The house staff is pretty unlikable, and their presence makes me appreciate ladies maid turned cook Queenie all the more.

Fans of the series will not be disappointed. I have heard a rumor that this is the final book in the long-running series, and I hope that is not the case. I look forward to many more adventures alongside Georgie.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I have read a lot of Rhys' books and as always, she does not disappoint!! I have read her stand alones and now her series and I am thrilled that I have not only gotten to know Rhys - but feel so blessed to be able to read her books!! This book is funny, heart warming, predictable and unpredictable. Historical fiction at its' best!!

If you enjoy light mystery novels, I would recommend checking this out. It is a fun story with fun and enjoyable characters. Even if you haven’t read the other novels in the series, you could easily check this one out. I’m not drawn to re-read it or to start the series from the beginning, but I would be happy to read the books that come out in the future.

Rhys Bowen Interview 080118

In the days leading up to her wedding to Darcy O'Mara, Lady Georgiana Rannoch takes on the responsibilities of a grand estate, but proving she can run a household just may be the death of her in the new Royal Spyness Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service.

If only Darcy and I had eloped! What I thought would be a simple wedding has been transformed into a grand affair, thanks to the attendance of the queen, who has offered up the princesses as bridesmaids. Silly me! I thought that withdrawing from the royal line of succession would simplify my life. But before Darcy and I tie the knot in front of queen and country, we have to find a place to live as man and wife...

House hunting turns out to be a pretty grim affair. Just as we start to lose hope, my globetrotting godfather offers us his fully staffed country estate. Mistress of Eynsleigh I shall be! With Darcy off in parts unknown, I head to Eynsleigh alone, only to have my hopes dashed. The grounds are in disarray and the small staff is suspiciously incompetent. Not to mention the gas tap leak in my bedroom, which I can only imagine was an attempt on my life. Something rotten is afoot--and bringing the place up to snuff may put me six feet under before I even get a chance to walk down the aisle...
Amazon.com

Rhys Bowen’s newest Royal Spyness Mystery, Four Funerals and Maybe A Wedding, captivated my attention. I sunk into the book with abandon. That should be a good thing, but for me, it was not.

As a writer and an interviewer, I read books from a professional point-of-view. Usually. As I read, I’d catch myself fifty pages further along without having taken a single note or highlighted a passage. This has happened in the past while reading Rhys’s books, but there was a difference with this book.

In previous books in the series, main character Lady Georgiana Rannoch, spies for Queen Mary. In this episode, Georgie must spy for herself, and the Queen adds complications rather than provides solutions. It’s a refreshing twist.

While I’m sure Georgiana will spy for the Queen again and perhaps get involved with her fiancé’s undercover missions, I found this interlude of Georgiana working for herself to be a wonderful prelude and learning experience for her future life. What especially surprised me—who acted as her support and sidekick. I’ll say no more.

Please welcome Rhys Bowen back to WWK. E. B. Davis

Have you heard if any of the British royalty reads your books?

I haven’t. I’ve been tempted to send a book to Princess Kate, and now to Meghan. I actually have connections to the latter as my daughter is good friends with her mom. I think they’d get a good chuckle, don’t you?

In 2015, the rules of succession changed. What were the changes?

Until then the oldest son was the heir, followed by any other sons ahead of any daughters. The rule has now changed so that if a girl is born first she will be queen. Princess Charlotte is right in line behind Prince George and ahead of Prince Louis.

Who placed Darcy and Georgianna’s engagement announcement in the Times?

That was Darcy’s job!

These days, wedding planning is a career and months, if not years, are spent planning the wedding. Darcy and Georgianna are to be married within a month. Were times different then?

Yes, I think that weddings were much less elaborate affairs in those days. Most weddings were a service in church followed by a lunch or just by cake and champagne, toasts and speeches. Then the bride changed into her going-away outfit, rice was thrown as the couple ran to their car and that was it!
If Georgie’s had been a real royal wedding (if she had married Prince Siegfried, for example!!) then it would have been more formal, with lots of protocol etc.

To marry Darcy, Georgianna must withdraw from the royal line of succession to the throne (even though she’s thirty-fourth in line). Why, and how will this effect Georgianna and her relationship to the King and Queen?

We’ll have to see. She probably won’t be invited to official royal occasions, but the queen is clearly fond of her and she will be included in family gatherings. She is still a cousin, after all.

Why does Georgianna stay with Princess Zou Zou at her Eaton Square house rather than at Rannoch House in London?

Would you want to stay with Fig?

Queenie, Georgianna’s maid for lack of a better term, is off in Ireland learning to cook. How did that come about?

In the book Crowned and Dangerous Queenie follows Georgie to Ireland and shows that she has some talent for cooking when she helps out in Darcy’s great-aunt’s chaotic house. It’s the sort of place where nobody minds if you set fire to something, so she fits in well there! It will be seen if she fits in equally well in a proper household.

Why does Georgianna note that, “…too-perfect maids aren’t always desirable.”?

You would have to read the book “On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service” to find that out. The Contessa has a perfect maid who tends to Georgie, however……

The queen expects Georgianna to invite all the royal houses of Europe to her wedding. Will having the princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, as bridesmaids be enough to appease the queen?

It will have to be! Georgie only wanted a simple wedding, small church a few friends and the last thing she wants is the crowned heads of Europe showing up. If this is not good enough for the queen, then too bad. It’s Georgie’s wedding, after all!

Belinda, Georgianna’s friend and upcoming dress designer, is designing and making her wedding dress. But when Georgianna hates Belinda’s design, she must be honest with her. Whether the queen, Belinda, or Georgianna’s mother, Georgianna must assert herself. How does she manage to win without offense?

I think this book shows Georgie learning to assert herself in many ways. Until now she has found it hard to say no to other people (especially the queen). But she wants her wedding to be the way she pictures it, and she is growing up too. Until now she has been at the mercy of other people, no place of her own or place in the world. Now she is marrying Darcy, she has somewhere to live and these give her confidence. She risks Belinda’s wrath by turning down the first design for her dress. She has to let the queen know, politely of course, that she will not have the big state wedding the queen wants. And most of all, she has to learn to run a large house and estate. It is a true growing experience.

Sir Hubert Anstruther, a former husband of Georgianna’s mother, wanted to adopt Georgianna, but had no legal right. How does she end up being his sole heir?

That story played out in the first book in the series, Her Royal Spyness. I don’t want to tell you here, as it would spoil that story if you haven’t read it!

Sir Hubert makes Georgianna a grand offer, which she readily accepts having fond memories of his estate, Eynsleigh. Why doesn’t Georgianna have the authority to make needed changes at the mansion?

Georgie would like to make changes, but the servants insist they were hired by Sir Hubert and thus can only be fired by him. Georgie isn’t sure how far her authority stretches and certainly doesn’t want to offend Sir Hubert by getting rid of servants he liked.

When Max von Strohheim calls off the wedding to Georgianna’s mother due to his father’s death, she comes to live with Georgianna at Eynsleigh, which is fortuitous. Her mother can’t pull off being in mourning and Georgianna needs allies against the staff. How does Georgianna use her mother to aid her?

Georgie’s mother is a famous actress. She is able to act in any way Georgie wants, most importantly act as if everything is going smoothly when it isn’t. In spite of her self-centeredness and her supposedly delicate constitution, she proves herself to be a tough little lady.

Knowing she needs an ally on the staff, Georgianna writes to Queenie, who comes to Eynsleigh to help. Why does Queenie battle with the cook?

The cook is a flamboyant and hostile Spaniard who can’t or won’t cook English food.

Georgianna has come to rely on Darcy’s experience, and yet she finds that he isn’t much help in wedding planning or in managing an estate. Why can’t he be of more help?

Wedding planning in those days was the job of the bride’s family. The groom chose his guests and best man, paid for the bouquets and showed up for the wedding. But Darcy has some kind of undercover job we are not sure about. He is always being sent to undesirable parts of the world, and he never turns down a chance to make money, being as impecunious as Georgie is.

The year of this book, 1935, was pivotal and preceded many calamitous world events. You touched on Georgianna’s mother’s relationship to Max von Strohheim, who was a German industrialist in business with the Nazis. What other events soon occur?

We are getting to a turning point in history, as you pointed out. At the end of this year the king will die. The Prince of Wales will become Edward VIII and tell parliament he wants to marry Mrs. Simpson. Parliament will say no, and he will abdicate, leaving the throne to his brother, the Duke of York, father of Elizabeth and Margaret. At the same time Hitler has consolidated his power in Germany and will start making open hostility against the Jewish population in Germany. Georgie’s mother is lucky she is no longer in Germany!

Queen Mary (May) was concerned about her son Edward, who would inherit the throne, due to his lack of protocol and love life, which she asked Georgiana to monitor and report. We haven’t heard much about George, her second son. Will we?

Her second son is not George, but Albert (Bertie to his family). He is the Duke of York, married to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and father of Elizabeth and Margaret. When he becomes king he will take the name George VI in memory of his father. We do hear about him from time to time in the books, especially in Royal Flush where Georgie interacts with her cousins, but since he lives a happy and blameless life with his family he is not much involved in murder mysteries.

In Farleigh Field, your first single-title book was nominated for an Edgar and won a Lefty Award and an Agatha Award. Now, The Tuscan Child, your second single title, is on the bestseller list. Will this success pull you from your series writing?

I am absolutely thrilled at the success of my two stand-alone novels and look forward to writing many more. They give me the kind of freedom one doesn’t get from a series, and who would turn down the chance to write books that sell over 300,000 copies? But do not fear—I love Georgie and intend to keep following her crazy and unsettled life for quite a while yet.

I have put Molly Murphy on hold, however. I love visiting with her but I have written 17 books in that series. Molly is in a good place with a husband and a child and it becomes less and less plausible that she would carry on her detective work. I hope to revisit her at some time but at the moment it’s more stand-alones.

For a series that has gone on for so long, I was really pleased with how fresh this felt. Georgie is still growing as a character and she took a lot of big steps in this one. The middle portion found us without most of our charming side characters and did drag a bit, but overall this was a fantastic installment. I felt really engaged by the mystery and found it to be more intricately plotted than most historical cozies. I am still in love with this series and I hope there are many more in this series to come.