How absolutely delightful this novel was! And to learn that it’s going to be a series is awesome! I am one of those Americans who is totally fascinated by anything British and royal and to have a mystery series where her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II investigates crimes? Astounding. And adorable. And whip-smart. I cannot wait for the 2nd novel in this series.

*Special thanks to NetGalley for the digital audio ARC.*

How delightful! I absolutely love the idea that the Queen of England is an amateur sleuth! One must have some vices, mustn't one? :) This was well laid out and I really liked the fact that the Queen still had to abide by all the queenly duties - and didn't just go gallivanting off doing what she pleased, no - of course, she need help getting to the bottom of the murder wouldn't she?

The narrator was also right on point - she sounded just like the queen should and handled all the accents well, too.

The Windsor Knot has so many of my favorite ingredients: the royal family, mystery, fun. I struggled a bit to follow this book on audio and think it would actually be better on print, but as an American, I definitely enjoyed hearing the accents. The narrator did a great job voicing Queen Elizabeth; hearing her dialogue via audio definitely enhanced my reading experience.

I could not connect with the print version of this book, but the audiobook was absolutely splendid! I found the plot much more engaging and was able to listen to the entire story over two days. The narrator made all the difference. Recommended!

I’m a royal junkie and to find Queen Elizabeth as a sleuth in a new mystery series made my day. It was also my first audiobook experience and definitely won’t be my last! The Queen, near 90, learns a murder has occurred in Windsor Castle. MI5 investigates, but badly, so she quietly investigates as well with help from her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi.

Turns out Elizabeth has sleuthed before, a sort of avocation she’s carried out with her regular duties. I won’t spoil the mystery ‘cept to say I loved the author’s charming approach as she captures the Queen adroitly and her sleuthing with verve. Highly recommended for mystery lovers who need a Royal fix after finishing THE CROWN. Cheers!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
#TheWindsorKnot #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

The Windsor Knot was a delightful book; I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to further books in the series. A murder takes place in Windsor Castle, the favorite of the many homes of Queen Elizabeth. In the course of solving the murder we discover that for many years Elizabeth has secretly solved several other murders with the help of a small group of palace insiders. The character development of the novel is so good, the Queen portrayed as so intelligent that you really believe she's capable of solving the crimes. I listened to the audiobook and liked the readers voice.

I loved the premise of this book, with the 90 yr old queen solving crimes at Windsor castle. But I don’t know if the execution was there. I loved that they use real people like Putin and Obama, but I thought the book was clunky. I won’t be reviewing on my Bookstagram.

This is a mystery with a clever sleuth. A murder has happened at Windsor Castle while the queen was hosting a dine and sleep with guests from many different countries. The Metropolitan Police and MI5 are called in to work on the case. However, the queen with the help of her assistant private secretary, Rozie, gets involved in trying to solve the mystery. This is a very entertaining story that includes glimpses of the everyday life of the queen. During the book the queen is celebrating her 90th birthday, and also President Obama and Michelle will be visiting the queen, so there are many events that readers will remember being in the news. I love the start of this new series and hope that there will be many more books.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really want to call this adorable, but I know that's not the right word. Imagine the Queen secretly solving murder cases that occur in her own palace.

The Windsor Knot is the first in a new series about 90 year old Queen Elizabeth solving mysteries. Of course, being the Queen, she cannot let others know that she is solving cases. With the help of her personal secretary, Rozie, the Queen puts together all facts and information all while running the entire country!

I enjoyed seeing the ins and outs of what the Queen's life must be like. My only negative is the mystery itself wasn't an easy conclusion to come to. But the voice of the characters was well done and I definitely look forward to reading the next in the series.

Narrated by Jane Copland - I actually enjoyed her voice in bringing the Queen and Rozie to life

3.5 stars

After hosting a 'dine and sleep' soirée at Windsor Castle in the spring of 2016, .Queen Elizabeth wakes up to the distressing news that a guest named Maksim Brodsky was found dead in his room. Brodsky was a handsome young Russian pianist who played for the gathering, after which he danced with the ladies, including the Queen herself.

Even worse, Brodsky is found in skimpy underwear with a rope around his neck, and at first glance, his death appears to be due to autoerotic asphyxiation. It soon becomes clear, however, that Brodsky was murdered and the scene staged.

Since the pianist was killed at Windsor Castle - in the presence of the Royal Family, Russian diplomats, and other high profile guests - both the Metropolitan Police and MI5 investigate.

After learning that Brodsky had criticized Russian President Putin, the authorities conclude that members of the Queen's staff were Russian sleeper agents put in place to murder Brodsky. Two of the Queen's employees are discovered to have tenuous connections to Russia, and they're furloughed while the Met and MI5 make further inquiries.

Queen Elizabeth's Private Secretary, Sir Simon Holcraft, an old-school gentleman, tries to shield the Queen from the worst of the news. However, Elizabeth is too shrewd to be fobbed off with half a story, and insists on knowing everything. Unknown to Holcraft, Elizabeth has been secretly solving mysteries since she was a teenager.

The Queen refuses to believe she employed sleeper agents, and decides to launch her own investigation. Since Elizabeth can't run around the country interviewing people herself, she enlists the help of her Assistant Private Secretary Rozie Oshodi - an attractive, ex-army, Anglo-Nigerian woman who's clever, discreet, and good at data-mining social media.

When the Queen unearths clues to the crime, she subtly conveys them to Ravi Singh, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, .and Gavin Humphreys, Director General of MI5, who think they made the discoveries themselves.

It turns out that all manner of chicanery occurred at Windsor Castle on the night of the gala, including sexual liaisons and people having secret meetings. As it happens, Brodsky's death is connected to the murder of two other people in England, and the Queen has to put all the pieces together to solve the crime.

In addition to sleuthing, Queen Elizabeth performs her royal duties. She celebrates the anniversary of the postal service; gives out awards; hosts the Obamas; welcomes the Japanese prime minister and his wife; attends public festivities for her 90th birthday; etc.

Elizabeth also has a rich private life. She visits with her children and their families; spends time with her husband Prince Philip; walks her dogs; rides her horses; attends The Royal Windsor Horse Show Pageant;
has a birthday celebration with her loved ones; and so on.

Additional characters include a jealous businessman and his gorgeous ballerina wife; an Englishwoman with a doctorate in Russian studies; a celebrated female architect; Brodsky's international roommates; Rozie's relatives in England and Nigeria; staff who serve the Royal Family; and more.

Queen Elizabeth is a lovely warm woman who's concerned for others and determined to uphold the dignity of the monarchy; Prince Philip is a witty quipster who's fun to be around; and Rozie is a tough lady who can defend herself when necessary. I look forward to seeing more of them in future books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, S.J. Bennett, and William Morrow Publishers for a copy of the book.

This fun mystery is the first in the Her Majesty The Queen Investigates series and was the perfect story to cozy up with for this gal who likes all things royal! Queen Elizabeth has a hobby of sorts that not many know of. When her keen eye and sharp mind sense a mystery afoot, she can’t help but investigate! With the help of her trustworthy assistant private secretary, this duo will do their best to get answers. Narrated wonderfully and filled with wit, charm, and cameos from our favorite royal family members, this is a series I will want to come back to!

First time reading this author and listening to this reader. I throughly enjoyed this book and having a fictional story placed in a time frame I knew and remembered. Having a story about the queen and a mystery in an age that was fairly recent was really cool to listen about. Familiar names made one felt they were apart of the story. Highly recommend this book!

This was a very different mystery story. The Windsor Knot is the first instalment in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties. It was a bit of a cozy mystery, with the Queen involved in solving the mystery, but her trusted secretary is also involved and she is ex-military, so definitely not amateur. The story opens with a guest in Windsor Castle being found dead in his room. It initially looks like a suicide, but it turns out he was murdered. When her loyal servants are being investigated and suspected of the crime, she begins her own investigation, because she knows they would not have killed anyone. It seems that the Queen has been living a double life since her coronation and no one can find out. She depends on Roz, her secretary, to follow her clues and directions in order to keep her secret.

This is an enjoyable and unique murder mystery which grabbed me from start and kept me there until the end. I loved the idea that the proper Queen Elizabeth II was solving crimes. She was kind, smart, had a keen sense of observation and deduction. I loved Roz, in fact I think I liked her the best in the story. She was the one with boots on the ground and she was amazing. The plot was well-written and the characters well-developed. This story is a wonderful and clever read that I definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a twist. The audiobook was narrated by Jane Copland. I think she gave a perfect performance of this book. Her accent and pacing accentuated what is an entertaining story. I loved the voice she gave the queen with that haughty tone yet friendly when that was called for. A wonderful overall performance.

I am so thankful for NetGalley and Harper Audio for allowing me to listen, ahead of its release, to “The Windsor Knot” by S.J. Bennett as narrated by Jane Copeland.

I live in Canada, and had already pre-ordered the physical book. Now, I have to add the audio book to my order too! The release for the book and the audio book is March 9, 2021 and you should mark it on your calendar! I can’t wait to have this book (and the whole “Her Majesty the Queen Investigates” series, which I hope will be a thing) to my bookshelves.

Jane Copeland’s narration is superb, I could honestly listen to her all day. She manages to bring each character to life and keep their individuality. The way Copeland narrated this book made me forget that “full cast” is even a thing. Her voice brought every character and scene to life, her pace was amazing, and the book was done before I knew it. This book flew really well, I knew what was happening and who was speaking at all times. Her voice made it an immersive experience for me.

Now for the story – BRAVO Bennett, BRAVO! This was my first 5 star read of 2021. I rate my books based on the following criteria: Enjoyability, Character, Ambience, Fairness, Plot and Execution. “The Windsor Knot” ticked all my boxes and did not leave me wanting anything more than what I got.

I COULD not put this book down, and thoroughly enjoyed myself as I was reading it. I can’t remember chuckling this much while reading a book.

Her characters were modern, endearing, witty, multidimensional, multicultural and read like real people I want to meet. I don’t know much about the Royals, but with Queen Elizabeth II is anything like her fictional character, she is amazing! I don’t know how Bennett got permission to fictionalize such an iconic real life person, but I am so glad she is. If the Queen is not solving mysteries in real life, she should! And the way the character interacts with her staff, friends and family is just so adorable! She is the grandmother everyone wishes they had! Rosie and Sir Simon are also amazing characters. This is the triad mystery dreams are made of and they need to keep existing for many books to come! (one a year, maybe?!?)

I like when time and place are almost characters in a book, when they are mentioned I like to be transported to the “then and there.” And I WAS in London in 2021. Bennett described the places so well; I could vividly picture them in my mind. Also, the modernity of our times was so perfectly captured and in such a subtle way, such as mentioning “contour game”, and the slow changes in London’s rich neighbourhoods landscape.

Bennett played extremely fair and all the clues were in the book, there was no curveballs or solutions coming out of thin air. The plot was fresh, original, imaginative and interesting. Its execution was superb.

I recommend this book to everyone and I can not wait until it’s released so I can discuss it with my friends!

#TheWindsorKnot #NetGalley

The Windsor Knot was whimsical in its choice of the Queen as the detective. The Queen has a loyal staff who allow her to remain anonymous while uncovering clues to a mysterious death at the palace. It was a pleasant read.which does not tarnish “The Crown” in any way.

Want to read about the queen and her quest to uncover the truth behind a mysterious murder that is revealed a night after a party at Windsor Castle? Well this is what this book is all about.

I want to start off by talking about the experience of listening to this book being read. The narrator for this book did a wonderful job of speaking in a way that transferred me to Great Britain and to the royal family. The narrator spoke in a British accent and the detailed wording of the book had many sayings that the British use, which I appreciate in the book. Its simple but very impactful details. The narrator also played the role very well, adding emphases when needed but not overly exaggerating the words. She spoke in a soothing way that kept me engaged without putting me to sleep. I really like the way it was narrated because it helped me get even more involved with the story and it's setting. I do have to admit, because of the accent sometimes it was hard to tell exactly what the narrator said which ended up in me getting lost a few times. The audiobook was only told from one narrator and the narrator only spoke in one voice which did make it hard to differentiate between different characters. But I did understand when when a new chapter started because the chapter number was said before the new chapter began. As for time changing within the same chapter, sometimes I could tell, other times I couldn't. The narrator didn't have to much of a pause or change i tone so unless I was paying a lot of attention, I didn't notice it. Other times I did, simply because the words of the book had something that told me time had passed.

As for the story itself, when I first read the plot of the book all I could think was, this is going to be interesting. I thought that it would be the queen herself solving the mystery, but it didn't quiet end up being that way. When a hired entertainer dies in the palace the queen leads one of her employees on several different adventures to try and dig up information on the case, as the local police are investigating. So yes, she does explore the details of the murder but the police are also the ones who figure out who was the murderer, even though I kind of gathered that she figured it out herself as well.

As for the murder itself, there were a lot of different aspects to piece together to know who did it. Especially considering that there was more than one crime to consider. It was hard for me to follow along in some places with the line of thought being expressed. For me there were a lot of different characters in question and I kept getting confused at who each person was. Some times it was also hard to understand who the book was talking about because it would be explaining the thoughts of one person and then suddenly switch to a different person without any warning. I found myself realizing way after I was suppose to that they were referring to a different character, so that got confusing at times.

I also can't say that I was super engaged with the mystery. The author did a good job of slowly revealing details and information involving the murder but I wasn't totally thrilled or engrossed with the mystery. It overall was not a hardcore thriller crime, it was what I expected. It was a nice cozy crime novel. I liked the twist of having this book be based in the royal family. I think it makes this book unique compared to others. I definitely recommend for people who like cozy mysteries. I myself did enjoy it. And it was very helpful that at the end the crimes from beginning to end were explained and I didn't have to fit the pieces together myself, because I probably wouldn't have been able to.

The Windsor Knot is the promising first book of the "Her Majesty the Queen Investigates" series by S.J. Bennett. The imagined thoughts and conversations of Queen Elizabeth and the members of her household and staff are a delight, while the Assistant Private Secretary with whom the Queen shares her confidence is a powerhouse. The combination of elderly monarch of the British Empire and her accomplished British Nigerian aide is one the mystery world didn't know it needed until now. Bordering on cozy, even reluctant mystery readers will find this story accessible. In the audio version, experienced narrator Jane Copland does a steadfast and pleasant reading.

Pros: This is a charming book with such a fun concept—Queen Elizabeth II secretly solving crimes. It looks like this is the first book in what will be a series called Her Majesty the Queen Investigates!

Cons: I can’t think of any specific cons. Although no great work of fiction, this book seems to do just what it set out to do.

Three stars on the Goodreads scale but would be 3.5 if I could give half stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the audio version of this book!

I was so excited when I heard about this book! Two things I love would be combined, the royal family and mysteries! I was not disappointed with the novel! I could totally image the awesome and seemingly fearless queen solving the crime! Her assistant/secretary is another strong, female character who, like the queen, is intelligent and tough! I can see so much room for growth and development of characters in future stories! I can wait to see where these characters lead readers on the future!

I have truly been on a roll with Harper Audio and the books they have sent me to review via Netgalley. Their production is always spot on and the narrators are incredibly talented. However, The Windsor Knot fell short for me. And to be fair, it could that this type of cozy mystery was just not right for my reading mood at the time. However, I am blaming the plot.

The Queen is secretly solving a murder that happened at the palace after a party she hosted. A young man dies under unique circumstances and the Queen has to steer the investigation without letting the police know she is really solving the mystery.

The writing was meh. The characters are cold and aloof in a way that I would imagine most are when working with the Queen. But mostly, I just didn't care. I didn't care if the case was solved-or by who. I didn't care if the book had resolve. I'm not sure if the disconnect for me was that the book really didn't develop the murder victim enough to create roots for the story but it all felt rather cold for it to be a "cozy mystery".