The Lady Georgiana mystery series have LONG been a favorite series of mine. I love Georgie’s personality and her penchant for finding herself in interesting situations. Her family is hilarious and set in their own ways, her former maid and now cook, Queenie, is a character unto her own right who will have you laughing so hard, her mysterious and intriguing husband, Darcy, keeps readers on their toes and her friends are always down for an adventure. This book is the 16th in this series and it never gets dull. I don’t know how Bowen does it, but all of the books in this series are so fun to read and I can never get enough.

In this book, Georgie is pregnant. She has been dealing with awful morning sickness and now she feels that she is finally past the hump of her first trimester. She is stuck at Eynsleigh and she is itching for an adventure to end her endless boredom and when Darcy tells her that he has business in Paris, he invites her along for the trip. Georgie must stay with her nearest and dearest best friend, Belinda in her Paris apartment as Darcy will be traveling back and forth from Paris. Belinda is currently in the midst of preparing for Coco Chanel’s fall collection and runway show and Georgie is content to be a tourist in Paris and soak up every moment of freedom before the baby comes.

That is, until her husband asks for her help with an international spy investigation of prominent German officials who will be attending Coco’s fall runway show. Of course, Georgie is eager to assist and as usual soon everything goes completely wrong and the target of Georgie’s assignment is found murdered. Georgie must keep her wits about her as the French policeman investigating the crime is determined that Georgie is responsible and is doing everything in his power to make sure she ends up in prison.

I simply could not put this book down. I simply love Georgie and all of the characters that Bowen has created. She has done such a fantastic job of developing these characters over the years throughout this series and it is impossible to not think of them as good friends. Every time I read a book in this series, I know that I will not be disappointed and this book is no different. I am anxious to see what happens when Georgie has the baby and how that will shape the series moving forward. Another smash hit from brilliant author Rhys Bowen.

Overall Rating: 5+ Stars
Author: Rhys Bowen

Series: Royal Spyness Mystery #16

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: November 8, 2022

Pages: 300

Genre: Historical Mystery

Get It: Amazon

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.

These books are comforting...you always know what you're going to get and the ride is fun. Georgie & Belinda are together again and Darcy is dashing off as he always is. A good solid entry in the series.

Peril in Paris Earns 5/5 Haute Couture Designs … Couldn’t Put Down!

Rhys Bowen is a favorite author from her Constable Evans and Molly Murphy Mystery to several standalone novels and my favorite Royal Spyness Mystery series. Her writing style is rich with sensory-laden description of the setting and era, the characters are realistic, predicaments are engaging, and the mystery is a challenge too solve. Her newest Royal Spyness Mystery book, Peril in Paris, has all of that and more that I love: 1930s’ ambiance, cameos of fashion, literary, and pre-WWII figures, good spies, bad spies, and the City of Light… Paris! Lady Georgiana is expecting their first child, and with her good friend Belinda, she is enjoying the sites of Paris, including a meeting with Coco Chanel and some couture maternity wear. Georgie’s husband, Darcy, is otherwise engaged with a [Ssh!] secret mission for the British government. So, how in the world does anyone think that when Georgie discovers a dead body, she’s the killer? It’s hard to believe, but pregnancy doesn’t necessarily preclude a woman from criminal activity, but really? Georgie’s going to need to find the real killer! Clever. Engaging. A must read!

Fans of the long-running Royal Spyness series will definitely enjoy this latest entry. Georgie heads to Paris to spend time with her best friend Belinda while her husband completes a mysterious assignment for the British government, Soon Georgie finds herself caught up in another murder mystery when a woman dies at Coco Chanel's fashion show. I thoroughly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the world of 1930s Paris fashion houses. The mystery also explored the political situation in Europe just before the start of WWII. I would highly recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers with an interest in the British royal family and 1930s history, but I'd recommend starting with the first in the series.

Oh Georgie. Georgie. Georgie. She gets her dream trip to Paris with hubby Darcy before her baby comes. She gets to see her best friend Belinda, attend Chanel workshops, and mingle with the bohemians of Paris. Of course she also happens to stumble across a murder as well. There is a undercurrent of the politics of the time, but the main story focused more on Georgie and her friends as they adjust to a new way of life.

One of my favorite series! And this book was a solid installment.

As we get a little closer to WW2, things are getting a little less lighthearted and becoming more focused, although still fun. Lady Georgiana and Darcy are expecting their first child (!) but that doesn't keep them out of exciting intrigues. This time, they're off to Paris to visit with Belinda who is working for the chicest designer of the time, Coco Chanel. Of course, nothing is ever quiet and peaceful in the spy business and this time, they find trouble on the runway.

Absolutely loved this mystery and have really enjoyed seeing Georgie grow up and now will be a mother. Spy mom hijinx are sure to be an adventure!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. This was another fun romp into the world of semi-royalty-but-not-anymore-but-still-a-spymistress Georgie as she toddles around Paris with her best friend Belinda, all while getting a glimpse into the inner workings of the House of Chanel. I'll be curious where this series will head as WII looms closer and closer, with the grip of Germany slowly squeezing its way through Europe. Bowen does a sublime job of mixing mystery with fashion, fun, history, and some thrills that are hallmarks of some of her heavier novels.

Georgiana accompanies her husband Darcy to Paris to see her friend Belinda and enjoy a break from home before her baby arrives. Of course Darcy disappears almost immediately on mysterious business for the government, leaving Georgie to enjoy Paris fashion week, but a tiny bit of espionage lands her in the middle of a murder as the chief suspect.

In order to clear her name Georgie must investigate, aided by fictional characters like her mother and best friend, as well as historical figures including Wallis Simpson and Coco Chanel. A fun, frothy read.

I LOVE Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series. This was a great installment -- Georgie (now pregnant) -- goes to Paris and ends up involved in major intrigue and murder.
I am always so impressed that Ms. Bowen can create new novels with the same characters and not make them boring or repetitive.
Thank you for my review copy!

I am so excited whenever I see a new title in the Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen. I love Georgie and always look forward to her new adventures. Peril in Paris did not disappoint! Georgie and Darcy head to Paris for a vacation and mishaps and murder ensue.

I loved the recurring characters that showed up in this story. I loved seeing Georgie out of her element but staying true to herself.

I can't wait for the next installment!I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Peril in Paris is the 16th book in Rhys Bowen's delightful historical mystery series Her Royal Spyness. As is typical of me, I started this series with book 15, and I immediately fell in love with it! I was glad to discover that book wasn't a fluke, as I loved this one just as much. This mystery stood alone, so you can enjoy it without any confusion. You'd be hard-pressed to find a heroine more likable than Georgie.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch (35th in line to the British throne), better known as Georgie, and her handsome husband Darcy are expecting a new addition to their family. Georgie had been suffering from morning sickness, but she's finally feeling more like herself...and horribly bored. When she receives a letter from her best friend Belinda, who is busily working on Coco Chanel's fall collection in Paris, Darcy suggests they take a trip to Paris to visit her. As he has some business to attend to (mysterious business, as always), she can stay with Belinda in her flat. Georgie knew Coco from a disastrous event years ago, and she hopes things go better this time around. Ha! Since she is going to be at Coco's show, Darcy asks Georgie to discretely retrieve something from a German attendee there...something with serious implications for a Europe on the precipice of war. Things go horribly awry, leaving Georgie as a prime murder suspect while she searches for a killer. Will she be able to save the day?

Once I started this book I didn't want to put it down. I resented having to go to work, do chores and sleep instead of read. Seriously, is there any way I can stay home and read and actually get paid for it? No? Dang it! Anyhow, this was a delightful mystery starring one of my new favorite heroines. Even though she's related to royalty, Georgie and Darcy don't have much money, but live at an estate belonging to her godfather, together with their two adorable puppies who aren't yet trained. Now that she's over morning sickness, she jumps at the chance to visit her best friend in Paris. Darcy, however, has a particular reason to go to Paris, and as usual he's not at liberty to disclose it. Georgie loves him dearly, but sometimes wonders if what he's doing is kosher. When he asks her to do a task for him at Coco Chanel's show, she gets a glimpse at just how important his work is. When things go terribly wrong, she becomes the prime murder suspect. The positions she puts herself in, however, do give the police some cause to suspect her. (Really, should a pregnant woman be on a third-story ledge to access a hotel guest's room to search it?!). I did get angry at Darcy for initially putting his beloved in harm's say, albeit unknowingly. But I can't help but love him. It was fun spending time with Georgie's friends Belinda and Zou Zou, also known as Princess Zamaska. I loved seeing real-life people Coco Chanel and Mrs. Wallis Simpson as part of the story. Some of my favorite scenes involved them, most notably the maternity dress Coco designed for Georgie to wear at the show, which dear Mummy likened to an upside-down Humpty Dumpty. The murder mystery was fun, with some marvelous red herrings scattered to throw one off. I absolutely adored the ending! I hope Georgie and friends have many more adventures together... and soon!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Rhys Bowen continues the Royal Spyness series with Peril in Paris. Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her husband Darcy have come to Paris on holiday and Georgiana is pregnant. Her friend Belinda is apprenticing with Chanel and invites Georgiana to Paris. Darcy welcomes this chance to get away. However it turns out he has some secret work for the government and Georgiana is on her own at Belinda's. Chanal remembers her and decides to fashion a gown for her pregnancy. Fashion shows, dead bodies and Nazis-what can go wrong? Read and find out.

I love Rhys Bowen! I think the Royal Soyness mysteries aren't quite as good as they were in the beginning, but I still want to follow George's escapades. Paris was a fun setting, especially with the Lost Boys crowd and the cameos by famous writers. The looming war adds tension to the books, although Georgie seems rather naive about what's happening with Germany. I think that's probably true to the time period, however. So many people believed a great war could never happen again and had their heads stuck in the sand, and Georgie is no exception.

Another good read from Ms. Bowen. I love the characters and enjoy having different locations for the mysteries.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie O’Mara (nee Rannoch) was born thirty-fourth in line for the British throne. A descendent of Queen Victoria, Georgie (as her friends call her) abandoned her place in the succession to marry the love of her life, Catholic Darcy O’Mara. Her family connection led Queen Mary to use Georgie for sensitive investigations. Her husband has shadowy connections with British intelligence. Both lead Georgie into a series of adventures in 1920s and 1930s Europe.

“Peril In Paris,” by Rhys Bowen, is the sixteenth novel in “The Royal Spyness” series, in which Georgie, a member of the impoverished Rannoch family, holds center stage. She is plucky, intrepid, and naïve. (Her most vehement epithet is “golly.”) She begins the novel pregnant with her first child and bored. Darcy proposes a trip to Paris, before travel becomes impossible.

Darcy has business in Paris. Darcy’s business in Paris is unknown, but is possibly dangerous. Belinda, Georgie’s schoolgirl chum, lives in Paris, working for Coco Chanel as courtier, designing dresses. Belinda has a standing invitation for Georgia to visit her. While Georgie accompanies Darcy to Paris and stays with him the first night, she spends the rest of the trip with Belinda, where it will presumably be safer.

It does not work out that way. A German trade delegation is in Paris with Georgie’s mother in it, complicating Georgie’s life. So is Wallis Simpson, intent on marrying Georgie’s cousin, now Edward VIII. Coco Chanel decides to design a maternity dress for Georgie. Chanel insists Georgie model the dress at Chanel’s fall fashion show. Then an obnoxious American socialite gets murdered at the show’s opening night – and the French police suspect Georgie.

The result is the combination of madcap comedy and serious investigation that characterizes all of these novels. German spies, American expatriates, and British intelligence all enter the mix. Georgie encounters old friends, former fiancés, and prior antagonists. These include aviatrix Princess Zamanska who offers to fly Georgie to England to escape the Sûreté (Georgie refuses, because Rannocks never run), and Wallis Simpson who wants to ingratiate herself with Georgie in pursuit of marrying Edward.

“Peril In Paris” is a delightful read for those familiar with the series and an equally delightful introduction to those who have never previously encountered Georgie’s adventures. It is a marvelous mix of between-wars European manners, political intrigue, adventure and comedy, fun to read and easy to enjoy.

“Peril In Paris,” by Rhys Bowen, Berkley, 2022, 304 pages, $27.00 (Hardcover), $14.99 (ebook), $17.99 (Audiobook)
This review was written by Mark Lardas, who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com.

1930s Paris is a bit of a tumultuous time period. Germany is making some unsettling rumblings and people are aligning with different sides. Georgie is in Paris though not with her husband but with lots of regular side characters from previous books in the series - including Coco Chanel herself.

I like seeing Georgie happily married and at least semi-settled and I always love seeing her with Belinda. They are so different but at the same time their friendship feels very authentic. The chaos and behind the scenes scheming of the Chanel fashion show was fascinating and entertaining. I do wish that the investigation aspect had started a bit earlier. The murder did not actually occur until almost halfway through the book and while I love the characters in this series it did make the pacing feel a bit slow. As well, I found Darcy asking Georgie to do a favor involving his latest assignment a bit hard to believe. Georgie causes chaos doing the simplest tasks so passing information during a high profile fashion show seemed a bit of a stretch and one would think that he would know better.

All in all this was a fun read with likable characters in an interesting time period. Because the characters have such strong backstories this is a series best read in order.

PERIL IN PARIS by Rhys Bowen is the latest in her Royal Spyness mystery series featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Set in the mid-1930s and taking place primarily in the French capital, this new addition is not as strong as previous entries. Georgie, now pregnant, has come to Paris while husband Darcy is on assignment there. She spends time with her old friend Belinda, her mother, and fashion designer Coco Chanel. There is a murder at a fashion show and Georgie investigates, but it is as if her pregnancy has contributed to a personality change. She is much more hesitant than I recall from earlier adventures. The mystery, too, is not all that involving although there is an element of pre-WWII espionage. PERIL IN PARIS is fine as light entertainment, but readers will be much more apt to enjoy earlier titles in this series like God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen or Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding.

I love this thoroughly engaging series with Lady Georgina Rannoch, cousin to King Edward. She and her husband Darcy are in Paris, he taking care of clandestine business, she visiting best friend Belinda, and visiting the House of Chanel, where Coco Chanel is having a fashion show with Georgie's mother in attendance, as well as Wallis Simpson, powerful German Military wives, and the wealthy ladies of France and America in attendance, one of whom is murdered during the showing of fall fashions. Entertaining escapism is how I describe this series, fast paced well written entertainment. Why this hasn't been made into a series by Britbox, or Acorn I will never understand. My one issue this time is with Darcy, he needs to be more of an Alpha Male, or I will lose interest in the series, plus if Georgie doesn't stop saying Golly, and grow up, not lose her sweetness, just grow up, she is too clingy for Darcy, she needs to have a good row with him!
I highly recommend! Thank you #Netgalley #Berkley

Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen

#PerilinParis #NetGalley

I think that this is the sixteenth book to feature Georgie. It all began with Her Royal Spyness back in 2007. I cannot believe that I have come so late to this enjoyable series. I plan to make my way through the backlist and look forward to hours of pleasure.

Georgie is a Lady and a distant relative of royalty. As this book opens, she is about to go to Paris with her husband. He reminded me of Colin in the Tasha Alexander series as he is on a mission. While the appropriately named Darcy works, Georgie spends time with her friend Belinda, among others.

Belinda is working for Coco Chanel. This gives the reader access to an atelier and the famous designer. There are other real people, including Hemingway mentioned; there are also fictional members of the “lost generation.” In addition, there are Georgie’s mother and her German partner. This is a bit tricky during Hitler’s rise.

Georgie does not know exactly what Darcy’s mission is. She is very concerned however, especially when she hears something about Berlin. Is Darcy a traitor?

Rhys Bowen is a master of her craft. This story unfolds effortlessly. Read it! Come to Paris, enjoy the landmarks and the feel of the city, watch the characters in action and then say (like me), I can’t wait for the next book.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Peril in Paris is a good choice for those looking for a historic mystery with a dash of humor. I wasn’t sure now that Georgina was married and pregnant with her first child if some of the adventure in the Royal Spyness series might be lacking, but Peril in Paris cured any worries I’ve had. Although I’m always a fan of the capers of the poor yet aristocratic Georgina, this novel was one of my favorites with Georgie encountering such historic figures as Coco Chanel and Gertrude Stein when she visits her friend Belinda in France and assists her husband on a secret mission for Britain. Of course there is also a murder mystery to be solved. Rhys Bowen does a brilliant job of weaving together history, humor, romance, and mystery. Fans of cozy mysteries even those not typically interested in historic settings will be delighted. I received an early copy of Peril in Paris for review from Netgalley.