A delightful and compelling read. The characters are fully drawn and the historical background is fascinating.

A Death in Diamonds is SJ Bennett's fourth book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates mystery series, but with a new twist. The first three featured Queen Elizabeth II in 2016,when she was ninety, while this is the first of a new trilogy set in post-war 1957, when the Queen was 30 years old with two young children at home.

As in the earlier books, the Queen takes it upon herself to work quietly behind the scenes to solve murders that affect her or her family. She must be circumspect because of her unique position and royal duties, so in each timeline she presses her Assistant Private Secretary into service in her investigations. Fortunately, she is as ably assisted in 1957 by Joan McGraw as she was by Rozie Oshodi in the books set in 2016.

Two brutal murders take place in Chelsea at a men's club that Prince Philip has been known to frequent. At the same time, the Queen is worried that one or more of her closest functionaries may be trying to sabotage her travels to other countries to spread the goodwill and support of the United Kingdom

As with the earlier timeline, the author has researched the major world events of the day extensively and incorporated them into the plot. A few surprising real-life figures appear briefly in this book, including an iconic author and a popular band leader who add to the charm of the book. I must admit that I initially struggled to keep up with the details of the story, as they and the characters are plentiful. Fortunately, the author sums up the action every so often, which helped me stay the course. The characters of the Queen and Joan McGraw are beautifully portrayed and engaging, and many of the supporting characters stand out in either positive or negative ways . . . or both! As in the previous books, the author's writing style shines, making each character memorable and weaving a story that is exciting, entertaining, and engrossing, leaving the reader craving for more.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publisher Crooked Lane Books, and author S.J. Bennett, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for January 21, 2025.

[cue fanfare music] Hear ye, hear ye! All subjects of the kingdom! The fourth book in the series Her Majesty the Queen Investigates is about to begin!

After reading and enjoying the previous three books in this series, there was no question surrounding whether or not I’d read this one - it was a given. I must confess I jumped on this one like fleas on a dog, not even stopping to read the synopsis. Had I possessed even the slightest amount of patience, it would have prevented that first chapter shock [and believe me, it felt like I’d just jumped into an ice bath] where I realised that ‘everything old is new again’.

Because, unlike all three previous books in this series, which were all set in 2016; A Death in Diamonds is set in 1957, nearly 60 years earlier.

So no more Sir Simon Holcroft, the Queen’s Private Secretary or Captain Rozie Oshodie (assistant private secretary); instead we are introduced to the OG crew. QE II’s “men in moustaches”: Sir Hugh Masson; Major Miles Urquhart and Jeremy Radnor-Milne; who, together with new APS Joan McGraw form the Queen’s OG group of four.

If I’m being honest (hand on heart here) my first instincts are to not embrace change - I was looking forward to reconnecting with old friends; but I VERY quickly fell in love with the young Queen (I mean, who wouldn’t!) and her newly appointed super-sleuth, APS Joan McGraw. In this instalment, the author explores the Queen in her early days as reigning monarch with the wider world still very much recovering from the fallout of the second world war.

Expertly blending fact and fiction, Bennett soon wins the reader over as we are quickly immersed in the early life of the young reigning monarch. The young Queen is still adapting to her change in circumstance and Bennett shows the reader how Lilibet embraces change and makes the role her own. It’s easy to see why the public admires her so.

A beautiful young woman, is found dead in a mews house a mile from Buckingham Palace, wearing only silk underwear and a diamond tiara. Alongside her is the body of a male, garrotted and pierced through the eye with a long, sharp implement. It’s a gruesome scene. The Queen soon discovers the murders have very personal implication for her - things she would not want made public. The police investigation is led by DI Fred Venables (who is DCI Venables in our earlier stories) and the not so likeable Sergeant Woolgar. The police don’t seem to be gaining any traction on the case, so she decides to take matters into her own hands, taking new APS Joan into her confidences. Joan, initially bewildered by this most unexpected turn of events, takes to her new sleuthing duties like a duck to water. Feeling buoyed by the Queen’s confidence in her and enjoying the chance to keep secrets from the ‘men in moustaches’, Joan looks into the circumstances of the murder.

Together the Queen and Joan connect all the pieces of the puzzle and then lay all the credit into the lap of DI Venables - who (I had to laugh) is not altogether sure how he managed it!

This is such a fun series to read, and after a somewhat inauspicious start, I’m totally on board with the new setting and crew.

Moral of the story? Don’t be Angela, be the Queen - embrace change!

“God Save the Queen.”

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Crooked Lane Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

#ADeathinDiamonds #NetGalley

loved the concept of this book, historical fiction is a genre out of my comfort zone but this felt more like cozy mystery read. Only concern is: where on earth is the police 😭
if you exclude that thought, it was fun and I really enjoyed the Royal aspect of it


<i>Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Another enjoyable mystery in the series, this time set in post-war England and featuring Rozie's predecessor.

The fourth book in this fun series takes us back in time to 1958, when a young Queen Elizabeth solves her first murder with the help of her assistant personal secretary, Joan McGraw. The queen is drawn into this mystery because it appears that her husband Prince Phillip was at or near the scene, but uses Elizabeth as his alibi. The police appear to be stumped so the queen sends her APS out to make discreet inquiries on her behalf.

At the same time it has become clear to Elizabeth that someone in her private office is attempting to sabotage her official visits abroad and Joan is also needed to investigate.

This series is a delight. Real historical events are nearly combined with inner workings of palace life, and the Elizabeth that emerges is intelligent, witty, and engaging. I am so glad that it has found a new US publisher and I look forward to the next in the series. Escapism at its best!