I’ve read the other books in the series, and this didn’t disappoint! Set early in the queen’s reign, the story was engaging, the characters rich and varied, and the mystery intriguing.

What a fun romp! This was my first book written by S.J. Bennett in this series, and it was definitely a standalone mystery, and one so enjoyable I will certainly be reading or listening to the rest of the books in the series.

The characters are rich, the mystery intriguing, and the insider take on the royals and their life quite fascinating. The research involved was impressive, but it never felt like being hit over the head with it; instead, the narrative and dialog flowed naturally and I was riveted and also entertained from beginning to end. Such a treat of a book not only showcasing Queen Elizabeth II as being able to solve a murder mystery before the coppers, but also with Daphne DuMaurier and Duke Ellington as minor characters.

I particularly enjoyed so many women characters and all with such strength, determination, and perseverance, especially in 1957, a far cry from an era of women's liberation.

The mystery itself was suspenseful and very well-crafted with just enough twists and turns and occasional red herring to keep this mystery lover intrigued and on my toes. The end was very, very satisfying with all of the loose ends tied up quite believably.

I listened to the audiobook with reader Samantha Bond who really propelled the story along beautifully by expertly managing everything from a posh accent for the Queen, to cockney females, male voices, and American accents (even a southern one!). The accents/voice changes made following the sometimes complicated mystery very easy to follow.

Thoroughly enjoyable! 5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved that this book took place early in the Queen’s reign and provided a fun way for the series to continue.

Another cozy mystery series that features Queen Elizabeth who stumbles into solving a murder. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of the The crown tv series. I liked this newest installment and will likely be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook. Queenie is back and working hard to help people., when she investigates a call girl murder and its not simple. The war may be over but it is still a main character, A multi-faceted mystery, and read wonderfully by S. Bond. Thanks NetGalley

I listened to the audio version of this novel with the sublime Samantha Bond narrating. What a treat.

The book certainly isn't my normal fare and this is the fourth in a series I've not previously been aware of. However this didn't spoil any enjoyment of the book. It's a really fun read even though it brings in murder, spies, treason and corruption. (The epilogue describes how Bennett used several historical events that Bennett has adapted to the story.

The story has two strands- the murder of a call girl and a possible plot to undermine QE2. Queenie has help from a new assistant - Joan McGraw, an exceptionally capable young woman who had an "interesting" war. All the action takes place in the late 50s - the war is still fresh in people's minds and rationing is barely ended. McLean and Burgess have been unmasked but there are rumours that there may be a third or even fourth man.

It is most definitely a time of change and unease. Who better than QE2 to give people a sense of stability. But not everyone agrees and Elizabeth doesn't really know who to trust.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. The narrative trots along at a good pace, it's easy enough to follow despite having quite a big cast of characters and I could absolutely see our late queen doing a bit of detective work. Joan is also extremely likeable.

It's good fun, the narration is superb. I'll happily read the first three having enjoyed this so much.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio advance review copy.

I was thrilled to see that S. J. Bennett had added a new mystery to her series, Her Majesty the Queen Investigates. The fourth entry is A Death in Diamonds.

Now, the first three books in this series were set in current time. This latest takes us back to 1957 and the Queen, as she settles into her new role. Therefore, if you’re new to this series, you can count this book as number one. I hope that makes sense!

The young queen is sure that someone within her offices is trying to sabotage her decisions, her appearances and her political interactions. And when a double murder has tendrils that may include the Queen, she knows she needs someone she can count on....

Bennett has done a fabulous job of drawing the Queen in the early years of her reign. She is kind, gracious, wise, highly intelligent, well-spoken and observant. Her inner dialogue is a treat to read and her sense of humor is dry, as are her observations about her Royal family. The relationship between the Queen And Prince Phillip is lovely and loving. Bennett is respectful in her depictions.

I really enjoy the settings, both the castles and out on events etc. And yes, there are corgis!

The case is wonderfully drawn and is much more convoluted that new readers might have expected. Parts of actual events and cases have been woven into Bennett's book. I think she's done an excellent job. I appreciate not being able to figure out things easily. Makes reading much more fun.

I chose to listen to A Death in Diamonds. The reader was Samantha Bond and she did a great job presenting Bennett's work. She has a lovely gravely tone to her voice that suited the Queen character. Others were just as perfect for the supporting players. The English accents rang true. Bond's voice is clear and is easy on the ears. She captures the emotions and action in the plot with reading. An excellent performance.

I had assumed that we would not, in fact, meet again the Queen Elizabeth-as-sleuth of Bennett’s previous mysteries, so was delighted that the author found a way to carry on by looking back. Here we encounter the Queen early in her reign, when she quickly becomes curious about a seemingly sordid pair of deaths that are the focus of much attention in London. Initially it seemed the Queen would be going it alone, without trusted and resourceful staffer Rozie of the contemporary novels, but enter Joan McGraw to play the part (and well). WWII still very much reverberates throughout the novel, including appearances by the ever-unhelpful and effectively exiled Duke of Windsor. The book intersperses real people and events with fictional elements. Cameos and events also include Duke Ellington and his Queen’s Suite, composed and recorded solely for her and long unknown to others, and the Queen’s 1958 visit to Canada and the U.S. The book has something for everyone: spy rings and weapons, horse races and corgies, commentary on fashion and lipstick (Helena Rubinstein) as well as the emergence of television, and Royal family shenanigans.

Throughout the plot, the Queen is always figuratively three steps ahead of others involved in the mystery, and not because protocol requires them literally to follow three steps behind. When how the murders actually occurred ultimately clicks for the Queen, the explanation is a bit convoluted and reaches back across time and countries, but still, a good show all around.

Samantha Bond provides excellent narration (while perhaps also falling prey to the common English approach of rendering all Americans, including Eleanor Roosevelt, in the same accent, and a Midwestern one at that).

This was an absolute gem of a book, definitely for cosy murder mystery lovers, but this stands out among the genre. I loved the historical detail, feminist commentary and clever mystery dénouement.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio ARC!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to review this book in its audiobook prerelease! I am not sure how but I totally hadn’t realized that this was a series, and OMG if now I don’t have to go out and read the first three books in this series! (I am already starting The Windsor Knot)
I absolutely love the Queen’s character, she feels at the same time so real and also perfectly exaggerated to play up the camp of the premise, and her banter with Joan is so well written! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and also the books to come after this!

Bennett hits another entry in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series out of the park with a flashback to an early case - maybe the first case - of Queen Elizabeth helping solve a murder. While I missed the interaction between the Queen and Rozie at the beginning, I loved Joan, her backstory, and her interactions with everyone at the palace. The mystery around the tiara and the two murders kept me guessing until the end and was a bit of a surprise in terms of who and why. I'm glad to see that Bennett has found a way to continue the series after the death of Queen Elizabeth and look forward to seeing where we go from here. I both read and listened to this title and both were equally good, though I might favor the audio since Samantha Bond does a great job at narration. Thank you to Crooked Books, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the early read and listen in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

In 1957 London, Queen Elizabeth II enlists ex-code breaker Joan McGraw to uncover sabotage within the court and to help solve a murder mystery that threatens the monarchy’s reputation.

I adore this series! I appreciate the author’s attentiveness to historical detail in incorporating actual events into the story. They give the book a feeling of verisimilitude that might otherwise be lacking, given the premise. The characters are fascinating and well constructed. The mystery is compelling and full of twists. The novel is entertaining and the audiobook narration perfectly suited to the subject.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Quick easy read. Easy to dip in and out of and still understand what’s going on. This was good for me, as I kept feeling my attention drift while listening to the audiobook and having to refocus on the book after it lost my attention. I think my enjoyment of the series has started to run its course; I didn’t find this one as interesting as I have the others.

Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was wondering how, and if, this series would continue after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The previous three books were set in the 2000s, but now S.J. Bennet has pivoted and set this book back in the 1950s, during the early years of the queen’s reign. I’m actually glad about that, as it means that many more mysteries are possible!

This book involves the murder of a “lady of the night,” which I prefer rather than simply saying call girl. The way in which Queen Elizabeth finds out about this murder and becomes interested in finding the killer is just beautifully done, absolutely expert writing.

As usual, we get glimpses into royal life, both public and private, and the lives of those who work for the palace. I do have to say I enjoyed Princess Margaret quite a bit when she appears; the portrayal is definitely something we’ve all heard about the princess, providing some humor and bite to the story.

This is one of those series where you just sit back and enjoy the cozy mystery that ensues. The characterizations are well-drawn, from what we know of the royal family, as well as the staffers. The how and why and most importantly, the who murdered the young lady are entirely plausible, which made me enjoy this book even more.

Samantha Bond narrates, and as usual, she’s absolutely everything this book needs. She provides a respectful, endearing portrayal of the queen and those around her. She’s perfect for this series.

This is one of my absolute favorite mystery series, not just because I am a big fan of Queen Elizabeth but also because the writing sparkles and the plots are clever. And this title did not disappoint.

Review copy provided by publisher.

I enjoy this series, and in this one we go back to 1957, when a young Queen Elizabeth is used as an alibi for the murder of two people in Chelsea. She's trying to smooth the waters with foreign governments and suspects that someone who is advising her, is trying to sabotage those efforts. Several activities on a foreign visit do not go as smoothly as they should, and her Majesty is getting suspicious.

She enlists Joan McGraw, an ex-code breaker, as her assistant personal secretary to help her discover what is really going on.

I must say that I preferred the first three books with their more current settings, and I miss Rozie as the APS, although Joan was a good character. I was surprised that we had gone back in time with this book. By the end of the book, I was happier with the change in timeline, and I can see how this gives the author the opportunity to show the growth of the young queen into her role.

Great writing, good characters and a lovely insight into the (fictional) private life of the royal family.

I listened to the audiobook, and liked the narrator, who did a good job with keeping the various characters straight for the listener. Fun read.

The fourth novel in the Her Royal Majesty Investigates, A Death in Diamonds takes us back to a young Queen Elizabeth II. In 1957, the Queen is still finding her way post-war and making the country safe again. She is still finding a way to connect with her subjects.
She finds that someone on the inside (of her cabinet) is plotting against her and this coincides with a double-murder that took place in Chelsea. This is the story of how our inquisitive Lady found her allies and solved this double-murder, with no one the wiser.
I LOVE this series. I'm so glad the author has continued with it since we lost Her Majesty. It's delightful.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this digital audio e-arc.*