Author: Rhys Bowen
Title : Royal Blood
What I love about libraries is the surprise they throw up now and then. I can pick up titles without worrying whether I will like them or not. If it is something boring, I can always return the book unread. If I like it, well, I have discovered a new good author. Also, the pressure to return the books within 15 days makes me read them quickly, unlike the books on my kindle which I take for granted.
I was browsing through the books in Jungman Neighborhood Library and feeling a little lost among the bookshelves. This feeling is quite common when you are new in a library. The way they arrange titles is a little novel and you need some time to get accustomed. So as I drifted up and down, I spotted these books by Rhys Bowen. I could see that they were a series. In my confusion, I picked up No. 3 in the series, quite a crime in my eyes. Something I will atone for by immediately reading up No. 1 and No. 2. Luckily, the books are standalone enough to be read randomly.
Lady Georgiana is 34th line to the throne, she is a cousin of King George. This does not make her a royalty we all would envy. She has the title, the breeding and the schooling, but no money. If she wants to live the royal life she is entitled to, she will have to marry a rich Prince. This is something her uppity sister-in-law Fig wants, so does the Queen, in fact. They are always trying to put her in the way of some stinky rich, fish-faced royal.
She is called upon to do some sleuthing work now and then by the Queen, like trying to keep the Prince of Wales away from a frightful American divorcee. However, this time her assignment is simple, she is called upon to attend the royal wedding of her school friend Maria Theresa with Prince Nicholas of Bulgaria in Romania. It seems like a simple assignment, if a bit tiresome. She hires a highly inappropriate maid and sets off.
She is delighted to find that she is friends with the groom Nicholas, not so delighted to find that her unwanted suitor, Seigfried, is the brother of the bride. Fish-face Seigfried is pursuing her once more. Her best friend Belinda, who is only an Honorable, has also crashed the wedding. Her mother has also landed up on the arm of her current boyfriend, Max, who is the godfather of Nicholas.
Things get messy soon for Georgie. A young man crashes into her room, seemingly bending towards her neck. The bride is spotted with her mouth stained bright red. Is is possible that she has walked into a lair of vampires? A very important guest keels over at the dining table and dies, poisoned by cyanide. One more person falls off dangerous stairs and Georgie's maid goes missing.
Before she knows, Georgie is thick into another mystery that she has to solve quickly, before two important royal houses start a war with each other.
It was simply delightful to stumble across this engrossing well written book. It drips with humor and I was chuckling loudly as I read it. Despite dealing with Royalty, it is not stuffy. Lady Georgiana is constantly required to behave in a certain manner and has to struggle to maintain her status.
It is set in 1930s when King George reigned along with his consort, Queen Mary. There are several historical references to real life personages to keep you in touch with the times.
The book is a potpourri of delights, a historical mystery about a fictional person set in real history. On top of it, it's funny and light and perfect for a quick read.
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