S&S Book Club: Royal Spyness

Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness

Why Jen Picked It:

Rhys Bowen is a magician. Her (currently) 15-book series follows the adventures of a penniless royal 34th in line for the throne of England in the 1930s, and the books are just as fun as their premise. 

I admit, it all sounds pretty hokey, particularly when a body turns up in a bathtub. And in another author’s hands, the books probably would be pretty silly. Or, worse, packed with tedious lectures on the class differences in the past. But Bowen’s writing is smart and funny, with three-dimensional characters from all walks of life that make her world one that I want to return to again and again. 

The series is unabashedly cozy, and what I’d love to see more books in this genre aspire to: clever writing, complex characters and a sense of fun from start to finish.

I’ll add that I’ve only ever listened to these books. Most were narrated by the fabulous Katherine Kellgren, and her interpretation of the characters has shaped them for me. I’m curious if my interest in the series would be different if I had discovered them in print first. I’ll never know, but I hope my fellow Sleuths & Sidekicks love the first book in the series as much as I did.

What Carol Thought…

I’ve been reading the Royal Spyness series since the first book. I love them! Georgie is a spunky, independent young woman with a flair for adventure and for getting herself out of all manner of difficulty. Her best friend Belinda is bold and sassy. They make a great duo when tackling a mystery. 

The books are well written with solid plots, an interesting cast of characters, and beautiful descriptions of a variety of places in England. As an Anglophile, I really enjoy “spending time” in the UK in this series.

What did you think?

Have you read the Royal Spyness series? What do you like (and dislike) about them?