All the Queen's Men
A Novel
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3.9 • 15 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“Sheer entertainment… Bennett infuses wit and an arch sensibility into her prose… This is not mere froth, it is pure confection.” — New York Times Book Review on The Windsor Knot
Amateur detective Queen Elizabeth II is back in this hugely entertaining follow-up to the bestseller The Windsor Knot, in which Her Majesty must determine how a missing painting is connected to the shocking death of a staff member inside Buckingham Palace.
At Buckingham Palace, the autumn of 2016 presages uncertain times. The Queen must deal with the fallout from the Brexit referendum, a new female prime minister, and a tumultuous election in the United States—yet these prove to be the least of her worries when a staff member is found dead beside the palace swimming pool. Is it truly the result of a tragic accident, as the police think, or is something more sinister going on?
Meanwhile, her assistant private secretary, Rozie Oshodi, is on the trail of a favorite painting that once hung outside the Queen’s bedroom and appears to have been misappropriated by the Royal Navy. And a series of disturbing anonymous letters have begun circulating in the palace. The Queen’s courtiers think they have it all ‘under control’, but Her Majesty is not so sure. After all, though the staff and public may not be aware, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen’s eye to see connections where no one else can.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The follow-up to the best-selling The Windsor Knot made us excited to boil up some tea and curl up for the night. Anonymous poison-pen letters keep arriving at the palace, a painting of the royal yacht has gone missing, and a housekeeper has unexpectedly died in the swimming pool. Could it all be a coincidence? The inquisitive Queen Elizabeth II decides to put on her detective crown and find out. SJ Bennett conjures a wonderful portrait of what goes on behind the pomp and formality of royal life, depicting the royals’ relatable, everyday routines. Her version of the queen is absolutely charming—she watches Murder, She Wrote and always stays one plucky step ahead as she works to unravel the curious mysteries. We absolutely loved this delightfully cozy and very British mystery.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Bennett's enjoyable, good-natured sequel to 2020's The Windsor Knot, Queen Elizabeth II once again assumes a Nero Wolfe–like role while her faithful assistant private secretary, former army officer Rozie Oshodi, handles the legwork and any necessary fisticuffs. What starts off as an investigation into how a favorite painting belonging to Her Majesty has ended up in the Ministry of Defence's collection of maritime art soon leads to the discovery of an insidious poison pen campaign against female palace employees and a long-standing fraud scheme. Murder inevitably follows. Set in the autumn of 2016, the brouhaha surrounding Brexit and the U.S. presidential race provides an invigorating backdrop, allowing for appearances by Prime Minister Theresa May and commentary on the intrusive nature of the press. Highlights include the breakfast table talk between the queen and Prince Philip and, of course, references to the monarch's beloved corgis. Bennett respectfully portrays the queen while providing edifying details of palace life. Dog lovers and Anglophiles will rejoice.
