MatthewHunter

Much improved over the first installment in the Royal Spyness series. The mystery's more interesting, with international communist intrigue against the British royal family playing a central role. Bowen assumes readers know a little bit about historical characters like Oswald Moseley, founder of the British Union of Fascists and their Blackshirt goons. I like historical fiction that prompts me to conduct a Wikipedia search or two.

Obviously, a story told from a royal pov will "not be amused" by communist and socialist rhetoric. Here's Georgie's Granddad on leftists:

"[Communists] want a world that can never exist--equality for everyone, money shared around equally, jobs for all. Sounds wonderful, but won't ever happen, will it? People are greedy, see. They don't want to share."

For the pro-royal crowd, the perceived selfishness and greed of the masses demands leadership of a class set apart for, ordained, or "born to" power. I couldn't disagree more with the royalist set on this point, but it's an interesting exercise to be carried along by an alien mindset. And Georgie is one of the least privileged of the ultra-privileged, after all.

Through two books, I've grown quite fond of Georgie and her Granddad. I've even started calling our toddler "ducks", a cockney slang term of endearment used by Georgie's Granddad. Darcy's growing on me as well, as are the King and Queen. Belinda, Georgie's mother, Mrs. Simpson, Prince David, Fig, and everyone involved with Scotland Yard can be consigned to sunless nether regions, for all I care. And Binky needs a bloody backbone! Wimp. We'll see if the cast of tens grow on me as the series progresses.

If you're looking for a light, enjoyable and somewhat informative read, give this series a try. Otherwise, give [a:Alexander McCall Smith|4738|Alexander McCall Smith|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1272995820p2/4738.jpg], [a:Ellis Peters|4046|Ellis Peters|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1242605103p2/4046.jpg], or [a:Peter Tremayne|16291|Peter Tremayne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1284067779p2/16291.jpg] a go.