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A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery)
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Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Author: Rhys Bowen
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $16.29
You Save: $ 7.66 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Author: Rhys Bowen
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Average Customer Rating:
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A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery) Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780425221631
ISBN: 0425221636
Label: Berkley Hardcover
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 320
Publication Date: 2008-07-01
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Studio: Berkley Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780425221631
ISBN: 0425221636
Label: Berkley Hardcover
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 320
Publication Date: 2008-07-01
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Studio: Berkley Hardcover
Editorial Review of A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery)
Another hilarious mystery featuring penniless aristocrat Lady Georgie, “a feisty new heroine to delight a legion of Anglophile readers” (Jacqueline Winspear).
The Queen of England has concocted a plan in which Georgie is to entertain a Bavarian princess— and conveniently place her in the playboy Prince’s path, in the hopes that he might finally marry.
But queens never take money into account. Georgie has very little, which is why she moonlights as a maid-in-disguise. She must draw up plans: clean house to make it look like a palace; have Granddad and her neighbor pretend to be the domestic staff; un-teach Princess Hanni the English she’s culled from American gangster movies; cure said Princess of her embarrassing shoplifting habit; and keep an eye on her at parties. Then there’s the worrying matter of the body in the bookshop and Hanni’s unwitting involvement with the Communist Party. It’s enough to drive a girl crazy...
The Queen of England has concocted a plan in which Georgie is to entertain a Bavarian princess— and conveniently place her in the playboy Prince’s path, in the hopes that he might finally marry.
But queens never take money into account. Georgie has very little, which is why she moonlights as a maid-in-disguise. She must draw up plans: clean house to make it look like a palace; have Granddad and her neighbor pretend to be the domestic staff; un-teach Princess Hanni the English she’s culled from American gangster movies; cure said Princess of her embarrassing shoplifting habit; and keep an eye on her at parties. Then there’s the worrying matter of the body in the bookshop and Hanni’s unwitting involvement with the Communist Party. It’s enough to drive a girl crazy...
Customer Reviews of A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery)
Customer Rating: 
Review Summary: Good addition to the series!
Review: A Royal Pain is the second and latest in the Lady Georgiana (actually it's Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England) "Her Royal Spyness" series. Lady Georgiana, aka Georgie, is a member of the royal family in the 1930's. She's 34th in line for the throne.
Georgie's brother, Binky, was left practically penniless after their father's fortune was lost due to the stock market crash and various other 'incidents' of their father's own making. As a result, Georgie, who doesn't want to live in the country with her brother and his 'not-so-nice' wife, lives in their London home. But, gasp! She has no servants, any money, nor any income. And the queen is forever asking for Georgie's help in matching up her son, the heir to the throne, with someone other than his American, married, older mistress.
This book has the queen asking Georgie to house and escort a visiting princess. This princess is quite a handful, being 18 and just recently left the convent where she was schooled. Georgie and the princess find several dead bodies along their adventures, which leads the police to not be very friendly, as you can imagine. As Georgie and her friends work to solve the mysteries - or maybe work to stay away but they keep cropping up - you are engaged in the drama and the fun.
The story is told from Georgie's point of view, so we get to hear her thoughts on her relatives, the times, and how she views herself. I find myself laughing out loud at her antics and how she seems to continually get herself involved, against her own wishes. Her friends and family are quite lovable, as is Georgie.
This book, as was the first one Her Royal Spyness, is a light, quick read with good characters. While some of the characters or situations are a bit predictable, the majority of the book is quite fun, unique and a good story. If you are looking for a light, 'not alot of thinking' series, this would be a good choice.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Another Great Book in the Series
Review: I find myself being a bit squeamish by some of the subjects Rhys tackles in this book and have to walk away from it for awhile, but I love the way she keeps you guessing til the end. And ofcourse, it's English, so I love that about it. Good read. Next?
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: not her best work
Review: I love Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy Mysteries and enjoyed the first of the series, Her Royal Spyness. However, A Royal Pain was not as captivating as I had hoped. This was not as impressive as Bowen's other works.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Fun summer reading
Review: Georgie is back, and is still in and out of trouble! This series is great fun for its witty heroine and her ability to solve mysteries and save the monarchy in spite of herself. A great read for those who enjoy English mysteries with sassy heroines.
If you like it, you might also try Kathryn Miller Haines' Rosie Winter series: The War Against Miss Winter and The Winter of Her Discontent, which are similar in spirit and tone. The War Against Miss Winter
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Royally Fun Mix of Comedy and Mystery
Review: Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line for the throne, has been doing rather well for herself in 1932 London. She has managed to keep her secret job as a maid from the others of her social set and is even developing a few domestic skills of her own. She just might be able to pull off living on her own.
Unfortunately, things are about to get sticky. Her Majesty has agreed to host the Bavarian Princess in hopes that this beauty will catch the Crown Prince's eye. And the Queen thinks that Georgie is the perfect person to host Princess "Hanni." Suddenly, Georgie must find a way to hire servants with no money. After all, one doesn't say no to the Queen.
But things only get worse when Hanni arrives. She has learned her English by watching American gangster films. Her companion is an awful Baroness. And wherever Hanni goes, trouble follows. And that's before the first body appears. But the potential political implications of the murder could set the uneasy balance in Europe spinning into another war. Can Georgie solve the crime without starting World War II?
This book is equal parts historical novel, comedy, and mystery, and if read that way, it is a pure delight. There are so many funny scenes in the first half of the book. In fact, I had to stifle some laughs when I was reading in public. While there are some strange questions early, the mystery portion doesn't get going fully until the second half, but I was never bored getting there. Once it does get going, it becomes a good puzzle. I caught a few things long before Georgie, but I would never have pieced the solution together. The book is filled with memorable characters who are strong. It was a delight to spend time with them.
There is nothing painful about this book or series. So be sure to catch up with Georgie's latest adventures.
Review Summary: Good addition to the series!
Review: A Royal Pain is the second and latest in the Lady Georgiana (actually it's Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England) "Her Royal Spyness" series. Lady Georgiana, aka Georgie, is a member of the royal family in the 1930's. She's 34th in line for the throne.
Georgie's brother, Binky, was left practically penniless after their father's fortune was lost due to the stock market crash and various other 'incidents' of their father's own making. As a result, Georgie, who doesn't want to live in the country with her brother and his 'not-so-nice' wife, lives in their London home. But, gasp! She has no servants, any money, nor any income. And the queen is forever asking for Georgie's help in matching up her son, the heir to the throne, with someone other than his American, married, older mistress.
This book has the queen asking Georgie to house and escort a visiting princess. This princess is quite a handful, being 18 and just recently left the convent where she was schooled. Georgie and the princess find several dead bodies along their adventures, which leads the police to not be very friendly, as you can imagine. As Georgie and her friends work to solve the mysteries - or maybe work to stay away but they keep cropping up - you are engaged in the drama and the fun.
The story is told from Georgie's point of view, so we get to hear her thoughts on her relatives, the times, and how she views herself. I find myself laughing out loud at her antics and how she seems to continually get herself involved, against her own wishes. Her friends and family are quite lovable, as is Georgie.
This book, as was the first one Her Royal Spyness, is a light, quick read with good characters. While some of the characters or situations are a bit predictable, the majority of the book is quite fun, unique and a good story. If you are looking for a light, 'not alot of thinking' series, this would be a good choice.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Another Great Book in the Series
Review: I find myself being a bit squeamish by some of the subjects Rhys tackles in this book and have to walk away from it for awhile, but I love the way she keeps you guessing til the end. And ofcourse, it's English, so I love that about it. Good read. Next?
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: not her best work
Review: I love Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy Mysteries and enjoyed the first of the series, Her Royal Spyness. However, A Royal Pain was not as captivating as I had hoped. This was not as impressive as Bowen's other works.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Fun summer reading
Review: Georgie is back, and is still in and out of trouble! This series is great fun for its witty heroine and her ability to solve mysteries and save the monarchy in spite of herself. A great read for those who enjoy English mysteries with sassy heroines.
If you like it, you might also try Kathryn Miller Haines' Rosie Winter series: The War Against Miss Winter and The Winter of Her Discontent, which are similar in spirit and tone. The War Against Miss Winter
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Royally Fun Mix of Comedy and Mystery
Review: Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line for the throne, has been doing rather well for herself in 1932 London. She has managed to keep her secret job as a maid from the others of her social set and is even developing a few domestic skills of her own. She just might be able to pull off living on her own.
Unfortunately, things are about to get sticky. Her Majesty has agreed to host the Bavarian Princess in hopes that this beauty will catch the Crown Prince's eye. And the Queen thinks that Georgie is the perfect person to host Princess "Hanni." Suddenly, Georgie must find a way to hire servants with no money. After all, one doesn't say no to the Queen.
But things only get worse when Hanni arrives. She has learned her English by watching American gangster films. Her companion is an awful Baroness. And wherever Hanni goes, trouble follows. And that's before the first body appears. But the potential political implications of the murder could set the uneasy balance in Europe spinning into another war. Can Georgie solve the crime without starting World War II?
This book is equal parts historical novel, comedy, and mystery, and if read that way, it is a pure delight. There are so many funny scenes in the first half of the book. In fact, I had to stifle some laughs when I was reading in public. While there are some strange questions early, the mystery portion doesn't get going fully until the second half, but I was never bored getting there. Once it does get going, it becomes a good puzzle. I caught a few things long before Georgie, but I would never have pieced the solution together. The book is filled with memorable characters who are strong. It was a delight to spend time with them.
There is nothing painful about this book or series. So be sure to catch up with Georgie's latest adventures.