A Royal Pain

By: Rhys Bowen

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

The Queen of England has concocted a plan in which penniless aristocrat Lady 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 Hannis' unwitting involvement with the Communist Party. It's enough to drive a girl crazy.

Listen to more Royal Spyness mysteries.

©2008 Janet Quin-Harkin (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Macavity Award, Historical Mystery, 2009

"All the characters from the first book in this rollicking series are present here - Georgie's much-married actress mother, her kind-hearted and resourceful Cockney grandfather, her sophisticated friend Belinda and the enigmatic Darcy O'Mara, a penniless Irish peer to whom Georgie finds herself attracted. There are also fleeting references to the war clouds that are gathering in Europe and the rise of fascism at home and abroad, both of which are neatly tied in with the murders and their solution. It works - both as a grand period piece and a lighthearted and completely diverting mystery." (The Denver Post)

Graphic episode

Bought this for my grandmother who loved the Mrs. Pollifax series and this was listed as similar. The first in the series was a light, fluffy read and so I got the second. So glad I pre-read... there is a near rape scene as Georgie encourages the wrong guy. It was surprisingly graphic for such a fluffy novel and then treated like a joke. Grandma won't be reading this one.

Anytime, Anywhere, Always Good

I get a kick out of these and find all of them a good bang for the buck. I want to be entertained by something well-written and well-performed. I don't want to cry in the car or be scared in the car. I want to laugh. No need to guffaw. A chuckle will do. I'm always entertained by these.

Clueless but charming heroine

Our heroine Georgie is sometimes the last to figure out what is going on, but she's always fun. A visiting German royal gives Katherine Kellgren a chance to do some over-the-top performances. I've loved everything that Kellgren does!

Decent light entertainment

I’m totally into light entertainment. I use my books on tape to take the edge off, and to keep me from overthinking. This book does that.
If you want great literature, keep looking. My favorite part of these books is the Narator. Her voice reminds me of Julie Andrews in the sound of music.

Enjoyable, but a little less sleuthing

I enjoy listening to the adventures of Georgie, the impoverished royal. Compared to the first book there is a little less sleuthing because she's so busy keeping track of her house guest and keeping up appearances. Regardless, the police are involved as is her grandfather and other fun characters from the first book. Here she seems to fall into or runs into trouble, being at the wrong or right place at the wrong/right time.
At the end there is a preview for another Her Royal Spyness mystery. The little bit I heard doesn't make me rush to buy it. Well I'll wait for a sale.

Love this series and Kathryn Kellgren is fantastic

I love Georgie's adventures and how Rhys Bowen can leave you clues throughout without making it obvious. It keeps you wanting to hear more. Da

A royal triumph

A delightful sequel with enough plot twists and turns to keep you guessing for most of the novel, all told with Edwardian Charm.

A WONDERFUL SERIES - GREAT CHARACTERS

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Good and light story line as well as interesting. No heavy concentration needed. Just love these books. Probably will listen to all. The narrator KATHERINE KELLGREN is fantastic!

Adored this series!

It is silly and the mysteries are easily solved but who cares. The characters are fabulous, the narration is spot on and the stories are fun. I have listened to the whole series and will definitely listen to all future ones. It is nice break, light and fun.

Fantasically fun listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. Katherine Kellgren does a great job of making each and every character unique and bringing them to life.