Heirs and Graces

By: Rhys Bowen

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Mystery, 2014

As 35th in line for the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch may not be the most sophisticated young woman, but she knows her table manners. It's forks on the left, knives on the right - not in His Majesty's back….

"Here I am thinking the education I received at my posh Swiss finishing school would never come in handy. And while it hasn't landed me a job, or a husband, it has convinced Her Majesty the Queen and the Dowager Duchess to enlist my help. I have been entrusted with grooming Jack Altringham - the Duke's newly discovered heir fresh from the Outback of Australia - for high society. The upside is I am to live in luxury at one of England's most gorgeous stately homes. But upon arrival at Kingsdowne Place, my dearest Darcy has been sent to fetch Jack, leaving me stuck in a manor full of miscreants…none of whom are too pleased with the discovery of my new ward. And no sooner has the lad been retrieved than the Duke announces he wants to choose his own heir. With the house in a hubbub over the news, Jack's hunting knife somehow finds its way into the Duke's back. Eyes fall, backs turn, and fingers point to the young heir. As if the rascal wasn't enough of a handful, now he's suspected of murder. Jack may be wild, but I'd bet the crown jewels it wasn't he who killed the Duke…."

©2013 Janet Quin-Harkin (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

My go-to series when I'm stressed or feeling dumpy

STORY (mystery) - If you want something light and cheerful but with enough mystery to keep you guessing, this is your series. I can always count on it to cheer me up or for just a light, easy listen. In this book Georgie and the main characters must figure who killed a wealthy landowner when all of his potential heirs stand to gain from his death.

There is a short foxhunt in this book but, contrary to the cover art, horseback riding is not a major part of the story.

PERFORMANCE - Love Katherine Kellgren. Some reviewers criticize her performance as overdone, but I think it enhances this series. Since these are light mysteries and somewhat comical, most of the characters themselves are overdone. They are pompous British royalty, always concerned about status and their appearance. IMHO, Katherine's performance might be overdone if the story was more serious, but in this case I think it was spot on. Listen for yourself if you are concerned. She is, indeed, a master of accents and voices!

OVERALL - There are extremely mild references to sexual rendezvous, and there is no bad language in this book. It is a murder mystery but, as such, it is handled very lightly without gory detail. This story stands alone, though the romance between Georgie and Darcy O'Mara is a continuing thread throughout the series. Recommended for all female listeners.

Great performance!

This is a fun cozy mystery series made even better by fantastic narration by Katherine Kellgren. I have listened to 5 of the 7 books in the series (and read the other two in print) and listening to this one was like coming home. Storywise this book might not be the strongest in the series but it was solid and entertaining. If you like the series, you should like this one. If you haven't listened before, what's stopping you? This series is well worth audible credits!

Great series!

I love this lighthearted mystery series. The characters are fun and made better by the wonderful voice actress.

Great read

Would you consider the audio edition of Heirs and Graces to be better than the print version?

I love listening to these books.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

Her vast range of personnas makes this series come to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, as with most of these books, I cannot wait to get to the end.

Great Lead Up, Unsatisfying Conclusion

Any additional comments?

Excellent descriptions regarding time period, loved the suspense how all the suspects seemed possible at different points. But the conclusion was unsatisfying, happened too fast, not sure how protagonist came to her conclusion...

Getting Better

Any additional comments?

These are getting better. I'm glad Rhys Bowen has quit trying to get Georgie in bed with some guy. This is a good cosy mystery. I loved it when Jack asked Georgie if the fish wouldn't taste just as good even if he used the wrong fork. Or when he went on a fox hunt and tried to help by catching and killing the fox. This one is worth the credit.

An O. Henry ending

I have enjoyed the series tremendously!
Katherine Kellgren's narration is fabulous and keeps you even more interested. I particularly loved this one because I was completely caught off guard by the ending. Often times I can figure out the killer but I was completely shocked by this one!

Five Stars

The best in the series yet! Love the narrator and her ability to being the story to life!

A Guilty Pleasure

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

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a little romantic escapism into the life of 20th century British Aristocracy.

If you’ve listened to books by Rhys Bowen before, how does this one compare?

This is one of my favorite Royal Spyness books.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

I love both Georgie and Darcy.

Any additional comments?

I've listened to all of the Royal Spyness available and do really enjoy them. There is nothing particularly complex about the plots or surprising about the mysteries involved. But they are a fun tromp through a bygone era with characters you grow to love more with each passing story.

Delightful Series, Wonderful Characters

Another of Rhys Bowen's fun and funny mysteries featuring British aristocrats during 1930's, expertly narrated.