All the Queen's Men

A Novel

By: SJ Bennett

Narrated by: Jane Copland

“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.

creamy charm

I can't recall when I last so frequently smiled throughout listening to an audio book. Charming writing. Excellent vocal performance.

Even better than the first one

Perhaps because the returning characters were more developed in this the second of the series, especially Rosie. Meanwhile no matter the plot, murder, or mystery that is afoot, it is so much fun to hang out with Queen Elizabeth as she brings her wisdom and grace to bear on the situation. Constantly underestimated, constantly patronized, she is always the smartest person in the room in this series. And the voice narration is spot on.

Intrigue, royal reticence, smarts

How to praise this book enough? What sets it apart from other mysteries is the way that Queen Elizabeth finds the solution to a murder mystery and cleverly makes everyone think her staff did, because she cannot reveal what she has been up to. Amid details of the palace and royal duties, she sends out her assistant to dig up details and report back. At all times she must maintain the appearance of not being involved. Bennett creates a portrait of a woman dedicated to her mission, wise in the ways of people and diplomacy, never a complainer or one to air dirty laundry--just like the late Queen. Rosie, her assistant, is equally dedicated and smart.

Enough time has gone by since I listened that I could listen again. Was the mystery unnecessarily convoluted? Who could possibly mind? It's an enchanting book, full of affection for its characters--except for the really bad guys.

Fun book

I really enjoyed the narration. The story was both fun and intelligent. Looking forward to more!

Excellent read. The best.

I love this book, the characters, the writing, and of course the story. I wondered how she knew all the ins and outs of Castle life. The characters were strong and interesting. I need to listen to her other books.