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)

Lady Georgiana is a lot of fun!

Would you listen to A Royal Pain again? Why?

"A Royal Pain" is the second book in the "Her Spyness" series and Lady Georgiana continues to get herself into delightful predicaments. If only she she knew how to function in the real world!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Royal Pain?

As is true with any good series, a cast of regular characters shows up and a few new ones are introduced. I love a story that feels like I'm with good, well-known friends and Rhys Bowen does that perfectly. The historical settings are spot on and and the descriptions of the smart set in 1930's London society are informative as well as entertaining. Thoroughly British, Lady Georgiana and her cohorts will please anglophiles everywhere.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

Katherine Kellgren does a great job giving voice to the large cast of characters in these books. She remains remarkably consistent with tones and accents throughout the series and really brings personality to each one. I had a chance to "read" a short prequel to this series and can't say how much I missed Ms. Kellgrens narration. I'll only listen from now on!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I especially like the way Bowen serves up her mystery in an Agatha Christie-like fashion. The listener has all the clues to work alongside Georgie in solving the crime. And in the end, everything is tied up in a neat little package.

Any additional comments?

Full of humor and fun, intrigue and murder (the light-hearted kind), and a little bit of romance, "A Royal Pain" is the perfect listen for when what you want is to be entertained.

I'm hooked on this series.

so far I'm really enjoying this series. I cannot wait to hear what happens next between Georie & Darcy.

Fun Cozy Mystery

The history was more interesting in this installment, more action and suspense too. Georgie disappointed me more than once, though. A solid four stars, five for the narrator.

Book Somewhat Fun

Lady Georgianna embarks on Friendship Mission for the Queen that turns into altogether something more dangerous.

Darcy (conveniently) somehow seems to be interested in at least part of both her missions.

Confusion and stealth abound.

The reader was fine, but sounded bit too old and snobbish. If I were reading, I’d try for a younger, more confiding tone. Not your best friend, but not as if I were sitting with my straight back an inch from the chair.

Yes, I will try the 3rd and 4th installments. I have already purchased them in a 2 for 1 sale; regardless, I would have listened to or read in print at least the 3rd.

Addictive

After litening to this book, I listened to the others in the series. Great mysteries!

Another Royal Hit

What made the experience of listening to A Royal Pain the most enjoyable?

The Reader!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, it had a few good twists that kept me listening!

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brings Georgie to life

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part with Geogie & her love interest

Another clever adventure

Georgie's at it again, smarter and braver than all the others trying to solve the latest crimes while attending wild parties, royal audiences, and chaperoning foreign princesses. I love the settings and will-they-or-won't-they romance. A fun listen.

Light Mystery

This second book in the series was light and enjoyable. The mystery was well thought out with little clues sprinkled throughout, although I didn't manage to guess the whole thing. This visit with Lady Georgie was fun and the vocabulary of the visiting princess was a whole lot of fun. The narrator was once again fabulous, though I find her American voices a little strange. They all sound the same. I listened to this in almost one sitting as it kept me wanting to listen more to find out what was going to happen next. I'm definately going to listen to the next book in the series.

Gerogie' s Back!

The second book in the Her Royal Spyness series is as fun as the first as Georgie finds her self saddle with a visiting Princess and has to keep up appearances. Favotites from the last book return as Georgie is also still doing That favor for the queen. The Narrator also has new accents to play with. I look forward to seeing where Georgie ends up next.

Love it!

I love the twists and turns and surprises. A wonderful story with wonderful action from the heroine.