Naughty in Nice

Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen
4.5/5 stars
Berkley Prime Crime, 2011
328 pages
Historical Mystery; Cozy
A Royal Spyness Mystery #5

Source: Library

There really is nothing like reading a cozy by one of your favorite authors, especially once the series is established and you already have a good connection with the principals and especially when the setting is historical because it means the author gets to bring in all sorts of fun people.

I always anticipate a fun, fast read from Rhys Bowen and this is no exception. I am currently reading two mysteries series by her and I think this one might be my favorite because I adore the setting in 1930s England and Europe with accidental sleuth Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Georgie is a pretty down-to-earth young lady who just happens to be thirty-fourth in line for the throne. She's basically broke but it is expected of her to live a certain lifestyle even during these depression years (it is 1933 in this book). Luckily with a bit of luck, Georgia scrapes by, in this book, earning a trip to Nice along with many other members of her set to recover a priceless treasure for Queen Mary and to keep an eye on her cousin, the Prince of Wales, and *that* woman. Once there though, Georgia falls in with some new people and becomes implicated in a murder.

I did miss her friend Belinda and love interest Darcy, both of whom do make brief appearances in this book but not as much as they have in other books. I am a little tired of her will-they-won't-they with Darcy as I very much want Georgie to have a steady relationship and maybe even get married as is expected of her even if her adventures are a lot more possible when she's not tied down. But this was also the first book where I really liked her mother, a social-climbing actress who follows the money. Georgie's grandfather also makes a welcome appearance while the historical figures Coco Chanel and Vera Bate Lombardi were among the delightful new characters.

While I rarely figure out whodunnit in mysteries, I enjoyed the storytelling so much that I didn't even care although in this case I did have a few ideas. I wasn't able to piece everything together but I don't think that's the point. The point is to enjoy a light story with humorous details from Georgie's narration and to imagine yourself in the beautiful luxury of the French Riviera even if your real-life circumstances are far different.

Overall: One of my favorites in this series so far-a must-read for fans of Bowen and historical cozies!

Royal Blood

Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen
Berkley Prime Crime, 2010
305 pages
Mystery; Historical
3/5 stars

Source: Library

I was all set for the delightful further detective adventures of Lady Georgiana as she embarks on a trip to Romania (more specifically Transylvania) as a representative of the royal family for a wedding of an old school friend.  There are appearances by her brother and sister-in-law, her best friend Belinda, her mother, her love interest Darcy, and her would-be husband Siegfried.  But this book just did not do it for me.

First Georgie's imagination absolutely runs away with her, provoking her to imagine vampires, werewolves, and other creatures.  And not just once but multiple times.  I was so annoyed by those lunacies and normally I really love Georgie but I did not during those parts.

Second the mystery occurs at a snowed-in palace which is fabulous because I love when all of the suspects are gathered in one place.  However it took what felt like a long time until the mystery unfolded and I felt that there was not sufficient time to properly identify the murderer, which felt like a cheat to me.  I enjoy being confounded but I want it to be fair.  SPOILER: You can probably guess what he looks like but not his actual name or his motive END SPOILER.

Overall: A disappointing outing with Georgie but I hope the next, Naughty in Nice, will be better.

Read for Cozy Mystery Challenge and British Book Challenge.

Bless the Bride

Bless the Bride by Rhys Bowen
Minotaur, 2011
260 pages
Mystery; Historical; Series
4/5 stars

Source: Library

The tenth book in the Molly Murphy series, this time featuring Irish immigrant Molly's last (?) case before her marriage to New York police detective Daniel Sullivan.  Molly is requested to find an exquisite jade piece by a wealthy Chinese man, later discovering that she is actually meant to find his new (illegal immigrant) bride and return the girl to his domain.  Molly has to figure out the whole story in order to make sure she's doing what's right.

The story starts with Molly in the country, meeting her future mother-in-law Mrs. Sullivan, who seems to think that Molly is highly unworthy.  Thus Molly is happy to return to the city and pleased to take on one more case before retiring after marriage.  The case seems straightforward but new complications keep popping up.  The most interesting part was seeing the discrimination against the Chinese immigrants.  I did not know that Chinese women were forbidden from coming to America (although this was circumvented by the very wealthy) although I did know about the general stereotype of Chinese as ignorant and lazy, despite many examples of the exact opposite (um, Trans-Continental Railroad?)

Through Molly's investigations, she also comes to question her future with Daniel; she doesn't want to be a woman who's under his thumb with her spirit crushed.  Luckily Daniel is less imperious in this book than in others, which makes me like him more.  I think Bowen walks a tricky line well to make him palatable to modern readers but also era-appropriate.  I would not want to read a book with a stereotypical male hero of the time-period, who would resent all rights for women.

As to the mystery: I basically figured it out! This indicates that it was perhaps not as difficult as others because I really am not good at solving mysteries in general.  I tend to trust the characters too much.

SPOILER: Wondering if the series will continue; there is an interesting path it might take (involving head of the Secret Service John Wilkie from the previous book The Last Illusion) and I would love to read about that.

Cover: I like the colors but I'm not a fan of the cut-off head on book covers.

Read for Cozy Mystery Challenge and British Books Challenge.

The Last Illusion

The Last Illusion by Rhys Bowen

Minotaur Books, 2010.

279 pages

Series; Mystery; Historical

Summary: The ninth book in the Molly Murphy, Lady Detective series. Molly is an Irish immigrant in NYC circa 1903. She is engaged to policeman Daniel Sullivan and in this installment is investigating mysterious happenings surrounding the magician Harry Houdini.

Why I Read: I've read many of the previous Molly books and I had not even realized there was a new book so I was very excited.

My Thoughts: While it was mostly enjoyable, I had a few problems. First I'm very angry at Daniel for his "maleness." He keeps insisting that Molly will give up her detective agency when they get married; but then the series will be over! :-( I don't want that to happen. Then, and I realize this is a minor problem, there were multiple times when it was said that theater people sleep late. I don't know why that had to be repeated so much!

I also figured out some aspects of the mystery although not quite everything. I liked the way everything intertwined and the new character Wilkie (I can't explaining why without spoilers). I liked the Houdinis as portrayed by Bowen; obviously it's difficult to discern how accurate the personalities are of historical figures but I hope these are somewhat true.

Overall: 4 out of 5. I was disappointed but it was still good.

Cover: I do like the cover: the colors, getting to see Molly as flesh and blood.