All the Queen’s Men

When you hear that a mystery features Queen Elizabeth II as the detective, you probably think it is going to be a frothy, frivolous affair. Indeed, S.J. Bennett’s follow-up to The Windsor Knot is at times droll, humorous, and laugh-aloud funny. But it also takes on some tough topics, including racism and sexual harassment among the Household staff, while the Brexit referendum and the rowdy U.S. elections simmer in the background. Here we have two mysteries, the disappearance of one of the Queen’s favorite paintings and the shocking death of an older member of the Household, found near the Buckingham Palace swimming pool. As in the first book, it’s the Queen’s young assistant private secretary, Rozie Oshodi, who digs deep into the criminal activities, while the Queen ultimately fits all the pieces together—allowing three male members of the Household to believe they have everything under control. From the naughty corgis to the delightful appearances by Prince Philip, and from the tacit feminism to the interior musings of the Queen, this book is an absolute delight.