Rating: 3.3/5

This is the second book in the series featuring Elizabeth II as the new Queen on the cosy crime scene. As with "The Windsor Knot" this is well-written and makes for an easy, entertaining read with ample amounts of quirky humour along the way. If "The Windsor Knot" was to your liking, then this is also likely to be. If you haven't yet read that first book, then you could happily read this one without it noticeably diminishing the experience.

On the whole, I don't think this is quite as strong as the first book in the series. Obviously, this sequel doesn't have the benefit of originality that its forerunner had as the basic premise has already been established. Sophia Bennett's inside knowledge of the workings of the Royal Family is again put to good effect in a way that is both enlightening and amusing. Also, as with book one, the fictional events in this story are cleverly placed into the real world context of national and international politics at the time (in this case set in 2016). However, "A Three Dog Problem" doesn't have quite the same edge that was evident in the series opener. In "The Windsor Knot" the light-hearted elements of the novel were contrasted with some quite stark references to drug use and alternative sexual practices. This second book is a much cosier affair and I often felt that the actual mystery was merely a functional vehicle to allow Sophia Bennett to put the characters of her key protagonists in the shop window.

Nonetheless, this is still an enjoyable way to pass a few hours and I have little doubt that I will be coming back to read the third book in the series too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Loved the first book, The Windsor Knot, and was thrilled to be able to read this. Another entertaining cosy mystery, with HM The Queen at the centre of the story. Good to continue the development of the characters, and to understand the challenges faced by a young woman in the royal household.

Looking forward to book 3.

Am going to honest with you, dear reader: I am not entirely sure where I sit on this. I like this, but up to a point. There's several things that make me stop from enjoying this as much as I did with the first instalment of this series, Windsor Knot, and the worst part is that I can't exactly put my finger on what the problem is.

It's annoying as I can't figure it out and I think I am going to continue with this series. I have plans to read book 3 when it comes out next year, so why do I feel the way I do with Three Dog Problem?

The only thing I can think of is that this wasn't as fun as the first. The fun didn't exactly hit home for me. I like some of the issues and the characters that this book had (I love Rozie and I did like the Queen, but I like them the most when they were together and that wasn't enough for me in this book), but the fun and wonder of Windsor Knot wasn't here. I wonder if it's because it was trying to do too many things - poison pen letters, murder, stolen paintings. Maybe if one of these elements was removed and the story focused on characters a tad more, maybe it would have worked for me...?

Maybe it's because I was, at the same time of reading this, audiobooking another cosy murder mystery - The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. Now, both of these are cosy mysteries and both tackle this subgenre in very different ways.

Like I said, I am going to read book 3 when that comes out. I am very intrigued to see where this series is going to. But this mystery didn't exactly work for me so I might not rush out to get my hands on the Queen's next mystery as fast as I would have...

Once again another fantastic cozy crime story featuring our very own Royal Family. I enjoyed this one as much as the first and was glad that all the characters remained within the story, with just a few new additions. I do hope that there will be more in this wonderful series. If you want a good read now the nights are drawing in, you will not go wrong with this book.

Hold up the Queen solving mysteries like some wiley old detective um yes please. this was such a funny, clever and interesting plot line i loved it even more so when i immersed myself and imagined the queen really carrying out this stuff i mean we all know she helped defeat the evil giants in the BFG so it only seems fittingt that her next hoorah would be solving crime. An amazing read

I've found myself reading a number of cosy mysteries recently, making an amusing and pleasant change from my usual gritty, noir choices. I have just finished the highly entertaining 'A Three Dog Problem' by S.J. Bennett, the second novel in her cosy-mystery series, 'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #2' starring Capt. Rozie Oshodi and of course, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II!
'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates'has one of the more amusing premises for a detective series, with each tale set within a home of Queen Elizabeth II and involving her covert attempts to resolve the latest mystery from poison pen letters, to murders and theft. All the while, keeping her actions hidden from everyone except her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie.
In this light-hearted and well-paced tale, recent events are causing life to be even more complex than usual. The Queen is dealing with a new Prime Minister (Theresa May) , the fallout from the Brexit referendum, and a tumultuous election in the United States and the possibility of Russian collusion in poisonings! I must admit that I laughed out loud while reading about these real life people and scenarios, against the backdrop of our mystery.
It is against this background, that we meet Rozie as the Queen asked her APS to help find a missing painting. Initially, Rozie assumes that this will be a simple inquiry - nothing too taxing, complicated etc. However, as Rozie delves into the works department's actions, there is an unexpected death and soon our intrepid duo are on the track of a violent killer.
'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates' series provides a light=hearted tale with an enjoyable level of detail re the daily life in BP. And the mention of Prince Philip acts a certain poignancy and Rozie is one of the more refreshing characters that I have read in some time.

I think I may have found my new favourite author. Having read the first book in the series and loved it I was slightly concerned that the second would not meet expectations. I was wrong. The plot line was fun and he character development engaging. Just like last time I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I loved the first book in this series but this second book has not grabbed me. Dare I say I am finding it boring? At 16% I have chosen to DNF it. Nothing is really happening and life is too short to read books you are not enjoying. Maybe my expectations were too high after the first book, but I feel sorely let down by this second outing for HM the Queen. Not for me.

A Three Dog Problem is the sequel to S.J. Bennett's first book , The Windsor Knot" about the covert sleuthing skills of the Queen. Yes that Queen, the one who lives in Buckingham Palace who, in these books at least,is a sort of Miss Marple with a Crown., as ever supported by Assistant Private Secretary Rozie Oshodi. .

Set just after the Brexit Referendum there are 2 threads to the story. the first appears a bit mundane when the Queen discovers that a favourite painting that she disappeared from Buckingham Palace has reappeared in an exhibition in Portsmouth.. More seriously a body is discovered in the Palace swimming pool but was it a tragic accident caused by neglect ......or murder?
As if this isn't enough there appears to someone waging a campaign against members of the royal staff with vicious poison pen letters being left for them to find. Rozie,being British Nigerian,finds herself the target of racial abuse via these letters and feels very much under threat as she investigates the murky goings-on.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but it did drag at times as Ms Bennett's vast knowledge of the Queen, her friends,Buckingham Palace and even the Royal Dogs is sprinkled into the story liberally which does at times break the narrative a bit more than it did in The Windsor Knot.
Overall though it's great fun and the reason for the missing painting being so important to the Queen when revealed at the end is quite moving.

I actually preferred this second in the series to the Windsor Knot. Rozie is developing nicely as a character and strikes me as the perfect foil to HM the Queen.

I must say though that I found some of the ‘crime’ links a tad tenuous and I wasn’t particularly convinced by the discovery of the villain and I found the denouement rather confusing and rushed.

Nonetheless I loved the rather cliched portraits of the palace officials and overall I relished the story.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved every page. I loved being back at the palace solving mysteries with the Queen and Rozie. It was nice to see the character progression from book one and I’m left wanting even more. A brilliant series that I really love.