Young Queen Elizabeth II is finding her way in a challenging world as the United Kingdom must adjust to having neither an empire nor a set place in post-war Europe.. There is also the question of a murder case, with which she finds herself connected...

The story is full of men in moustaches and their sexist behaviours which can grate with the contemporary reader, something one can expect from the period novel, but it conveys a certain charm of the bygone era as well, which many will find charming. The story itself drags a bit, as we also deal with some domestic issues surrounding both main characters, there are some well documented historical events, some real characters and the sub plot which I hope will continue in the next book. As in this book we go back to 1957, the series will hopefully continue for a while. I am definitely waiting for the next instalment.

Another series which probably fits that cosy type of traditional murder is this by S.J.Bennett. Don’t be alarmed that the main protagonist in these novels is the late Queen Elizabeth II. This time we are going back in time to 1957, very early on in the reign and where we perhaps first start to see the Queen’s passing interest in what is really going around her. And more importantly what she is or isn’t being told by the ‘the men in moustaches’ that surround her every day.

When a call girl is found dead, wearing a Tiara that is well known in a number of circles and when there seems to be a connection to the Palace as well. It is of course something which is going to interest the Queen. But what can she do, step forward Joan, a war spent at Bletchley and with an interest in unpicking riddles, she seems to be able to assist the Queen quite ably, much to the annoyance of all the men around her.

Of course it doesn’t all go smoothly, and it seems that Joan could be in danger. But will the answer be as obvious as we all think? 

What more of a tribute to the late Queen than to feature her in a cosy mystery series! I am sure she would have loved it.

In the fourth book of the series, we move back in time to 1957, and young Queen Elizabeth. The murder of a call girl and her presumed client in a mews house rented by a bishop comes to the Queens attention and she begins to investigate. She is also aware of a plot within the palace to undermined her both at home and on foreign visits and we are introduced to the wonderful Joan McGraw, who becomes the Queens eyes and ears in areas that she cannot visit. I once again loved this book and the detailed research that must have been done in order to write it. The details and mood of the time are caught just right. Not just an cosy murder mystery but also a book that highlights the discrimination of women in society but also the role of class and the lack of acceptance by certain parts of society. I. Was delighted by Joan’s successes despite all the obstacles placed in her way.Although the fourth in the series, this can be read to as a standalone and I am looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel.

Well S. J.Bennett and has done it again, with another fab book in this cosy mystery series with the Queen as a sort of Sherlock Holmes.
This fourth book is set 1957 as the young Queen is on an official visit to Paris with Prince Philip, and her entourage, otherwise known as in the book as ‘the men in moustaches’.
This mystery centres around the mysterious deaths of a young woman and older man found dead in a mews flat in London. As the above synopsis mentions the young Queen is rather worried that someone very close to her is involved, so needs help to look into for her, just like in the previous books. Enter Joan McGraw a new temporary secretary who the Queen recruits into helping her discover exactly what happened on the night of that high society card game.
As well as Joan’s inquiries which I really enjoyed, there is the official police investigation led by Inspector Darbishire which was very interesting, although rather slow, hampered by official channels. I didn’t have a clue who the murderer was, and rather enjoyed the big reveal when it came.
I loved the way S.J.Bennett has taken us back in time with this mystery, as I do enjoy historical crime fiction. Joan is a wonderful new assistant and I’m already looking forward to finding out more about her in the next book.
Highly recommended if you enjoy cosy mysteries or books connected to the Royal Family.

My thanks to Bonnier Books U.K. Zaffre for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘A Death in Diamonds’ by S.J. Bennett.

This is Book 4 in Bennett’s Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series of cosy mysteries. I have read and enjoyed all of the earlier books.

While the first three books in the series were roughly contemporary set in 2016-17, here S.J. Bennett moves backwards in time to 1957. She also introduces a new assistant to the Queen - Joan McGraw, a former Bletchley codebreaker. Joan comes to the position as a temporary replacement for the Queen’s assistant private secretary, who has taken leave.

The mystery involves the murder of a young woman in a Chelsea mews house. She was found clad only in silk undies and wearing a valuable diamond tiara. An older man is also discovered nearby, garrotted and pierced through the eye with a long, sharp implement.

So why does the young Queen discreetly involve herself with the investigation? According to the police, a high society card game was held at the property that night. One of the players surely had committed the murders, though each of them can give the others an alibi. When someone very close to the young Queen is implicated, she is drawn into the investigation, utilising Joan’s discreet assistance.

S.J. Bennett weaves in a number of historical figures and events into the narrative. I was impressed throughout with Bennett’s attention to period detail. This felt a slightly darker whodunnit than the previous books.

The book concludes with a sneak preview of Book 5, due for publication in 2025, that will be set in 1961 and is titled ‘The Queen Who Came in From the Cold’. I can hardly wait!

Overall, I was impressed by ‘A Death in Diamonds’ and am enthusiastically recommending it.

A Death in Diamonds is the fourth in Her Majesty The Queen Investigates. It goes back to her earlier years, rather than the more present of the previous 3.

While the first three where really.enjoyable, I found this harder to get into, you spend the first majority of the book with the other characters with more involvement of the Queen midway through. It didn't have the flow of the previous ones.

It's an enjoyable read, that also be enjoyed as stand alone but I feel the first three were better.

Fourth book in the cosy crime series ‘Her majesty the Queen investigates’
It takes us back to 1957 to a young Queen Elizabeth - the UK is adjusting to being a country without an Empire and we see her challenge as a young monarch uncertain about her reign.
Queen it is on the case of investigating two grisly murders in Chelsea.
It’s a little darker than the previous books in the series
Loved Joan as her loyal and trustworthy assistant, as an ex Bletchley Park codebreaker discretion was her middle name, hopefully we’ll see a lot more of her in future books.
Brilliantly written and loved the blend of fact and fiction
Thanks @sophiabennett, @bonnierbooks & @netgalley for the super cosy eARC

Having loved S J Bennett’s previous Queen Elizabeth investigates books set in the 21st Century, I was curious to see how it would feel to read about her exploits when she was a young monarch in the 1950’s, and I’m pleased to say that Her Majesty was just as entertaining, perceptive and wise even back in those early days.

A Death in Diamonds is full of 1950’s atmosphere and subterfuge and it is a fabulous read, if you are a royalist or not. I’ve said this before, but Queen Elizabeth is the perfect lynchpin for a future series of mysteries set throughout her long reign; she is extremely intelligent, loveable and, above all, well connected! S J Bennett portrays her with a light hand and is the perfect writer for the task.

Thoroughly recommended.

I was fortunate to be invited to review A Death in Diamonds, which is the latest book by Ms S J Bennett. I enjoyed reading this one as much as the previous one. The book starts with the mysterious death of a high class call girl and her client in a mews house rented by a Bishop, who uses it as a bolt hole when in London and who is known to the Queen who naturally get curious. The Queen is also pondering on who among her staff is trying to discredit her during her overseas visits and finds an ally in one of her junior staff and who she persuades to carry out, on her behalf, her own covert investigation. Ms Bennett very cleverly weaves all the characters together and produces a very interesting and intriguing murder and surprising inhouse treachery with a marvellous twist to it. Needless to say the Queen pulls all the loose ends together and quietly feeds the information to Inspector Darbishire, who drew the short straw and became the investigating detective. If you are looking for a cosy detective story look no further than this as I am sure you will find it an interesting and enjoyable read.

A Death in Diamonds by S J Bennett
Having read others from this series I was really looking forward to reading this book and wondering how the writer would manage following the death of the Queen. She did this admirably by setting the book in 1957. The inclusion of real events such as the Suez crisis and the actual trips which the Queen and her entourage made during this period added a good amount of interest and detail. It was very interesting to see events from the viewpoint of the young Queen.
I was also keen on the new character of Joan McGraw. I found her background interesting and the way in which she cleverly enabled the Queen to solve the mystery was very good. At no point did I guess who the murderer actually was and I loved the fact that this was so cleverly worked out. It seems strange to call a crime novel, in which there is a double murder involving a wire garrotte and a stabbing through the eye, cosy but this definitely fits that description.
I look forward to reading more from this entertaining series. I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Even though this is the fourth in the series it can absolutely be read standalone. And that’s because this time it’s entirely set in the past. It’s 1957 and the Queen is still adjusting to being in charge, and Britain is still adapting to the post war, post colonial world. Then two bodies turn up on Chelsea and there’s a connection to the household. So of course she takes an interest and tries to find out what happened. This time she’s helped by a young secretary, working at the palace after an interesting war and busy trying to deal with the ‘men in moustaches’.

I had been wondering how this series would carry on - and maybe this is the answer - going back and doing more historical-set mysteries. Because this was pretty good. There is plenty of palace manoeuvring along side the mystery and it keeps you reading to find out what happens there as well as who did the crime. Fingers crossed there’s more where this came from.

Part of a series of cosy crime stories involving the late Queen Elizabeth, this story is set in an earlier period to most of the other books (late 1950s) and features a murder in a mews house near the palace. The portrayal of the Queen as a young woman juggling royal duties and family life is reminiscent of The Crown TV series, whilst the story itself has echoes of the Profumo affair that came to light a few years later. As somebody who is neither a royalist or a cosy crime fan, I found this story to be much more enjoyable and fun than many of the other books of this genre and I particularly enjoyed the period details woven in to the story and the character of Joan, the Queen’s partner in crime.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy in advance of publication.

This book is a ‘must read’ if you loved our late Queen! It’s the 4th book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series but because it goes back in time to the 1950’s you could easily read it before the others. They are great cosy mysteries with the Queen at the helm, although in this book only Joan knows it. I found myself Googling whilst reading as a lot is based on fact. I hope there will be more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books, Zaffre for letting me read and review this book

Yet another wonderful book from S.J. Bennett, Twists and turns that keeps you continually reading the book to the end. Hope there will be more in the series.

Having read the previous royal books `I was pleased to get this one. I was not disappointed as it was a wonderful read. The characters are so well described and the royal mystery kept the reader trying to discover what had really happened to cause the death of the 2 people in the Dean’s home. The added interest was the final section giving all the details about the book that were true and adding so much to the story.
A superb reads and I look forward to more about the royal mysteries that get. Solved.

I have read the previous three books in this series and enjoyed them immensely. This book is a little different in that it is set in 1957 when the Queen is only 30 years old. She is still finding her feet dealing with the 'men in moustaches' of her court and a certain old guard of aristocrats who treat her as they treat all women. That is needing to be kept in their place.The Queen however has other ideas and teams up with a palace typist who worked at Bletchley Park during the war to solve a nasty - and very complicated - double murder. I loved this book for the complexity of the murder, I certainly didn't get who done it! And the ingenuity of the Queen and Joan. Their schemes for passing and coded messages were amazing. A fantastic book all round. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I really liked this! Having read the others in the series (except the Christmas one), I knew I'd also thoroughly enjoy reading this too, especially with the setting taking us back to the late 1950's with a young H.M as well as following other characters to carry the storyline. I think if you haven't read the others in the series it doesn't really matter too much because of the time period changing from modern day to the 50's which is a bonus to dip your toe into it.

I think the mystery / murder in itself was cleverly written and although it began with a lot of description and setting the scene (again this is almost where you see the Queen's intrigue in solving crimes come into play compared to her being well-adversed in the first few books in the series), I also didn't guess who the murderer was, so again cleverly written to keep you guessing.

Overall, the characters were developed and really interesting (loved Joan), and I love the touch of adding some true events / facts into the fictional story adding another level of interest and making it more likeable and believe-able. Very easy, cosy crime novel that I will absolutely keep reading if more in the series came out!

Thank you NetGallery, the publisher and author for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley.

The previous books in the series feature the queen as the Octogenarian we knew and loved. This book goes back in time to a young Queen that i have less memory of. A gruesome murder involving call girls, Earls, Dukes and tiaras and the Queen's suspicions of a plot against her form the basis for the narrative.

Interspersed with Royal visits and duties the Queen is troubled by both events.

I prefer the earlier books in the series. This one seemed to wander a little and I did not always see the character of the Queen as central to the narrative.

I wondered what SJ Bennett would do with her royal detective series after Her Majesty passed on. I thought Princess Anne might take on her mother's mantle, but wisely the author has gone back to the early years of Elizabeth II's reign, to 1957 when a young Queen and her new assistant private secretary Joan set out to discover who is trying to sabotage the Queen's overseas' tours, along with covertly assisting the police in the murder of a call girl and her client, who may have something to do with the wider picture. A clever detective story in its own right, with its usual chutzpah of lese royalty, this latest story also has a poignant side, exploring the vulnerabilities of a young Queen devoted to her country, while also worrying about her family and wondering if the rumours about her handsome husband might have some ring of truth about them ...
At a time when women could be called "tarts" with impunity, and entitled men could philander at will, this story has a real sense of time and place without ever being old-fashioned. Good characters, a great setting and a gripping plot all combine to make it a super read.

This is such a magical series that just keeps getting better and better. They are a respectful but highly entertaining homage to our late beloved Queen. The small historical touches and setting are wonderful. A super series.