Having read S J Bennett's previous murder mysteries featuring Queen Elizabeth in the last decade of her life, I was curious to know where she would go following HM's death.

The answer is back in time, to 1957, a difficult time politically and for HM personally. She's in Paris and has become aware that someone is doing their best to undermine her, cause problems. A missing speech, oysters served at banquet, and there's been a murder in a London mews involving people that she knows. Possibly even Phillip.

The nightmare of the missing speech is recovered by Joan McGraw, a Palace typist, a remarkable woman with a photographic memory who HM takes on as a personal assistant. Irish and from the East End, the "men in moustaches" are outraged. And one of them is a traitor and HM takes Joan, not one of the "old guard", who has already suspected dodgy dealings, into her confidence and asked for her help is uncovering who is working against her.

Meanwhile, DI Darbishire finds himself unexpectedly on the murder case, when the brilliant DCI finds himself "too busy". There are all kinds of aristocratic connections to the brutal murder of a gangster and an escort who is wearing a famous diamond tiara. But he finds himself blocked, warned off and subtly threatened.

With two mysteries running through this book, a crisis of confidence for the Queen in both her public and personal life, and a vital visit to the US in the offing, this book offers much entertainment. Joan McGraw is fabulous as the Queen's right hand woman and I didn't stop reading until I finished well after midnight. Much recommended.

An instant five star book. This series is incredibly. So well written and engaging.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

I love this series and was delighted to get an advance reading copy of the latest book. I put down everything else I was reading and flew through it in two sittings: it didn't disappoint! It's so interesting to get a little look into the inner workings of the palace whilst enjoying a fabulous murder mystery.

This time, we're back in the 1950s, solving the murder of a call girl. Quite how the Queen stumbled across that one and was close enough to it to take an interest, is fabulous.

We see Royal family life, Royal public life and the lives of those who work closely to support the work of the palace.

The characters are well-drawn, if not always likeable and the story is utterly believable.

I didn't really have time for another book review this month, but when I got the email asking if I'd be interested in reviewing this one, I had to make the time to do it. I absolutely love this series and there was no way I was missing out on the chance to do another review for it. My mum and I have very different taste in reading material on the whole, but after I'd read them, I bought her the first couple in the series for her birthday. The next time I saw her, she was full of 'these brilliant books' she'd read and tried to lend them to, as she thought I would really enjoy them too. I had to laugh as I reminded her that it was me who'd bought them for her. I was just delighted that she'd enjoyed them as much as I had! So, you can see why I was so keen to read this one.

I'd also been wondering how the series would be affected by the death of the Queen, as she was already quite old in the earlier books and I had feared that the series might end as a result. Instead, in this book we are taken back to the Queen's younger days. This had the potential to cause a few problems, because everyone knows about the Duke of Edinburgh's reputation in the early years of their marriage, even if we don't necessarily know the truth about it and I felt that potentially, this would be at odds with the way they had been portrayed thus far in the series. I needn't have worried! That particular subplot is handled beautifully and I LOVED the way it was resolved.

As I was reading this, I had a nagging feeling that I was already familiar with some of the elements and began wondering if there were parts of it that were taken from real life. In the author's notes at the end of the book, it turned out that there was some truth to the story, but not always the bits I'd thought were real. And therein lies the beauty of this book and indeed, the whole series. It is so brilliantly constructed and written that it feels like it could be true. All the aspects of palace life seem so true to life that the rest of the story also takes on a kind of authenticity.

There is an air of vulnerability about the Queen in this book, both in her uncertainty about her husband and about her reign as a whole and it's quite touching to see how she deals with both these things. I loved the character of Joan as well and I hope that as the series continues we'll see more of her as well as of some of the former assistants who had cameos in the earlier books (earlier in the series, but later in the timeline!).

I think the other thing that really appeals to me - and it's something I don't think had occurred to me up until reading this particular book - is how strong the female characters are. It's not just the Queen, it's those around her as well. That came across even more in this book because of the era it is set in. The attitudes of the male courtiers towards Joan are ridiculous by modern standards but are precisely what women were battling against at the time. I'm lucky, only once in my life have I ever really felt that someone didn't like me having an opinion simply because I was female, these women faced that struggle on a daily basis and there was far more at stake for them than there was for me on that one occasion (it was a person I'd only just met, was unlikely to ever meet again and whose opinion of me I couldn't have cared less about). As a nation, we seem to be renowned for cheering on the underdog and this was no exception. I was delighted to see Joan and the Queen outmanoeuvring the men around them and look forward to the release of the next book.

Oh, and I'll definitely be buying this for my mum too!

Not my favourite of this series but still a really good read.

It felt strange reading about the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh now they are both passed and I also felt a little strange when there were rumours of infidelity.

I loved the character of Joan and felt she deserved a staring role.

All in all a good read, just not my favourite.

This is the fourth book in this series and this one takes a step back in time to 1957. Several strange things have happen recently to the Queen on her various royal visits and duties.
She is worried that someone is trying to do her harm and finds an ally in Joan McGraw from the typing pool, whose photographic memory has saved the day on what could have been an awful calamity.
Meanwhile, a murder has taken place in a mews house in Chelsea, close to the houses of friends of the Royal couple. This has roused the curiosity of the Queen and alongside Joan, she embarks on a discreet investigation of her own.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable tale which mixes fiction with fact in the nicest way.

Love this series and this was a fantastic edition. I love that this goes back to an earlier younger Queen. The cast of supporting characters is different but you can see the similarities between those who support the Queen in the later books and the qualities that she values in her assistants.
This book included a glimpse into state visits and the social life off the Queen and Prince Philip and the aristocracy.
This is a well-plotted and interesting case with lots to keep you guessing.

Another great instalment in the series. At first I wasn’t sure about this book being set in a much earlier time period but I actually ended up really enjoying it. Although there was a different cast of characters, they were very similar to the characters in the previous books and just as likeable, this was a mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait for the next book.

Another excellent addition to the series. I loved the first three books and I enjoyed how we travelled back in time for this story. I’ll be happy to recommend the book on my social media accounts

Another highly enjoyable book from S J Bennett. This one is set earlier than the previous ones - in the 1950s - and has events such as the first live TV Christmas broadcast. The plot is well-structured and plausible, the characters - both real historical characters, and fictional ones - are all well presented.

I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone enjoying a good novel.

With thanks to Zaffre and NetGalley for an ARC

Another well written and enjoyable mystery from S J Bennett. The concept of these books could become a bit silly in someone else’s hands - the Queen solving murders! But this author uses what is clearly extensive research to produce something very clever and somehow totally believable.

The mystery element was also very well plotted and came to a satisfying conclusion.

Another lovely mystery from S J Bennett with Queen Elizabeth II as the detective. I had wondered how Bennett would approach the next book in the wake of the Queen's death in real life but she dealt with this perfectly by stepping back to 1957, leading a much younger Queen into a mystery, adding some well needed distance from the present. The book is a good read, gripping and fun. It doesn't feel exploitative because of its affection for its subjects and there is no character assassination. I will be looking out for a follow up.

A Death in Diamonds takes us back to an earlier time in Queen Elizabeth's life where she is trying to get to the bottom of a mystery much closer to her than in previous books; someone is trying to sabotage her state visits. She is also grappling with her image and trying to appear less stuffy and more relatable.

I did miss Rozie, who is probably my favourite character from the earlier books, but I enjoyed meeting Joan and following her as she assisted Her Majesty in her investigations.

As always, the mystery kept me guessing. I had no idea who was responsible for the crime in this book and I loved the reveal.

I absolutely love this series.

This was my first foray into SJ Bennett’s with the Queen as investigator. Set in the 1950s, two people are found murdered in a mews house in close proximity of Buckingham Palace. In true sensational fashion, the young woman who is found murdered, is reported in the press as the Tart in the tiara. The murdered man has a shady past and the police attempt to identify him. The parallel story is of the young Queen who is undertaking State visits where things don’t go according to plan. Is someone trying to sabotage her Majesty? SJ Bennett weaves the investigation through the official channels with Fred Darbishire and the unofficial ones with a young woman, Joan McGraw employed by the Palace.
I loved the descriptions about the Queen’s gown fittings with the fashion designers, the big names of the screen and stage in the 1950s and the backdrop of the political stories of the day including the Suez crisis. The social norms of the day (the classism, sexism etc) are seamlessly incorporated into the tale with intricate detail. A thoroughly intelligent and enjoyable read.

Rated 4.5/5

The writing was fairly descriptive and took you into the Queen's world back in the 50s. There was just enough description to take you where you needed to be without being too overwhelming. It was interesting to see life from the Queen's point of view. It did take me a little while to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked and I wanted to keep on reading.

The story was an interesting blend of fact and fiction all mixed into one. I enjoyed the fact that bits of the story actually happened in real life. I think that added a nice extra layer to it.

The story was made up of 4 parts, each with an interesting title. The parts were then split into chapters that ranged in length from short to medium. This gave a good pace to the story and stopped my interest from wavering. I enjoyed how everything came together at the end. In order to get to the end there were lots of little bits of information that gradually came to light. As the reader you were finding out bits at the same time as the characters, sometimes even after the characters knew. This kept me guessing until the end.

The characters were great. Their attitudes were very much of their time, which added an extra layer to the story. I enjoyed the royal involvement with the mystery. It meant that as the reader you were able to experience another way of life.

I also liked finding out about the different sides to the characters, it made for interesting reading and kept you questioning how it was all going to come together.

Lastly the settings. I loved following the Queen round on her engagements and following Joan round the different areas of London. The settings were fairly important to the story and together with the characters' backgrounds brought everything together well.

Overall an enjoyable read.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I've very much enjoyed all of the novels in the series 'Her Majesty the Queen Investigates' and this was no exception. Rather than our usual setting of the modern day Queen with her fabulous Assistant Private Secretary Rozie Oshodi we are back in the late 1950s, and the 'origin story' of the most unlikely detective duo, the Queen and her APS Joan McGraw.

A gruesome double murder takes place in London. Whilst juggling a hectic schedule of overseas visits (and a little horse racing) the Queen takes an interest in this, as well as trying to establish if all is as it should be within her closest staff.

The plot is almost too much for one book, and it was a little confusing trying to keep track of all the new characters and connections. A sequel in this timeline would be very welcome to get to know these characters properly. Joan particularly is a fantastic addition to the cast but doesn't really get enough time to develop fully - hopefully we will meet her again.

There is so much fascinating historical content packed into this book. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Having enjoyed the previous books in the HM Investigates series I wondered what would happen to the series once the Queen passed away last year, however, the author has returned to a younger Elizabeth in 1957 who is left wondering what is going on when random things go wrong during a state visit.

An enjoyable read!

During a state visit to France in 1957 things don’t go quite to plan making the Queen think that someone close to her is trying to sabotage the trip. Upon returning to England a shocking double murder takes place not far from Buckingham Palace, a murder that has links to the aristocracy, the clergy and members of parliament. The Queen soon discovers that there are links even closer to home.

A Death In Diamonds by S. J. Bennett is the fourth book in the cozy crime series “Her Majesty The Queen Investigates”. Given the events of last year, I did wonder if this series would continue. I am so pleased that the author has chosen to continue with the series, however, there is a slight change of tack with the latest outing. We go back in time to 1957 and meet a much younger Elizabeth, a Queen who has been head of state for five years.

Overall, I found the tone of this story a little darker than in previous books. This is most definitely down to the themes involved connected to the murder: escorts, espionage and Nazi Germany. This slightly darker tone certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book, if anything it added a sense of menace and a greater air of mystery. We also have a country still struggling with the after effects of war, including the role of women.
We learned more about the Queen in her early days as monarch, along with the fact that she has been solving mysteries since she was a child. Our glimpse of the Queen shows a young woman trying to balance her role as Queen with that of a mother, she comes across as being very normal and down to earth where her family is concerned. It was easy to picture the antics of a young Princess Anne who, at seven years old, is described as indestructible.

In recent years we have witnessed a royal family trying to modernise itself, to make itself more relevant to society today. Our glimpse of the Queen in 1957 is no different. Realising that someone is out to sabotage the monarchy she realises that this is a time to rejuvenate the royal family, including speaking to the nation via the medium of television. This, along with a few other incidents in the book, gives us the opportunity to see a vulnerable side to the Queen. I really enjoyed the references to fashion. What the royal family wore was just as closely scrutinised in 1957 as it is today.

The one thing I did miss in this book is Roz, the Assistant Private Secretary who does most of the investigating on the Queen’s behalf. However, we are introduced to a fitting replacement, someone just as capable and formidable in the form of Joan McGraw. Joan is elevated from the role of secretary in the typing pool to Secretary (that capital S makes a vast difference in the royal household) and this doesn’t go down well with the other Secretaries, all male, who think that Joan is too “common” for the role. Joan runs rings around the other Secretaries, occasionally putting her own life at risk, as she investigates on behalf of the Queen.

I did wonder how the two storylines were connected and this kept me gripped, desperate to know more. The conclusions were an eye-opener, proving how easy it is to make assumptions. A Death In Diamonds is a history lesson, wrapped up in a mystery, encased in a wonderful series.

Another really fun book by S.J.Bennett. Interesting that she has gone back in time to feature a younger Elizabeth and family. Absorbing and entertaining.**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

**advance review copy received in return for an honest review***
I’m a huge fan of the genre historical-person-investigating-murders, and you’d probably be surprised to learn that it’s actually a wider demographic than it sounds.
SJ Bennett’s Her Majesty Investigates has long since been at the top of the pack for me, and I was excited to receive an advance copy to review of the latest instalment.
This one is a slight departure from the normal more “present day” (or as close as) set novels, taking us back to the 1950s.
It’s a smart move on Bennett’s part, the previous books have teased that “HM enjoys investigating”, but this is the first we’re seeing of it in action - it gives us not only an interesting mystery but also the socio-political background of the time, as well as the Queen’s early years as monarch.
It’s a rich history to pluck from, and I’m certainly hoping that Bennett continues in this way - it’s a very enjoyable read and a great addition to the already established series.
A definite recommend from me.