A Death in Diamonds
This is the fourth in Bennett’s mystery series featuring Queen Elizabeth II. The novel opens with the report of a gruesome double murder. A young woman is found dead wearing only silk underwear and a diamond tiara. Her companion, a man from Argentina, has been garroted and stabbed in the eye. Prince Philip is unaccounted for that evening, and the young queen suspects fowl (!) play.
Auspicious opening for a mystery novel, yes? Sadly, the novel shifts gears to focus on the young Queen Elizabeth and her complicated royal tenure. Over the following months, the plot largely follows Elizabeth’s royal relatives, questionable ministers (“the men in moustaches”) and her trips to various destinations in the Commonwealth and beyond. Interesting pictures of the Queen Mother, Philip, Princess Margaret, and others in the royal circle emerge: Bennett has a keen eye for character detail. A vignette featuring Duke Ellington is particularly engaging.
The novel includes a sub-plot that centers on a young woman the Queen hires to help her uncover suspicious people: Joan McGraw, a former Bletchley codebreaker, is both determined and courageous, but she does not find the murderer. Another brief sub-plot involves an attempted kidnapping of Prince Charles at his school.
Essentially, if you are a fan of the royals, you will enjoy this meandering novel. If you are a diehard mystery fan, give it a pass.
