Being a royal is not always a piece of cake. Despite the comfort of Kingsdowne Place in Kent, Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie Rannoch (or Georgie) is a little bored. She is stuck here as it is hard to get a real job in the depression of 1934. She doesn't have the right training and her royal family require her to keep up appearances. After all, she is 35th in line to the throne.

The quiet of the country estate is suddenly interrupted by a sports car coming up the drive. Georgie is surprised when it is none other than her vivacious and beautiful mother. Claire Daniels has never been the maternal type as she is too busy with her own interests. Georgie is even more blown over when she is asked to come along with her mother to America of all places. Like a whirling dervish, Claire spins out their plans and quickly get them ready to travel to New York on the famous Berengaria cruise ship. What is the real purpose for this trip?

Now reveling in the lap of luxury and lots of food for a change, George misses her boyfriend, the handsome but not rich enough for them to marry yet, Darcy O'Mara. Where can he be? She never knows as his work at Scotland Yard keeps him away. Still life on the ship is pleasant. Sitting at the Captain's table, they meet some interesting people, including Cy Goldman, a Hollywood mogul who now wants to turn Claire Daniels into a movie star. Claire demurs, but events soon change the best laid plans.

In QUEEN OF HEARTS, New York Times best selling author Rhys Bowen takes Georgie, her beloved but usually broke amateur sleuth on a voyage of discovery across the pond to the vastness of America. Fans are sure to appreciate the lively story in QUEEN OF HEARTS, the eighth in Bowen's delightful Royal Spyness mystery series. Georgie is a great character and is just the person you would love to chat with and have as a friend. She knows all the right things to do, but often makes mistakes and has been treated more like a clumsy young colt in comparison to her larger than life beautiful mother. In QUEEN OF HEARTS, Georgie is overcoming some of her insecurities and even dares to exchange barbs with none other than the infamous Mrs. Simpson. One of Bowen's many strengths as a mystery writer is her ability to make all her characters come to life with just a few quick strokes of the keyboard. The scenes of Georgie trying to turn her maid Queenie into a true Lady's maid are sure to make you smile, if not laugh out loud.

Still, it is solving the mystery that is key and Bowen masterfully crafts an intriguing whodunit with lots of suspects that can be read equally well as a stand-alone or a welcome addition to the series. Fans who love mysteries, historical fiction or a truly resourceful and quick-witted heroine will relish this transatlantic journey and solving the case in the QUEEN OF HEARTS.