Lady Georgiana has married Darcy O’Mara in LOVE AND DEATH AMONG THE CHEETAHS, the thirteenth book in the charming Her Royal Spyness murder mystery series. After a few days alone on a houseboat, they head off on honeymoon to Kenya, a lengthy and costly trip which Georgie later learns has been paid for by the British Government. Darcy is an observer and occasional agent for the Foreign Office, though not ostensibly in their employ.

Lord Cheriton, a womaniser and racist, is one of the people they meet in Happy Valley. Another is Lady Idina, quite happy to be the object of womanising. More respectable ladies don’t mix with her. But the small expatriate community is about to be struck by LOVE AND DEATH AMONG THE CHEETAHS. We only meet one fur-bearing cheetah, so the title must be a pun on cheaters. Bed-hopping is the local sport among the bored, gin-swilling, sometimes fascist landowners, and Georgie is continually and silently shocked. Also travelling in Kenya are the Prince of Wales, David, and his amour Wallis Simpson. Georgie has been asked by the Queen to keep a discreet eye on their relationship. Darcy admits he’s out here to follow a jewel thief, and there are also some international affairs which warrant a report since this is the 1930s and Hitler is making chaos likely in Europe.

With all this occurring, is there room in the book to discuss the status of the native peoples? We met a few of them, household servants, and learn some differences between tribes. We see how they have been pushed off land where they grazed cattle and are now beaten or dismissed for perceived mishandling of the landowner’s cattle. Georgie, who has a commoner side of her family, is sympathetic to these handsome people, speaks to them as individuals, in a way that the boorish big game hunters don’t.

A word of warning to mystery fans; most of the book is occupied with the lead up to the murder. By the time it occurs, we know all the characters well. Rhys Bowen has carefully recreated the life and times of her 1930s heroine and in LOVE AND DEATH AMONG THE CHEETAHS has certainly given Georgie and Darcy a honeymoon to remember. As well as enjoying the story greatly, I learned a lot and I love the unusual historical setting.