Lady Georgiana Rannoch returns, now a decent society matron, in the latest Her Royal Spyness historical mysteries. Of late Georgie isn’t dashing around the countryside solving complex crimes, but remember, she has a new baby. Crime comes to her in WE THREE QUEENS.

Winter has set in at the country house, and King Edward unexpectedly sends Wallis Simpson to stay with his cousin Georgie to keep her away from the press. So far, the obedient British news staff has been keeping mum about Mrs. Simpson, but the American press knows all about the divorcee angling to be made a Queen. This is a small part of the current novel and serves to continue the ongoing soap opera in the background.

Sir Hubert, owner of the house and Georgie’s godfather, arrives back from his travels with a film crew. They want to get some outdoor shots of his fine Tudor home. The film is based on Henry the Eighth, his divorced wife Catherine of Aragon and wife of the moment, Anne Boleyn. Two child actresses are playing princesses. The comparison is clear with Edward and Wallis, but Georgie can’t let them know Wallis is in the house. Her busy husband Darcy O’Mara keeps tabs on Edward’s request to Parliament to let him marry.

The Hollywood people, and Georgie’s close relatives Fig and Binky who arrive – they play no real part but to fill gaps in conversation – keep a lively scene going, to the detriment of the chef and household staff. This is not a wealthy home. And it’s a long wait for a crime. We don’t learn many secrets of the filming, shot in black and white. Mainly we hear about the meals and comforts in such cold weather. But when something goes wrong, Georgie, as hostess, feels responsible for finding answers. 

Readers who have followed the intrepid lady’s exploits will be delighted to see her with her infant son James, and proud husband Darcy. Their plans are quite modern when contrasted with the child-rearing methods of the nobility. The running thread leading up to Edward’s abdication is being pulled very tight, as Georgie’s mother is still being wooed by a wealthy German industrialist, proving a reason for Darcy to update us on pre-WW2 Germany. We know that life will never be the same again for such big houses. Rhys Bowen has provided an interlude of relative calm, despite the crimes, in WE THREE QUEENS. The message I took is that we should cherish those we love, and our happiness, for this is fragile.