The year is 1961, and Queen Elizabeth is aboard the royal train on her way to a speaking engagement the next day. In a story that combines John le Carré and royal-watching, she is about to help solve a murder. THE QUEEN WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is an entertaining and detailed look behind the scenes of the young mother and monarch’s daily life. A sumptuous life, admittedly.

The early books in the series Her Majesty the Queen Investigates by S.J. Bennett were set in modern-day. This fifth episode returns to the Cold War era. We thus see the personalities as they may have been at a younger age, when nations were in a state of change. What I found disappointing at first is that much of the action is carried out by the assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw. However, Her Majesty’s day is so meticulously planned and her visits stage-managed that she can’t just walk around looking for clues and interviewing suspects. Someone else has to do that work. The police, of course, and willing hands at the Palace.

Sandra Pole, a socialite and lady in waiting to the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, tells a dramatic story of seeing men handling a dead body from the window of her royal train carriage. She clearly saw something, but some of her details are wrong, so it takes a while to establish the facts. While the police are checking if there is a link with the disappearance of London-based chess player Michalowski, the Queen heads off on a state visit to Italy aboard Royal Yacht Britannia. The most fun is to be had from Prince Philip, a naval officer, who enjoys the gleaming powered yacht and tells us how to make microdots. We also get references to news of the day; the Space Race was sending a Russian to orbit, and the Kennedys were soon to visit London. With Rome, Venice and other Mediterranean ports, the scenery changes rapidly. The suspense follows.  

S.J. Bennett could be accused by some of profiting from the fame of others and putting words in real people’s mouths. I was thinking about the principles, and I realised that I miss these people. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and the others were part of our news stories, made dignified and glamorous appearances, and raised children who loved them. We are reminded that young Princess Elizabeth and her husband had spent three years living quietly on Malta. This is unlikely to be repeated by today’s more self- obsessed, status-seeking celebrities. THE QUEEN WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD gets my vote both as a murder mystery and as a touching portrait of those we have lost.