The Queen Who Came In From The Cold is the 5th book in ‘Her Majesty The Queen Investigates’ series. In the prologue, Pavel Michalowski, a society photographer, lets two men in overalls into his studio/apartment to search for a water leak. Unfortunately, they are not plumbers. As he turns, one jabs a needle into his arm.
Henry Coxon, a journalist, arrives a few days later, searching for his friend. He opens a large cupboard, views the contents and telephones MI5.
Sometime later, Elizabeth II is on her way by Royal Train to Lancashire with family, guests and staff. Sandra Pole, Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Margaret, is looking out at the scenery and is convinced she sees a murder being committed.
Sandra is considered ‘batty as a fruit cake’. The senior staff on board decide to do nothing. The Queen quietly insists the police be informed. Pavel’s jab-in-his-arm and Sandra’s view from the train are connected.
Behind the scene, the Queen and Joan McGraw, her assistant private secretary, investigate.
What follows is a tale of spies, lies and Cold War skullduggery involving an expert in poisoning, the Royal Yacht Britannia, a state visit to Italy, and Joan being shot at. We meet interesting, honourable and despicable characters as well as Hero, a darling of a police dog, whose specialty is finding dead bodies.
There’s room for romance and Buckingham Palace tittle-tattle. ‘Gossip is the greatest form of currency in the royal court – like cigarettes in a prison.’ S J Bennett’s latest book in the series is full of humour, thrills and information on how Elizabeth II charmingly but forcefully ‘operates’. Royalty tragics will love it.
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SJ Bennett was born in Yorkshire and travelled the world as an army child. She had a varied career before her first novel was published when she was 42. Since then, her books have won awards, been optioned for TV, and have been translated into over 20 languages.
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