Murder Most Royal - REVIEW

OVERVIEW

This series, Her Majesty the Queen Investigates, is so much fun!! I just really love the idea of Queen Elizabeth II being a solver of mysteries. It is just so on point for the way that I think of her. She was smart, intuitive, and had a startling memory which are the exact traits that a mystery-solver needs!!

This book takes place almost exclusively at Sandringham House. It starts with a severed hand washed up on the beach nearby the estate around Christmas and then this mystery is off and running. The present-day for this book is 2017 and takes place in about six weeks or so after the Christmas holidays. 

This novel is so engaging with an interesting location, cast of characters, and storyline. Fun, fun, fun!! I cannot wait for Book 4!! 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing for this book is perfect for the genre. I like how the writing is not overly descriptive - it would ruin the flow. Plus, Queen Elizabeth II is very efficient in her conversations which lends itself to the short, clipped style of a mystery!!

Character development: 4.5 stars

The character development of the two main characters of Queen Elizabeth II and  Rozie, her Assistant Personal Secretary (APS) is so strong. Their interactions are great! I love strong women characters and Queen Elizabeth II and Rozie are definitely very strong women!!

The secondary characters are the Queen's extended family, local nobility, attendants, and Sandringham locals!

Of course, Sandringham is a tertiary character. It sounds like Sandringham and Norfolk are beautiful - I have added both to my bucket list!

Storyline:  4.0 stars

The storyline was one of a good mystery! It was full of great twists so much so that I did not figure out who the killer was and why they killed. 

The only issue is I have no real understanding of the English titles so I got a little lost just like Rozie, APS, does. So I know that I am not the only one confused by it all. 

The main location was Norfolk and Sandringham House. 

Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars

It was a very enjoyable book!

Book cover: 3.5 stars

It wasn't that interesting.

Book title: 3.5 stars 

It was an okay title.

Gut feeling: 4.0 stars

I assumed that I would like the third book in this series and I did!!! 

Suggestions: 

An explanation of the titles and how to correctly address the nobility and royalty would be very helpful for this American reader!  

RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

Murder Most Royal (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #3) by S. J. Bennett 

336 pages

This was an ARC from NetGalley

Release date of 11/10/2023

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

S. J. Bennett

My Goodreads review

Zaffre

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

Breast Cancer - Mammogram

Again, I know that this is a book blog, but breast cancer is near and dear to my heart. 

PSA for the day!! Please ask your PCP about a mammogram if you are over 40. The screening guidelines have changed!! I did mine today (on a Saturday) and was in and out in about 20 minutes!!

For more information, check out this site: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer.html

#mammogram

 

UPDATE: Changing AUDIOBOOK to BOOK

I started Atomic Habits by James Clear on audiobook. I have only listened to a few chapters and it is evident that I would love this book even more as an ebook! So I am requesting the ebook from the library, so it may be a LONG wait for this ebook!!

This is only the second time, since I started this book blog journey, I am switching from an audiobook to an ebook!!

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

Maui/Big Island Fires

I know that this is a book blog, but my heart aches for the people of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii! As a native Californian, fire is always a fear and we have had our share of devastating fires. Please think about donating to your favorite local Hawaiian or global charity.

If I may, World Central Kitchen is my family's global charity of choice. Chef José Andrés, a NATURALIZED U.S. citizen, founded this amazing organization to feed the hungry locals and first responders in areas of the world traumatized by war, natural disasters, man-made disasters, etc. You can find out more HERE.

My family and I regularly donate to this well-run and worthy organization. THIS is the link to donate if you are so inclined. Please consider donating. Thank you!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 Murder Most Royal by S. J. Bennett

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Lessons in Chemistry

OVERVIEW

So I am one of those very picky readers who has specific genres, authors, and book styles. I have been reading since I was in Kindergarten (thank you, Mark Andrews) and I knew what I liked even back then! HA!

This book has been labeled with multiple genres - historical fiction, humor, and humorous fiction. Personally, I do not think any of these genres apply. The most accurate genre that I have found for this book is quirky tragicomedy.

The book goes back in forth between the a bit in the past to the present time for the book, i.e. the late 1950s/early 1960s and the middle 1950s. It was based primarily in a fictional city on the coast of California at a research facility.

The book style reminds me of a lot of "cutesy" books that I have read in the past. There are a lot of triggering events in the very beginning of the book including rape and suicide which makes this book not funny to me. So I am a little confused as to why it gets tagged with a humor genre.

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

This was a debut novel for Bonnie Garmus. This book won the Goodreads Choice Award - Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2022) and Winner for Best Debut Novel (2022). 

Personally, I am puzzled by the Best Historical Fiction as I don't think that it was indicative of life at all in the 1950/1960s. It just didn't read to me like a well-researched historical fiction novel like I am used to reading. Plus, there were many other nominees in the 2023 Best Historical Fiction category that I am shocked did not win.

Character development: 4.0 stars

The character development of the three main characters and secondary characters was a deep dive. We did see into some of their thoughts including the dog (which I loved). I do understand why the main characters were so strong, but it made them difficult to like which hurt the storyline to me. 

The main character is Elizabeth - it is all about her, all the time. The secondary characters are her significant other, Calvin; her daughter, Mad; and her dog, six-thirty. 

There are many tertiary characters from Elizabeth's graduate advisor at UCLA to the Chemistry Chair at her job to her neighbor, Harriet. The first two characters play ugly villainous parts in Elizabeth's life and the third character was a true friend who allowed her to shine and fly.

Storyline: 3.5 stars

The storyline was not believable to me. Yes, Elizabeth was a brilliant chemist, but her behavior would not have been tolerated then or now because she didn't have the research or degrees to justify it. Her partner on the other hand was a Ph.D. who was a renowned name - his quirkiness would have been allowed as he brought in grant and donor money. 

The main locations were coastal California, Cambridge, UCLA, and Iowa.

Memorable/Informative: 3.5 stars

It just wasn't memorable or informative to me. I did learn a new term that I had never heard previously: abiogenesis. Definition of abiogenesis

Book cover: 3.5 stars

Boring and not eye-catching

Book title: 4.0 stars 

It was a good choice

Gut feeling: 3.5 stars

I never know what to expect when I read a uber-popular book! 

Suggestions: 

A list of the literature mentioned in the book would have been nice.

RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 

400 pages

This was a library book from LAPL

Release date of 04/05/2022

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Bonnie Garmus

My Goodreads review

Doubleday

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

My next audiobook read is...

 Atomic Habits by James Clear

Taylor Swift Concerts

Well, as you may know, Taylor Swift is performing SIX concerts at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California to finish up the U.S. leg of her Eras Tour.

My daughter and I were so lucky to get tickets for THREE nights!! We are going tonight, Thursday, August 3rd, and Monday, August 7th with pretty good seats. When the stage was completed on Tuesday (a day early, BTW), the obstructed seats were released. We scored some obstructed seats for the FINAL night on Wednesday, August 9th! The bonus is that we are going with some friends that we made at the My Chemical Romance concert at The Forum last October. Life is full of serendipity sometimes. 

So I may or may not be reading as it is going to be VERY, VERY late nights! Of course, I will post if I finish a new book or audiobook. I'm on the hunt for a new audiobook, if you have any recommendations!!!

See you all on the other side!! 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

DNF - The Golden Gate

I will not be finishing The Golden Gate by Amy Chua. This just wasn't the right book for me at this time!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

P.S. I started this book this afternoon and decided to DNF. So it is two quick posts to say that I am reading it and then another post explaining the DNF.

My next read is ...

 The Golden Gate by Amy Chua

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜