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The Windsor Knot
The Windsor Knot: Queen Elizabeth II investigates a murder in this delightfully clever mystery | Sj Bennett
79 posts | 55 read | 44 to read
On a perfect Spring morning at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II will enjoy a cup of tea, carry out all her royal duties . . . and solve a murder. 'The Crown meets Miss Marple' - RED MAGAZINE The first book in a highly original and delightfully clever mystery series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties - now available to pre-order in hardback, eBook and audiobook. ______________________ The morning after a dinner party at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth is shocked to discover that one of her guests has been found murdered in his room, with a rope around his neck. When the police begin to suspect her loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they are looking in the wrong place. For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life ever since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes. With her household's happiness on the line, her secret must not get out. Can the Queen and her trusted secretary Rozie catch the killer, without getting caught themselves? Miss Marple meets The Crown in The Windsor Knot, the first book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' mystery series by SJ Bennett - for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin. ______________________ PRAISE FOR THE WINDSOR KNOT: 'Hilarious, affectionate, and so well observed . . . I loved it' - JOANNE HARRIS 'Gently hilarious and utterly charming' - AMANDA CRAIG 'Miss Marple meets The Crown' - THE BOOKSELLER
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Jaimelire
Mehso-so

I was a bit disappointed with this book. Too many characters and I found it dragged on. I skimmed the ending. Not the cozy mystery I was expecting.

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Helsky
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Mehso-so

This was a cute one. I‘m not very fond of cozy mysteries, but I wanted to try this one. I think people who follow royalty, in a good way of course, will like this. Queen Elizabeth ll is a witty and likable character and so is her secretary Rozie. Together they investigate a suspicious death in Windsor Castle. The mystery is not the best part of the story. I enjoyed the portrayal of royal life much better.

Bookwomble Welcome to Litsy, Heli 😊 12mo
Helsky Thank you, Bookwomble 😊 12mo
3 likes2 comments
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LeslieO
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TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!!! 1y
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Scochrane26
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Pickpick

I‘ve been on a reading binge the last few days, especially with books for challenges. Finally read this fun mystery. The Queen solves a murder that occurs at Windsor Castle, with help from her assistant secretary and others. She gives the pompous director tidbits that lead him in right direction, while he thinks he solved it all himself. This is the start of a series & is respectful of the Royal family.

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CleverGirl
Bailedbailed

I‘m going to try again later with this one. I was reading it for a “cozy” book club and ran out of time. DNF for now.

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jamield1911
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Panpan

Nope! ?
I wanted to like this, I really did. I love a murder mystery, I love "The Crown" and I loved Queen Elizabeth. This book, however, just wasn't for me. I felt it tried too hard, was at times difficult to follow, and it just didn't grip me at all. Would not recommend it!

rachelk Welcome to Litsy! I love coffee, wine, my dog & books too! 🤗 2y
wanderinglynn Welcome to Litsy! 👋🏻 2y
5 likes2 comments
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GidgetsTreasures75
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Mehso-so

12-23-22: My 127th finished book of 2022! I wanted to like this more than I did. It‘s a cute concept. There is a murder at Windsor Castle and the Queen, Elizabeth II, decides she can solve it before the police can. While the police are bungling the job, the Queen, along with her assistant private secretary Rozie, are on the case behind the scenes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣2️⃣7️⃣

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Mitch
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Panpan

Oh no- had to read this for a new Bookclub. Went into it knowing it wasn‘t for me - but hopefully still a little open minded! But it was clumsy, silly and had just one too many jarring details to be even mildly enjoyable for me.

Suet624 It's hard to go into a book that you just know isn't really for you. 2y
ChaoticMissAdventures Hope this isn't a sign of how this new book club will be for you! A bit disheartening to not like the first book at all. 2y
DGRachel Oh no! I have this on my shelves. 😳 2y
CoverToCoverGirl You did better than me, I bailed on it. 2y
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humouress
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Henry Evans would say nothing... This conversation was absolutely private.

Rozie wondered ... why it had been so easy for Mr Evans ... But she reflected that for her it was more complicated. Evans simply owed his ultimate loyalty to the Queen and that was that. The man Rozie had to hide this conversation from was the Queen‘s own right-hand man. It wasn‘t that the Queen didn‘t trust Sir Simon. She had seen the warm, long-standing relationship ...

humouress ‘Look ...,‘ Aileen said, ‘and I did the job for over a decade. There‘s nothing that‘s happened ... that I don‘t know about. ... And I know about the other stuff, too. The things she doesn‘t tell Simon. She‘s on a case, isn‘t she?‘
‘She . . . what?‘
Aileen grinned. 'You came to me because she‘s asked you to do a bit of digging about, hasn‘t she? You kind of know you‘re not supposed to tell anyone, but it feels horribly wrong?‘
Rozie nodded again
2y
humouress ‘The Queen solves mysteries. She solved the first one when she was twelve or thirteen, so the story goes. On her own. She sees things other people don‘t see – often because they‘re all looking at her. She knows so much about so many things. She‘s got an eagle eye, a nose for bullshit and a fabulous memory. Her staff should trust her more. People like Sir Simon, I mean.‘
‘But he trusts her totally!‘
‘No, he doesn‘t. He thinks he does ...
(edited) 2y
humouress ...But they don‘t. She‘s one of the most powerful women in the world but she spends her whole bloody time having to listen to them and they don‘t listen back. It drives her bonkers. I mean, she grew up with it. She was a girl in the thirties – male domination was normal. She‘s had to work out for herself how good she is, what she can do. And what she can do is notice things. She‘s a bit of a genius at it, actually. But she needs help.‘ 2y
humouress Ooh, one more (about Humphreys, not Sir Simon):

He was grey of hair, suit and mind. He was also convinced that, at eighty-nine, one had no possible means of understanding the complexities of the modern world. He didn‘t seem to grasp that she had lived through all the decades that had created it, and she had perhaps a more nuanced understanding of it than he did.

(I've had to edit most of the quotes to fit, sorry!)
(edited) 2y
3 likes4 comments
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Dragon
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I‘m hoping to find some comfort in reading this novel. Still coming to terms with the news 😢💚🐉

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Branwen
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Just absolutely devastated by the sad news about the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Even though I'm American, I have always loved her and the royal family and found her life story inspiring and fascinating. She did so much good while she was here, and she will be missed. 🇬🇧❤️💙🤍🇬🇧 I set up a mini display in the library to honor her. Hopefully people will be inspired to read about her life and accomplishments! 💕

Dragon I waited outside the cathedral here in Victoria 🇨🇦 after the Queen attended the service she stopped to speak to a little girl who gave her a bouquet 💐 2y
Libby1 How lovely. Thank you for doing this. 2y
Branwen @Dragon Wow! 😍💐 @Libby1 Thank you! 💕 It was the only thing I could think to do for her! 2y
Libby1 ❤️ 2y
60 likes4 comments
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kspenmoll
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RIP Queen Elizabeth. One strong dedicated woman who weathered 70 years amidst social & economic upheavals, wars, prime ministers, with intelligence, dignity, & grace. My niece who lives in Tyne & Wear texted us this morning with the “rumor” the Queen had died. #restinpeace

mcctrish It‘s a sad day and end of an era. 2y
sherrisilvera Very sad 2y
kspenmoll @mcctrish @sherrisilvera Yes, both sad and the end of an era. 2y
Dragon 😢💚🐉 2y
77 likes4 comments
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humouress
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Still enjoying this. I don't know much about Windsor Castle & its environs, much less the workings of HM's mind but Bennett has portrayed it very plausibly. It gels with what I know of QE II; whatever I think of the rest of the Establishment, I've always admired her and her work ethic.

One now wishes to continue reading this rather good book.

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humouress
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I imagined the Queen as depicted in the Minions film, remembering the story of how she and Margaret slipped out of the palace to celebrate the end of WWII. But this is set 7 years ago when she was 89, the DofE was still alive (but doesn't (yet) make an appearance) and Obama was US president. Enjoying it so far. Though it seems this isn't HM's 1st case.

humouress Purdey and Patsy the golden retrievers 🐺 - a Joanna Lumley tribute?
2y
2 likes1 comment
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Magpiegem
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Well I was not expecting THAT book to come out tops for June. But it was so much fun. However, fun or not it was no match for The Sentence. I‘m already getting nervous about how I‘m going to make a final decision in December!

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Magpiegem
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Pickpick

29/22 This one took me by surprise a little bit. Not as kitch and cosy and with better character development. I enjoyed it and would probably read the next one too. I was also surprised how sad it made me to look back only a few years to when I could honestly of imagined Queenie solving mysteries. Whilst now, finally, her age seems to be catching up with her quickly. Read for #booked2022 #aboutarealorfictionalroyal

Cinfhen I‘ve heard it‘s really well done!! It is sad to think the Queen is no longer as sharp as she used to be. And so much family drama! I just bought 2y
Cinfhen Love this photo you chose 🤩 2y
Magpiegem @Cinfhen I have heard good things about The Palace Papers on the Currently Reading Podcast. This photo reminds me of my grandmother. They were the same age and looked very similar! She didn‘t take any nonsense either 😂 Can I ask Cindy how you tag books. I always see people have done it and I can‘t work out how!? 2y
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Cinfhen My grandma took no nonsense either but she was not as stylish 😜 to tag a book in the comments section on the bottom left are two tabs the first one (looks like a sideways flag) if you tap it ; it takes you to select a book! The ☠️ sign is to cover your comment in case it contains a spoiler 😉Hope that helps! 2y
Magpiegem @Cinfhen ah thank you!! It‘s been driving me mad trying to work it out! 2y
Cinfhen I TOTALLY get it!! Glad I could help 2y
26 likes6 comments
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Magpiegem
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I started listening to the tagged book on my walk to say hello to the strawberry super moon tonight 🌝 I am reading it for my #booked2022 #aboutarealorfictionalroyal prompt. In a way this book is both! It‘s not my normal thing but I‘m actually enjoying it more then expected so far.

Cinfhen Ahhhhh, GORGEOUS sunset🤩🤩🤩and fun book choice!! I bought this one on a #KindleDeal but still haven‘t read it. Glad to hear it‘s good!!! (edited) 2y
Magpiegem @Cinfhen that‘s not the sun, it‘s the moon!! Photo taken at 10.30pm. Isn‘t it gorgeous. It was so pink. My photo does it no justice 2y
Cinfhen Oh WOW!!! I just re-read the above text!! What a spectacular sight 2y
30 likes3 comments
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Dragon
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Day 2 book sale haul : tried to limit my purchases- especially excited to find the tagged book. The Louise Penny‘s are for a friend. It‘s raining ☔️ so had to use a garbage bag to protect my precious 🤣💚🐉📚

CoverToCoverGirl 🤩🤩 3y
Dragon Thanks 🙏 @CoverToCoverGirl 💚🐉 3y
Centique I spy a Flavia de Luce I think! 2y
Dragon Good eye 👁 @Centique 👍 2y
46 likes4 comments
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MrsReads1
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Pickpick

Combining my love of the English royals and of cozy mysteries, this book was a delight. Little old Queen Elizabeth gently nudging people in the direction of solving a crime might have been the perfect way to spend a day over a snowy weekend. I can't wait to puck up the next book in the series! 4/5

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TheBookDream
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Eh, around 3 stars. It‘s a clever idea but I didn‘t love the execution. Probably won‘t read anymore but won‘t totally rule it out.

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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

The Windsor Knot was my night time book, but I had less than an hour left, so I took it with me on my walk and finished it. Watching Queen Elizabeth II investigate a murder without letting her huge family and staff know what she was doing was tons of fun. I‘ll be reading more in this series. #audiowalk

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melissajayne
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Really couldn‘t help myself, so I headed to my local Coles outlet and bought these books. The books on the ends are ones I read about two years ago and really liked (got library copies). The book in the middle is one that I heard about on Literally Reading recently. #newbooks

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JoyBlue
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Pickpick

If you like cozy mysteries or you‘re a fan of Queen Elizabeth, try this series opener. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-windsor-knot

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Bookwormjillk
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#12booksof21 #12booksof2021 December

In a crazy month this book tickled my reading muscles in a way not much else has in a while.

Thank you @Andrew65 for hosting this. It has been a fun look back.

Andrew65 Looks great. See you same time next year. It has been a food way to review the Reading year last year. 3y
54 likes1 comment
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

The perfect antidote to a week that felt like a month. Queen Elizabeth solves crimes with grace and perfect etiquette.

#WinterGames #MistletoeManiacs #AnyWayYouReadathon #AVeryMerryReadathon #HolidayHorrorsReadathon #WrapItUpReadathon #DashingDecember book 1 of 5 #BookspinBingo

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 3y
TheSpineView Excellant 🤩📖📚 3y
Branwen I loved this! Thought it was super adorable! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
43 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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wen4blu
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Starting my day with a crime solving Queen.

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intothehallofbooks
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Panpan

The idea of Queen Elizabeth solving mysteries in secret initially made me very excited, but I quickly grew bored with the investigation and all of the international politics in the story. There are too many characters to keep up with and the case just wasn‘t compelling to me. I‘m disappointed because I wanted to love this one so badly.

Tamra I started the audio and bailed. It just didn‘t grab me, but I liked the idea. 3y
33 likes1 comment
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

This was so fun. I loved how the Queen outsourced her detecting to Rozie! It had some lovely wit running through the book and it was just so darn charming. I really hope this turns into a series.

Book 3/14 for #14books14weeks2021

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sb3626
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Pickpick

Wow I really enjoyed this mystery. I didn‘t expect it how it turned out at all! I‘m hoping this will become a series.

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sb3626
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Still really enjoying this mystery. I‘m about halfway through and it just been the perfect type of mystery I haven‘t figured it out yet and I‘m just enjoying going along with it

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sb3626
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Queen Elizabeth II solving a mystery? Yes please!

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SLibrarian5
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Pickpick

What a delightful little read! You do have to suspend disbelief a little and I wish more clues would have been dropped throughout, instead of all of it being explained at the end. But I loved the writing and the characters and will read the next in the series.

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mcctrish
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I hope there are more, I‘d love a QE mystery series

Amiable I love everything about this picture! 3y
mcctrish Oh thank you @Amiable 😘😘 3y
Tamra Sounds like a fun read! 3y
See All 11 Comments
mcctrish @Tamra it really was 3y
mcctrish @LeslieO that reminds me there was going to be a Starbucks # 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ 3y
LeslieO Yes and I hashtagged wrong , it was supposed to be #StarbucksMugTours 3y
LiteraryinPA I was told there is a sequel! 3y
mcctrish @LeslieO I need to go back through my posts 3y
mcctrish @LiteraryinLititz oh thank you 🙏🏻 3y
LeslieO And I love your mug! 3y
50 likes1 stack add11 comments
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mcctrish
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Having a tea and reading break. I‘m quite enjoying this mystery

MsMelissa It‘s such a cute read 😊 3y
mcctrish @MsMelissa it is!!! 3y
39 likes1 stack add2 comments
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LiteraryinPA
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Pickpick

It‘s not this book‘s fault that I‘ve been really distracted by my job search lately and read it in tiny fits and spurts. So I didn‘t love it, but it could very well just be me. If there‘s a sequel, I would read it. The characters had potential.

Librariana Hope there's something positive and promising waiting for you in the employment department! Wishing you luck 🍀 on your search! 3y
LiteraryinPA @Librariana You‘re so sweet! Thanks! Yeah, we‘ll see. I‘ve been searching since Thanksgiving. Lots of interviews but no offers. Fingers crossed! 3y
Birdsong28 There is a sequel it's called 3y
LiteraryinPA @Birdsong28 Oooh, thanks for the heads up! Stacking... 3y
88 likes4 comments
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Branwen
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I ordered this book for my library and now that it's arrived I am SO GLAD I did! It's a murder mystery involving Windsor Castle and an 89 year old Queen Elizabeth II sleuthing and trying to catch the killer! It's as adorable as it sounds! 😍💕📚

GingerAntics This sounds too adorable to pass up. 3y
Branwen @GingerAntics It's seriously so cute 3y
GingerAntics This sounds like it‘s the royal version of the Obama Biden Mysteries. I wonder if the author of those will do another now that Biden is president. lol I love that this one is listed as book 1. I will absolutely take this for a spin. 3y
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Branwen @GingerAntics I finished it last night and it was so damn cute! Very campy, but so much fun! 3y
GingerAntics @Branwen I find that stories like this are better when campy. Without that, they take themselves too seriously and it turns stupid. 3y
Branwen @GingerAntics So very true! This story is adorable but really only works if you don't take it too seriously! 3y
GingerAntics @Branwen I‘m not going to lie. For books like this, I kind of like reading the reviews from the people who took it seriously because they‘re just hilarious. 3y
Branwen @GingerAntics I very much love that you do this! 😂🤣👏👏👏 3y
54 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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BookBr
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Pickpick

This book was an absolute delight. From the inner voice and razor wits of Her Majesty, which I sincerely hope are spot on, to the sharp as several tacks and stylish while doing it APS Rozie, to the picture perfect Windsor Castle, it was all just...as refreshing as the perfect cup of tea.

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emmaturi
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Pickpick

This was a fun detective novel with the Queen playing a detective. One of the murders takes place in Windsor Castle so she gets to work to figure out with some help from her staff who did it. The second book is out in November.

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kissmehardy
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Pickpick

I knew I'd enjoy this book based on the concept alone, and I was right. And I had no clue exactly how the mystery would be resolved until we got there! #murdermystery

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bekakins
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Pickpick

Really ironic that this was our book club read the month that PP died. Felt much more poignant reading it and some lovely imagined scenes between the queen and the duke. Looking forward to the second of the series.

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Skeeterisme
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Pickpick

Delightful

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mcctrish
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Regardless of how you feel about the Royal Family, it‘s a sad day for them losing a husband/father/grandpa/great grandpa. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost someone during this pandemic, regardless of the reason. I hate that you weren‘t able to hold your usual funerals/celebrations of life due to restrictions.

MsMelissa I‘m a strong supporter of the Royal Family. I watched the funeral and thought it was a lovely tribute to Prince Philip. It was so heartbreaking to see the Queen sitting alone due to the restrictions, and knowing so many others face similar restrictions when mourning their loved ones. 😓 4y
mcctrish @MsMelissa I watched too and was happy they had such a lovely day. The Queen did look so all alone 💔 it was a heartbreaker to see her sitting there. 4y
Prairiegirl_reading It was a touching tribute and difficult to see the family separated like that. As I‘m sure it is so difficult for all families who has lost someone during the pandemic. The choir was unbelievably beautiful! 4y
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mcctrish @Prairiegirl_reading it was so sad to see them all so far apart ( it was nice seeing them come together somewhat when they were outside and walking away) the choir was lovely 4y
CoverToCoverGirl She has my deepest sympathy, they all do. Her distress was clearly palpable. Her natural radiance was visibly dimmed today. When my nephew passed in February, it was made doubly difficult because of COVID-19 restrictions. It crushed me that I couldn‘t comfort my sister-in-law with a hug or by holding her hand. 4y
mcctrish @CoverToCoverGirl 😢 it‘s those connections that ease the grief 4y
62 likes6 comments
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Sharpeipup
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Rainy day + comfy chair + mystery = end of my reading slump

JaclynW Yay for ending the slump! 4y
32 likes1 comment
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Sharpeipup
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My only goal is to read.
I haven‘t been able to focus much lately so I‘d love to log more than a handful of pages... maybe finish a book.
#anywayyourwadathon @Eggbeater @kimmypete1 @MidnightBookGirl

kimmypete1 Thanks for joining! Hope you get some reading in and your focus back. 4y
Eggbeater I have times like that. Good luck. I hope you get your reading mojo back. 4y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Birdsong28
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Are you trying to tell us something Amazon!? 😂 #litsyhumour

TrishB 😂😂 4y
rockpools That‘s fab! 4y
squirrelbrain How funny! 4y
30 likes3 comments
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kspenmoll
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#weeklyreport #audiomystery #overbookedclub #mystery#sundaybuddyread #20in4 #readathon

Finished APR this morning. Started AMOV and TWK today. I always need a mystery to escape to.
@Andrew65 read 2 hours Friday. So far today, 3 hours. 😁

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 4y
InkintheMargins I loved Between Two Kingdoms! It really is a beautifully written memoir. Do you follow her Isolation Journals project? It's (and she's) amazing! 4y
Cinfhen I‘m finding thrillers my go to read right now....mindless escapes 4y
Ncostell Nice job! I always have a mystery I‘m reading or on deck too. 4y
63 likes5 comments