Peril in Paris (A Royal Spyness Mystery)

As everyone has said,”This is a wonderful book and a wonderful series.”

Georgie is related to the new king, Edward VIII. In fact, he is fond of her even though she is a very distant cousin.

Georgie’s husband, Darcy, does work for the British government. It is secret work, and that is about all Georgie knows about what he does.

When Georgie and Darcy go to Paris, it is in order for Darcy to do something secretly. But, that is alright, because Georgie can see her friend, Belinda, and be a tourist in Paris for her first time. She is pregnant with their first child and it may be some time before she is free to be a tourist again.

Since Belinda works for Coco Chanel, Georgie will be able to see Ms Chanel again. And when Chanel wants to design a dress for Georgie and have her model it in the upcoming show, of course that is what will happen. No one says “no” to Chanel.

There is mystery here. A woman is murdered, possibly in error. The murder happens in a room full of important women. There are celebrities. Even Mrs Simpson is present for the Chanel fashion show. She is telling everyone she will be the future queen of England.

There are people who have survived “The Great War” and still deal with the terrible memories. The period between the Wars was a time of turmoil and uncertainty. And, this Mr Hitler, in Germany, seems to be stirring up trouble.

Although this is part of a long running series, it works as a stand alone read. Events and people are completely explained and introduced.

Georgie is a smart and funny young woman. Her life has not been what one would expect. Her parents divorced when she was very young. Her mother has been distant physically as well as emotionally. But, she has not only survived, but thrived.

The characters are well developed. Everyone has an interesting history. The plot is fast moving. No slow and dull spots here. In short, Ms Bowen is a talented writer who does not disappoint.

I enjoyed reading another “A Royal Spyness” mystery by Rhys Bowen. This time Georgie is an expectant mother and tries to stay away from any mishaps. As usual, however, she steps right into it. The story moves well and the mystery keeps you intrigued. I hadn’t figured out the culprit before it was revealed, which is a bonus. Read the book, you will not be disappointed.

Having read the 15 books in this series that preceded this, you can tell I’m a fan. The books have never failed to entertain. This one added a new locale and various new characters mixed with a pleasantly complex plot which will keep you guessing right down to the end. What fun! I heartily recommend this book and all that came before it. They are real mood lifters.

I love this series, have read every one and may continue to do so. The characters in this book are eccentric and developed, the location fun, and the backdrop puts you in the historical setting! I even loved that Wallis Simpson come to bat for Georgie several times and Belinda is really maturing!

I don’t care what characters show up or the location-that’s Bowen’s choice. What is getting old is that as soon as they got married, no more sizzle or time together. Very frustrating as this is a big piece of this series. Also Georgie’s lack of good clothing considering all her rich friends and Mummy who make offers. It’s not cute anymore. Please show that married couples can continue a series. Others have successfully done it and Darcey is so developed it’s a shame to not see this side/more of him.

Georgie and Darcy make an unplanned trip to Paris before the arrival of their baby. It is not a romantic getaway— Darcy is on assignment and stays alone in a lackluster hotel; Georgie stays with her friend Belinda, an apprentice to Chanel. Among those featured in the book are Wallis Simpson, Hemingway, the wife of Herman Goering, and Gertrude Stein. Yes, Georgie does get out a bit in spite of Belinda’s busy schedule working on a fashion show. In addition to sightseeing, she helps Belinda at work and is chosen to model a special maternity outfit in the show. Unfortunately, she also stumbles upon a body at the show. When she becomes a suspect in the murder, she resorts to her sleuthing to prove her innocence.

I love this series and have only disliked one book before. I liked this one but felt it needed a bit more oomph. The fashion show was pivotal to the plot, but I couldn't believe it needed that much time spent on it. This would have been five stars for me had the story dealt a bit more with the "spyness" aspect and the German contingent of women rather than Chanel's fashion show involvement. "Mummy" wasn't really much more than a prop when there was so much potential due to her connection with the German women in Paris for the show. In short, this book was good enough, but it lacked substance and not much adventure for Georgie.

Lady Georgianna, aka Georgie, 3-months pregnant, goes to Paris with Darcy, who has accepted another mysterious assignment. Who does she find there but Zou Zou, Belinda, her old acquaintance Coco Chanel, her mother Claire, and her mother’s nemesis, Wallis Simpson. Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here! Seventy-five pages for the runway show and Georgie fretting about Darcy’s safety are way too much and drag down the story. It’s not until the end of the runway show that a woman is murdered, Georgie becomes the number one suspect, and the mystery begins. It’s a light read and enjoyable, but without the fun we’ve come to expect from the bitch-slapping between Claire and Wallis and the usual endangerment of Georgie.