The Proof of the Pudding (A Royal Spyness Mystery)

Name: The Proof of the Pudding (A Royal Spyness Mystery)
Price: 12.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (3208 reviews)
Author: Rhys Bowen
ISBN: 9780593437902

Rhys Bowen

4.5 out of 5

3,208 global ratings

Lady Georgiana Rannoch is looking forward to her first ever turn as hostess for her very own house party when the festivities lead to murder….

Georgie, back home at her estate in Eynsleigh, impatiently awaits the birth of her baby. But she has plenty to occupy her: her new chef, Pierre, has arrived from Paris, and Sir Hubert, who owns Eynsleigh, is back from his latest expedition. It's time for Georgie to throw her first house party to celebrate his return and show off her new chef. The dinner party is a smashing success. Sir Mordred Mortimer—famous author of creepy Gothic horror novels—is one of the guests. He recently purchased a nearby Elizabethan manor because it has a famous poison garden. After the dinner, Sir Mortimer approaches Georgie and asks to borrow her new chef for his upcoming party, and Georgie and Darcy, her dashing husband, are invited!

The tour of the poison garden is fascinating, as is Sir Mordred’s laboratory. Shockingly, just after the banquet several of the guests become sick. And one dies, apparently poisoned by berries from the garden. But how could this be when they all ate the same meal and the same delectable dessert? Georgie has to find the culprit to save her new chef and her own reputation—all before her bundle of joy arrives!

320 pages,

Kindle

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Hardcover

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First published September 30, 2024

ISBN 9780593437902

About the authors

Rhys Bowen

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of two historical mystery series as well as several internationally bestselling historical novels, two of which were nominated for Edgar Award

Rhys was born in Bath, England and educated at London University but now divides her time between California and Arizona. Her books have been nominated for every major mystery award and she has won twenty of them to date, including five Agathas.

She currently writes two historical mystery series, each very different in tone. The Molly Murphy mysteries feature an Irish immigrant woman in turn-of-the-century New York City. These books are multi-layered, complex stories with a strong sense of time and place and have won many awards including Agatha and Anthony. There are 19 books so far in this series plus three Kindle stories, Rhys’s daughter, Clare Broyles, now cowrites the series with her

Then there is Lady Georgie, She's 35th in line to the throne of England, but she's flat broke and struggling to survive in the Great Depression. These books are lighter and funnier than Molly's adventures. They poke gentle fun at the British class system--about which Rhys knows a lot, having married into an upper class family rather like Georgie's.

As a child Rhys spent time with relatives in Wales. Those childhood experiences colored her first mystery series, about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia.

Her books have been translated into over 30 languages

Jan R. Shakofsky

Another int mystery

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2024

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I found it intriguing how Agatha Christie was woven into the plot. Perhaps this is the best in the series.

Kate Spak

Another Good One!

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024

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I finished the 17th novel, and at this point I’m disappointed that I can’t continue on until the next book is published. I hope it’s not too long.

I have never read a complete series, but I read all 17 in the past month. Fun characters, fun plots, British mysteries to compete with Agatha Christie. (Admire her, but have not engaged with her mysteries.) Goodbye Georgiana, until we meet again.

Jabberwock

Great story. Lots of twists and turns.

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024

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This is a delightful story which will keep you guessing til the end. (If you’ve read the 16 before this and you’ve gotten good at deducing “whodunnit” before the end, you will enjoy it just as much, because getting there is half the fun). I heartily recommend the entire series.

Emerald

Back to the old Georgie!

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2024

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Fun plot that held my interest. Wonderful to see Georgie back in form, albeit still pregnant, and joining forces with the Agatha Christie character to solve the crime. I was happy to see the return of beloved characters like Queenie, Grandfather, Zou Zou, Fig, and Binky. What a relief not to have Wallis Simpson involved in this one. Not to spoil anything, but the ending was as it should be.

Ms. Bowen put forth a well-written, fast-paced story with familiar characters and some unusual new ones. Well-done!

Veronica

An entertaining read!

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023

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Lady Georgie and her honorable husband, Darcy are preparing for big changes at the Eynsleigh estate. Their firstborn is due within weeks, and they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their Parisian chef to up the standard of culinary offerings served at the house. A dinner party is planned, Georgie's first. Will the chef live up to his talents? Or will this inaugural dinner be not-so-bon?

The chef arrives, his proper attire acquired, and faithful servant and sometime cook, Queenie's ruffled feathers are smoothed. When one of the guests asks to borrow Georgie's chef for an upcoming event, she agrees, although somewhat reluctantly. She doesn't want her newly found chef whisked away to the gothic author's kitchen. He's known for his fabulous garden, which includes poisonous plants of all varieties. The evening of his event is a success, until a few of the guests take deathly ill. When one dies of poisoning, suspicion falls on Georgie's new chef. Will she and Darcy solve who might have poisoned the pudding?

Author Bowen once again delights fan of her A Royal Spyness Mystery series with this clever whodunnit. The characters are a delight and the run-up to Georgie's delivery has everyone on pins and needles. An entertaining story, sure to delight cozy mystery fans!

4 people found this helpful

Sue Fry

Another top notch story

Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2024

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Kept one guessing all through the chapters. Interesting way to end it. And finally we get an heir to be, James Albert Darcy !

Michelle

A poisonous puzzler

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2024

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What a very perplexing puzzle that Georgie is presented with. Such a cleverly woven mystery and I loved the aha moment when the pieces clicked and she figured out who was behind the whole thing. Lovely to meet her little baby and such a sweet name! I wonder how he will change the way she goes about investigating. And such a treat a visit with Agatha Christie!!! Absolutely delightful read!

j dietz

Two M______ and a ____

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2024

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Enjoyed this book. Always enjoy the Lady Georgiana stories. And this one has some special real life celebrities. One of them even worked out who the murderer was.

Reader

Unique mystery story - fun

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024

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This was the first Rhys Bowen novel I have read, and certainly not the last. The author writes convincingly about her characters where one pretty much absolutely knows them and is there with them. Unique story and detective work. Very good book.

DDziekan

Always a pleasure

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024

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The Royal Spyness mysteries are always fun to read. Georgiana is my favorite character. Never a dull moment in her life. You will like this novel. I recommend all the Royal Spyness Mysteries.