Death at Buckingham Palace: Her Majesty Investigates [Mass Market Paperback]

C.C. Benison (Author)

Book Description

Series: Her Majesty Investigates | Publication Date: March 1, 1996

Landing a housemaid's position at Buckingham Palace, Jane Bee is called upon to assist the queen when a dear friend, who has recently announced his engagement, falls dead from an apparent suicide.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Jane Bee ends up at her aunt's in London, having exhausted her money while traveling through Europe, she's not sure what she'll do next. She hadn't thought it would be as housemaid in the Royal Palace. Polishing the china and sweeping the floors-however royal-isn't much fun, but Jane likes the people and even talks to the Queen, who enlists her help when a footman apparently commits suicide in the Royal Apartments. Of course, it's not quite so simple. Devoted fans of Buckingham Palace may find this amusing, but as a mystery, it's a disappointment. Jane is a rather obvious sleuth, and the Royal revelations she uncovers aren't as scandalous as the real thing. And Jane, as the first-person narrator, becomes annoying, with cutesy comments like "Mother, of course, that is to say, the Queen, is still doing the queen thing: signing legislation, opening Parliament, entertaining Heads of State."
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553574760
• ISBN-13: 978-0553574760
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Romp!, March 12, 2000

By 

Nancy A. Fox (West Covina, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death at Buckingham Palace: Her Majesty Investigates (Mass Market Paperback)

Canadian Jane Bee is a housemaid in Buckingham Palace, and her friend and fellow Canadian, Robin Tukes dies under mysterious circumstances. Everyone thinks that Robin has committed suicide, except for Jane and Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen decides to have lowly housemaid, Jane keep her ears and eyes open to discover the truth about Robins's death. This of course leads to some interesting and possibly dangerous situations for our plucky heroine.

This is a delightful book. Author Benison has created an enjoyable cast of characters and an engaging mystery. Definitely in the tradition of Agatha Christie, this book will keep you entertained and turning the pages to find out what happens next.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder Most Royal, September 25, 2002

By 

Lawrence E. Wilson (Mayfield, East Sussex, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death at Buckingham Palace: Her Majesty Investigates (Mass Market Paperback)

This novel, along with its sequels, are among the very few mystery novels that I enjoy reading over and over. Perhaps this is because of the fresh, friendly voice of the narrator, Jane Bee, a smart and lively young woman from Prince Edward Island, who, while visiting Great Britain, happens into a housemaid position at Buckingham Palace, and very quickly stumbles (literally) upon a dead body, right at Her Majesty's sensible-shoe-clad feet...And perhaps it's because of the writing skills of C.C. Benison, who gives the reader the feeling of being a Palace insider, with all the good gossip, the pet names for the Royals, the unmentionable scourge of the corgis, even the secret of what the Queen actually keeps in her purse...Really excellent good fun, and I can only say that I wish that there were more of them to read and re-read and recommend.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder Most Royal.... - You can't put it down, April 29, 2000

By 

"racegirl" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death at Buckingham Palace: Her Majesty Investigates (Mass Market Paperback)

Jane Bee came to Europe for adventure, only to end up with the job is a lifetime--housemaid at Buckingham Palace. Now her greatest challenge is removing gum from State Room carpets--until she comes across a nasty accident right outside the Royal Apartments. The Queen herself has--literally--stumbled across the dead body of Jane's good friend, footman and aspiring actor Robin Tukes, in what appears to be a suicide. But why would handsome, impetuous Robin, having just toasted his engagement to a gorgeous housemaid, not to mention his impending fatherhood, want to die? Buck House buzzes, but only Jane--and the Royal Personage known belowstairs as "Mother"--suspects foul play. At Her Majesty's behest, Jane launches a discreet inquiry that takes her from Servants' Hall to the highest echelons of the Palace. Yet the more Jane uncovers, the more clear it becomes that this latest royal scandal is a real killer.