Royal Escape (Five Star First Edition Mystery) [Hardcover]

Susan Froetschel (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star First Edition Mystery | Publication Date: December 2008

Beauty, witty, sharp on fashion and charity, Elena was supposed to live the fairy-tale life. Instead, her marriage is in ruins and her in-laws resent her glowing popularity. All Elena really wants is to spend time with her two sons and be a good mother.

The death of her divorce attorney complicates her plans. The Queen, her mother-in-law, withholds settlement on a trust fund and expects Elena to give her marriage one more chance. That means keeping a low profile and following all orders from the royal family and their staff.

A terrorist attack puts Elena back into the spotlight. The family’s security detail whisks her two sons into hiding, insisting that protection requires separation from their mother. But she wonders how anyone can be safe, if the security experts can’t protect a princess?

For Princess Elena and others, being a member of the royal family has become a royal trap—imposing lifelong limits on careers, daily activities, and what one can say or do in any public setting. Elena longs to escape, but only if she can convince her two sons to join her.

Security is everywhere, yet no one is protected.

“One hopes the Windsors lead a less miserable existence than their fictional counterparts.” – Kirkus

"Readers looking for a less tragic fate for the late Diana, princess of Wales, will find much to like in this beguiling what-if." – Publishers Weekly

"The printed words on the pages of this book have all the lure of a siren’s song, and I for one fell in love with them. Reading Royal Escape was like spending time with a dear old friend; I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to rough up quite a few fictitious jerks. If I have not made it clear; this story is wonderful." – Crystal R. Guess, Genreview

"Froetschel is a fabulous writer and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a parent and also anyone who loves to read about royalty." – Momsword.org

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Elena, princess of Wales, the Diana-like heroine of this enjoyable mystery thriller from Froetschel (Interruptions), yearns for respect, to be free of her claustrophobic marriage and to lead a fulfilling life. Adding to her woes is an antiroyal faction intent on destroying the British monarchy, whose members include the widowed queen, Catherine II; Elena's estranged husband, Edward, prince of Wales; and their sons, 13-year-old Richard and 10-year-old Lawrence. When several of Elena's protectors are murdered, starting with her divorce solicitor, Elena fears she may be next and begins to plot an escape aided by a daring American freelance journalist, Michael McLarrity. Froetschel offers a nuanced view of Elena's relations with the royal family that closely follows the obvious historical model. Readers looking for a less tragic fate for the late Diana, princess of Wales, will find much to like in this beguiling what-if. (Dec.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 377 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (December 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594147175
• ISBN-13: 978-1594147173
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,317,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Froetschel is the author of four mystery books.

Susan Froetschel began her career at Self, House Beautiful and Esquire magazines in New York City before moving to Alaska, where she reported for a daily newspaper. Her articles on an impromptu charity, a pulp-mill strike and fetal alcohol syndrome were recognized with national and state press awards.

She has written for numerous publications including YaleGlobal Online, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, Hartford Business Journal, Boston Business Journal, Hartford Courant, Alaska Magazine, Library Journal, Early American Life and others.

She taught writing for more than ten years at Yale University and Southern Connecticut State University. Now based in Washington, DC, she writes full-time and applies her policy-analysis skills to both non-fiction and fiction.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From S. Krishna's Books, December 30, 2008

By 

skrishna (http://www.skrishnasbooks.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Royal Escape (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

When I first heard about Royal Escape, the description intrigued me. It basically said that readers looking for a less tragic fate for Diana, Princess of Wales, would probably enjoy this book. I'm not one for royal mania, but I just watched a PBS special on The Windsors, so I was in a royal family mindset.

Let me make this clear right from the start: if you are a fan of the Windsors, this book is probably not for you. The Wyndhams, as they are referred to in Royal Escape, aren't portrayed in the best light. If I were to have to guess at Froetschel's political leanings, I would say she is for the monarchy being abolished in Britain. Elena (Diana) is, of course, the most sympathetic of the characters in the book, a victim of both the royal family and their staff. Her concern for her sons was touching, but I didn't do much in terms of character analysis because it was obvious who each character was supposed to represent in the royal family.

The most interesting part of the book was how the royal family is handled by their staff. While I don't know if it is true or not, I thought it was very intriguing. The mystery of what really is going on behind the scenes is captivating and propels the story forward.

Basically, this book is pure escapism: if you are looking for a fun, mindless read, this is a great book to choose. There isn't too much substance, but it is fun and keeps the reader hooked. There are some unresolved issues at the end of the book and some large plot holes, but if you aren't in the mood to care about that sort of thing (as I wasn't when I read the novel), then Royal Escape is for you. As long as you don't take yourself or it too seriously, you will enjoy this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review: ROYAL ESCAPE by Susan Froetschel, August 31, 2009

By 

Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D. (Weatogue, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Royal Escape (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

One afternoon as a harried day of work was approaching an end, I surreptitiously checked my personal email in the hopes of a word from a friend or joke from a relative. The first message that caught my eye announced an Author Talk that evening at one of the local libraries. The author was Susan Froetschel who would be discussing her new book The Royal Escape. Though exhausted I found my interest peaked by the fact this evidently wasn't just an author trying to sell her latest book but was more of a mystery writing workshop to help aspiring mystery writers such as myself with those unavoidable tricky spots and problem areas. The author briefly discussed her book, gave a short reading, then launched into the workshop.

Sometimes at such workshops you hear a preponderance of generalities that while well meaning, don't really help much with any of the specific problems a writer frequently faces. Not this time. The author provided detailed suggestions for how to hook the reader in the first few pages, character development, point of view (my personal weak spot), motivation, plot and endings that work. She gave out worksheets and exercises some of which we completed on the spot and went over with her feedback and comments, and a number of others she gave us to take home. Though not one for exercises or lots of pre-development, I completed each one and later found myself incorporating much of what I'd worked out during those activities into my manuscript as well as changing parts that I didn't realize weren't working prior to the workshop. All I know is that my arrogant psychologist who's life is being ruined, though he has no idea by whom, began to develop characteristics which made him seem a little more worthy of compassion and my lunatic who's carrying out all the crimes against said Psychologist develop characteristic that made him seem a little less worthy of understanding due to his horrifically abusive childhood and far more sinister. After completing several worksheets, suddenly, my characters were becoming three-dimensional!

Yet that wasn't all I got out of the evening. When at an Author Talk while some feel obligated to buy a book, I do so only when it seems like something I'd truly enjoy reading. To be honest, I wasn't entirely certain at first of this book, generally not liking narratives that follow real life, famous story lines too closely and let's face it, you don't get more famous than the British Royal Family and Princess Diana. Still, from the description it seemed as if it could be a unique spin on even such well known events so I bought a copy mostly out of curiosity as to how the author

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Royal Court of Intrigue, July 2, 2009

By 

J. Malley (Bellevue,WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Royal Escape (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

Striking personalities enrich this tale of the royals in their misguided approach to life and living. We are drawn to admire and despise the deep characters portrayed as the plot unfolds.