The Windsor Knot: The Queen investigates a murder in this delightfully clever mystery for fans of The Thursday Murder Club

I bought this for my sister's birthday as I'd already read and enjoyed it so much it when it was first published. I knew she would also enjoy this first book in the Her Majesty The Queen Investigates series. Sadly, and heartbreakingly our beloved Queen Elizabeth II died as the third book was published (with a dedication to Her Majesty). I highly recommend this first book as its an absorbing and intriguing story with the Queen at Windsor Castle. She is soon aware of the murder of a young Russian pianist and MI5 becomes involved in the investigation. Her Majesty decides discreet action is necessary behind the scenes and her new APS (Assistant Personal Secretary) Rozie Oshodi is the ideal person to help untangle the mystery and find the solution.

I just loved this book, especially as I read it after the death of the Queen. I feel rather conflicted about the concept of royalty in general, but this is such a affectionate, if fictional, portrayal of a woman who was clearly extraordinary in reality.The mystery itself is intriguing and kept me guessing right until the end, because I am not as clever as the Queen. I must admit that the revelation of the truth was a slight anti-climax but that hardly matters. What matters in this book is the wonderful drawing of characters, particularly the Queen & Prince Philip, but also some of the pompous security type people. In the end, it's the Queen and ordinary people who come across as the 'good ones' here and that makes me happy.I am muchly looking forward to meeting our sparkling, twinkling Queen in the next one.

Let’s get things straight , there are so many American authors , we forget about our Brillant English ones … and I have found a gem , I have ALL SJ Bennett’s , hardbacks,kindle and audiobook and Samantha bond narration is fantastic . These books are true delight and to the author … what a lovely idea and so lovely to read a light day . I have over 1500 hardbacks as I’m a collector but read all.. but these three I’ve read twice already and pre ordered the next . To the author I do hope one day if your up north I get mine signed as you are a gem. Well plotted and funny and all the mannerisms of our dear late queen . You are not wasting your time , purchase the hardbacks as there a lovely set smaller but lovely

The Windsor Knot is the first novel in S.J. Bennett’s series to feature Queen Elizabeth II in an investigative capacity, albeit on the down-low. It’s certainly an original set-up and for the most part I found it a witty and unexpectedly charming novel with the voice of the Queen captured impressively well and the author obviously having done a decent bit of research into life within the royal household. However the Queen and her humorous interactions with Prince Philip quickly prove to be the highlight of a novel in which I found the mystery itself hard to follow.Spring 2016 and Charles has hijacked the latest one of the Queen’s regular ‘Dine and Sleep’ events at Windsor Castle and invited a Russian contingent in order to curry favour for one of his ‘pet projects’. The next morning the body of Maxsim Brodsky, the young Russian pianist brought along by a guest to provide the entertainment, is discovered dead in a rather comprising position. The Queen’s long-serving Private Secretary, Sir Simon Holcroft, is determined to protect her from the unsavoury details but when pressed he mentions that MI5 are thinking that Putin could be behind it, with a sleeper spy having been planted in the ranks of the household staff. The Queen decides to look into matters herself and unbeknownst to Sir Simon it’s not the first mystery she’s been involved with and discretely steered in the right direction. The Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary of six months, Rozie Oshodi, is about to discover another requirement of her role as she soon finds herself doing the legwork. Brought up in a London council house. a former army Captain and with a spell in the City behind her, thirty-year-old Rozie is unfazed by anything.The Queen sends Rozie off to interview people and find out things but doesn’t really elaborate on her reasons why, which I found weren’t always obvious and this made the mystery hard work to follow. Furthermore there are a numbers of characters referenced who we never meet or are simply name-checked making it quite hard to remember who they are, let alone how they might be involved in what becomes a rather convoluted affair. Ultimately I found it a bit of a slog to push through to the finish and it was the endearing portrayal of the Queen (“the Boss” to her staff) that kept me reading. Hopefully in the follow-up novel the mystery element will be as compelling as the exchanges between the Queen and Prince Philip are and the Queen might actually let Rozie (and readers) in on her line of thinking! Overall I didn’t find the book gripping and with the lack of urgency and negligible suspense it has the feel of a lightweight novelty read.

I loved this book! Such an easy read, I love how it was written and I could imagine it all!I did not want to put this book down, I read at every chance I got.The Windsor Knot is the first in the series of 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates'. It's a murder mystery and I love how the Queen comes across in it. It did make me wonder a bit more of our late Queen and how everything runs in the Royal households and ifshe was into solving crime/mysteries.I highly recommend this book for all who love a murder mystery and those that love something a bit different. I already can't wait to read the next book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' series. 📚

This is a nice book if you like gentle crime. Enjoyable persons and lovely to learn a little more about Windsor Castle.

A barmy idea but it works!! Mostly because the author has got the Queen so right!!! She makes you realise how much you miss her!!!

Bought for a friend, who thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I bought this book because i adored the late Queen. But i enjoyed it from page one . Good writing, a well crafted plot an enjoyable read .

This book was not the fluffy, light, cozy story that I was expecting. Rather, it is a well crafted book about a murder mystery in which the Queen happens to investigate and cleverly influence the solution. There is no gossip about the Royal Family and details about the Queen are respectful and add to the strong sense of setting and place. Good writing, worth reading.

Ich liebe die Kombination von Lösung eines Kriminalfalles mit Insiderwissen über das Leben im Palast. Was passiert hinter den Türen bei der königlichen Familie? Als Britin, die in Hamburg lebt, geniesse ich die kluge Handlung, die Aspekte der englischen way of life gemischt mit Anekdoten aus dem Palast. Man kann sich die Situationen und Unterhaltungen immer vorstellen, dass sie tatsächlich so ablaufen könnten. Ich liebe den Humor, musste oft lachen. Habe alle 3 erschienen Bücher sofort gelesen und freue mich auf das 4., das sehr bald erscheint.

I loved this book so much! It was surprising and brilliant. It has much humour and insight. I highly recommend it!

Cover is very thin. Not a very good touch and feel. Feels cheap.