Book 4 in Her Majesty The Queen Investigates series:
1957 - The young Queen has been on the throne for five years, as the United Kingdom adjusts to being a country without an empire, without a set place in post-war Europe, and without a reliable friendship with America.
As Elizabeth travels the world to try and build bridges, she is advised by the 'men in moustaches', as Philip calls them - her father's old courtiers, who may or may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her: that much she is sure of.
And then two bodies turn up, horribly murdered, in Chelsea, and the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her.
She knows she can’t face these challenges alone. She needs support from someone clever, discreet and loyal, someone she can trust. Then she meets ex-Bletchley Park code breaker, Joan McGraw …
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A Death in Diamonds isn’t available in the USA and Canada, but can be purchased from Waterstones and Blackwells, and shipped internationally.
Praise for A Death in Diamonds
“A masterclass from start to finish. If cosy crime is your thing then A Death in Diamonds is like a warm bath of the genre. Pure class in every sense ”
“A sparkling history-mystery, investigated by a delightful Marple of the monarchy. Another gem from S. J. Bennett”
“Once again S.J. Bennett returns to the gloriously original scenario of Queen Elizabeth II as an amateur sleuth, and once again it is a roaring success! A Death In Diamonds is a wonderful combination of meticulous research, beguiling characters (not least HMQ herself), excellent dialogue and a nifty mystery plot.”
“Like a flawless gem, A Death In Diamonds has a perfect score on the ‘3 Cs’: charm, character and comedy. I love it!
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“An absolute masterclass in detective fiction. Fiendishly clever and very witty, I adore this series. Can’t wait for the next one.”
“There is something almost magical reading about Her Majesty as a younger woman instead of the older lady of state she was. I truly hope this series continues in this vein. This is a must read for anyone who likes a good mystery with a true historical figure. 5 stars”
“A Death In Diamonds is a history lesson, wrapped up in a mystery, encased in a wonderful series.”
“An instant five star book. This series is incredible. So well written and engaging.”
“As always, the mystery kept me guessing. I had no idea who was responsible for the crime in this book and I loved the reveal.
I absolutely love this series. 5 stars”
“This is such a magical series that just keeps getting better and better. The small historical touches and setting are wonderful. 5 stars”
“A lot of this book made me reach for google to find out how close to truth the author was getting - she gives notes at the end of the book, but I couldn’t wait for that! What amazing things get revealed! I could rabbit on for a long time about this book, but I will leave it to the reader to find out just how brilliant it is.
Can I give ten stars??”
Praise for Her Majesty The Queen Investigates Series
“A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth”
“A pitch-perfect murder mystery”
“Written with wit and brio”
“Absolute perfection!”
“Miss Marple with a crown”
“Delightfully charming”
“Warm & witty”
Going back to 1957
After the Queen died in September 2022, lots of people asked me whether Murder Most Royal would be the last book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, but that was never the plan. I always wanted to go back in time. After all, there were seventy years of her reign to explore, and a quarter of century before that.
I did have a plan for a book set in Balmoral in 2017, featuring the redoubtable Rozie, but that will come later. Meanwhile, I’ve turned back to the first of Rozie’s predecessors as a crime-solving Assistant Private Secretary. Joan McGraw is based a little bit on my grandmothers, and a lot on the extraordinary women who worked at Bletchley Park in the war.
It’s Joan’s turn, now, to discover the Queen’s hidden talent for unpicking the motive behind a murder, and to help Her Majesty subtly direct the authorities towards the true solution. And she’s doing it as the Queen travels from France to Denmark, to Canada and the USA, all the while wondering who is trying to sabotage her and her family.
The research for this book has been a joy, from the State Visit to France in May 1957, to the triumphant visit to Washington and New York in October. The Queen always spoke fondly of those visits. We get to be a ‘fly on the chandelier’, as one of my readers put it, and find out why.
Meanwhile, there has been a gruesome double murder in Cresswell Place in Chelsea. Avid crime fiction readers will know that Agatha Christie had a mews house here (the setting for Murder in the Mews), and her house is opposite the fictional one where the dead couple are found. There are lots of Christie Easter eggs in this story, and you can imagine how much I enjoyed putting them there.
I couldn’t resist including some other real characters from the Queen’s life in the late 1950s. Look out for Norman Hartnell, Marilyn Monroe, Duke Ellington and ‘Daphne’. Which Daphne, you ask? Ah, that would be telling. And this time, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret make an appearance. Both were huge fun to write about too.
You can order A Death in Diamonds here. And if you’re in the US or Canada you can get it with free shipping here. I hope you enjoy it. And if you do, please let other readers know!
