Review: Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen

Naughty In Nice (A Royal Spyness Mystery) by Rhys Bowen
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
Source: Review copy provided by publisher

The national bestselling author of Royal Blood whisks her heroine away to the French Riviera for fun-and danger.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch has once again been called into service by Her Majesty the Queen. This time she's sent to Nice on a secret assignment that's nothing to sneeze at-recover the Queen's stolen snuff box.

As much of an honor as it is to be trusted by Her Majesty, an even greater honor awaits Georgie in Nice-as Coco Chanel herself asks Georgie to model her latest fashion. But when a necklace belonging to the Queen is stolen on the catwalk, Georgie has to find two priceless items-and solve a murder. How's a girl to find any time to go to the casino?

(Goodreads)

There are few things I love more than a good mystery. I don't read as many as I used to, which is a shame. I adored Naughty in Nice, which was an utter delight. This book is part of a series, but I hadn't read the previous books, and while I'm sure it helps to read them in order, you don't have to in order to enjoy the story.

Georgie's in for a boring winter when her brother and his wife appear in London. Her sister-in-law, Fig, should have been named Prig, because that's what she is. When they take off to Nice and don't invite Georgie, the Queen ends up paying for her passage, and the real story starts.

There is so much to love about this book. I loved the time period, the historical characters such as Coco Chanel and Wallis Simpson, and Georgie's dim-witted lady's maid, Queenie, who reminded me of Sarah from Upstairs, Downstairs.

The mystery was a delight and kept me guessing until the very end, which I loved. I hate mysteries that I can see coming a mile away, and this was definitely not one of them!

If you're a fan of mysteries, you should pick up Naughty in Nice straight away!