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The Windsor Knot

A Novel

Her Majesty the Queen Investigates: Book #1

by SJ Bennett

Narrator Jane Copland

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Length 8 hours 4 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“This is the delightful first volume of a new series detailing how Queen Elizabeth II discreetly solves crimes while carrying out her duties as a reigning monarch. If you love royalty and Murder, She Wrote, don't miss this! Plus Jane Copland's audio narration makes this a great listen to distract from the everyday.”
— Chelsea • Parnassus Books

Bookseller recommendation

“SJ Bennett is a marvel with accents, especially endearing when it comes to Rosie, the Undersecretary drafted as the new sidekick sleuth. A wonderfully fun and modern cozy mystery with a no nonsense Monarch you begin to feel you know a little better. Listening is like being part of the entourage of the behind-the-scenes crack team assembled to rundown hunches, call in tips, and generally get the job done. All in secret, and all known only to one person. One does love a good mystery.”
— Charity • Schuler Books

Bookseller recommendation

“The Queen solves mysteries! (Yes, *that* Queen). A particularly scandalous murder takes place in Queen Elizabeth’s beloved “happy place” Windsor Castle and turns out she’s been solving mysteries for ages under the noses of her overprotective and sometimes condescending family and staff. This takes place between the death of Diana and before Harry and Meaghan so it’s a relatively calm period in the Queen’s life. Helped by a new assistant, she solves the case! Also featured is a moving portrayal of her relationship with Philip. Darker than I thought it would be for a mystery featuring the Queen, suitable for fans of Tana French, Louise Penny, and The Crown. Great on audio! ”
— Kelly • Fountain Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“I love the idea of Queen Elizabeth sleuthing behind the scenes! As charmingly and convincingly portrayed by SJ Bennett, the Queen is an astute observer whose decades of experience serve her well in this role. When a Russian pianist is found dead at Windsor Castle, the new head of MI5 muddles the case and makes the mistake of treating the Queen like his doddering granny. It’s up to the Queen to secretly and skillfully line up the pieces of the puzzle for MI5 to solve.”
— Margo Grimm Eule • East City Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“A delightful whodunnit with none other than Queen Elizabeth II as sleuth. You'll read this and believe the Queen really does solve mysteries. I mean, why not? She is amazing. The audio of this book made the book all the more enjoyable. The narrator, Jane Copland, did a remarkable job with all of the voices and and sounds very much like the Queen. Well done!”
— Myrna • Content

Bookseller recommendation

“Listening to The Windsor Knot resulted in more than one "driveway moment"-- no matter that I was home, I wanted to hear more! Anyone who misses The Crown on PBS will be more than content with narrator Jane Copland's perfect Queen Elizabeth. An inconvenient death of a dashing Russian pianist following a "dine and sleep" at Windsor Castle appears to be a murder. Local police and official royal investigators explore leads, but they're no match for the intuition of the very clever Queen, and her private secretary Rozie. Corgis, teas, royal equines, Prince Philip cameos and more enhance the mystery. Good news -- it's the first of a series!”
— Cheryl • Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza

Summary
About the author

“Sheer entertainment… Bennett infuses wit and an arch sensibility into her prose… This is not mere froth, it is pure confection.” – New York Times Book Review

“[A] pitch-perfect murder mystery… If The Crown were crossed with Miss Marple…, the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit.” – Ruth Ware, author of One by One

The bestselling first book in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties.

It is the early spring of 2016 and Queen Elizabeth is at Windsor Castle in advance of her 90th birthday celebrations. But the preparations are interrupted by the shocking and untimely death of a guest in one of the Castle bedrooms. The scene leads some to think the young Russian pianist strangled himself, yet a badly tied knot leads MI5 to suspect foul play. When they begin to question the Household’s most loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they’re looking in the wrong place.

For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life ever since her teenage years as “Lilibet.” Away from the public eye and unbeknownst to her closest friends and advisers, she has the most brilliant skill for solving crimes. With help from her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, a British Nigerian officer recently appointed to the Royal Horse Artillery, the Queen discreetly begins making inquiries. As she carries out her royal duties with her usual aplomb, no one in the Royal Household, the government, or the public knows that the resolute Elizabeth won’t hesitate to use her keen eye, quick mind, and steady nerve to bring a murderer to justice.

SJ Bennett captures Queen Elizabeth’s voice with skill, nuance, wit, and genuine charm in this imaginative and engaging mystery that portrays Her Majesty as she’s rarely seen: kind yet worldly, decisive, shrewd, and, most important, a superb judge of character.

Fiction Mystery & Thriller Historical Fiction

SJ Bennett wrote several award-winning books for teenagers before turning to adult mysteries. Born in Yorkshire, England, she lives in London and has been a royal watcher for years. The Queen, to the best of her knowledge, does not secretly solve crimes.