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  • On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service

  • A Royal Spyness Mystery, Book 11
  • Written by: Rhys Bowen
  • Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
  • Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (59 ratings)

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On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service

Written by: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
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Publisher's Summary

In the new Royal Spyness Mystery from the New York Times best-selling author of Crowned and Dangerous, Lady Georgiana Rannoch juggles secret missions from the queen, Darcy, and her mother. But it's all in a day's work when you're 35th in line to the British Crown.

When Darcy runs off on another secret assignment, I am left to figure out how to travel to Italy sans maid and chaperone to help my dear friend Belinda, as she awaits the birth of her baby alone. An opportunity presents itself in a most unexpected way - my cousin the queen is in need of a spy to attend a house party in the Italian lake country. The Prince of Wales and the dreadful Mrs. Simpson have been invited, and Her Majesty is anxious to thwart a possible secret wedding.

What luck! A chance to see Belinda and please the queen as I seek her permission to relinquish my claim to the throne so I can marry Darcy. Only that's as far as my good fortune takes me. I soon discover that Mummy is attending the villa party, and she has her own secret task for me. Then, Darcy shows up and tells me that the fate of a world on the brink of war could very well depend on what I overhear at dinner! I shouldn't be all that surprised when one of my fellow guests is murdered and my Italian holiday becomes a nightmare....

©2017 Janet Quin-Harkin (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service

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Harlequin Romances Revisited

Georgiana Rannoch is a sympathetic hero. Even though she's 35th in line to inherit the throne, and a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, her father lost all the family cash and killed himself. Georgie is serendipitous, sweet, doesn't swear, is fiercely loyal to all things English, tall, slim, 24, and impossibly perfect, while every other character is flawed. Just when she's down on her luck good and helpful things happen to her just in the nick of time, all the time, whether it's friendship, money, getting invited to the Palace, or solving murder mysteries. She does international errands beneficial to the Queen. There are a couple of dead bodies and plenty of silly situations being presented as intrigue, helped along by Georgie's romance with the dashing D'Arcy Omarra. The book spins on all of these plot arcs and makes for good, light entertainment.

The book is too long, however, and needs a good edit. It would make a great tv series in the right hands. I didn't care for the stereotypes of the foreign-speaking characters in this book and it is not well researched (e.g. Italian men are short and flirtatious and their police are inept; Germans and Polish citizens have suspect temperments and in more than one of these books turn out to be murderers). The narrator voices all the parts, and her acting chops need broadening.

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Narration

The narration can at times be over the top. Such as the Italian child and Belinda. Georgie is a bit dense at times but gets to the truth eventually - usually 2-3 chapters after me.

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not up to her usual standard.

I love this series. but struggled to enjoy this one as much. two recurring themes are starting to wear on my enjoyment of the series.

the extreme level of self-preservation at the cost of one's daughter. And the then the awful way the main character still allows herself to be an utter doormat to her mother, and sister-in-law. It made this installment of the series less enjoyable.

And please stop adding Queenie in the books. she is too annoying for words and Georgiana deserves anything better, than that awful woman.

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Good story great narration. Rip Katherine kellgren

I love a mystery when the murderer is hard to figure out. This is a fun mystery and I love the story progression from book to book.
Will deeply miss Katherine's narration of these stories.

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Last of the Great Katherine Kellgren as Lady G

I tried to listen to this slowly, but once again Bowen's quick pace and Kellgren's brilliant narrating made me listen/read with lightening speed.

I was so sad to hear of Ms. Kellgren's passing. She is a wonderfully talented actor and brought so much to all the characters in the series - I will especially miss Queenie (who I miss anyways!). Heartbreaking that such a treasure of an actress was taken too soon.

This is a great book - I feel a few have lost their way in the series - but this one went right back to the earlier books. Loved it and love Lady Georgiana.

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Her Royal Spyness Series, a marvelous time

This book is well written, well planned and read beautifully by the late Katherine Kellgren.
I completely recommended the whole series to anyone who is a fan of mystery, and history.

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Such fun

Another enjoyable romp with Georgie and Darcy, this time in Italy. There are thrills and laughs and a brewing storm. I hope this story is taken through the war, with many instalments to come.

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Another winner

this book was very good. The story moved along well and the political atmosphere in which is set is intriguing. Katherine is amazing as usual with all of the different voices and accents. like that Georgie is getting more astout in the detective area.

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