The Queen Who Came in from the Cold: Her Majesty the Queen Investigates

By S.J. Bennett

Book Overview

Amateur sleuth Queen Elizabeth II is back on the case in 1960s England in the fifth installment of this historical mystery series The New York Times Book Review calls "sheer entertainment," perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Richard Osman.

1961, England.
The Queen is spending a night on board the royal train with her entourage and her sister, Princess Margaret. But before they reach their destination, an unreliable witness claims to have seen a brutal murder from one of the carriages.

The Queen and her assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw, get to work on their second joint investigation. No one else saw the crime. If there is a victim, could he be the missing photographer friend of Margaret's new husband, Tony Armstrong Jones?

This time, the Cold War threatens to undermine the Queen's upcoming visit to Italy. She and Joan must tackle dark forces that follow them all the way, in a tale of spies, lies, and treachery.

This charming mystery will be perfect for fans of The Crown and Miss Marple.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FNW4RHDK
• ISBN13: 9798892425339
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Royally entertaining mystery

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted. This is a series I’ve followed from the beginning and have enjoyed each novel. I like the concept of Queen Elizabeth II solving mysteries but having to do so surreptitiously with the help of her private secretary. Even her husband, Prince Phillip, is unaware of the Queen’s “hobby.” The book’s title is a riff on the classic spy thriller “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” by John le Carré. Throughout this 5th novel of “Her Majesty the Queen Investigates” series there are references to spy thrillers and characters including James Bond, who was a new-to-Great Britain persona at the time. This “Queen” novel took place in 1961 and alludes to the Cold War politics that all the world leaders were dealing with then. This episode features spies, espionage, double agents, murder, and or course danger while the Queen embarks on her scheduled visit to Italy on the Royal Yacht Britannia. What brings this series a notch above the usual detective stories is Elizabeth II’s authentic personality and the author’s respectful portrayal of the Queen. Plus incorporating actual historical events and people into the story. Although this is #5 in the series, it works as a stand-alone. But I recommend you also read the others as well, since they are an entertaining mix of fact and fiction with an unusual detective, meticulous research, and a well-thought-out mystery.