Hi, I’m Georgia Fenchurch, a quiet bookshop owner to my neighbors and customers while my close friends know me as a member of the Archivist Society’s group of private sleuths. It’s been over a year since the events of The Counterfeit Lady when I posed as the Duke of Blackford’s paramour to catch a thief. While I’ve seen the duke since then, I haven’t had the chance to work closely with him. Drat it.
That is about to change. A great-grandson of George III is marrying a great-granddaughter of a Russian tsar, and so the Russian princess has traveled to Scotland with the current tsar and his wife, who is Victoria’s granddaughter, to meet the English queen. On the way to London with her entourage and her groom-to-be after visiting the elderly Victoria, the Russian princess’s bodyguard is murdered.
The Russians are horrified at the danger to the Russian royal family and want the anarchists in the East End executed. Whitehall is afraid Victoria and the tsar are the targets of an assassin and order Scotland Yard to find the killer before anyone else dies.
The princess will be staying with the Duke and Duchess of Hereford in London since the princess and the duchess are both accomplished painters. When Whitehall calls in the Duke of Blackford, he calls me. This time I’m not to be his paramour, worse luck, but the Duchess of Hereford’s secretary and the English tutor to the Russian princess, who speaks no English.
Since I speak no Russian, we’ll have to get by in French.
The day after Princess Kira’s arrival, she tells me to be ready after luncheon to go to the National Gallery with her and act as her chaperone. She wants me to conduct her English lesson there. She leads me out through the back garden to the carriage house and out into the mews, where her fiancé is waiting – with Blackford. I’m glad to see Blackford, but I’m wondering how a woman who speaks no English can learn how to sneak out of the house in a single day. A question the princess refuses to answer.
The visit to the gallery goes well until the princess sends Blackford and her fiancé to get the carriage. Then she carries on a rapid conversation with a young woman in Russian, and as we leave, denies to me that the woman was even there.
When we return and try to sneak back into Hereford House, her chaperone, the aging Lady Raminoff, is waiting. A shouting match takes place in Russian which her hostess, the Duchess of Hereford, and I try to quiet. Once peace reigns again, the princess announces the next day her language lesson will take place in Hyde Park. I guess the young Russian woman will be there, too.
Lady Raminoff takes me aside, and once she figures out I’m not a party to the princess’s plans, offers me a great deal of money to spy on her for the chaperone. Since I’m already spying on all of them for the British government, I’m uncomfortable with this extra role. Tired of having to translate French all day and guess at what is said in Russian, I just wish they’d all speak English.
I’m afraid by the time I learn the Russians’ secrets, someone else will be murdered.
Want to know more? Kate will be giving away an autographed copy of The Royal Assassin, the third book in the “Victorian Bookshop” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime to one lucky commenter. The first two books in the series are The Vanishing Thief and The Counterfeit Lady.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on July 22 for the chance to win the print copy. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected.
About the author
The first books Kate Parker read as a child were Nancy Drew mysteries and her mother’s Agatha Christie novels, and now she can’t write a story without someone dropping dead by chapter five. After a lifetime living in the Nation’s Capital and working in a variety of fields from hospital microbiologist to communication technician, Kate Parker moved to the south and began the career that has become her favorite – author. Her favorite tales are historical mysteries that would blend in with the eighteenth century streets of her new hometown. She loves to read them on long winter nights with a cup of hot tea, although the appropriate attire for the temperature is shorts and a Tee shirt. Visit Kate at www.kateparkerbooks.com
This is time period I have always enjoyed. Can’t wait to add this writer to my TBR list.
I’ve read one of the books in the series and really enjoyed it. Toss my hat into the contest ring Dru. I’d love to win this book.
This is a great series. Happy to see a new one.
I would love an opportunity to read this historical cozy. It sounds very intriguing.
This book sounds exciting! I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
A book with royals in it must be good! Thank you for the giveaway.
This sounds different. Also sounds interesting.
thanks.
As the previous book was so engaging, I look forward to this one. It gives a nice break from the 21st century characters in the cozies I usually read. Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh! This sounds like a delightful read. 🙂
This book sounds exciting! Thank you for the chance to win.
This is new to me. I would love the opportunity to read it.
Loved the first two in this series and can’t wait to read this one:) Thanks Dru for great giveaway:)
I love the cover on this book. Thank you for the chance to win this fun book.
Enjoyed meeting Georgia and hearing more about this period cozy. Thanks for the chance to win!
Sounds great! Thank you for the chance to win.
Intriguing lead in. Nice cover. Thanks for this chance at a new author. (to me)
Captivating and lovely. Thanks.
Hope you enjoy Georgia’s latest adventure. Anyone for some virtual tea and scones? My favorites are Irish Breakfast Tea and blueberry scones.
Great fun book.
Wow. Nothing is as it seems, is it?
Kate Parker’s writing style reminds me a bit of Dorthy Sayers. I’d love the chance for a print copy of The Royal Assassin. I promise that I’d add it to the collection at the small public library where I work. Thanks to both Dru & Kate Parker for the giveaway.
Dorothy Sayers is a favorite of mine. You’ve given me quite a compliment. Thank you.
Dorothy Sayers is a favorite of mine. Thank you for a tremendous compliment.
This is new to me, but I think it could be a new added author and series. Thanks for the giveaway!!
This is a new author to me. I appreciate you sharing this information with us. Thanks also for the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great series.
Love the cover. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Oh the suspense is killing me! Must have this one! Thanks for the chance to win.
Cant wait to read it!
Excited to read!
I have really been wanting to read this series. I know this is the third book but It sounds awesome. I am planning on purchasing the other two books soon also. But I would love to win this. Thank you.
Sounds like a delightful read! Thanks for the opportunity!
sharonbabyme@yahoo.com
Thanks, Dru and Georgia/Kate. I enjoy historical fiction…add a mystery…even better!
Would love to win thank you
History plus spies plus wit–what’s not to like!
Would love an autographed copy, thanks for the chance.
I haven’t read this series before…sounds interesting and fun. I would love to win a copy. Thanks for the opportunity.
Sounds like a good series so downloaded book !&2. Would like to win this book 3.
Thank you for all the interest in The Royal Assassin. This was a fun story to write, and I think my enjoyment of the story shows on the page.
Sounds like a good read!
What a great series! I read #2 last year, then added #1 to my TBR pile. Now I see this one and it sounds so fascinating! Love the history and the world of the British Isles through Georgia’s eyes. Congrats on this new release!
Can’t wait to read
This series is new to me but I really enjoy historical mysteries. Thanks for the giveaway!
I want to read this
So much intrigue! This sounds like an excellent read. Perhaps I’ll win.
I’m looking forward to reading this one.
This sounds like a wonderful book. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win it.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and I’m waiting for this one from the library.
This is a series I need to start….thank you for the giveaway…..
Sounds like an interesting series – thank you for the opportunity to win one of the books; now I need to start from the get-go!
Sounds good. I like the cover. I like historicals.
Love libraries and bookshops. This is right up my alley.
I have really enjoyed the first two books in the series, and this one sounds great. Thank you for the giveaway!
Contest is closed.