Description (from cover): “Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her dashing husband, Darcy, are awaiting a bundle of joy, but an unexpected trip to Paris will thrust them into a tangled web of international intrigue in this all-new mystery in the New York Times bestselling Royal Spyness series from Rhys Bowen.

What a delight it is to finally be able to enjoy a simple mean again! I have been in the throes of morning sickness for the last few months as Darcy and I prepare to welcome a brand-new addition to our little family. Now that I am feeling better, I have realized I am dreadfully bored! It seems that all my nearest and dearest are off leading their own busy lives while I sit at home and attempt to train our two adorably naughty puppies. Fun as it may be, it is hard not to long for a little adventure, a change of pace, before my confinement begins when the baby comes.

Happily, it seems that Darcy has read my mind. When I receive a letter from my glamorous best friend, Belinda, Darcy suggests we take a trip to Paris to visit her. It seems he also has a spot of business of which to take care of, so I will be staying in Belinda’s flat as she works feverishly on Coco Chanel’s fall collection. I happen to know Coco from a disastrous encounter in Nice years ago, and I am hoping this visit will go much more smoothly. But I soon learn that nothing about my time in Paris is going to be simple…or safe for that matter.

Darcy has asked me to take on a small chore as part of his latest assignment. I am to covertly retrieve something from an attendee of Coco’s show. It seems easy enough, but I discover that this little errand could have terrifying consequences for a world on the brink of war. When things go horribly wrong, I am left to find a killer all while trying to fend off a French policeman who is certain that I am a criminal mastermind. But I have no plans to deliver my darling little one in a prison cell, and so I will muster every ounce of my courage to save the day…and, quite possibly, the world!”

My Thoughts:

See previous reviews of books in this series: The Twelve Clues of Christmas, Malice at the Palace, Crowned and Dangerous, and God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen

The Lady Georgiana mystery series have LONG been a favorite series of mine. I love Georgie’s personality and her penchant for finding herself in interesting situations. Her family is hilarious and set in their own ways, her former maid and now cook, Queenie, is a character unto her own right who will have you laughing so hard, her mysterious and intriguing husband, Darcy, keeps readers on their toes and her friends are always down for an adventure. This book is the 16th in this series and it never gets dull. I don’t know how Bowen does it, but all of the books in this series are so fun to read and I can never get enough.

In this book, Georgie is pregnant. She has been dealing with awful morning sickness and now she feels that she is finally past the hump of her first trimester. She is stuck at Eynsleigh and she is itching for an adventure to end her endless boredom and when Darcy tells her that he has business in Paris, he invites her along for the trip. Georgie must stay with her nearest and dearest best friend, Belinda in her Paris apartment as Darcy will be traveling back and forth from Paris. Belinda is currently in the midst of preparing for Coco Chanel’s fall collection and runway show and Georgie is content to be a tourist in Paris and soak up every moment of freedom before the baby comes.

That is, until her husband asks for her help with an international spy investigation of prominent German officials who will be attending Coco’s fall runway show. Of course, Georgie is eager to assist and as usual soon everything goes completely wrong and the target of Georgie’s assignment is found murdered. Georgie must keep her wits about her as the French policeman investigating the crime is determined that Georgie is responsible and is doing everything in his power to make sure she ends up in prison.

I simply could not put this book down. I simply love Georgie and all of the characters that Bowen has created. She has done such a fantastic job of developing these characters over the years throughout this series and it is impossible to not think of them as good friends. Every time I read a book in this series, I know that I will not be disappointed and this book is no different. I am anxious to see what happens when Georgie has the baby and how that will shape the series moving forward. Another smash hit from brilliant author Rhys Bowen.

Overall Rating: 5+ Stars

Author: Rhys Bowen

Series: Royal Spyness Mystery #16

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: November 8, 2022

Pages: 300

Genre: Historical Mystery

Get It: Amazon

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.