This royal visit is going to end with a bang…
Edward, the Prince of Wales, is about to step foot on Kiwi soil, and Grace is frantically finishing gowns for her wealthy clients to wear at the balls thrown in his honour. But then a horrible accident and a dying man’s last moments draw her into a conspiracy to harm the prince.
As Grace follows the strands of a last memory, she discovers there is a patchwork of conspirators all with grudges against England and the royal family. This plot has unravelled beyond her group of friends, and if she’s going to hem in the anarchists and save the prince, she needs help. There’s only one person she can turn to… Detective Archer.
Can Grace discard her differences to confide in the policeman with their common goal of saving the prince, or will there be an explosive end to the royal visit?
I’m continuing to really enjoy this cosy mystery series. At this point, it feels like slipping into a familiar rhythm. I know the tone, I know the characters, and that familiarity makes it incredibly easy to sink into.
This time the story centres around a royal visit and a conspiracy that begins with what looks like a tragic accident. A man bumps into Grace, apologises, steps backwards into the street, and is killed by a tram. His last moments pull her into a growing web of grievances and anarchists with their sights set on the visiting Prince of Wales. The stakes are technically higher here, but the book still keeps that grounded, personal feel the series does so well.
What stands out most to me is how reliable these books are. I don’t start drifting when I read them. I pick them up when I notice I’m drifting with something else, or when I’m stressed or anxious and my brain just won’t settle. I paused a more complex book to read this one, and it worked perfectly. These stories reset my reading brain. They’re clear, focused, and easy to move through without ever feeling shallow. I can read them smoothly, finish them quickly, and then return to heavier or more demanding books feeling steadier.
As before, I’m not here primarily for the mystery itself. I’m not a big mystery reader in general, and while the conspiracy is engaging enough, it’s Grace’s voice and the overall tone that keep me invested. The fantasy elements are still very light, more a sprinkle than a core ingredient. At times it feels closer to historical fiction with a touch of magic, and I wouldn’t mind if that magical side was explored a little more deeply.
I really appreciate the independent woman angle. Grace runs her own shop, stands her ground, and simply lives her life on her own terms. Alongside that, there’s subtle inclusivity woven into the background. A gay couple simply existing as part of the world. A quiet mention of women wanting a place where they can dance together without trouble. None of it is the focus, none of it is preachy. It just acknowledges that people have always lived and loved in different ways, even when society didn’t openly make space for them, and that they built their own communities regardless.
And I continue to enjoy that romance is barely present. There are hints, and in this book we even get a dance, but one dance across three books is about as slow burn as it gets. If a larger romantic arc is coming, it is taking its time. For now, the focus remains firmly on Grace, her friendships, her work, and the trouble she keeps getting drawn into, whether by bad luck or by her gift.
Overall, this series feels like wrapping yourself in your favourite blanket after a long, draining day. It’s steady, reassuring, and quietly engaging without demanding too much from you. It’s the kind of story that lets your mind settle while still keeping you gently engaged, and sometimes that’s exactly what I need.
