Unbearable

I've read all the other Royal Spyness mysteries, and have enjoyed every one of them. They are my cotton-candy books; meant just for fun fluff, but very good for that purpose. I've looked forward to this book ever since the last one came out, but I could not have been more disappointed. Katherine Kellgren, who I usually enjoy, went so far overboard with the dramatically effusive performance it was painful to listen to. The plot was so bad, and the character's actions so bizarre, that it was insulting to the reader. I'm sorry to say that while I tried to hang on, and listened to quite a bit of it hoping it would get better, I couldn't finish the book. It was just too terrible. I'm going to look into returning it now that I've written the review. If you get it, I really hope you enjoy it; but I could not.

47 people found this helpful

So disappointing!

This book is my least favorite of the series. It takes an inordinate amount of time to get to the actual plot line and the cross country train trip is just boring.
The narration is driving me around the bend. Was there no producer to notice that the sheriff sounds like he's from a Wild West show? He's in Southern California! I realize I'm in the minority with my criticism of Katherine Kellgren ...while I do get a kick out of her voicing of Queenie, her "posh" characterizations have always seemed overdone to me. But the sheriff and the Mexicans? I'm not sure I can finish listening....it's that annoying.

I know I sound like an old curmudgeon and it's hard to tell that I am actually a Rhys Bowen fan and have been since her Evan Evans series (my favorite). This book, and especially the reading, just didn't do it for me.

37 people found this helpful

Queenie is the Jar-Jar Binks of the Spyness series

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

When Queenie was introduced as a character I never found her likable. Georgie was clumsy and funny enough to carry the comedy on the series.

And the romance should move forward. I think she snookered herself in a writing corner with the "won't sleep with you until you are married" bit.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

Perfect as always.

Any additional comments?

I was re-listening to the first book and I realized another thing that drew me to the series. Georgie's independence. She has been losing that streak as the series move along.

I'm hoping Rhys finds her muse again on the next book.

35 people found this helpful

MY LEAST FAVORITE IN THIS SERIES

I absolutely LOVED all of the previous books in this series! When I saw that a new one was available, I didn't bother with the reviews - I just purchased it. The characters are still well-developed and narrator Katherine Kellgren continues in her masterful vien. But the story falls flat here. First, I like British novels because.....well, they take place in the UK! This one has our familiar crew in the U.S. with not so believeable "American" characters. I don't like my posh aristocrats mixed in with "cowboys" and one-dimensional "Hollywood" players. Even "Charlie Chaplin" was lame in his cameo appearance. How can an author fail to replicate a famous legendary person like Chaplin with as much documentation upon which to draw, to say nothing of his huge body of work on FILM? Lead character, Lady Georgiana "Georgie" Rannoch, and the love of her life, the handsome, sexy, Irish nobleman Darcy O'Mara, are still leaving readers with the now-stale cliffhanger on whether they WILL or whether they WON'T! I'm over it! Everyone else in these "Royal Spyness" novels are overtly having big-time sex in the early 19th century, especially Georgie's BFF, Belinda, who would be considered a "golddigging hood rat" even by modern standards. Even Georgie's mother acts "ratchet" when it comes to sex and she's (usually) married! Both Georgie and Darcy are past legal age, in love, and wickedly attracted to one another. It defies imagination that they continue to spend the night together sharing nothing more than a kiss! I could have dealt with the poor plot line if Georgie and Darcy had done the "nasty"' this time! OR I could go along with the chastity angle, if this book was targeted for the Young Adult market and ALL of the "sex-capades" among the other characters wasn't so rampant and blatant. Come on, Rhys Bowen, two broke aristocrats abstaining until they have money is no longer credible!

33 people found this helpful

Good but not her best

I think this story pushes the envelope a little too far when it ventures to Hollywood.....had most of the story stayed on the ocean liner crossing the Atlantic, I think it would have been much better. I like the central cast of characters (all except for Queenie - she should have stayed with her new boss), but things reached ridiculous with the wild animals and movie plans. It was a fun romp up to and including New York, and I hope the next installment will stick a little closer to home for the 34th in line to the throne and her Irish beau.

And I hope Queenie gets a job elsewhere and exits from the series!

Katherine Kellgren's narration is always great, but even she was stretched a little too far, especially with the Spanish and Mexican accents. She managed a range of American accents fine, though she was a little over the top with the Western twang too. I'm hoping for a more Euro-centered story next time. Maybe even within the UK. A trip to Darcy's old home, maybe?

25 people found this helpful

Same Ol', Same Ol'

What made the experience of listening to Queen of Hearts the most enjoyable?

Katherine Kellgren did a fantastic job as always. I appreciated how creative she got while juggling all the accents in this story. It had hints of radio drama at some of the more exciting moments. Her accents very much fit the Californians of the early '30s (more "Western" for natives) and I especially appreciated how she captured Stella's accent- English, but not as pronounced after years in America.

Any additional comments?

This series has been fun but we are too far in for the characters to have advanced so little. I really felt like the first four chapters had been cut and pasted from previous books. I know there has to be a little backstory for anyone who might enter the series out of order, but for such short books, far too much time is spent explaining Georgie's family, her mother, and even Queenie!

SPOILERS BELOW...


This is not a young adult series and Bowen needs to move things along with Georgie and Darcy. If she wants them married, fine, marry them. She could still keep Georgie independent by sending Darcy off on assignment like she does now. Bowen needs to think more Tommy and Tuppence and less Nancy Drew. At this point their relationship, which has kept me reading the last couple despite mediocre mystery plots, is not even written well enough to keep me going much longer. I will give her one more next year, but if I find spoilers that nothing changes at that point, not even Kellgren's fantastic narration will get me to spend any more time with these characters.

23 people found this helpful

I WANTED to love it but….

I’m not in love with this instalment. The humour is still great, I love the writing, I adore the characters… the plot just felt a little recycled.

Doesn’t matter, I am still a huge Rhys Bowen and Georgie Rannoch fan. This blip in my interest won’t dim my enthusiasm for the series in any way, in fact I am willing to just call it a mood-thing.

23 people found this helpful

Remembering narrater Katherine Kellgren

Katherine Kellgren died of cancer on January 10, 2017.

As I have written in my reviews of her books in Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series and Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, I consider Katherine Kellgren the best narrator/performer of audio books. With her voice range and her perfection of regional accents of the US and the UK, she was without peer. With Kellgren each character gets his/her own unique voice. She leaves behind approximately 200 audio book performances of which only 10% are in my Audible library.

Both the Royal Spyness and Incorrigible Children series are ongoing, so she must be and will be replaced; it will be difficult.

There are many outstanding audio book narrators, but none with the unique combination of talents of Katherine Kellgren.

18 people found this helpful

Queen of Cozy Mysteries!

STORY (mystery) - In this story, Georgie and the gang take a cruise ship to America, and there is a robbery/murder for them to solve. It always surprises me the quality of the mysteries created in this light-hearted series. I can never guess whodunnit, although this time I got it half right!

PERFORMANCE - Awesome! I can't believe Katherine Kellgren died. Such a loss! In this book she not only tackles male/female voices with multiple accents - Spanish, Irish, English, Cockney, American -- but she does a convincing Spanish male with a lisp! As a narrator, she is irreplaceable.

OVERALL - I love this series, and I can always count on it to be a fun mood picker-upper. This book delivers, as have all the previous ones. Each book stands alone, but best to listen to them in order so you don't miss any character development. No cursing or sex, so it's a good "clean" listen for the whole family. Recommended especially for females due to the girly humor, but I think men might enjoy it as well.

11 people found this helpful

Dissappointed

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Narration -- Georgie was too shrill. Hispanic accents sounded just like Irish. California sherriff sounded like Texas

Would you be willing to try another book from Rhys Bowen? Why or why not?

I've listened to a lot of Ms. Bowen's books, so I would consider another. I would not pre-order but would wait for reviews

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Katherine Kellgren?

Maybe Nicola Barber

Was Queen of Hearts worth the listening time?

just barely

Any additional comments?

Sound mixing was not good for listening. Some times too loud, sometimes inaudible.

11 people found this helpful