She notices what escapes others’ attention, because everyone’s gaze is fixed on her. She has keen insight into human affairs, a sharp mind, and the ability to recognize lies. She is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and she has a secret unknown even to those closest to her and her servants. Since childhood, she has been fascinated by solving riddles.
This is the third novel in the series “The Investigation Leads with Her Majesty,” by S. J. Bennett, winner of the Waterstones Prize for Best Crime Novel in 2022. In the third detective story of the series, the Christmas holidays are threatened by a murder that occurs near Sandringham, the queen’s favorite place of residence.
After a storm, a human hand and a package of drugs are found on the beach. The Queen immediately identifies the hand—it belongs to seventy-year-old Edward Saint-Sir. But finding the killer turns out to be much harder. The suspicion falls on the royal groom, an dishonest steward, neighboring aristocrats, and numerous relatives of the deceased. Her Majesty is determined to get to the truth, even if the criminal turns out to be someone from her closest circle…