The Last Queen of England

News flash: Acheologists have recently discovered the bones of the despised Richard III, and DNA tests showed that the current queen is not descended from him in any way. This news was in a small article on page 10 of the Guardian newspaper and raised no ripples anywhere else. So this mystery novel based on the idea that there might be someone out there with a greater claim to the throne than Eliz II seems kind of silly since the DNA test suggests that there must be hundreds of them. The idea that the disclosure of this new claimant would destroy the British government and bring down the monarchy is downright laughable. Article II of the Treaty of Union in1707 makes it clear that Parliament makes the rules that determine who will be the monarch. So this book ends up being a well written, action packed thriller about ... nothing. At least it is read by the inestimable Simon Vance, so you can enjoy his wonderful range of accents while also laughing at his attempt at an American accent which sounds more like Sean Connery than an American.

Another enjoyable entry in the Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery series, this one seeing JT back in London having dinner with friends, when his oldest friend and mentor is gunned down before him. JT is immediately on the case, thinking that whatever his friend was working on was the cause of his......more

Find an eye-catching historical fact (such as Queen Anne experiencing 18 pregnancies, but having no child live beyond the age of eleven and none survive her); discover that a group of respected intellectuals were executed towards the end of her reign under mysterious circumstances; create a conspira......more

A genealogical plot about a potential conspiracy in 1700 about the line of succession of the British monarchy - an overly complex plot with multiple players then follows a series of murders, turning into a violent thriller where genealogy seems only a bit part. Not was good as his previous book, in......more