Of Swords and Parasols

This is the fourth book in Rhys Bowen’s “Royal Spyness” series, and Georgiana Rannoch, the fictional 34th in line for the British throne in the 1930s. Aside from some awkward secondhand embarrassment early on (Let’s just say that fiction sometimes expects me to go beyond suspension of disbelief regarding the things sheltered young things will unknowingly do. Like accidentally advertise themselves as being an escort service.) the plot revolves around Georgie returning to her brother’s castle in Scotland and discovering that someone appears to be trying (and failing) to kill members of the royal family.

I prefer Bowen’s Molly Murphy mysteries, set in turn-of-the-century New York. They’re a bit darker, set in a slightly-less popular setting, and focus more on the lower classes, exploring a greater range of social groups and classes, while the Royal Spyness books are more frothy brain candy. Though in this case, “brain candy” means intelligent, witty and charming with endearing characters, few dead women, a tolerable love interest, and a typically-smart heroine who has multiple relationships, both friendly and otherwise, with other women.

The first Georgie Rannoch book was the first book by Rhys Bowen that I read, but I read most of her Molly Murphy books in between. (I think there are two Molly books out that I haven’t read, though one is still in hardcover.) The Georgie books, which are about 1930s British aristocracy, are much lighter and fluffier than the Molly books, which are about the lower classes, immigrants, and gangs in 1900 New York City. Of the two, I definitely prefer the Molly books, but the Georgie books definitely have an appeal.

In her second outing, Georgie, the 34th in line for the throne who secretly runs a cleaning service to make ends meet, is asked by the queen and put up Hannelore, a 18-year-old Bavarian princess who the queen hopes will distract the crown prince from his married, American mistress, Mrs. Simpson. As one cannot deny a request from the queen, Georgie has to find a staff, find a way to keep the princess from learning how she’s making money, and find a way to keep the princess entertained and out of trouble. This is not easy, as Hanni, who apparently learned English from gangster movies, is determined to have fun, is apparently an absentminded shoplifter, drinks like a fish, and is more than a little boy-crazy. Then there’s the bodies that start piling up.

Like Molly, Georgie is working on acquiring an extremely entertaining supporting cast. I’m particularly fond of her grandfather, who is a retired police officer. (Her mother was an actress who her father married against everyone’s wishes.) And while I prefer Molly as a character and the Molly books, I have to admit that Georgie seems to have better taste in men. Darcy, while still a bit on the irritating side and not my type, actually seems to be pretty decent. And not an overambitious two-timer who thinks she should stay home and knit and cook or something.

I don’t know if I’ve just been in the exact right mood or if these books just went from “really good” to “really really good,” but I’ve liked the 5th and 6th Molly Murphy mysteries even more than the earlier ones.

In her 6th outing, Molly is hired by Tommy Burke, a mover and shaker in Old New York’s theatrical world, to go to Ireland and find his sister, who he didn’t know existed until his mother’s deathbed confession. Ready for a break from the difficulties of her life, Molly agrees, despite the legal difficulties that face her in Ireland. On the ship, a famous actress she met in New York, Oona Sheenah, hires Molly to pretend to be her, only sick and confined to her cabin, so that Oona can escape her admirers. Molly is confused as to why anyone would give up a luxurious first class cabin for a tiny second class one, but agrees.

On the voyage, however, Oona’s maid is murdered, and when Molly confesses the deception to the captain, she learns that Oona hasn’t even been in Molly’s cabin the entire voyage, and is nowhere on the ship, leaving Molly not only with a second mystery, but also Oona’s luggage. From there, Molly’s search for Burke’s sister and her unwilling involvement with Oona’s machinations leads her to become increasingly involved with The Irish Republican Brotherhood, and forces her to confront some aspects of her past.

As sometimes happens with Bowen, the actual mystery gets a bit lost in favor of Bowen’s interest in the time period. This is far from a bad thing, as Bowen’s clear love of the era is a lot of the charm of the series. The only downside of the book is that, out of necessity, we don’t see much of Molly’s New York friends, and their absence is felt. On the other hand, Daniel has clearly not been forgiven for his behavior in previous books by the ladies, and has the full force of Ryan O’Hare unleashed on him. If you’re familiar with the books, you know that the encounter couldn’t be anything of glorious.

As is Gus’s response when Daniel is complaining (admittedly with decent justification) about his current, disgraced situation and says it’s none of Gus and Sid’s business: “Oh, we are most concerned. It affects us to. If you are unhappy, then Molly is unhappy, and if Molly is unhappy, then we cannot truly enjoy life ourselves. And since it is our aim and pledge to enjoy every moment, the sooner the situation is rectified, the better.”

Translation: “We still hate you, but for some strange reason, our Molly likes you, and so we are concerned for you. Until she gives up on you.”

And now to wait until March for the next book to be released in paperback, and then decide if I want to follow the series in hardcover. As Bowen is continuing with both this series and the Royal Spyness series, and the releases are spaced several months apart, I might be able to resist temptation.

In her fourth (Fifth? I’m losing count.) adventure, Molly is sent undercover by her former beau, Daniel Sullivan after she crosses a member of an Irish gang of Old New York. Her task is to masquerade as the cousin of Barney Flynn, a senator with ties to the gangs. Not to find out information on him, though, but to try to prove that a pair of spiritualists are frauds. While there, however, Molly becomes suspicion about the death of the senator’s son five years before, and begins to investigate that.

I continue to love Molly and the exploration of turn of the century New York and all the social movements and reforms and gangs there, and I especially love Molly’s friends and life in Greenwich Village, though those were sadly lacking in this book. And, you know, I love manor house mysteries, which this was fairly close to. An undercover one, at that! I also continue to roll my eyes at the romantic plotlines.

( spoilers )

The second of Rhys Bowen’s Molly Murphy mysteries, set in turn of the century New York City, continues to explore the social issues surrounding Irish immigrants and the New York gangs and police, and also introduces other social sects.

Much of the early book chronicles Molly’s attempts to get a job at least half-worthy of her education. Born an Irish peasant, Molly was educated alongside the children of the local English landowners after catching the attention of the landowner as a child. As a result, she is too educated for the typical labor available to Irish immigrants, but does not have the money or possessions needed to acquire a more suitable job. Early in the book, she gets a job as a Lady’s Companion with the help of her friend, Daniel Sullivan, but is forced to leave that job for certain spoilery reasons I’ll get to in a moment. (Because they annoy me.)

Soon after, she deduces that Paddy Riley, a man she’s seen spying around and masquerading as a photographer is a private investigator, and she tries to convince him to take her on as an apprentice. Riley being an old fashioned man in 1901, this doesn’t go the way she wants, but her persistence eventually gets her a job cleaning his office. Things change, however, when Riley is killed, and Molly decides to try to run the business on her own and solve his death.

This eventually leads to Molly falling in with a Bohemian set of artists and writers, particularly Sid and Gus, a lesbian, pants-wearing couple who takes Molly in as if she were a stray kitten they just had to keep. Not, mind you, that Molly realized just what kind of “friends” they are until another friend clues her in about his own lifestyle. Though there’s part of this that I had a little trouble buying into, Molly’s getting sucked into this set and learning about it was the highlight of the book. Like the first book in the series, Death of Riley is more concerned about characterization and the life and society of 1901 New York than it is with the mystery. I have no problems with this.

( spoilers reflect my hatred of both love triangles and Rochester )

Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie Rannoch-“Georgie” for short-34th in line for the throne, has a bit of a problem. Namely, Her Royal Highness is sending Prince Siegfried, appropriately nicknamed “Fishface,” north to Georgie’s family home in Scotland to propose marriage. As far as Georgie’s concerned, this is a fate worse than death, and one she escapes only by eavesdropping on her brother, Binky, and his wife, Fig. Their real names, by the way, are Hamish and Hilda.

Faster than you can say “runaway bride,” Georgie has concocted a friend who absolutely must have Georgie’s help in London while she prepares for her own wedding, and off Georgie flees to London. Except Binky cut off Georgie’s allowance when she turned 21, leaving her utterly dependent on him unless she gets a job or a husband. As a result, Georgie has no money and no maid, and has to open and air the London house all by herself. Not to mention cook, turn of the boiler, and light a fire. Each of which is quite the adventure.