The Windsor Knot is a fun take on the murder mystery with a Miss Marple-ified Queen Elizabeth II at its center. The mystery begins at Windsor Castle the morning after a dine and sleep; one of the Queen’s guests, a young, accomplished Russian pianist, is found dead in his room, strangled to death in a scandalous position. When the authorities begin to suspect murder, and an inside job at that, the Queen takes it upon herself to prove her royal servants are innocent. Queen Elizabeth (who, in this world, commonly acts as the palace sleuth) teams up with her assistant private secretary Rozie Oshodi to solve the murder and restore peace in the castle.

I absolutely loved this murder mystery, and found it to be the perfect short literary escape. Prior to reading, I was worried the novel would feel a bit like fluff because royalty is so often used as a gimmick, but I found myself pleasantly surprised. SJ Bennett writes in a smart, wry manner, and develops her characters with care — especially Queen Elizabeth, whom she treats as a feeling, multidimensional character. Although the novel takes place in a palace, it never feels trite; rather, Bennett creates a world that feels modern and realistic, yet cozily contained. I loved the rotating cast of narrators, from shrewd Queen Elizabeth to her frazzled secretary Sir Simon, but my favorite of all was Rozie. Practical and bright, Rozie pieces together clues at a pace I could keep up with, so it felt like I was solving the mystery alongside of her. Also, the fact that Rozie and the Queen decode the murder right under the noses of the male Director General and Met Police Commissioner packs a cool, feminist punch. If you’re looking for an entertaining read or need something to tide you over until Netflix releases the next season of The Crown, give this murder mystery a try.

I’d recommend this book to…

• Anyone who likes to imagine the inner life of the British monarchy… it’s similar in theme to The Uncommon Readerby Alan Bennett
• Anyone with a taste for mysteries that intrigue you but still let you sleep at night… it’s similar in style to mysteries by Agatha Christie
• Anyone who’s drawn to narrators with readable, relatable voices… it’s similar in tone to Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty