Naughty in Nice (Her Royal Spyness)

This is a well written, amusing mystery. It is part of a series about a member of the royal family in the 1930's trying to earn a living after the fortune is gone, but the title remains. Enjoyable, quick read.

Rhys Bowen writes some very alluring mystery series and my favorites are the Molly Series and the Royal Spyness Series. Naughty in Nice incorporates the times of the 1930's with her lead character and Coco Chanel and the morals of the times among the upper classes in this book Naughty In Nice.

A wonderful read.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch is thirty-fourth in line for the British throne but the fact that she’s a card-carrying aristocrat doesn’t means she’s wealthy, or even eating regularly -- especially since it’s late winter 1933 and nearly everyone, including her, is out of work. (Not that her toffee-nosed relatives approve of her working in the first place, of course.) She’s been trying, since the beginning of this delightful series, to make her own way in London, but it looks like she’s going to have to fall back to the family castle in Scotland to survive when her half-brother (the duke) and sister-in-law decide to escape to the Riviera for awhile. Then the Queen (who has come to depend on Georgie’s loyalty and willingness to perform confidential little errands) sends her off to Nice to try to retrieve a very valuable snuffbox that was pinched from Buckingham Palace by an upstart baronet auto manufacturer, and she gets to ride the Blue Train after all. On the way, she makes the acquaintance of Coco Chanel, who is throwing a fashion show and who recruits Georgie as an amateur runway model. And she ends up at a villa owned by her mother, a still-beautiful ex-actress, just up the hill from where the wayward baronet is staying -- is then promptly killed in his own swimming pool.

Bowen writes amusing mysteries, a superior sort of fluff, but she does it well. Georgie is an observant and sympathetic character and the setting is well-handled and pretty accurate. (And, yes, Chanel really was doing a show on the Côte d'Azur at that time.) The regular supporting cast (including the Prince of Wales and the abrasive Mrs. Simpson) are here, too. The clues are there but you probably won’t figure out whodunit before the big climax. And there’s her continuing but still tentative romance with the rakish Darcy O’Mara to keep things interesting.

I've come to the realization that the Royal Spyness Mystery series is very, very silly. But sometimes silly is what you need, and thanks to "Naughty in Nice", I've come out of a relatively long reading slump.

In the fourth installment of the Georgianna Rannoch series, we find Georgie being sent to the south of France on a secret mission for HRM the Queen. One of the Queen's valuable snuffboxes has been stolen, and she is fairly certain of the culprit, who happens to be spending time on the Mediterranean. With Georgie's brother, Binky, and sister-in-law, Fig, headed that way, HRM arranges for Georgie to join them on the Riviera to secretly obtain the snuffbox and bring it home to London.

Anyone who has read this series knows that the expected never happens, and Georgie almost instantly finds herself in trouble. After befriending Coco Chanel on the train down from Paris, she is persuaded to take part in a fashion show, wearing a necklace borrowed from the Queen. When she trips and falls, the necklace is stolen, and the French police are not very competent in recovering it. Add in three murders, a less-than-perfect trip aboard a yacht, a mysterious marquis, and Georgie's mother, and you have the ingredients for a rollicking good time on the French coast.

"Naughty in Nice" is a great way to spend an afternoon, a way to take your mind off of your troubles for awhile. And, truly, isn't that what we all need?

This series just gets better and better. We have moved from the mysterious mountains of Transylvania to the French Riviera. Georgie, left out as the whole family is going to the south of France but can't afford to bring her along with them, finds her own way down to the Med. Needless to say, Fig is NOT impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in Nice. It was a great setting for the book and captivated me as much as the story. I also thought it was great that we saw some growth in the relationship between Georgie and her mother. It was nice to see Claire finally acting more like a mother and showing that in spite of everything she has done in the past she does care for Georgie.

The only reason I can't give this book, and haven't been able to give any of the others, a five star is because of the terrible stereotyping of people and the one dimensional characters. This time it's the French getting the "shaft" so to speak. Usually it's the Americans--and of course the English as they are the ones doing all the complaining and stereotyping. And of course Fig is true to form. Always nasty and with a family just as nasty as she is.Do none of these people have any redeeming characteristics? Are they absolutely always horrible? Is Belinda ever anything but a slut looking for a sugar daddy? In real life you rarely find people who are all bad or all good, and yet that is what we get in these novels. And Wallis Simpson? Well, I just roll my eyes and burst out with a chuckle every time Ms. Bowen mentions her. If there is a snarky, rude remark being made you just know that it is coming out of the mouth of Wallis Simpson. And if someone is going to be behaving badly, guess what? It's Wallis again. I actually now find Ms. Bowen's obvious hatred of Wallis to be quite humorous as it is so over the top. And what about Darcy? It's hard to believe that he really cares about Georgie when he just flits in and out of her life without so much as a by your leave. I hope in future novels we move past the superficiality in the relationship and actually see some growth the way we did with Georgie and her mother in this book.

As this fifth installment of Lady Georgiana Rannoch's adventures begins it is a dreary, cold and wet January in London. Georgie attempts to cope with her own economic difficulties (because even the 34th in line to the throne is feeling the pinch of the Depression) by working in a soup kitchen at Victoria station. As she watches others fortunate enough to be able to escape to the south of France for a few weeks in the sun Georgie wishes that she could join them. When she is once again summoned to the palace and asked to run another little errand for the Queen Georgie is delighted to discover that for once her wishes are coming true. The only thing that could possibly make life even more perfect would be if Darcy were there with her. Of course before her little errand was complete Georgie would add to her growing list of 'Dead Bodies I Have Seen' and 'Police Officers Who Have Regarded Me With Suspicion'. Naturally all is well in the end but not without a few harrowing, and hilarious adventures along the way.

This is a delightful series of historical cozy novels featuring Lady Georgiana and her ever expanding circle of family and friends. Although these a definitely light hearted comic romances real historical figures do pass through the stories, giving the reader a sense of foreboding about events awaiting Georgie and her friends. The plots are well thought out, clever enough to give the reader a few surprises along the way.

There is an on going story arc to this series so it would be best to read the books in order if at all possible.

This is the first Royal Spyness book that has annoyed me with errors. Napoleonic Code does not presume criminal guilt (in fact it doesn't concern criminal law) and "plain" was used instead of the proper mathematical term "plane." While the latter is an editing issue, the former is actually fairly important to the plot and therefore a frustration.
As to the plot and story itself - it was charming and delightful (and the reason for four stars instead of three.) Murder, theft, and the French Riviera; what more could you want?

There really is nothing like reading a cozy by one of your favorite authors, especially once the series is established and you already have a good connection with the principals and especially when the setting is historical because it means the author gets to bring in all sorts of fun people.

I always anticipate a fun, fast read from Rhys Bowen and this is no exception. I am currently reading two mysteries series by her and I think this one might be my favorite because I adore the setting in 1930s England and Europe with accidental sleuth Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Georgie is a pretty down-to-earth young lady who just happens to be thirty-fourth in line for the throne. She's basically broke but it is expected of her to live a certain lifestyle even during these depression years (it is 1933 in this book). Luckily with a bit of luck, Georgia scrapes by, in this book, earning a trip to Nice along with many other members of her set to recover a priceless treasure for Queen Mary and to keep an eye on her cousin, the Prince of Wales, and *that* woman. Once there though, Georgia falls in with some new people and becomes implicated in a murder.

I did miss her friend Belinda and love interest Darcy, both of whom do make brief appearances in this book but not as much as they have in other books. I am a little tired of her will-they-won't-they with Darcy as I very much want Georgie to have a steady relationship and maybe even get married as is expected of her even if her adventures are a lot more possible when she's not tied down. But this was also the first book where I really liked her mother, a social-climbing actress who follows the money. Georgie's grandfather also makes a welcome appearance while the historical figures Coco Chanel and Vera Bate Lombardi were among the delightful new characters.

While I rarely figure out whodunnit in mysteries, I enjoyed the storytelling so much that I didn't even care although in this case I did have a few ideas. I wasn't able to piece everything together but I don't think that's the point. The point is to enjoy a light story with humorous details from Georgie's narration and to imagine yourself in the beautiful luxury of the French Riviera even if your real-life circumstances are far different.

Overall: One of my favorites in this series so far-a must-read for fans of Bowen and historical cozies!

I "discovered" Rhys Bowen with her first book in the Molly Murphy series. I've read all of those, so when Ms. Bowen began this series, I tried it, and I love this series even more than the Molly Murphy series! I'm a cozy mystery addict who loves strong female sleuths, especially British ones. Lady Georgiana is 22, single, a member of the royal family, honest, trusting, beautiful, and smart. This installment in the series was excellent. Bowen managed to work Georgiana's grandfather and her friend Belinda into the plot, but Darcy wasn't as much of a presence as I would have liked, so I am anxious for the next installment in this series. I hope that I will be able to read about Georgiana and Darcy's engagement and then marriage. She could assist him in his secret missions! If you like this series, I recommend Kate Kingsbury's Manor House series. There are some parallels in setting, etc.

Lady Georgiana is volunteering in the soup kitchen, which is near the train station. Thus she sees everyone leaving cold depressing England for sunny Nice. Even her sister-in-law's determined to go to France, using her pregnancy as an excuse.

Georgiana wishes she could go to, but of course, there's no money for her ticket. Then the Queen asks a favor - one of her favorite snuffboxes has gone missing. She has a pretty good idea on the thief and asks Georgiana to go recover her property.

Happily, Georgiana complies. On the train, she meets Coco Chanel who is putting together a fashion show. After a rude awakening at her destination, she decides to take Chanel up on her offer to reside with her while Chanel turns Georgiana into a model.

While modeling, the Queen's jewels turn up missing. Then the thief of the snuffbox turns up dead in his swimming pool only hours after seen with Georgiana. The French police are keeping a close eye on her as she's the number one suspect.

My Thoughts: I adore this series of the impoverished Lady Georgiana struggling to keep her place in society and adhere to all the rules. I love how trouble follows her around. I Love her meetings with the Queen and all her secret missions. I loved meeting Chanel (And reading the historical note at the end of the book) I loved more time with Georgiana's mother. I loved her struggles with Darcy. An fun new addition to this enchanting series!

Lady Georgiana is spending the winter in Nice. All the regular characters are there to liven thing up. Queen Mary has paid her way and Georgie agrees to do favor for HRM. Her Mother meets her at casino and invites Georgia to stay with her. Coco Chanel is holding ashow and Georgie is modeling wear the Queens necklace. Georgie stumbles and the necklace is stolen. Trying to find one of the items Georgie finds a murdered man. The French inspector accuses Lady Georgiana of the MURDER. Who will come to her aid is one of the many twists and surprises that are fun in this fast moving funny book.

As always, breezy and fun - it took me forever to finish only because of being busy with other things, no reflection on the book. I always enjoy Georgie and her adventures, but I am becoming a bit frustrated with the incessant back-and-forth between Georgie and Darcy - get on with it already! Just as she did in the Molly Murphy series, Bowen is dragging out the romance angle with no resolution in sight, resorting to cheap tricks like having Darcy disappear for large chunks of the case, showing up only for a quick kiss, clearing up yet another misunderstanding with Georgie (without actually stating his feelings), and Georgie is too wimpy to call him on it! Unfair and annoying, and as with the Molly Murphy series, I will probably lose interest before Bowen decides what to do with the young couple - too many books, too little time...

The Queen calls upon Georgie and to re-acquire an expensive diamond studded snuff box that a guest stole during a royal function. The Queen knows the man who did it and he is staying in Nice on the French Riviera. While Georgie is there, maybe she can keep an eye on her cousin, the Prince as he is running around with that American married woman. The Queen pays for Georgie's train fare and she is off with her inept maid. On the train she makes friends with an old acquaintance of the family, Vera Bate Lombardi and her good friend Coco Chanel. Yes, that Chanel!

Once in Nice, she finds that she is not welcome at all with her brother. They expect her to tutor their children and be a full time baby sitter for them. Georgie can't get back that snuff box at this rate. She is out for a walk and encounters Vera and Coco who insist she must come stay where they are because there will be room for her. Georgie discovers her mother owns the Villa that Vera and Coco are staying at. Her mother is escaping the cold winter in Germany and the rising political tensions. The best thing, her mother's villa is next door to Sir Toby Gropper - the man who stole the Queens snuff box.

When Coco Chanel insists that Georgie model her final piece in a fashion show that will be graced with the Queen's diamond and pearl necklace, the reader just knows disaster is going to strike. Georgie falls off the cat walk and the Queen's necklace is stolen in the confusion. Georgie has to find the necklace in addition to retrieving the Queen's snuff box. Of course there is a murder that the french police suspect Georgie for. Oh, and then there is the smoking hot French Marquis, Jean Paul de Ronchard, who is persuing Georgie to keep things hot and interesting.

Georgie was sparkling in this addition to the series and hilariously funny. She never gives up no matter how bleak or impossible the situation, which can make for some outrageously crazy situations. I have only read one other book in this series and I had not been introduced to her mother before who is the opposite of Georgie, breezy, self-centered and a party girl who likes rich men. I loved the character of Coco Chanel who was unconventional, yes, but unexpected in other ways. Jean Paul was a great character and I have to wonder if he will show up in another book to give Darcy more of a challenge for Georgie's affections. Darcy was not as present in this book which will be hard for the Darcy fans, but Jean Paul spices things up.

The plot was good and I was surprised by a revelation that Georgie uncovers in her investigation. I think this book will be a turning point in the series from the way some things were left. Will Georgie still live at Rannoch House or will she have to find someplace else to live? Will Darcy be more serious toward Georgie and so on? And the Queen's snuff box? You will have to read it to find out about that. I will say one of the scenes that had me crying from laughing so hard had to do with that expensive little collectable.

When you are having a really bad week and things are getting you down, turn to this book and it will have a smile on your face in no time. This is the book you want to read when you need to laugh so hard you are snorting! If laughter is the best medicine then this book should be prescribed for everybody's better health. I don't think I have ever laughed so much over a book. This book has a solid murder mystery to solve, a thief to unveil and enchanting characters to delight and entertain.

Join me at my mystery book blog:
<...>

Naughty in Nice is the fifth book in The Royal
Spyness series. I would call it the best in the series.

The London house is being closed as Lady Georgiana's (34th in line for the
throne) brother and his family are preparing to go the Riviera.
Unfortunately there is not enough money for Georgie and her maid to go with
them. But then the Queen asks if Georgie would undertake a secret mission
to recover a valuable snuffbox that has been stolen from the castle and is
surely in Nice. And of course to keep an eye on the wayward Prince and Mrs.
Simpson,too. In the dining car on the way to Nice, Georgie meets Coco
Channel. Channel is very impressed with Georgie and wants her to be a model
in a fashion show that is being planned in Nice.

Soon, with less than desirable accommodations with her brother and family,
Georgie heads off to villa where Channel is staying, only to find out it is
her mothers villa. Their neighbor is the just the person she wants to meet,
the one that stole the Queen's snuffbox. She visits with Sir Toby to see if
the snuffbox is actually there and it is. The next day Sir Toby is found
dead in his pool and a witness has placed Georgie at seen. Mean while at
the fashion show, Georgie is wearing one of Channel designs and a necklace
provided by the Queen and as she nears the end of the runway she trips and
falls and the necklace disappears.

Who is responsible for the theft and the killing of Sir Toby? And are they
related? We have a fair amount of suspects. Other than Georgie, there's is
the Marquis, for which Georgie has developed an interest in, who is the girl
in town that looks so much like Georgie, the wife who has her fill of
cheating husband, Sir Toby's son who was booted out of school and has
accumulated a fair amount of gambling debts.

Coco pulls in some favors and gets an inspector from Surtees and Georgie ask
her grandfather,a retired policeman, to come and help. Between the three of
them they are able to solve this exciting case.

This is a really fun and exciting read. More exciting twist and turns than
the Grand Prix at Monte Carlo. Chuckles abound in this series.

Lady Georgiana is spending the winter in Nice. All the regular characters are there to liven thing up. Queen Mary has paid her way and Georgie agrees to do favor for HRM. Her Mother meets her at casino and invites Georgia to stay with her. Coco Chanel is holding ashow and Georgie is modeling wear the Queens necklace. Georgie stumbles and the necklace is stolen. Trying to find one of the items Georgie finds a murdered man. The French inspector accuses Lady Georgiana of the MURDER. Who will come to her aid is one of the many twists and surprises that are fun in this fast moving funny book.

As always, breezy and fun - it took me forever to finish only because of being busy with other things, no reflection on the book. I always enjoy Georgie and her adventures, but I am becoming a bit frustrated with the incessant back-and-forth between Georgie and Darcy - get on with it already! Just as she did in the Molly Murphy series, Bowen is dragging out the romance angle with no resolution in sight, resorting to cheap tricks like having Darcy disappear for large chunks of the case, showing up only for a quick kiss, clearing up yet another misunderstanding with Georgie (without actually stating his feelings), and Georgie is too wimpy to call him on it! Unfair and annoying, and as with the Molly Murphy series, I will probably lose interest before Bowen decides what to do with the young couple - too many books, too little time...

The Queen calls upon Georgie and to re-acquire an expensive diamond studded snuff box that a guest stole during a royal function. The Queen knows the man who did it and he is staying in Nice on the French Riviera. While Georgie is there, maybe she can keep an eye on her cousin, the Prince as he is running around with that American married woman. The Queen pays for Georgie's train fare and she is off with her inept maid. On the train she makes friends with an old acquaintance of the family, Vera Bate Lombardi and her good friend Coco Chanel. Yes, that Chanel!

Once in Nice, she finds that she is not welcome at all with her brother. They expect her to tutor their children and be a full time baby sitter for them. Georgie can't get back that snuff box at this rate. She is out for a walk and encounters Vera and Coco who insist she must come stay where they are because there will be room for her. Georgie discovers her mother owns the Villa that Vera and Coco are staying at. Her mother is escaping the cold winter in Germany and the rising political tensions. The best thing, her mother's villa is next door to Sir Toby Gropper - the man who stole the Queens snuff box.

When Coco Chanel insists that Georgie model her final piece in a fashion show that will be graced with the Queen's diamond and pearl necklace, the reader just knows disaster is going to strike. Georgie falls off the cat walk and the Queen's necklace is stolen in the confusion. Georgie has to find the necklace in addition to retrieving the Queen's snuff box. Of course there is a murder that the french police suspect Georgie for. Oh, and then there is the smoking hot French Marquis, Jean Paul de Ronchard, who is persuing Georgie to keep things hot and interesting.

Georgie was sparkling in this addition to the series and hilariously funny. She never gives up no matter how bleak or impossible the situation, which can make for some outrageously crazy situations. I have only read one other book in this series and I had not been introduced to her mother before who is the opposite of Georgie, breezy, self-centered and a party girl who likes rich men. I loved the character of Coco Chanel who was unconventional, yes, but unexpected in other ways. Jean Paul was a great character and I have to wonder if he will show up in another book to give Darcy more of a challenge for Georgie's affections. Darcy was not as present in this book which will be hard for the Darcy fans, but Jean Paul spices things up.

The plot was good and I was surprised by a revelation that Georgie uncovers in her investigation. I think this book will be a turning point in the series from the way some things were left. Will Georgie still live at Rannoch House or will she have to find someplace else to live? Will Darcy be more serious toward Georgie and so on? And the Queen's snuff box? You will have to read it to find out about that. I will say one of the scenes that had me crying from laughing so hard had to do with that expensive little collectable.

When you are having a really bad week and things are getting you down, turn to this book and it will have a smile on your face in no time. This is the book you want to read when you need to laugh so hard you are snorting! If laughter is the best medicine then this book should be prescribed for everybody's better health. I don't think I have ever laughed so much over a book. This book has a solid murder mystery to solve, a thief to unveil and enchanting characters to delight and entertain.

Join me at my mystery book blog:
<...>

Naughty in Nice is the fifth book in The Royal
Spyness series. I would call it the best in the series.

The London house is being closed as Lady Georgiana's (34th in line for the
throne) brother and his family are preparing to go the Riviera.
Unfortunately there is not enough money for Georgie and her maid to go with
them. But then the Queen asks if Georgie would undertake a secret mission
to recover a valuable snuffbox that has been stolen from the castle and is
surely in Nice. And of course to keep an eye on the wayward Prince and Mrs.
Simpson,too. In the dining car on the way to Nice, Georgie meets Coco
Channel. Channel is very impressed with Georgie and wants her to be a model
in a fashion show that is being planned in Nice.

Soon, with less than desirable accommodations with her brother and family,
Georgie heads off to villa where Channel is staying, only to find out it is
her mothers villa. Their neighbor is the just the person she wants to meet,
the one that stole the Queen's snuffbox. She visits with Sir Toby to see if
the snuffbox is actually there and it is. The next day Sir Toby is found
dead in his pool and a witness has placed Georgie at seen. Mean while at
the fashion show, Georgie is wearing one of Channel designs and a necklace
provided by the Queen and as she nears the end of the runway she trips and
falls and the necklace disappears.

Who is responsible for the theft and the killing of Sir Toby? And are they
related? We have a fair amount of suspects. Other than Georgie, there's is
the Marquis, for which Georgie has developed an interest in, who is the girl
in town that looks so much like Georgie, the wife who has her fill of
cheating husband, Sir Toby's son who was booted out of school and has
accumulated a fair amount of gambling debts.

Coco pulls in some favors and gets an inspector from Surtees and Georgie ask
her grandfather,a retired policeman, to come and help. Between the three of
them they are able to solve this exciting case.

This is a really fun and exciting read. More exciting twist and turns than
the Grand Prix at Monte Carlo. Chuckles abound in this series.

Rhys Bowen's latest offering in her Royal Spyness series, Naughty in Nice, is pure fun. The French Riviera in 1933, Coco Chanel, Mrs. Simpson and the Duke of Windsor lurking on the sidelines, handsome scoundrels and clever thieves, gorgeous gowns and too much champagne, not to mention a dark, handsome lover and a clever if somewhat naïve young Lady Georgiana (cousin to Queen Mary) out to solve all the puzzles even if it puts her life in danger.

Rhys Bowen is the master of the historical mystery that is not quite as tame as most cozies but is delightfully entertaining without vivid violence or ugliness. She combines gentle satire of the English upper classes with a genuine affection for many of her characters, and her depiction of the period, setting and people reflects her careful research and knowledge, all to give her readers an engrossing, page-turning, can't-put-it-down read.

Rhys Bowen builds her plots out of a wide range of vividly developed characters plucked from across the strictly observed social classes of the period. Sometimes she uses the prejudices and assumptions of her characters to hide her villains where it will take Georgie and her friends and family a long time to recognize the good from the bad, and this technique gives some depth to her portrayal of the period. Her unexpected twists arise from her large pallet of interesting people rather than arcane or complicated plots, which makes for pleasurable reading. If you want a light, fun read, Naughty in Nice is perfect--or if you are new to this series, start with Her Royal Spyness, which is the first one in the series.

This is a fantastic author! She did a wonderful job at creating a fun, mysterious novel. It was well written and the characters were full of so much personality.

I wish, though, that I had gone back and read books 1-4, I absolutely had a blast following Georgie in this fun, mysterious novel! From mishaps on the run way, to the Queen's stolen treasures, poor Georgie had a go of it! I fell in love with her character and fell in step beside her, as we walked the walk, strutting Chanel's fashions, and as we set out to find the murderer. It was all so fun! Not to mention an ooh-la-la hunky, hunky man to drool over! With a name like Jean-Paul, who wouldn't swoon???? :-)

This is one of those crazy, cozy mysteries where you just KNOW you will not want it to end. That's how I felt! I didn't want it to end. But the good news? I get to go back soon and read the other 4 Royal Spyness books! I can't wait! If they are as awesome as this 5 Book worthy novel, then no doubt I'll be singing more praises for this fantastic author!

*This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review*

Received this book as a Goodreads Giveway.

Book 5 of the Royal Spyness Mysteries is a delightful, quick read. Set in London and Nice between the wars (I and II), it does reflect the reality for many young woman of the upper class. Loss of family fortunes and loss of most of their generation's eligible marriage partners, they had to earn their way as best they could. Lady Georgiana has chosen office work with spying on the side.

Lady G gets a change to visit Nice and French Riveria (just being discovered by "bright young things"). Her days are filled with stolen jewels, mystery men, and bodies. You'll enjoy this books and I plan to look for others in the series.

I Love This Series! Georgiana and Ms. Bowen can do no wrong. After all, it isn't every day a reader can hang out with the likes of Coco Chanel, Noel Coward, the queen. Well, maybe not all at one sitting but read enough of the series and you will armchair visit with them and have a lark of a good time.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch is 34th in line to the throne, but all dear old dad left to her and her brother was a crumbling castle in Scotland and a load of debt. Ladies of royal blood are not allowed to work, but Georgie earns points with Queen Mary by working in the soup line in the cold winter of 1933. She looks longingly at the well-heeled travelers bound for the French Riviera,and when her brother and his penny-pinching wife decide to go to Nice, leaving her behind, she is not thrilled with her options. Queen Mary makes her an offer she can't refuse - she'll pay for Georgie and her maid, the disastrous but lovable, loyal and brave Queenie, to go to Nice in return for a favor-retrieve an antique snuff box taken by a sticky-fingered palace guest who has a villa in Nice. And by the way, she can keep an eye out for David, Prince of Wales, and find out if That Woman - Wallis Simpson - is staying on his yacht.

Off she goes, sure she will have a wonderful time, despite the retrieval of stolen goods part. On the Blue Train she meets a distant relative and her friend, one Coco Chanel. Coco decides Georgie is the perfect model for her new line, and despite Georgie's protests that she hasn't the faintest experience in high fashion and that she is one of the clumsiest people on earth, Coco makes it happen. Sure enough, Georgie takes a tumble, and when the lights come up, the priceless necklace she was wearing has disappeared.

Along the way, Georgie discovers she has a doppleganger, she takes a dive off a yacht, she is wooed by a handsome and wealthy French marquis, she becomes the prime suspect in a grisly murder, is almost killed, and she learns more about her father and her would-be love, Darcy O'Mara, than she wants to. This 5th installment in A Royal Spyness Mystery is as entertaining as the first four.

Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series is full of witty fun and Lady Georgianna Rannoch is an endearingly pedigreed but penniless aristocrat. Naughty in Nice finds Lady G. sleuthing her way through 1930's Nice with the help of Coco Chanel, and exchanging barbs at cocktail parties with the conniving Wallis Simpson. I thoroughly enjoyed Georgie's romp on the Riviera but would like Bowen to eliminate her inept and irritating maid, Queenie. Bowen is clever enough to invent another companion who could add to rather than detract from our enjoyment.

I really liked this series by Rhys Bowen. She always surprises me with her twists in the story line. One thinks that the story is predictable when out of the blue she changes the story line keeping me always guessing what will happen. Loved this book.

Another fun Georgie book. Love that Georgie was able to stay in a nice house and get so much male attention. It's about time she got a small allowence from the Queen. Anyway, a charming book that I really enjoyed.