FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE (Her Royal Spyness #19) by Rhys Bowen will be released on publication November 18, 2025, by Berkley.
Between searching for a replacement for her son’s unpleasant nanny and dealing with her overbearing sister-in-law, Lady Georgie Rannoch finds the time to investigate the tragic deaths of four young noblemen. The four men died in separate incidents—a car accident, a boating accident, a medical issue, and falling off the side of a mountain—and have nothing to link them together aside from attending University together years ago, but George is convinced that someone has targeted these men. And she’s afraid her husband, Darcy, could be next. With help from her friends, Georgie travels across England to investigate these “accidents” and stop the killer before he can strike again.
FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE was okay, but it does not make it on the list of my favorite Her Royal Spyness books. The focus of the book is mainly on Georgie’s life at home—married life, motherhood, family squabbles, and dealing with the servants and the estate. The mystery came across as more of an afterthought until the last third of the book. None of the deaths take place anywhere near Georgie. Her only connection to two of the deaths is through her friends. For a long time, no one believes in Georgie, and it’s just her trying to prove she’s right. Once Darcy realizes that a killer is targeting these men, the action finally picks up. Well written, as always, but lacks excitement.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.