“Now I wanted to become an expert cook—but more than that, I wanted to be an independent woman with the means to live life on my terms. Now was time for me.”
In Victorian England, young Bella takes a letter from a dying stranger in the street. She uses the dead stranger’s name, background, and letter of recommendation to obtain a job working as a cook for Queen Victorian in Buckingham Palace. But as events transpire, Bella realizes that she is not the only one with a secret.
The overall story is a very light historical fiction that slowly builds up to Queen Victoria’s stay at the Hotel Regina Excelsior on the Riviera in France. Once they arrive and acts of treason begin to unfold, the story begins to pick up a bit.
For the first 3/4 of the book, it’s basically about the main character, Bella, wondering if anyone will realize she is lying about who she is, helping choose dishes for the Queen, and trying to prove herself among a kitchen full of men. During this time, she is pulled this way and that by various men who are romantically interested in her, and she often thinks about what decision to make regarding their romantic interest in her.
“Did I really want to become a real chef? Even if the prospect of marriage was offered to me?”
Chapter 30 (82% on a kindle) a mystery develops involving a murder. Before this murder mystery occurs, it is mainly what I described above.
There is little historical context outside of the royal family, though I enjoyed reading the Historical Note at the end.
Visit author Rhys Bowen’s website to learn more about her books.
Rhys Bowen is an award winning author. Her novel In Farleigh Field won best historical novel Agatha Award winner. Watch the book trailer for In Farleigh Field below.
Her mystery series, A Royal Spyness Mystery, is popular. Click here to view the books in order.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Above the Bay of Angels. Opinions are my own.