Saturday, February 8, 2025

Book Review | PRINCESS OF THE SAVOY by Ron Base and Prudence Emery


PRINCESS OF THE SAVOY
BY RON BASE AND PRUDENCE EMERY | PUBLICATION: SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
DOUGLAS & MCINTYRE | GENRE: COZY MYSTERY
RATING: ★★★
____________________________________________________________________


Check back into London’s posh Savoy Hotel in the swinging sixties where dark forces and murder are uninvited guests—volume 3 in the cheeky series that is now a French bestseller.

Everything at London’s Savoy Hotel appears to be the picture of perfection: two Italian princes are checking in and an amorous English lord is taking photographs on the rooftop.

But in the Savoy Press Office, it’s a different picture entirely. There, Miss Priscilla Tempest is scrambling to avoid a boss who would like to be rid of her, a threatening American gangster, and the rather thrilling star of the Tarzan movies.

And it isn’t long before a fascist plot, hatched in an English country estate, arrives to truly ruin her day—and threaten British democracy.

In this third installment in Ron Base and Prudence Emery’s beloved series, reluctant Canadian crime-fighter Priscilla Tempest joins forces with her would-be lover—the ink-stained scribe of Fleet Street, Percy Hoskins—on a danger-filled adventure to untangle a deadly web of conspiracy that could get them both killed.

Sassy, suspenseful and always entertaining, Princess of the Savoy will delight readers looking to escape into a world of glamour, danger, treachery and a dead body or two—where there is always time for just one more cocktail, even when democracy itself is at stake.
____________________________________________________________________


In the third installment of the Priscilla Tempest Mysteries, PRINCESS OF THE SAVOY, Ron Base and Prudence Emery whisk readers back to the swinging sixties at London's posh Savoy Hotel. The luxurious setting hides a thrilling and suspenseful tale, where dark forces and murder lurk among the glamorous guests.

Priscilla Tempest, the impulsive and determined press officer of the Savoy Hotel, finds herself in another perilous adventure. The story follows her interactions with two Italian princes embroiled in a succession conflict, one of whom is secretly involved in a Nazi organization plotting to overthrow the British government. As Priscilla navigates these treacherous waters, she must also contend with a threatening American gangster, a thrilling Tarzan movie star, and a boss eager to get rid of her.

Renowned personalities frequent the Savoy, adding a touch of celebrity intrigue to the narrative. The authors deftly blend fiction with historical elements, creating a vivid and engaging backdrop for the story. However, the political investigation and the multitude of characters can at times feel overwhelming, with a succession of misfortunes that weigh down the narrative's pacing.

Despite jumping into the series with this third volume, readers can still appreciate the entertaining plot, colorful characters, and humorous dialogues. The sassy, suspenseful, and always entertaining Priscilla Tempest joins forces with her would-be lover, Percy Hoskins, in a danger-filled adventure that keeps readers on their toes.

While PRINCESS OF THE SAVOY may not be the easiest plot to follow, it remains an enjoyable cozy mystery with a touch of glamour, danger, and treachery. For those who love a good mix of history and fiction, this book will surely delight. If you haven't read the previous volumes, it might be worth starting from the beginning to fully appreciate the intricacies of Priscilla Tempest's world.


TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | GOODREADS


About the Authors:

Prudence Emery worked as the press and public relations officer at the Savoy Hotel, and later as a publicist on more than a hundred film productions. She is also the author of the bestselling memoir Nanaimo Girl (Cormorant Books, 2020).

Both Prudence and the fictional protagonist, Priscilla Tempest, held the job as press secretary at the Savoy. When asked just how much they had in common, Prudence would answer, with a twinkle in her eye, that “there are things that Priscilla does that I would never do... and there are things I have done that Priscilla would never do. I will not say anything else.”

Emery died in Victoria BC, on April 14, 2024, at the age of 88.


Ron Base is a former newspaper and magazine journalist and movie critic. His works include twenty novels, two novellas and four non-fiction books. Base lives in Milton, ON.



*Thanks to Douglas & Mcintyre for the ebook accessC
in exchange for this unbiased review.






0 Comments:

Post a Comment