An easy, entertaining read with ample amounts of quirky humour along the way.
Rating: 3.3/5
This is the second book in the series featuring Elizabeth II as the new Queen on the cosy crime scene. As with "The Windsor Knot" this is well-written and makes for an easy, entertaining read with ample amounts of quirky humour along the way. If "The Windsor Knot" was to your liking, then this is also likely to be. If you haven't yet read that first book, then you could happily read this one without it noticeably diminishing the experience.
On the whole, I don't think this is quite as strong as the first book in the series. Obviously, this sequel doesn't have the benefit of originality that its forerunner had as the basic premise has already been established. Sophia Bennett's inside knowledge of the workings of the Royal Family is again put to good effect in a way that is both enlightening and amusing. Also, as with book one, the fictional events in this story are cleverly placed into the real world context of national and international politics at the time (in this case set in 2016). However, "A Three Dog Problem" doesn't have quite the same edge that was evident in the series opener. In "The Windsor Knot" the light-hearted elements of the novel were contrasted with some quite stark references to drug use and alternative sexual practices. This second book is a much cosier affair and I often felt that the actual mystery was merely a functional vehicle to allow Sophia Bennett to put the characters of her key protagonists in the shop window.
Nonetheless, this is still an enjoyable way to pass a few hours and I have little doubt that I will be coming back to read the third book in the series too.
This is the second book in the series featuring Elizabeth II as the new Queen on the cosy crime scene. As with "The Windsor Knot" this is well-written and makes for an easy, entertaining read with ample amounts of quirky humour along the way. If "The Windsor Knot" was to your liking, then this is also likely to be. If you haven't yet read that first book, then you could happily read this one without it noticeably diminishing the experience.
On the whole, I don't think this is quite as strong as the first book in the series. Obviously, this sequel doesn't have the benefit of originality that its forerunner had as the basic premise has already been established. Sophia Bennett's inside knowledge of the workings of the Royal Family is again put to good effect in a way that is both enlightening and amusing. Also, as with book one, the fictional events in this story are cleverly placed into the real world context of national and international politics at the time (in this case set in 2016). However, "A Three Dog Problem" doesn't have quite the same edge that was evident in the series opener. In "The Windsor Knot" the light-hearted elements of the novel were contrasted with some quite stark references to drug use and alternative sexual practices. This second book is a much cosier affair and I often felt that the actual mystery was merely a functional vehicle to allow Sophia Bennett to put the characters of her key protagonists in the shop window.
Nonetheless, this is still an enjoyable way to pass a few hours and I have little doubt that I will be coming back to read the third book in the series too.