King & Joker

by Peter Dickinson

Paperback, 1983

Status

Available

Call number

Fic Mystery Dickinson

Collections

Publication

Pantheon (1983), Paperback, 222 pages

Description

In the cavernous halls of Buckingham Palace, a series of pranks lead to murder in this mystery by CWA Gold Dagger winner Peter Dickinson Princess Louise and her father, King Victor II of England, agree that life has become painfully dull. When she's not in school, Louise spends her days roaming the palace and fulfilling her royal duties while her father fusses over budgets and attempts to keep his family out of the tabloids. So when a prankster begins placing frogs on the breakfast trays, Louise delights in the break from routine--as does King Victor. But this innocent mischief soon escalates into bloodshed when a body is found in the palace.   In an attempt to quell his family's panic, King Victor resolves to catch the killer. At last he has a purpose--but the palace may be in greater danger than either he or Louise suspects.… (more)

Media reviews

Dickinson creates an interesting alternative history in which England is ruled by Victor II, descended from Edward VII.

User reviews

LibraryThing member raizel
This book was originally published in 1976, so the author's "present day" story takes place about then. His genealogical table at the beginning of the book imagines a ruling King Victor II. He and his two children and his wife's secretary live in the palace along with the nanny who has raised many
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generations of royals and the usual staff. The story is told mostly through the eyes of the daughter, in her early teens, and the bedridden nanny. The practical jokes at the beginning of the book, and before, lead to murder. There are surprising relationships. The story is more interesting than I'm making it sound.
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LibraryThing member ritaer
There is a practical joker loose in the palace, Princess Louise suddenly realizes that her mother's secretary is her father's mistress and the beloved nanny of three royal generations is dying. When jokes escalate to murder and Louise realizes that there are deeper secrets in the Palace she begins
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to doubt her role.
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Language

Original publication date

1976 - 1st hardcover
1977 - first paperback
1976 - first U.S. edition
2006 - Felony and Mayhem edition

Physical description

222 p.; 6.9 inches

ISBN

0394716000 / 9780394716008

Local notes

Princess Louise, 1

DDC/MDS

Fic Mystery Dickinson

Rating

½ (41 ratings; 3.9)
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