Goodnight, Sweet Prince

Rating:
Summary: Sweet Prince could have been sweeter...
Review: I picked up David Dickinson's Goodnight Sweet Prince because I am fascinated with the Victorian era, and especially, with Queen Victoria and her family. The Sweet Prince in the title is Prince Albert Victor, oldest son of the Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VII) and second in line to the throne. Prince Eddy (as he is nicknamed) wasn't the brightest or most honorable of souls. He had no interest in learning and would probably be classified as special education today. He also had unorthodox sexual preferences, and was known to frequent prostitutes of both sexes. It was rumored that he had syphilis, and there was even talk that he was the real Jack the Ripper. His family was hoping that a marriage to Princess May of Teck would help set him straight and make him more respectable. Just days before his wedding, he died suddenly of influenza at the age of 28. But was influenza the real killer?

It is not a stretch to think that maybe Prince Eddy was murdered. He was an embarrassment to his family and would have made a questionable monarch. Britain and the Royal Family had nothing to lose and everything to gain by his death. In fact, Britain was much better off having Eddy's brother, King George V and his bride, Queen Mary (Eddy's former fiancée) lead the Empire through World War I. It is also believable that the Royal Family engaged in a cover-up. For those who think that they couldn't possibly stoop so low should remember that this is the same family who euthanized King George V as he was dying. They wanted his death to be reported first in the morning newspapers, and not the scandal sheet evening tabloids.

But what I did find a stretch was the plot itself. A British Lord, Francis Powerscourt, dabbles as a private investigator. He travels all over the Empire and Italy in search of the killer. There are scandals and cover-ups going back many years that Powerscourt must uncover. Interspersed throughout is a romance that I don't think adds much to the story. Also, although the book is filled with many true facts (the many affairs of the Prince of Wales, the many scandals involving Prince Eddy, etc.), there are also many more tidbits that are total fiction. There is also very little about the Royal Family-a disappointment to me.

So as mysteries go, Goodnight Sweet Prince did not live up to my expectations, although I have to admit that I have read a lot worse.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet Prince could have been sweeter...
Review: I picked up David Dickinson's Goodnight Sweet Prince because I am fascinated with the Victorian era, and especially, with Queen Victoria and her family. The Sweet Prince in the title is Prince Albert Victor, oldest son of the Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VII) and second in line to the throne. Prince Eddy (as he is nicknamed) wasn't the brightest or most honorable of souls. He had no interest in learning and would probably be classified as special education today. He also had unorthodox sexual preferences, and was known to frequent prostitutes of both sexes. It was rumored that he had syphilis, and there was even talk that he was the real Jack the Ripper. His family was hoping that a marriage to Princess May of Teck would help set him straight and make him more respectable. Just days before his wedding, he died suddenly of influenza at the age of 28. But was influenza the real killer?

It is not a stretch to think that maybe Prince Eddy was murdered. He was an embarrassment to his family and would have made a questionable monarch. Britain and the Royal Family had nothing to lose and everything to gain by his death. In fact, Britain was much better off having Eddy's brother, King George V and his bride, Queen Mary (Eddy's former fiancée) lead the Empire through World War I. It is also believable that the Royal Family engaged in a cover-up. For those who think that they couldn't possibly stoop so low should remember that this is the same family who euthanized King George V as he was dying. They wanted his death to be reported first in the morning newspapers, and not the scandal sheet evening tabloids.

But what I did find a stretch was the plot itself. A British Lord, Francis Powerscourt, dabbles as a private investigator. He travels all over the Empire and Italy in search of the killer. There are scandals and cover-ups going back many years that Powerscourt must uncover. Interspersed throughout is a romance that I don't think adds much to the story. Also, although the book is filled with many true facts (the many affairs of the Prince of Wales, the many scandals involving Prince Eddy, etc.), there are also many more tidbits that are total fiction. There is also very little about the Royal Family-a disappointment to me.

So as mysteries go, Goodnight Sweet Prince did not live up to my expectations, although I have to admit that I have read a lot worse.

Rating:
Summary: fascinating and captivating reading
Review: If you're looking for a good historical mystery that is evocative of the Victorian period with all it's dark, horrific secrets and that takes a look at the highhandedness as well as the dissolute weakness of the British monarchy, look no further: "Goodnight, Sweet Prince" reflects all this in spades. While not the kind of mystery novel that is full of twists and turns and red herrings, I found myself absolutely glued to the pages as I read along as the detective of this novel, Lord Francis Powerscourt, tried to unmask the murderer of Prince Eddy, eldest son to the Prince of Wales, and uncover a motive behind the killing.

It's 1892 (and the 54th year of Queen Victoria's reign) when Prince Eddy is discovered murdered in his bed (he has been stabbed over and over again and died with a smile on his face) at Sandringham (the royal country house). His father, the Prince of Wales, immediately orders a cover-up, and the story is put out that the Prince had died of influenza instead. But the Prince of Wales also insists that his son's death be investigated and avenged. Lord Francis Powerscourt, a special investigator who had been initially called on to discover who was trying to blackmail the Prince of Wales, is now asked to investigate the murder instead. How was so audacious a crime carried out? Why didn't the Prince call out for help? And who wanted him dead? These are the questions that Lord Francis has to ask himself as he begins his investigation. The suspects are many and diverse, and include anyone from the anarchists to the Prince of Wales himself, who was furious at Prince Eddy for his scandalous and dissolute behaviour. And as Lord Francis follows the wispy path of gossip and innuendo, he begins to uncover such a trail of scandal and vice that even makes this very decent man begin to question what he is doing.

The great thing about this novel is the manner in which the plot unfolds. Davidson takes his time to set the stage -- the murder of the prince does not take place until a quarter way into the book -- but by that time he has drawn a picture of the two dissolute and arrogant princes, intent on their own pleasure, and with very little care for the feelings of others, as well as given a very good idea of the kind of person the chief investigator, Lord Francis Powerscourt, is. We see how early tragedy has touched Lord Francis's life, and how this has made him especially sensitive to the pain and sorrow in others. The pacing of this novel is flawless, and the manner in which Davidson 'fleshes' out his characters in absolutely brilliant -- with a few well chosen words and phrases, you'd swear that the very characters themselves have come alive in front of you. "Goodnight, Sweet Prince" is an extremely well written book, that however may not be everyone cup of tea since it deals with the scandalous and imperious behavior of royal family members that may offend some readers, esp if their royalists. But it would be a shame however to give this excellent book a miss, because it is an extremely fun read.

Rating:
Summary: Great characters and mystery--royals acting badly
Review: In 1881, Victoria is Queen and Empress and proper British society is at its very height, yet all is not well. Investigator Lord Powerscourt is brought into a strange case involving blackmail of the Prince of Wales himself. England's heir has followed in some of the unfortunate traditions of royalty and his son, Prince Eddy, may be even worse. When Prince Eddy is found dead and the Prince of Wales decides on a cover-up, Powerscourt is called upon to find the killer in a murder that the English Royals simply cannot admit occured.

Author David Dickinson offers a delightful combination of engaging characters (the romance between Powerscourt and Lady Lucy is very well done as is the time-table toting butler) and compelling mystery. As Powerscourt digs deeper into the murder, he finds that Prince Eddy had much to account for and that the list of people with motives is long indeed. Powerscourt's investigative abilities and the reader's enjoyment are enhanced by his insights into society and humanity.

The scandals of the Royals have made history from the days of Shakespear until today. Dickinson reminds us that even in the glory days of the British Empire and Victoria, power and corruption add up to a dangerous combination--dangerous both to the royals themselves, and to everyone who comes in contact with them. GOODNIGHT SWEET PRINCE is a joy to read.

Highly Recommended.