Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
We Three Queens by Rhys Bowen is a delightful blend of historical fiction with a cozy mystery. There are three different subplots in this story.
The story takes place in 1936 where King Edward wants to marry the divorced Mrs. Wallis Simpson. He asks Georgie’s husband, Darcy, to hide Wallis in their home until Parliament decides if they will allow the marriage.
Also coming as guests are Georgie’s brother Binky, his wife Fig, and their two children. They plan to use Darcy and Georgie’s home as a base while they investigate nearby boarding schools for their oldest son. Now Georgie must deal with two people she dislikes, both bossy, Fig and Mrs. Simpson.
To make matters worse Sir Hubert, the owner of the estate, has given a film crew permission to shoot a motion picture about Henry the Eighth, Catherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn on the premises.
There are also references to WWII, how the Nazis were treating the Jewish people, and Mrs. Simpson’s friendship with those in the Nazi regime.
The mystery comes into play when Georgie’s black labs find the strangled body of the film’s leading lady. Georgie and Darcy must use all their skills and connections to thwart a murderer.
This story is amusing with sharp banter blending humor, wit, and the desires to solve a murder.
Elise Cooper: The idea for the story?
Rhys Bowen: This series is driven by real history. We followed the whole relationship between King Edward and Mrs. Simpson. From when they first met, to getting more serious, and this book is their relationship at the beginning of 1936 where he insists on marrying her. The King, who is a good friend of Georgie’s husband Darcy, asks Darcy to help hide Mrs. Simpson. I also included others coming to the house, including Georgie’s brother and sister-in-law as well as a film crew. She has three lots of people she must juggle.
EC: Why the title, We Three Queens?
RB: The Queens are Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn that are part of the film and then Mrs. Simpson who expects to be Queen. I tried to make Mrs. Simpson true to life.
EC: How does Georgie feel about Mrs. Simpson?
RB: She does not like her, especially since Mrs. Simpson is very critical of her. Georgie thinks she has a very cutting tongue. Now having her stay in their house is Georgie’s worst nightmare. Mrs. Simpson always bossed Edward around. Mrs. Simpson is self-centered, scheming, manipulating, nasty, and naïve because she believes she can be Queen. She would mock King Georgie’s family all the time.
EC: Why this quote, “She may finally develop a conscience about what is happening to the Jewish population.”
RB: People in England were not aware of what is happening in Germany. But in 1936 there are Jewish people arriving telling how they are being threatened so people are more aware. I want people to think about what happened in Germany when good people did nothing. In a previous book I wrote how Edward met with the Germans to discuss how they could help each other.
EC: What about her sister-in-law Fig?
RB: She is rude, demanding, and critical. Georgie does not stand up to her more because she does not want to lose contact with her brother who she adores.
EC: What about the role of the film crew?
RB: The director is very aggressive and thinks the whole property belongs to him. I wanted to have the comparison to what is happening to Edward and Mrs. Simpson and the past royalty with Henry VIII. Both tried to defy the Church of England. It was also fun to see how Hollywood behaved as it came to English royalty.
EC: What about the black labs?
RB: Georgie and Darcy gave each other one as a Christmas present the year before. They are chewing everything up. For Georgie they are quite loveable but also quite naughty. Everyone in English houses have naughty dogs where they run everywhere they shouldn’t. Until labs are about two, they are very naughty and then they settle down and are adorable.
EC: The next books?
RB: The next Georgie book, I am writing how Edward and Mrs. Simpson, after being married, visited Germany. Also, Fig will send Georgie a nanny. And someone is killing the sons of aristocrats. The title is From Cradle to Grave coming out this time next year.
The next Molly Murphy book comes out next March. It is titled, Silence Is the Grave. It deals with the beginning of the motion picture industry and how the two companies tried to sabotage each other.
The historical novel comes out in August with a working title, Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure. It is about a middle-aged woman in England, the perfect wife, until at the age of fifty, her husband decides to get a divorce. She steals his Bentley and with three other women drive to the South of France. They forge a new female bond. I will also talk about how the war is coming to France.
EC: THANK YOU!!
