Princess of the Savoy by Prudence Emery and Ron Base
Princess of the Savoy
by Prudence Emery and Ron Base
Douglas & McIntyre, 2024; 288 pages; $19.95
Review by Henry Osborne
“What had Canadians to offer the world? Not much if Miss Tempest was any indication.” Contrary to Mr. Clive Banville’s, the general manager of The Savoy, beliefs, Canadians, at least in the case of Prudence Emery and Ron Base, have fast-paced, fizzling, and scandalous mysteries to offer the world. I don’t want to get too deep into the beats of the plot because there are some important twists and turns early on — the murdering begins within the first handful of pages — but I’ll go over the foundation with you. At the height of the Swinging 60s, a colourful and sleazy cast of characters, including two Italian princes and Tarzan (to name a few), check in to The Savoy, one of London’s most storied and lavish hotels nestled on the edge of the River Thames.
The plot is set in motion when Priscilla Tempest, our witty, minidress-wearing, Canadian protagonist is sent by her boss, Clive Banville, and Prince Teodoro (one of the Italian princes), to investigate the details of an unsavoury story that a local newspaper, the Evening Standard, is planning to run on prince Teodoro. This brings her back into contact with series regular (and, based on some cursory research, real renowned crime reporter) Percy Hoskins, the lead reporter on the Teodoro story. What comes next is a twisting and complex mystery of murder and fascist plots that threaten to dismantle English democracy. Tempest is a very likeable character, a competent and intelligent protagonist that doesn’t rely on the stereotypical masculine qualities to make her a “strong” woman, but instead sets herself apart with her wit and humour.
For a brief time, I felt critical of how the book can get tangled up in adverbs and the formula of amateur sleuth and cozy mysteries. but, upon some self-reflection, I realized I was being hypercritical. I was in the wrong mood, sporting an unhelpful demeanor, to fully appreciate Princess of the Savoy for what it is. If you’re concerned with subverting formula and avoiding adverbs, then you’re reading this book for the wrong reasons. once I took a step back and recalibrated my expectations, I realized how fun Princess of the Savoy is. It’s the literary equivalent of a fizzling flute of champagne: a light (but sometimes dark), funny, scandalous, and clever murder mystery with a liberal helping of cheese. While it can often be campy, it never takes the cheap or easy way out. The language is quick, the dialogue sharp, and Emery and base build momentum in such an effective way that once you’ve walked through the first couple chapters, you suddenly find yourself halfway through the story, as though you’re rushing down a waterslide, effortlessly slipping through the pages.
If I were to do it all over again, reading Princess of the Savoy for the first time, I would read it pool-side at a palm Springs hotel, a mimosa balanced on my stomach while I methodically flip deeper into the murder and mayhem, quietly chuckling beneath a very large and fancy sun hat. This is the optimal environment to fully digest and appreciate Princess of the Savoy and, if you plan on embarking on this clever little English romp, is the fashion in which I recommend you read it. »