Rhys Bowen: Royal Flush
Book Club Discussion

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Can you tell us a little bit about how you come up with your historical settings/ideas? Do you find a particular piece of history that is left unanswered and begin to imagine the blanks? Or do you just go in search of stories that interest you?

I started writing the Molly books after a visit to Ellis Island when I was so moved by what I saw and felt that I had to set a book there. After the first book I focused on various pieces of New York history—the abuses in the garment industry, the anarchist movement and let a story evolve as I sent Molly into those situations. For Lady Georgie I knew I wanted a minor royal and I thought the Thirties was perfect because of all the tensions, great depression, unsettled situation in Europe etc, plus it was the last time that the upper class really lived that kind of life with oodles of servants and stately homes. The stories all come out of absurd situations that could happen to a penniless royal, plus they bring in underlying tensions in European politics.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

How do you decide whether or write a Molly, Lady Georgie, or Constable Evans mystery?

That's easy: I have contracts to write one Molly book and one Lady Georgie each year. I've put Evan on hold for a while because the publisher started taking some of the books out of print so it made no sense to go on writing. But the other two ladies keep me busy enough! And the Evan books are under a TV option so more may appear if Evan shows up on the small screen.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

In Royal Flush, an underlying theme of propriety is evident. Both Georgie's mother and her best friend, Belinda, are less than ladylike with their bed-hopping behavior, while Georgie is the epitome of a well-bred lady. Is Georgie more desirable to men, like the unattainable Darcy, because she is so "innocent?" Furthermore, why aren't her mother and Belinda looked down upon in their social circle for their promiscuous behavior?

Good question! A lower class woman would be called a slut. But in aristocratic circles bed hopping was a normal sport. Remember they had remarkably few ways to pass the time! It was okay to have affairs with a married woman. Most kings and princes had mistressly. Belinda is a little more unlikely because there was always the danger of an unwanted child, but the femme fatale has always existed and Belinda has now probably ruined her chance of a good marriage. As to Georgie being more desirable because of her innocence. Darcy confesses in the upcoming Royal Flush that he saw her to start with as a challenge. Perhaps he still does.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

It seems another idea you are commenting on is that the throne of England was never quite "safe." If a family got it into their minds to rule, they could usually find a way using guile and deceit. What surprised me is that many of the royal lineage expected, even anticipated, this happening! Why do you think this was so?

I don't think they thought that they were about to be usurped. Europe in the early 20th Century was in a state of upheaval. Anarchists were at work, some countries like Germany were power hungry, communism was on the rise. But don't forget that the royal houses of Europe were all interrelated. Queen Victoria's daughters had married into several royal houses so most of Europe was in some way related to her. In WW1 it was cousin fighting cousin.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Georgie has successfully prevailed in three tricky situations so far and I expect we'll see her again soon. Will she ever marry or does her single, virgin-hood, make for a better story? Couldn't she be tottering around, eight months pregnant and solving crimes?

I hope she will marry some day, but I can't see Darcy settling down at present, can you? Maybe she'll give up on him and go to marry someone suitable, only to be swept away at the altar by Darcy. Now wouldn't that be a fun story? For now she'll stay single...but how long virginal, I couldn't say. Darcy is awfully handsome and persuasive...

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Was twenty-two really considered a "spinster" for the times? Is that why Hugo constantly refers to Georgie as "old fruit" or "old bean?"

Old Fruit and old bean were just familiarities between members of the upper class. When I was young I mixed with people of both sexes who called each other "old bean." And of course twenty-two wasn't horribly old but among the upper class a girl was presented at eighteen or so and expected to have found a husband by the end of her season. So Georgie is a failure in that respect.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Rhys Bowen

Can you tell us anything about your current writing projects?

I've just finished the next Molly book. I'm really excited about it. It features Houdini and Molly finds herself in a case involving illusion and espionage. Exciting stuff.

And I'm about to start on the next Lady Georgie book, also something I'm really looking forward to. Georgie is sent to represent the crown at a royal wedding in Transylvania. The castle looks remarkably like Draculas and Georgie comes to believe that maybe vampires do exist. Isn't that fun?