Above the Bay of Angels - culinary hijinks with Queen Victoria

Above the Bay of Angels
by Rhys Bowen
4/5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐


Isabella Waverly is out for a rare day off from her life as a servant to a mean mistress and happens upon a woman who has been hit and mortally wounded by a bus. As she comforts the dying woman she thrusts a letter into Bella’s hand. It’s an offer of employment in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, and everything the budding young chef desperately wants, to escape her current situation. Bella takes a chance and follows her employer to the French Riviera, Nice, which is above the Bay of Angels. 

This is a delightful story, with notes of upstairs-downstairs, Downtown Abbey, and Victoria, all rolled into one. There are villains, family quandaries, amorous friends, and "misunderstandings".

The detailed descriptions of the food and various delicacies cooked by the kitchens for the Queen are so fun to read. 
The author has obviously done a very thorough job of researching the food that was actually served to Queen Victoria and the time she spent at the Hotel Regina Excelsior in Nice. 

The depictions of the characters are very sympathetic, and you find yourself rooting for Bella and for her friends as well. A quick and enjoyable read.
My one quibble is that I thought the title of the book was a bit weak and could have been better. They don't really talk about the bay in the book, and it's just not clear why the title was chosen.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My opinions are 100% independent and my own.