Book Review: The Queen That Wears the Crown

Reviewed by Alexandria Ducksworth

A compelling Caribbean mystery equipped with plenty of secrets and backstabbing

Three young girls are missing in Jamaica’s Parrot Valley, and social activist Carmen Young is doing everything in her power to bring awareness to the situation. But problems escalate when two people die during a protest. And to top it off, Carmen’s fiancé Julian is arrested in America with a murder of his own. What else could even go wrong? 

Meanwhile, Detective Benjamin Rhodes is on the protest murder case. A tip from the town drunk leads him to the town’s dark underbelly and to the truth of both mysteries.

Author Horane Smith has created a thrilling mystery in this lush Caribbean landscape. The Queen That Wears the Crown is like an intoxicating combination of escapism and reality. Everything seems to be happening at once, and it isn’t without its accompanying action. There’s the case of the missing girls, the protest deaths, and Julian’s arrest, but there’s also much more beneath the surface. Smith successfully reveals that even the smallest quaint towns have their dirty laundry. 

There are tons of shady activities and characters lurking around Parrot Valley. Brook Cunningham is the town’s known rich son and definitely one of those characters. Carmen’s engagement to Julian means nothing to Brook; he’s been vying for her hand for years. Brook is no saint despite the town seeing him as one, and he ends up playing a devious role in this plot.

Human trafficking is a major theme in The Queen That Wears the Crown. Carmen’s ambition and resilience are essential attributes to a situation that feels hopeless. Through Carmen’s quest to uncover the truth behind disappearances and murders, the novel explores how corruption seeps into small-town life, making the fight for justice an uphill battle. Carmen’s role highlights the complexities of activism in a community where trust is fragile and those in power may not have the people’s best interests at heart.

Horane Smith paints a vivid picture of Parrot Valley’s social issues. Themes like deportation, economic struggle, and rising crime contribute to the story’s tension, highlighting the town’s fractured state and the challenges its residents face in the wake of tragedy. This backdrop enriches the novel’s themes greatly.

Carmen Young is a smart protagonist with a strong will to fight for people’s rights, but her personal goal is simple: settle down with Julian after he graduates from college in America. While she has a strong head on her shoulders, readers may find her sudden distrust of Julian after his arrest somewhat unbelievable. They’ve been together for 15 years. Sure, the sudden surprise is devastating, but it feels off-base for her to turn her back with so little proof.

The Queen That Wears the Crown filled with secrets waiting to be unlocked. All I could think of while reading was the British TV show Death in Paradise. Parrot Valley is filled with colorful characters, from the persistent detective to the town gossiper. Every chapter leads readers deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of the town’s mysteries.

Horane Smith succeeds in crafting this satisfying island thriller. Those who love good tropical locations with their mysteries will relish all the good that The Queen That Wears the Crown has to offer.

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