Royal Escape

Faction novels often make for excellent book reading as in the case of Royal Escape. The character of Princess Elena is closely based on Princess Diana. Susan Froetschel has thoroughly researched the British royal family for authenticity of detail. However, this is not the real Diana's story. Royal Escape is an absorbing, page-turning mystery thriller that the reader simply cannot put down. Starting with the murder of Elena's divorce attorney, a chilling series of events, meant to isolate Elena from her children and ultimately to end her very existence, unfold. Elena is a well-drawn character, realistic and completely sympathetic. The high praise of reviewers is justified and deserved.

One afternoon as a harried day of work was approaching an end, I surreptitiously checked my personal email in the hopes of a word from a friend or joke from a relative. The first message that caught my eye announced an Author Talk that evening at one of the local libraries. The author was Susan Froetschel who would be discussing her new book The Royal Escape. Though exhausted I found my interest peaked by the fact this evidently wasn't just an author trying to sell her latest book but was more of a mystery writing workshop to help aspiring mystery writers such as myself with those unavoidable tricky spots and problem areas. The author briefly discussed her book, gave a short reading, then launched into the workshop. Sometimes at such workshops you hear a preponderance of generalities that while well meaning, don't really help much with any of the specific problems a writer frequently faces. Not this time. The author provided detailed suggestions for how to hook the reader in the first few pages, character development, point of view (my personal weak spot), motivation, plot and endings that work. She gave out worksheets and exercises some of which we completed on the spot and went over with her feedback and comments, and a number of others she gave us to take home. Though not one for exercises or lots of pre-development, I completed each one and later found myself incorporating much of what I'd worked out during those activities into my manuscript as well as changing parts that I didn't realize weren't working prior to the workshop. All I know is that my arrogant psychologist who's life is being ruined, though he has no idea by whom, began to develop characteristics which made him seem a little more worthy of compassion and my lunatic who's carrying out all the crimes against said Psychologist develop characteristic that made him seem a little less worthy of understanding due to his horrifically abusive childhood and far more sinister. After completing several worksheets, suddenly, my characters were becoming three-dimensional! Yet that wasn't all I got out of the evening. When at an Author Talk while some feel obligated to buy a book, I do so only when it seems like something I'd truly enjoy reading. To be honest, I wasn't entirely certain at first of this book, generally not liking narratives that follow real life, famous story lines too closely and let's face it, you don't get more famous than the British Royal Family and Princess Diana. Still, from the description it seemed as if it could be a unique spin on even such well known events so I bought a copy mostly out of curiosity as to how the author

Striking personalities enrich this tale of the royals in their misguided approach to life and living. We are drawn to admire and despise the deep characters portrayed as the plot unfolds.

Having read Froetschel's earlier books, both set in Alaska, I was eager to read Royal Escape, such a departure in setting and character. This book offers what seems like an inside story, almost as if the author worked as an au pair for the family. Maybe she di have an inside source.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable "what if." The author starts at the point the royal fairytale is going south and puts an interesting twist to it. At the same time she gives us some insight to the downside of being born royal and the dark side of security. It moves along quickly with action and human interest, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read with a bit of depth.