Linda Keir takes inspiration from the real life Meghan Markle and Princess Diana headlines in her new novel, The Royal Game.  In this romance/mystery hybrid, the Crown Prince of England has set his sights on ... you guessed it, an American songstress.  If you have followed the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle saga, you know how this goes.  Not everyone is quite pleased with the Prince's love choice, and some will even go so far as to threaten the future Queen's life.

Jennie Jensen, an American pop singer, has fallen in love with none other than the heir to the British throne - Prince Hugh.  Known for upholding longstanding traditions, the Royal Family is not exactly pleased that Hugh has chosen an American (and an adopted one at that) as his future wife, but at the surface level, they seem to be supporting the future King.

When Jennie begins receiving ominous correspondence, she delves into the past of Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, who was cast out of the Royal Family and later died suspiciously in a plane crash.  Jennie uncovers that the Princess feared for her life long before her deadly fate, and as Jennie and Hugh's wedding date inches closer, Jennie also begins to fear for her own.

Keir's The Royal Game is a mixed bag with some elements that really work, and others that fall flat.  I really love that this book was inspired by Meghan Markle and Princess Diana, as the former has recently taken the media by storm with her claims of abuse she received at the hands of the Royal Family.  However, as far as this book goes, I can say that truth is stranger than fiction because Keir's tale of Royal outcasts has nothing on its real-life counterparts.  The actual stories of Meghan Markle and Princess Diana are quite scandalous and drama-laden, and what happens to Jennie in this novel pales in comparison.  Keir didn't take risks with her novel, keeping everything relatively even-keeled, and never pushing the envelope too far.  I expected this to be a juicy read, but unfortunately found it to be rather vanilla when compared to real-life.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Princess Penelope's life.  Keir deftly showcases how the Princess's life closed in around her over time, drawing believable comparisons to Princess Diana.  However, when it comes to Jennie and Hugh's relationship, Keir completely misses the believability mark.  There is very little chemistry between the two, and Hugh reads more as a cardboard cutout than a flesh and blood prince.

This book will appeal to those fascinated with the Royal Family with the caveat that the characters in this book have nothing on the actual Royals.