This book was actually a lot more interesting than I thought I would be. I only read it for Monaco for my "around the world books" challenge, but I found myself caught up in the back-stabbing, intrigue and many colorful characters in the ruling Grimaldi family. I am related to plenty of back-stabbers but the people De Massy describes make my family look positively tranquil! It was like a soap opera. The only good person in the whole story, it would seem, was Grace Kelly, whom I felt deeply sorry for.

If you've got to read something about Monaco, or something about modern royal families, this might as well be it. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. ( )