Out Now

  • book

  • Retribution Royale

    The Untold Story Behind the 1946 Royal Windsor Jewels Heist

    H L Leavey

    It’s 1946: Leslie Holmes, in a daring act of revenge, has stolen Wallis Simpson’s precious jewels to a today’s value of £20 million.

    Read More

    It’s 1946: Leslie Holmes, in a daring act of revenge, has stolen Wallis Simpson’s precious jewels to a today’s value of £20 million.

    This untold mystery delves deep into love, passion, betrayal and espionage: combining the suspense of the jewel heist with the mental trials of World War II and the fascination of Wallis and Edward VIII.

    The truthful tale takes these two very different couples from opposing ends of society: Leslie and his sensuously fragile wife, against the Duke with his dominatrix Duchess; running them parallel until that pivotal moment in 1946. Exploring how twists of fate could turn an honest soldier into a royal jewel thief, subsequently defying the greatest minds of Scotland Yard; and how an illegitimate twice divorcee could steal the heart of the throne whilst performing traitorous acts against Great Britain.

    A tragically true tale of love and betrayal.

    Buy Paperback
    Buy Kindle
    Buy Paperback
    Buy Paperback
    PP Logo

The rough hand pushed Leslie Holmes back into the stark cold cell and slammed the heavy metal door with a resounding clunk. The sound seemed to reverberate around the unforgiving room. At the same time the wind picked up and howled at the tiny, barred window. It seemed to mirror his heart’s cry of anguish.
Excerpt from Retribution Royale

Katherine, Hermann and Wallis had been out dancing in Nice at the Palm Beach Club, and the night before they’d been gambling at Casino Partouche. Wallis loved being swept up in the glamorous and cushioned lifestyle of the wealthy; all playing at being incredibly beautiful and outrageously raucous.
Excerpt from Retribution Royale

He swept her up like a bird and spun her whirling round, mesmerised in her golden world as the sun shone iridescent shafts of fire through her hair and lit their passion; he was mingling with her spirit again.
Excerpt from Retribution Royale

Wallis curtseyed, and looked deep into his beautiful blue eyes, deep into the sad and tormented soul that was bound by royal patronage; seeing the pain of his insecurities and the deep loneliness that high positions often come with.
Excerpt from Retribution Royale

On Her Majesty’s Service was typed unsuspectingly on a plain and simple small brown paper envelope. This was no ordinary brown envelope. These were the bullets and bombs of disintegration of families; dropped through the letterbox by one’s friendly postman. The letter of doom; but also of duty, necessity and patriotism.
Excerpt from Retribution Royale

Metal 5 Stars

“What an amazing story, and so beautifully written. From beginning to end I was totally absorbed into the world of Gwen and Les and the difficult times they lived in. I can't recommend it highly enough - a real page turner.”

L REEVES
Review for RETRIBUTION ROYALE

“A MUST READ, a real page-turner that keeps you wanting more. This author has a true gift. Her talent and knowledge keeps the reader engaged and it’s hard to put it down. Excellent.”

N FLOOD
Review for RETRIBUTION ROYALE

“The book is exciting and is made that much more gripping because all the events are based on fact. It is a most enjoyable and instructive read. I have read it twice and much enjoyed it on both occasions.”

H BRETT
Review for RETRIBUTION ROYALE

“Superb story, passionate page-turner. I was gripped by the different lives - the moving account of Leslie and Gwen, and shocked by the antics of Wallis. But where are the jewels?!!”

R FRANCE
Review for RETRIBUTION ROYALE

“Reads Like fiction when it's fact. Amazing! A real page turner... what a vile manipulator with thoughts only for herself Wallis was, and to understand the actions of a desperate man who stole her jewels. Beautifully written.”

S TAYLOR
Review for RETRIBUTION ROYALE

Author

HLL photo garden

HL Leavey: writer, linguist, adventurer and alchemist: jewellery designer, goldsmith and gemmologist (FGA, DGA).

Taking the path less travelled, she has lived and worked from Europe to the Amazonas. Fuelled by an insatiable curiosity for life, she explores its beauty and the paradox of wonders so often wrapped in danger: the fragile vulnerability not only of our human gifts, but of the natural world itself.

Returning to her passions for writing and jewellery, she now weaves the entrancing magic of gemstones into suspenseful tales of fate and transformation. She began with the true story Retribution Royale, and follows with her mystical suspense novels Rubies of Resilience, Mystique of the Muisca Emerald, and Diamond Deception. Through her writing, she hopes to support Dartmoor Preservation and help the Amazonian Yanomami people protect their sacred lands.

HL Leavey’s work is original, evocative and adventurous; passionately exploring human nature while immersing readers in faraway worlds, each laced with intrigue and danger. Her stories transport you to places you long to visit, gripping you with wonder until the final page.

Contact Us

We’d like to hear from you

If you would like to get in touch, or submit a review, then please fill in the form below and click submit.

Please enter your name.
Please enter a subject.
Please enter a message.
You must accept the Terms and Conditions.
Submit