Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
London in the 1930’s is a time of magic. The city had survived the war and was returning somewhat to a semblance of normality after years of reconstruction with the arts at the center of London life. Plays, operas, and books capture the attention of many in the city – especially the crime novels by the famous Detection Club members like G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown series. But when the men of the Detection Club won’t take the female members seriously, the ladies take some drastic measures. Channeling the protagonists in their books, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy decide to show the men what they can really do…and solve the murder of a young woman. A murder the police have failed to properly investigate and local dignitaries are urgently looking to sweep under the rug. Will The Queens of Crime solve the murder or will one of them become the next victim?
Best-selling author Marie Benedict is back with another fantastic historical fiction tale in The Queens of Crime. Based on real events from the lives of some of the best-known female crime writers in history, Benedict explores the constraints placed on women in this era, but also their attempts for freedom. The pages will expose readers to the culture and history of 1930’s London and given an intimate look at some of the most well-known crime writers of the era. This is a book about the importance of close friendships, but also the damage one secret can do.
I give The Queens of Crime 5 out of 5 stars. Benedict pulls on her own experience as a writer and an investigator to explore the life of Dorothy Sayers, showing what it must be like to work so hard to uncover the facts but also still meet your obligations to your publisher. I have been a fan of Agatha Christie since I was very young, but had not learned for Sayers until this novel. I appreciate the way Benedict explores their friendship and similarities, while also marking their differences. I was able to connect with each character, not only these two, and understand their motivations well – this is a hallmark of Benedict’s writings for me. This reads like a crime novel worthy of inclusion on a shelf full of Sayers’ and Christie’s works!
Historical fiction and true crime readers alike will appreciate this novel! If you loved Benedict’s other works, especially The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, make this your next read. I would also recommend this for readers who love the authors who star here: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. Mystery and Historical Fiction book clubs would do well selecting this book, too – there is much to unpack around the women’s decision to investigate and their methods! With references to potential forced sexual encounters, murder, and other physical violence, I would direct this novel to more mature audiences over 16.
I have been hearing about this book for a few months now and was excited to see the Audio version available on NetGalley – especially when I realized the narrator was none other than Bessie Carter! Carter is best known as Prudence Featherington on the Netflix sensation “Bridgerton” and her performance with this novel was mesmerizing! This was one book I didn’t want to put down – and you won’t either.
The Queens of Crime will release February 11th – you can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!
This post contains affiliate links.
What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Tom Clancy Line of Demarcation, M.P. Woodward
- Current audio book: Meet Me at the Lake, Carley Fortune
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Light a Penny Candle, Maeve Binchy
Discover more from Read With Lindsey
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
One thought on “The Queens of Crime”