It's a me thing. I just don't connect with the writing style.

I expected to love this series. The premise, characters, and era fascinate me. But the first book fell flat for me, and this second one isn't working for me either. So I'm calling it quits.

DNF

Queen of Clubs by Beezy March

Queen of clubs is a fast paced historical drama loaded with betrayal, twists and heartbreak. I’m not sure what I expected but I loved the mafia style drama. Everyone has their own best interests at heart and anyone will betray you.

What I liked about this book!
1. Loved that it was sequel to book that I really enjoyed and that the author continued the story with same fashion and flair!
2. Great period piece that I didn't know much about - well described in the use of language, description of clothing and settings!
3. Could be read as a standalone but don't recommend - you want to know these characters from the first book!

What I wished was different - I didn't need so much background because I had read the first - hard to walk the line between telling the story over so people can read as standalone or alienating some readers because there was repetitiveness.



The Queen of Clubs follows on from Beezy Marsh’s first book The Queen of Thieves, thanks to HarperCollins Publishing and Edelweiss Plus for my copy in exchange for an honest review

Queen of Clubs is a gripping historical crime novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its complex characters, suspenseful plot, and immersive setting, it's a must-read for fans of dark and gritty historical fiction.

Queen of Clubs, set in 1957, follows Queen of Thieves (2021) some ten years on. Alice Diamond, the erstwhile Queen of Thieves, has gone to ground, and not been seen for a decade. Meanwhile Nell Kane, who outplayed Alice in the previous book, has risen to the top of her game. A singer and dancer in her own right, she is now the proud owner of Rubies, and known as the Queen of Clubs. Sidekick Jimmy (the Razor) Feeney is by her side, doting on their daughter, Ruby.

Zoe comes from a Limehouse slum, but was taught to speak ‘proper English’ by a teacher when her useless mother sent her off during the Blitz. Her raggedy look doesn’t sync at all with what comes out of her mouth. Her beauty draws the attention of Maud, who ‘dresses her up nice’ and sends her on a mission: get work as a dancer at Rubies, catch Jimmy’s eye, and rattle Nell Kane’s comfortable security.

The characters are a diverting lot here, and their antics enough to keep anyone entertained; however, so frequent are the reversals of fortune that I had a hard time sustaining my interest. Marsh understandably sets a highly feminist tone, which seems to draw a cast of less-than-stellar men into the picture, and the back-stabbing and one-upmanship become tiresome. Many of the thieving scenes feel like a rehash of the last book, and are repetitive even within this one. Besides, just how many ways are there to stuff furs down your knickers! The major theme is a plot-spoiler, so shall remain unmentioned, but I had looked forward to a book which wasn’t quite the adventure I had expected.

The Queen of Thieves is back! Queen of Clubs is the second in Beezy Marsh’s thrilling UK historical series about a ring of all-female gangsters in 1950s London. London, 1957: After rising up against gangland’s queen, Alice Diamond, formerly downtrodden Nell is living the perfect life of crime. Far from the East End slums where she was raised, she’s now an accomplished professional thief by day—lifting luxury goods from high-end department stores—and a glamorous nightclub owner after dark. Dressed in stolen silks and furs, Nell cuts a dazzling figure in the dimly lit clubs where she calls the shots. But a betrayal and botched robbery suddenly reverse Nell’s fortunes...and her old rival Alice is hell-bent on taking her down. Nightclub dancer Zoe is finally earning a living after escaping a poverty-stricken childhood. She’d rather work for Nell than set scores for Alice. But the life of luxury Zoe craves comes at a terrible price. When a vicious gang tightens its grip on Soho, all three women realize it pays to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Queen of Clubs was so good! It’s the second book in the Queen of Thieves Series. While it could be read as a standalone, knowing the characters’ history from Book 1 is an absolute plus. I enjoyed the first book (Queen of Theives) but the second one was SO much better! Lots of plot twists, heartbreak and scheming, the 1950s Underworld is full of cutthroats and corruption. It was a great story, kept you engaged and am super excited for the third book (Queen of Diamonds) in the series. Beezy Marsh did a fabulous job reintroducing characters and tying things together. So much has happened !! SO MUCH DRAMA! 🤯💥

I’d like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an eARC copy of Queen of Clubs by Beezy Marsh in exchange for honest feedback.

I enjoyed this read though I didn't love it as much as I loved the first book. But it was still a book that kept my attention from first page to last page. I look forward to more books by this author.

This is part two of the series and it picks right back up with Nell and Alice battling over the club scene. This series takes place in 1950's London. The addition of Zoe is great and I enjoyed all the strong female characters. A quick read that keeps you interested from the first page. The author is great at character and world building and is very descriptive. I can't wait to share my reviews on Goodreads and Amazon!

Thank you to NetGalley and partner Bibliolifestyle, William Morrow Books and the author for my gifted physical copy and eARC to read and review!

I am absolutely addicted to this series! I loved Queen of Thieves, where we were introduced to Alice and Nell and their band of female hoisters ... and was thrilled that the story of these cunning and gritty women continued! I was on the edge of my seat as the rivalry and plot for revenge between the two queens escalated and watched with held breath as the fallout of this feud wreaked havoc on those close to their circle.

In this book, we see more male involvement on the crime side, get to know Nell's daughter Ruby, experience a couple of surprise twists and are introduced to a new character, Zoe ... and fair warning, her story will just rip your heart apart!

The author does such an amazing job of dropping you into the glitter and glamor of London's Clubland of the 1940's and 1950's ... while also giving you a look into the underbelly of the sleazy flipside of the crime syndicate that ran it all. This series is a fast paced, action packed page turner that will have you feeling all the emotions! I am anxiously awaiting the next book, Queen of Diamonds!

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆
-sequel, should be read in order
-historical fiction meets crime drama
-full of unsavory characters
-dark and gritty

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱
THIS is the sequel I was hoping to get from Beezy Marsh! I loved Queen of Thieves, so I had high hopes for the latest in the series. Thankfully, Marsh delivered an even better sequel than I could have hoped for. The book picks up right where we left off in Thieves, with Nell in charge of the gang and sitting on top of the world. But all good things must come to an end, and the harder she falls the harder it is to look away! I devoured this book faster than any other read so far this year, all because of the high-intensity drama that Marsh creates. I loved the way she wove Zoe into this story of Nell and Alice, especially how she juxtaposed the two women around themes of motherhood, duty, and honor.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸
Marsh did a great job with this book, but I will share that there are some REALLY dark themes in this book. It’s not for the faint of heart. With plenty of despicable characters doing highly illegal and immoral things, Queen of Clubs is definitely for those who enjoy the underbelly.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳
Anyone who appreciates a good criminal story filled with twists, turns, and backstabbing should enjoy this one! It makes me think of a favorite line from Goodfellas:
“𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃, 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈, 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝓊𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝒷𝑜𝓎𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝑔𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒶 𝑔𝓊𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒾𝒹𝑒. 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃’𝓉.”

Nell and Alice Diamond are back in The Queen of Clubs. It’s the late 1950’s, and Nell is determined to take over as the Queen of the London Nightclub scene. Piggybacking off Queen of Theives, Nell is out to dethrone Alice Diamond as the leading pickpocket queen.

When Nell hires Zoe to dance in her club, not knowing Zoe is there to gather information for Alice, a complicated web is weaved…one of lies, betrayal, stolen love, and of course tons of drama.

I really enjoyed this book! I did the audio, and I was sucked right back into Nell, Alice and Zoe’s world. It was equal parts thrilling as heists took place and lies were told, and heartbreaking to see how far some of these women would go to survive and the traumas they endured as part of their survival.

A few words that come to mind to describe this book include gritty, brutal, heartbreaking, and gripping.

Beezy Marsh's writing is extremely visceral, and her world-building is phenomenal. I felt completely immersed in the world and era of this book from the first page to the last. While I do not think it is necessary to have read "Queen of Thieves", I do feel that having done so helped me to deeper understand some character relationships to one another, as well as events mentioned from the previous book. However, Ms. Marsh does a phenomenal job of filling the reader in as well. Her research is so clear, and she truly brought the past to life.

This novel centers around three women in the 1950s: Zoe, a young dancer who wants to make her own way in the world, Nell, the Queen of Soho who is now the queen of thieves, and Alice, the woman who was the queen of thieves before Nell took over. With Alice wanting to get revenge on Nell, Nell wanting to keep her reign and protect those she loves, and Zoe wanting to follow her dream, as the story unfolds, the lives of these three women become intertwined in many ways. Exploring betrayal, corruption from those that have sworn to protect the people in London, secrets, how innocent people can be affected by those around them, family, and so, so much more, this novel truly has so much in it.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction novels, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the e-ARC of this book, and to William Morrow for sending me a finished copy of this novel as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Please Note: This novel at times is difficult to read due to what occurs, including many moments that are extremely violent, viscous, and devastating. I do think that there should absolutely be a trigger warning list included for this book.

Although Nell had an impoverished childhood, she learned the art of shoplifting under Alice Diamond, leader of a group of women thieves. She was able to outwit Alice, and now Nell and her beau, Jimmy, are gangland royalty. By day, Nell, a master of disguises, runs the “hoisting” operations of the Forty Thieves, and at night, she runs the popular Soho club Rubies.

Not everyone is content with Nell as queen. A driven police officer and a smarmy reporter are waiting for Nell and Jimmy to make a misstep, and Alice wants nothing more than to regain her place at the top of the pecking order. Zoe, a young dancer, dreams of becoming a star while being used by both Alice and Nell, but it’s her association with a new rival gang on the scene that could be her salvation or downfall. All three women want power, but there can be only one queen.

I really loved QUEEN OF THIEVES and was so excited to read the sequel, set in 1957. Like the first book, this is a great read with bitter rivalries, backstabbing, and betrayal. The glamorous aspect of club life is depicted at a time in England when rationing from the war is over and social norms loosening. Marsh describes Teddy Boys with their stovepipe slacks and slicked quiffs and the skiffle bands with makeshift tea chest and washboard instruments. She also unveils predatory behavior—slumlords taking advantage of new immigrants and gang members using women for personal gain.

Both entertaining and revealing, THE QUEEN OF CLUBS is a gripping story of three women’s heartache, resiliency, and facing off against one’s enemies against the backdrop of 1950s London underworld.

Great follow-up to the first book. You will love it - I loved it. Gripping from the very first page this book does not disappoint.

This is the second book in the Queen of Thieves series. This sequel took a darker turn than the first novel. There are some things in this book that could be triggers for others. There weren't trigger warnings at the beginning of the book and in my opinion, there probably should have been.

I really wanted to like this one because the premise of the Forty Thieves is so intriguing to me, but it just wasn't for me. I liked the first one quite a bit but this one took too dark a turn with characters that aren't quite likeable. I'm not opposed to dark plots if the characters are likeable but the combination of both doesn't work for me. I will say that even though I wasn't loving it, I did want to read all the way to the end to see how it finished!

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

What I love about this author is the research she puts into her books. She portrays London's crime world and slums in the late 1950s. With many of the same characters from the first book, we read about the rougher, grittier side of old and new gangs. The women are sort of anti-hereos - vicious and vulnerable, taking a "fast" path to the good life. We also see the changing times, new music and styles of clothing for our female thieves to take advantage of. I am looking forward to more!

I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC copy of the book.

The King and Queen of Soho are back! Plus some dazzling new additions to our cast of characters. Marsh’s writing is so absolutely transportive, you feel like you are in the story. She brings the time-period to life so vividly, mixing posh society with the criminal underbelly. The setting and the writing really are some of the best parts about this book. Although I didn’t quite love the plot of this one as much as the first, it was still a very enjoyable read and a solid four stars for me. I always love the strong, feminist undertones in her stories. This series is a fun, exciting experience, even for someone who doesn’t typically read a lot of historical fiction. It’s a rather upbeat feeling story. Definitely recommend the Queen of Thieves books to anyone new to the genre or looking for an easy, quick read.

I was excited to read this sequel to Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh. The sequel delivered the gritty life of the female thieves and dancers in 1950s London. I enjoyed visiting the characters again with some new characters and setting added. Zoe had an interesting story throughout and one feels that her story was fairly common during that time. It was a part of history that one does not get to often explore. I thought the author did a wonderful job of putting the reader into the setting and making us want to know what happens next. I loook forward to the next book in the series. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

In Queen of Clubs by Beezy Marsh, readers are thrust into the alluring yet perilous realm of 1950s London, where all-female gangsters navigate the ruthless underworld. As a gripping sequel to Queen of Thieves, the novel follows Nell, a former underdog turned professional thief, through a plot rife with betrayal, crime, and redemption. Marsh skillfully weaves historical events into the narrative, shedding light on the mafia's stranglehold on 1950s Soho, with nods to real-life figures like the notorious Kray twins.

While the sequel leans heavily into plot-driven suspense, it maintains the dynamic between Nell and her formidable adversary, Alice Diamond. Returning characters bring grittier schemes, and the story takes unexpected turns, avoiding conventional happy endings, showcasing the cutthroat nature of the 1950s underworld, particularly for women. The addictive quality of the book is underscored by its shocking outcomes and the transformative voices of Marsh's characters, making Queen of Clubs a must-read for those captivated by immersive and authentic historical crime novels.

i haven't read book one in this series so full disclaimer. i went into this book feeling kinda uncertain about how i would feel about the characters and plot. but not to worry, because within like 50 pages i got so into the world and the characters i fell in love. the entire idea is so very intriguing. a ring of only female gangsters. we stan women power!!! i'm so glad i got to pick this book up. i just know i have to pick up book one as soon as i possibly can.