Quick and Dirty
-1930’s London setting
-based on a true story/real women
-multiple characters but single POV
-fiercely feminist

Y’all, I think I’m in my historical mystery era! I really loved this book and want everyone to read it. It might feel slow for those who love fast-paced thrillers and contemporary mysteries, but I think it was perfectly paced and historically accurate. Women couldn’t just go traipsing around solving crimes in the early 20th century, at least not without an escort or groups of lady friends. Reputations were still a thing. Propriety was still a thing. Protecting oneself from gossip was extremely important, especially if you were trying to make a name for yourself as a crime writer, which was a relatively new thing for women at the time. Benedict did an excellent job setting the stage for readers, giving readers a glimpse into the life and times of these great women. I loved that we got a single point of view but still had a full cast; it added depth to the story, in my opinion. The mystery was compelling, and the twists and turns kept me intrigued and engaged. I loved the emotion behind Sayers’ story, which paired perfectly with that of the victim, serving to heighten my investment in solving her murder. My favorite part of the entire book was how Benedict used the individual crime writers’ main characters as inspiration for their approach to solving the mystery. It was a brilliant literary device! I really want a sequel to this book. I could easily see myself reading dozens of books with these characters at the helm! This will be in my stack of favorite reads of the year for sure!

This is a brilliant book involving the old-fashioned queens of book crime. A must-read, cannot put down book that you won't want to miss.

I really liked this book. It was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley and I just forgot I had it.

This book is so many good things and you would think they would compete with each other but they don’t.
The Queens of Crime are Dorothy L. Sayers Agatha Christie, Nagio Marsh, Margery Allinghan and Baroness Emma Orczy. It is the most fantastic group of women and they decide to find the murder of a young girl that has been painted by the press as a hussy and drug user. The Queens go through many different adventures trying to get all the information and it’s just a fun, fast paced, sometimes serious read. I loved it!! I hope she does more books like this

This book was based in Dorothy Sayers real life.

I’m such a sucker for historical fiction and really enjoyed reading this one. I loved the fast paced mystery, the friendships, and the hints of real life people. It sent me into a deep dive of the real life characters to keep learning more about them.

I would definitely recommend if you love mystery and historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free advance copy of The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict in exchange for an honest review. It’s out now, so you can and should go get it!

Marie Benedict has done it again with a terrific whodunnit featuring a quintet of real life detective novelists in 1930s England. Narrated by a fictionalized Dorothy Sayers, the novel puts the queens - including Agatha Christie - in a position to solve a real murder, proving in the process that women are every bit as daring and talented as their male counterparts when it comes to their craft.

The characters, setting, and plot are all superbly rendered in this captivating and fast paced novel which showcases Benedict at the top of her game. Five stars.

Everyone knows Agatha Christie. But what about the other women authors who flourished during the “golden age of detective fiction” in the 1920s and ‘30s? Does anyone remember Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham and their peers?

Marie Benedict does. In “The Queens of Crime” (Feb. 11, St. Martin’s Press, 320 pages), Benedict imagines that five of the female greats of the era, fighting the snobbery of male authors, band together to prove their skill by solving a real murder mystery.

Benedict, who will be in St. Louis for a ticketed event Feb. 24 at the St. Louis County Library, put her own spin on Christie’s much-examined 1926 disappearance in “The Mystery of Mrs. Christie.” Here, though, Christie does not star; that role goes to Sayers, who created the charming Lord Peter Wimsey and starred him in 11 novels between 1923 and 1939.

“The Queens of Crime” finds Sayers, at first, annoyed that the men of the newly formed Detection Club (a real thing that was created for writers to support one another) are grumbling about adding more female members. In addition to Christie, founding member Sayers wants to bring in Margery Allingham (the Albert Camion novels), Ngaio Marsh (Roderick Alleyn) and Baroness Emma Orczy (the Scarlet Pimpernel).

They are sworn in, but the men, led by the pompous G.K. Chesterton (Father Brown), shun them as if, as Marsh puts it, afraid of plague. “We may have tricked them into admitting us into their club, but we must make them welcome us into their fold,” Orczy declares.

Sayers, married to a journalist, has an idea. “What if we solved a real-life murder?” She suggests the (real) case of British nurse May Daniels, who disappeared during a day trip to France and was later found dead.

They take it on, traveling back and forth to France, gathering clues from people (read: women) the official investigators ignored. Amid personal jeopardy, tight bonds form. Sayers also gets a distracting if poignant back story, again based on fact, in which she visits the little son few know she has.

Benedict has very good ideas and supports them with abundant research. (A reminder, though: Never mistake historical fiction for historical fact.) In addition to Christie, she has told the stories of “Lady Clementine” (Churchill), “Carnegie’s Maid,” “The Other Einstein” and (with Victoria Christopher Murray) “The Personal Librarian,” about the little-know woman who did much to build J.P. Morgan’s famed collection.

Her prose, though, tends toward the simplistic, even chirpy. Every time, and I have read many of her books, I wish for more depth and heft. I always want to like Benedict’s books more than I do.

I recommend “The Queens of Crime,” though, for one big reason. I hope it will persuade mystery fans who haven’t explored the Golden Age to dip into some Sayers, Allingham, Marsh and their contemporaries.

Mystery fans... this is the book you've been waiting for! A brilliant whodunit that brings together an unexpected detective duo - a disgraced archaeologist and a local librarian with an encyclopedic knowledge of true crime. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a small coastal town where secrets run as deep as the harbor, this novel delivers twist after unexpected twist.

Written with the author's signature blend of sharp dialogue and rich characterization, the story unfolds at a perfect pace that keeps you guessing until the very end. The clever integration of local folklore adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling mystery. I found myself staying up late just to finish "one more chapter" - only to stay up well past midnight to reach the satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy intelligent mysteries with heart and humor, don't walk, RUN to get this book! 5 Stars!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Queens of Crime is reviwed in the April 2025 issue of SFRevu and exclusive to them until May 1st, 2025.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a clever, captivating reimagining of literary history—with a twist of murder. In this inventive whodunit, five of the greatest women crime writers of their time—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—band together to form a secret society. Why have I never heard of these authors (except for Agatha Christie) before?
At the heart of the story is the mysterious death of May Daniels, a young English nurse whose body is found months after her disappearance in France. This appears to be a locked-room mystery, and as the Queens begin to investigate, they find themselves drawn into a great deal of trouble and danger.
Benedict is a favorite of mine! She has a way to bring each of the Queens vividly to life. I look forward to more books by her. Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Verdict: A must-read for fans of classic crime fiction, historical thrillers, and anyone who’s ever wondered what might happen if your favorite mystery writers joined forces to solve a case of their own.
#MarieBenedict #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #CozyMystery

Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime is a captivating historical mystery that brings together five legendary female authors—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—in a fictionalized collaboration to solve a real-life murder. Set in 1930s London, the novel explores themes of gender inequality and the power of female friendship. 

The story centers on the unsolved murder of May Daniels, a young English nurse whose body is discovered in France months after her disappearance. The male-dominated Detection Club dismisses the case, prompting the five women to take matters into their own hands. Their investigation not only seeks justice for May but also challenges the societal norms that have long marginalized women’s contributions.  

Benedict’s portrayal of these iconic authors is both respectful and imaginative, highlighting their individual strengths and the synergy of their collaboration. The novel delves into the complexities of their characters, offering insights into their personal lives and the challenges they faced in a patriarchal society.

Queens of Crime is a departure from Marie Benedict’s other historical fiction books. It feels like Queens of Crime is set up so we will see more of the ladies in the future. I hope we do see more adventures of these trailblazing women. I have recommended this book to friends, family, and my book club.

#NetGalley #MarieBenedict #QueensofCrime

Famous female authors unite to solve a crime. These real lifewomen authors come from different eras , but were brought together for story line purposes. They each bring book experience and expertise as they all wrote about mystery, murder, and the macabre. Each character has a different background with life lessons and secrets to share with the other members of the group. In all, they worked hard as a team to solve a case that their nemesis, all male group of crime stoppers, were unable to solve.

As always, Marie Benedict is a fantastic author and I recommend all of her novels.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this new release.

#thequeensofcrime
#netgalley
#historicalfiction
#mariebenedict

Loved this peek into the world of mystery writers in the early 20’s!
Marie has included some history and mystery as the top crime writing females of the time try to solve their own mystery to prove they are valid mystery writers!
Marie writes of strong female characters and while this one focuses on Dorothy Sayers, she includes some other female writers in her team.

Synopsis: five female mystery crime writers in the 1930s band together to investigate the murder of a nurse, May Daniels, that the French police sort of brush under the rug.

I feel like I am in the minority on this one. I've read other books by this author and have really liked them. I love fictionalized stories created on the basis of factual events and real life people but this one fell short for me. This is probably one of the most boring "whodunnit" mysteries I've ever read. I felt zero connection to the characters and I felt the pace was too slow. They are investigating a murder! I would expect a little more excitement but I was actually bored out of my mind. I considered not finishing but wanted to see how it played out. There was nothing shocking or jaw dropping about the reveal. Honestly, if I remember the details of this book next week, I will be surprised. If you like a slow paced mystery, this may be the book for you but it was not the book for me.

I love historical fiction and I've enjoyed some of Marie Benedict's other books, but this just didn't quite hit the mark for me. One of the things I love most about historical fiction, is learning something new about a particular person or point in time. This was more about solving a mystery than taking the historical fiction approach.

Just finished alternating between the book and audiobook of The Queens of Crime and I’m obsessed! Imagine Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, and other legendary lady sleuths teaming up to solve a murder...yes, please! Loved getting a peek at their personalities, outfits, and sharp wit. The author’s notes at the end were such a fun bonus; loved learning what was real and what was creatively imagined.

If you’re a fan of Christie, Sayers, or just a well-written, clever mystery, this one’s a must. As for the club itself? Delightfully eccentric and SO fun. Highly recommend!

I loved The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict. That book brought to life one main character, a time and place, and the emotions that entails. The Queens of Crime does not quite accomplish that - perhaps too many characters, perhaps a story of a time and place complicated with a mystery, and perhaps the main point of a male-centric world overwhelming the characters and story. Nevertheless, I am fascinated by the historical finds that the author develops and look forward to see what she tackles next.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/04/the-queens-of-crime.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

The Queens of Crime is the latest by brilliant historical fiction writer, Marie Benedict. The Queens of Crime is a club for the women in the male-dominated mystery authors club in the 1930’s Paris literary world. Tired of being written off as women, Dorothy Sayers and friends, including Agatha Christie, set out to prove their worth. Solving a real unsolved murder would be just the challenge that would get them
Some attention. This story started off slow, but once the club was formed and they started to investigate the murder it picked up and the characters became more interesting to me. I really enjoyed it overall. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

I love novels with strong female characters. And when you can make the women varied in ages and personality and show that they can get along and solve a murder? Even better. Set in the 1930s and focusing on the death of a young nurse, five female mystery writers join forces to solve her murder when the police seem ready to write it off as nothing but an unfortunate accident.

Queens of Crime is a captivating blend of historical fiction and mystery that brings together five legendary women writers of the Golden Age of detective fiction. This novel explores camaraderie, determination and brilliance as the authors unite to solve a real-life mystery.

Marie Benedict masterfully weaves the narrative, drawing on the unique strengths and personalities of each writer, as they work together. The novel not only pays homage to their literary legacies, but also highlights the challenges they faced as women in a male-dominated field. The characters are richly drawn and their interactions are entertaining and thought provoking. With twists, red herrings and a satisfying resolution this book is ideal for mystery readers.