A murder mystery based on famous murder mystery authors of the 20th century.

While I went into this book expecting more historical fiction, that it was lacking. I did enjoy the story and the concept of five famous authors of detective fiction stumbling upon an actual murder that they decide to try and solve.

It was a sold 3.5 ⭐️ for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Can five female mystery writers solve an actual murder and prove to all they are the queens of crime? The Queens of Crime is a brilliant mystery filled with engaging characters, a complex plot and an intriguing investigation. The five main characters are five of the greatest female mystery writers: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy. Written for the historical mystery lover, The Queens of Crime is an unforgettable story.

I have to start with these characters. Marie Benedict makes these female trailblazers come to life. Each character is like an icon to me, so it was fun to see them in a different setting. I mean, I’ve read all their books but never knew much about their personal lives. I could close my eyes and envision the dialogue and action of each woman.

The mystery plot itself is complex with subtle clues, a detailed investigation, and a few red herrings thrown in. I was captivated by the mystery and got swept away.

The writing is sublime. Not only is it historically accurate but the author encapsulates historical figures to perfection. Another gem by Marie Benedict and worthy or multiple awards.

** “Only together can we assess (his) statements. I would propose we tackle this the same way we map out the resolutions to our mysteries. We may not be real detectives, but no one can match us for solving puzzles.” **

Marie Benedict brings together five real-life mystery writers in “The Queens of Crime,” a story of teamwork and the power of women.

When author Dorothy L. Sayers decides she wants more women to be part of the Detection Club she created — thereby giving women mystery writers more credence — she strikes a plan along with fellow member Agatha Christie. They would invite three others — Ngaio Marsh, Emma Orczy and Margery Allingham — to join, and then they would solve an actual murder to earn more respect (“What if we got our hands dirty and found an actual murderer? How could the male Detection Club members think us anything but eminently worthy? No one would dare slight us or question our place in the club then.”)

So the five women dive into the months-old mystery of nurse May Daniels’ disappearance and murder. Will they be able to extract clues in a world where women aren’t considered important enough to be involved? Can they crack the case, and earn their place in the world of mystery writers?

Told from the perspective of Sayers, the author does a great job of creating a story filled with twists and drama, offering several suspects and subtle clues. She fills a story with historical people, all with varying personalities and strengths, who come together to use those strengths for a common cause.

Fans of mystery novels, the five featured actual authors, and current authors like Melanie Benjamin and Allison Pataki will love “The Queens of Crime.”

Five stars out of five.

St. Martin’s Press provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Always excited to see a Marie Benedict release. I love historical fiction and her books are so well researched. I was so excited to dive into The Queens of Crime. I was captivated by the time period and the characters. I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves Marie Benedict. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was great fun. It had suspense, mystery, sisterhood and much more. It centers around authors of crime novels: Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They called themselves "The Queens of Crime". Dorothy's husband, a reporter got word that they wanted a story of a young woman, May Daniels, who was found strangled in a park in France. So of course, Dorothy got all her counterparts in on the investigation and they proceeded to try to solve the crime. The story is told by Dorothy and she takes us on the adventure to solve the crime. I have to say that the women are very conniving and bold. They were also so much better with their detective skills than the police. The author goes into the fashion of the time of 1930's and also into theater. How women are treated at that time too is also mentioned since of course, they do not get the respect they so deserve. It was an absolute great read and I highly recommend you pick up a copy which is available 2/11/2025. Thanks to #netgalley, #stmartinspress and @authormariebenedict for an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a story of four women fighting for a place in literature as they race to solve a murder. It’s London, 1930, five women crime writers band together to form a second society with the goal to prove they deserve to be recognized, the Queens of Crime are Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Nagio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. How do they prove they are worthy of recognition? Solve the real life murder of May Daniels was a young English nurse who discovered during a trip to France with her friend, seemingly vanishing into thin air. When her body is discovered months later in nearby woods. There are so many questions and inconsistencies that the women know that someone is hiding something. As they get deeper into their investigation, the killer targets Dorothy Sayers with a dark secret from her past.
The only Queen of Crime I am familiar with is Agatha Christie. I have heard of Dorothy L Sayers by name only. The other ladies I had not heard of. I was looking forward to a fictionalized story of a true story from Sayers’ life, especially her unique relationship with Agatha Christie as a professional “rival” and friend. Unfortunately, I struggled with this story. I had no interest in the murder investigation and the constant girl-power, “I can’t believe he thinks that” attitude was annoying. I was also surprised there was no author’s note at the end of the story giving some insight into the author’s inspiration or thoughts on the real women. Author’s notes are usually very insightful and add more to the story. It was disappointing not to see it there. By the end of the story, I felt I did not know more about these women. I do not recommend The Queens of Crime.

The Queens of Crime is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

I really enjoyed reading this book! I loved learning about the female detective mystery writers; Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Emma Orczy who are trying to prove they belong in the Detection Club. The women form their own club within the club to solve a real life murder and show the men not only do they belong but so do the books the women write.
The book moved quickly and had me turning pages trying to solve the crime along side the Queens. The book really highlighted how women in the 1930s, especially those without children or a husband were basically seen as second class citizens. I am hoping we get more in the future from the Queens!

I am a huge Marie Benedict fan and was excited to see she has a new book coming out. I am in the minority with this one at 3 stars as I could not connect to any of the characters. Set in the 1930's, 5 women set up a secret crime club. It just moved too slow for me and it never picked up speed IMO. Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy.

THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict is a fascinating work of historical fiction set in London in 1930. It is inspired by a real event in the life of famous crime writer, Dorothy Sayers. In this story, Dorothy Sayers initiates a secret society of well-known female crime writers to force their way into the mostly male-run organization called the Detection Club. Dorothy recruits Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy to the cause and the initial goal of the “Queens of Crime” is to prove that women crime writers are just as good as their male counterparts. What better way to prove themselves than by solving an actual murder? They begin investigating the highly-publicized murder of May Daniels, a young English nurse on a jaunt to France with her friend. They soon find that by banding together, they can use their collective skills to piece together what actually happened to the young nurse. But as the Queens dig deeper, the killer targets Dorothy herself, threatening to reveal a deep secret she will do anything to keep buried. I enjoyed the intertwining of historical fiction with a gripping locked room mystery. This is an engrossing story with plenty of action and intrigue that also showcases strong and intelligent women and the power of female friendship. I highly recommend this captivating book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

I can always depend on Marie Benedict to write a fascinating historical book and this is no exception. As a fan of these mystery queens it was fun to read about them as book characters instead of authors. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheQueensOfCrime for advanced digital copy.

The Queens of Crime was such a delightful read! Penned by the author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, the story is told through the eyes of British female crime author Dorothy Sayers. She, along with four other women crime writers, band together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. In addition to Dorothy, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment.

I really loved meeting these famous crime authors and how the author provided a glimpse into what their lives and personalities may have looked like. Each was so different from the other, but they formed true bonds of friendship and respect by the end.

The murder the Queens are working to solve involves a young single woman who was a nurse at a London hospital. Both French and English police are quick to write off the death of this young woman, but Dorothy and her friends know that there is more to the story. I enjoyed following the clues and trying to guess where the story would lead.

This was really more of a cozy mystery read than a propulsive suspense thriller, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this to mystery and historical fiction readers alike.

This was a really interesting concept that came together in the end. I was intrigued by this title because of the Agatha Christie connection and it did not disappoint. A truly good read.

This book is perfect! So very perfect. I love the setting, the storyline, the characters…I love it all. I love that the five women authors join a secret society and then go about proving that they deserve to be there. Their spunk, their determination, and their knowledge show that they are not to be messed with. The Queens of Crime are just that…Queens.

I am not a good clue follower while reading, I just go where the author takes me not really paying attention to the crimes. In this book, I did just that and enjoyed the path I was going down. As the story continues, I see those clues that I missed and have those ah ha moments that pull it all together.

Classic Marie Benedict! I really enjoyed the foray into mystery with The Queens of Crime combined with a true story that was fun to learn about. The female empowerment was really nice, too, this was a great group of characters. I enjoyed all of the points of view. I wish there was an author’s note, I look for one in a historical novel. Maybe it’s to come. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this for sure.

Proof that when women unite, nothing can stop us! This book brought me so much joy. It felt like spending time with a group of girlfriends. I loved learning about these remarkable women, not only their personalities but also their unique writing styles. They were just as complex as the mystery they aimed to solve.

If you enjoy character-driven historical fiction featuring dynamic and strong women, this book is a must-read! While the mystery plot is compelling and showcases the women's writing styles, the real highlight for me was getting to know each of them—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. This was my first introduction to many of these women, but it certainly won't be the last.

You'll be left feeling inspired to write or eager to explore novels by these talented authors.

If you like a good mystery and historical fiction, grab this book, you’re in for a treat!
In the early 1930’s, mystery writer Dorothy Sayers forms the Detection Club, a collection of authors to promote and prove that mystery writing is a reputable form of literature. In a society of male dominance, most members object the invitation of females but Dorothy finds a way to associate 4 famous women authors with the club, among them Agatha Christie. Still snubbed by the men, the women create a club within the club and call themselves Queens of Crime. In order to prove their skills, they decide to solve a real-life murder, that of the nurse May Daniel’s who vanished 5 months earlier and whose body was just found in France. Soon they get entangled in a case that the authorities are eager to close, but the Queens are determined to find justice for the young woman.
This book is a perfect combination of historical fiction and mystery with a touch of reality - Agatha Christie and her fellow female writers in action! I was hooked from the beginning and could hardly put the book down. The writing is superb and delightfully atmospheric. I felt transported into the 1930’s, and the whole book played out like a movie in my head. It was interesting to see how differently journalists, fiction writers and police/authorities approached the case and how the Queens of Crime combined their sleuthing minds. I giggled when Dorothy realized that her own fiction heroes are not as compassionate towards the victim in her books as she is in her real case. I loved the main characters and the references to their real-life works. I wasn’t familiar with some of them and will need to look into their works. I will also definitely look for more from this author and wholeheartedly recommend this novel. It’s a story about women and their role in society, friendship, justice and of course murder. A definite 5⭐️ read for me.
I would like to thank Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and Ms Marie Benedict for the incredible opportunity to read this advance copy. I truly enjoyed it, and the above is my honest review and own opinion. Publication date is 2/11/25.

Cozy mystery fans are going to love this new historical fiction book by the bestselling author, Marie Benedict. The title "Queens of Crime" actually refers to four real-life female English novelists from the 1930s, which was considered to be the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction". Adding a fifth author, these five strong-willed crime writers came together in this book to solve an actual murder mystery surrounding the disappearance and death of a young female nurse. I was impressed by how this all-star team of self-appointed female detectives skillfully worked their way through the tasks of gathering clues and talking to witnesses. It was like watching an Agatha Christie play take place on stage.

The ending for the Queens themselves is easy to guess, but the enjoyment lies in the pleasure of watching them solve the puzzling crime. I can definitely see this novel becoming a popular movie or TV series.

My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Queens of Crime, Marie Benedict brings together five popular female detective writers of the early 20th century and sets them on the trail of a real-life murder. Narrated by Dorothy Sayers, the novel follows her, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy as they join forces to uncover the truth behind the death of nurse May Daniels. More than just a clever mystery, the book feels like an homage to the era, with the author even mirroring the writing style and language of the time.

But this is more than just a whodunnit. Beneath the murder investigation is a deeper meaning. The struggles these women faced highlights the importance of friendship and sticking together especially in an era where women needed to prove their worth. The camaraderie among the women is very evident and one of the strongest elements of the story.

That said, the pacing is on the slower side, and the large cast of characters can be a bit overwhelming at times. But if you’re a fan of classic detective fiction, you’ll likely find plenty to love here. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

The premise of this book was what made me pick it up, along with the reputation of the author. Five accomplished female mystery writers in 1930/1931 England get together to solve a real murder: Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They decide to call themselves The Queens of Crime. I knew about all of them with the exception of Margery Allingham. Somehow her books had escaped my notice all these years. They decide to take a crack at solving the case of a young English nurse who was murdered while on a daylong excursion from Brighton (England) to Boulogne-sur-Mer in France, since both the English and French authorities seem to have given up on the case.

At any rate, I was disappointed in the book. The first half (or so) was rather slow and I nearly DNF’d it. But I’m glad I stuck it out because the second half was much more interesting. There was a lot of repetition (how many times did I need to hear the contents of a mysterious letter? and how many times did I need to hear about how women were not valued?). I never really got the feel for the different personalities of each woman - with perhaps the exception of Ngaio Marsh, who was described as favoring trousers, and who spoke more bluntly than the others. The story was told by Dorothy Sayers, whose idea it was to band together to prove to the male mystery writers of their time that they were worthy of being in their Detection Club.

One of the reasons I kept going with this book was due to the excellent narration of the audiobook by Bessie Carter, who handled a lot of different accents beautifully.

Thank you to St, Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Dorothy L Sayers (yes of Lord Peter Whimsy fame), a founding member of the Detection Club realizes this is a perfect time to highlight the works of other women in the genre. Forming a side club called The Queens of Crime the group - consisting of Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy - decide to solve an actual murder in order to prove their worth to their contemporaries.

There's a current wave of Agatha Christie stories about, in fact I also read Marie Benedict's own iteration of the popular mystery writer, so I was drawn to the fact that this one would seem to focus on another great in the genre Dorothy L Sayers. Although Christie herself does feature - as listed above along with some other notable female mystery writers of the time - the book does focus on Dorothy Sayers and is told entirely from her point of view.

As is typically the case with historical fiction - especially that which features well-known individuals - I oftentimes go in not knowing where the line between fact and fiction is drawn. Doing a very preliminary deep dive, I did like discovering that the women did in fact have a side club within the Detection Club calling themselves The Queens of Crime. Although I found no mention of Baroness Emma Orczy being amongst their ranks.

At first I was skeptical of how this story was going to proceed. I thought more emphasis would be placed on the women carving out their place in the detection club. When the narrative switched to the women solving an actual murder mystery everything clicked together. Seeing the pieces come together as well as the women themselves look for justice and move beyond their own initial self-serving purposes for beginning the investigation, it all did become very intriguing.

The mystery took over everything, even the fact that our women sleuths are actually famous mystery authors. This was only brought back again toward the end, which gives an indication of it being less about who you are and more about your drive to, in this case, solve the crime. We get to see how they have their processes of solving a fictitious murder, but when faced with the real thing they quickly realize it's an entirely different ballgame. Doubly so because they are women at a time when it was more the exception to the rule that Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, et al. were publishing and successful under their own names.

I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this one. It took a little time to establish itself and really hook me in, but once it did I was as invested in figuring out the mystery as our Queens of Crime.