What a pure delight to read! I devoured this in one setting. Marie Benedict never disappoints and while this one felt a bit different than others I have read; I thought it was one of her best to date.

This story assembles the best female mystery authors of the 1930s to form a sort of professional society, though through a turn of events, they find themselves trying to solve a real murder. Capitalizing on each other's strengths they go about collecting evidence and deciphering clues about a young woman, that the male detectives would have otherwise dismissed.

At the heart this is the story about female friendships and the power of women lifting and supporting other women. The perfect book club pick!

During a period of time when women were still not being treated as equals to men, five famous crime writers decide to form their own murder solving club, called the queens of crime, with the hopes to actually solve an actual unsolved murder. The death of a young nurse is portrayed by the media as a drug overdose but the five “queens” don’t believe it. Slowly as the clues unravel and they get closer to figuring out who murdered the young nurse their own lives will be at stake and secrets threatened to be revealed.

Being this was based of a true story I thought it had an interesting story line, especially featuring such famous women authors such as Agatha Cristie. I felt like at times the plot was a bit slow but the books ending made up for it.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased opinions.

The Queens of Crime is a nod to five great female Golden Age mystery novelists: Sayers, Christie, Marsh, Allingham, and Baroness Orczy. They are members of the newly formed Detection Club, which still exists today. Treated poorly by the club's men due to sexism, the Queens use their mystery writing skills to solve a real case: the strangulation of an English nurse found in a park in France. This mystery is well-suited to their skills and a great way to gain respect from their male counterparts. As they investigate the crime further, Dorothy becomes targeted by the killer. It's hard to know who to trust as the "Queens" suspect this could go up high in the British government.

Benedict does a wonderful job of illustrating the bias against female victims from their male counterparts. There are parallels to women in today's workplace. How far is one willing to go to get the recognition one deserves? As a woman, do you ever feel like you are not being taken seriously? I also loved the strong, historic female friendships that Benedict carefully crafted. For lovers of historical fiction and mystery, this book is a must-read!

I love this idea of this book. Bringing together famous mystery writers to help solve a real-life crime is such a lovely idea. If you love cozy mysteries this is for you. I found it to be a bit too cozy at times and to drag a lot. I loved how vibrant each author was written; they truly jump off the pages and are done justice. I just wish the pacing had been a bit faster.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

What fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this grouping of Famous Female Mystery Writers dipping their toe into the real-world investigative process. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Set in 1930’s London, The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict gives insight into some of the female members of the prestigious and secret society during the Golden Age of Detection known as the Detection Club. Founded by well known authors such as AA Milne, GK Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, and Agatha Christie, the goal of the Detection Club was to elevate the quality of detective fiction. While it seems Benedict has taken creative liberties with the timeline and interactions among these five powerhouse female authors, in The Queens of Crime, readers get the first person perspective from Dorothy Sayers as the leader of the group, which includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy.

In an effort to stem the tide of misogyny in this male dominated field, the ladies decide to attempt to solve a real murder case of a young woman who goes missing during a day trip with a friend to France and is later found dead.

I read an ARC e-version which means I did not get the Author’s Note (back matter) on why Benedict chose these five women (despite a bit of potential historical timeline inaccuracy) nor did I get any information on the credibility of the “actual murder” case, so unfortunately I am left at the completion of the book still feeling curious about her choices and processes.

Click here for a more detailed review:
https://www.wilsonhillworks.com/reviews/thequeensofcrime

If you like mysteries from the 1920s-1940s, I think you’d enjoy picking this up from the library to see if you can solve the mystery and maybe to imagine better what the friendships of these authors may have looked like. But if your goal is learn more about Dorothy Sayers,Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy, there may be better nonfiction options available for getting to know each of these “Queens of Crime on a more individual basis.


Thank you to Marie Benedict, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I absolutely love Marie Benedict’s books. Her Hidden Genius that book was heart wrenching and phenomenal. I swear this author could write an encyclopedia and I would read it!!! The Queens of Crime is another great addition to Marie Benedict’s esteemed words.

Women are still fighting for recognition in the early 1930s. The goal of these five amazing crime writers is to be seen as equals to their male counterparts. In order to prove themselves to the men, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, Baroness Emma Orczy, and Ngaio Marsh establish their own club and resolve to solve a real-life crime. The body of May Daniels, a young nurse, was found after she vanished in France many months ago. They collaborate to solve this case by applying all of their studies and understanding of crime fiction. The Queens of Crime possessed great strength. Nothing prevented them from obtaining justice and the truth for this unfortunate woman. It was occasionally humorous, occasionally depressing. I lost myself in the narrative. Now I have to borrow books from the other women.

Review will be posted on 2/11/25

Dorothy Sayers, a crime writer, has banded together with other phenomenal mystery writers of her time: Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham. They want to prove to their male counterparts that they have what it takes, which was a difficult feat in the 1930s when women were treated much differently than they are today. What better way to gain some respect than solving a real-life crime? May Daniels, a nurse, disappeared after a day drip and her body was found by a local farmer; she appears to have been attacked and strangled. The French police did a shoddy job of investigating and even implied she wasn't worth their time as she was a drug addict. So, the ladies leave London for France and they are determined to solve this case. Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy The Queens of Crime, an immersive who-done-it from Marie Benedict.

I have read several books about Agatha Christie, so I was excited to dive into The Queens of Crime. This novel is presented from Dorothy Sayers's perspective, which was a refreshing approach, especially since Christie has been the focus of numerous recent novels, including Benedict's previous work, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. I really enjoyed how Benedict incorporated the sleuthing aspect into the story, and I appreciated the novel's feminist twist. It’s worth mentioning that this novel is based on a true event, which definitely enhanced my enjoyment.

As the ladies figure out who killed May, it looks like all the clues point to a particular person in May's life, but if you have ever read a Christie novel, things are never what they initially appear. I think Benedict did a good job bringing characteristics of a classic mystery novels to the forefront in The Queens of Crime. Who doesn't love a bunch of strong women really showing the patriarchy what they are capable of? I recommend this one to fans of historical mysteries and Benedict's previous novels.

Have you read The Queens of Crime? Is it on your TBR list? Are you a fan of Marie Benedict? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Posted to Goodreads: 2/10/2025

This book was a great read. Although the book has some comedic and lighthearted parts, it also portrays the struggles of women and the cruelties that were commonplace in the 1930s. The story follows five famous crime novelists, who have decided that they are going to solve a real mystery over the disappearance and death of a young nurse to secure more accepted roles in the Detection Club as women. Since all the women are writers, you see them use their skills for mystery, but also grow as writers, realizing that very real emotions are attached to finding the truth. Overall, I thought this was a very powerful book, that was both entertaining and eye-opening. I was given the opportunity to review this book through NetGalley, and hope it finds other readers that will enjoy it as much as I did.

Writing wasn’t tight and the plot failed to hold my interest several chapters in. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, DNF.

Blending fact and fiction, in The Queens of Crime, Marie Benedict imagines a collaboration between five of the greatest women mystery writers of the Golden Age—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. Frustrated by the exclusion of several female writers from the male-dominated Detection Club, the so-called Queens of Crime form a secret society with one goal: solving a real murder. When a young Englishwoman is found strangled in a French park under puzzling circumstances, Sayers encourages the other women to investigate the case, only to find themselves entangled in a dangerous web of secrets. As they close in on the truth, the killer threatens to expose a secret from Sayers’ past—one she would do anything to keep hidden.

While the novel is an excellent period piece that examines the plight of the "surplus women" of the inter-war period, I did not find that the book especially deepened my understanding of Sayers as a woman or writer. Perhaps as an artifact of her previous novel, I honestly felt I had a better sense of Agatha and her relationship with her sister Madge than I did of Dorothy. She was a complex and interesting woman, and I think that Benedict missed an opportunity to plumb some of her depths.

In short, The Queens of Crime was a fun Golden Age mystery novel that imagined five female writers getting to play the role of actual sleuths. The crime discussed in the book was a real case that Sayers examined, but Benedict provides a conclusion that history has not. While I enjoyed the setting and the sleuthing, I found Sayers lacking as a main character due to missed opportunities to examine her inner life.

"Queens" gathers together my favorite vintage authors to establish their place in the newly established Detection Club. In the process they will strengthen their friendships and solve a actual murder.

Marie Benedict brings each of the individual authors to vivid life. For me, the murder mystery was secondary to the details of their lives.

This was a delightful historical novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Marie Benedict, famous for her recreations of historical characters and her fictionalizing of their lives, narrates The Queens of Crime in the voice of Dorothy Sayers. As the cliché goes, she “had me at hello.” I've loved Sayers since I was a young woman (and that was a while ago) and have reread her novels and stories more than once. But everyone who comes to the “crime club” that Sayers creates with Agatha Christie is someone dear to my heart.

Though I came to this novel late, I found myself almost wanting to slow down my reading so I could live among these women a little bit longer. I find myself with a sudden urge to reread everything ever written by Sayers, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christie.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence that the five really formed a club within the Detection Club, or that they ever attempted to solve a real murder. In fact, there were other women in the Club from its earliest days (though none so famous)and the Club was considered quite inclusive for its time. But Benedict has skillfully crafted her offering in such a way that you want to believe that these five went out on a adventure together.

Marie Benedict already has a substantial following from her earlier novelized histories. But I have no doubt that The Queens of Crime will bring her a new spate of fans who love mysteries and historical speculation. I will be one.

The Queens of Crime are Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey), Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot), Ngiao Marsh (Roderick Allyn), Baroness Emma Orczy (Scarlet Pimpernel) and Margery Allingham (Albert Campion). Dorothy Sayers takes the lead as the main character in London 1930 where these five authors will band together to solve a crime and get recognition by the mostly men’s authors Detection Club for mystery writers. There is much tea drinking, theories, author banter, red herrings, and a depiction of the attitudes towards women who dare to write and solve crimes in this era. No doubt fans of these real authors and this period will enjoy their progress. But the book bordered on a cozy-like Masterpiece Theater production (which may be a good idea for it). Looking forward to that since the book was not for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a great historical fiction. Well written and rich in details, this is perfect for book lovers and historical lovers alike.
An interesting murder mystery.

Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime brings together five legendary female crime writers of the 1930s, including Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, in a clever historical mystery. The novel follows these literary icons as they team up to solve a real-life crime, using their deductive skills not only to seek justice but also to challenge the male-dominated literary world that often overlooked their contributions. Benedict blends fact and fiction well, offering an engaging story line that highlights the brilliance of these women while shedding light on the gender inequalities they faced.

While the story line is intriguing, The Queens of Crime doesn’t quite reach the depth and richness of Benedict’s previous works like The Personal Librarian and Lady Clementine. The novel is , however, entertaining and provides fascinating historical insights. Still, for fans of classic crime/historical fiction, definitely worth the read.

The Queen of Crimes, Marie Benedict's latest book, combines her love of historical fiction with a locked room mystery. I loved reading about crime writing in the 30"s with some of the most famous women mystery writers of that time, especially Agatha Christie. The other writers are Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. They are part of a Detection Club, but are not appreciated by the men members of the club so they decide to solve the crime of a murder of a young English nurse in France.

I loved reading about these five women solving a crime like their detectives in the their books and build a friendship. It was so interesting to read about the crime writing in the 30's from a woman's point of view.

This book was a quick read with relatively short chapters. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this ARC and give an honest review.

A cozy murder mystery based on real events!

Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie and other renowned female crime writers band together to solve the murder of a young woman in hopes to gain the respect of their male counterparts.

Set in the 1930s in London and southern France, the story weaves a colorful tapestry of historical events and rich character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Will post review on or close to the publication date.

Every time I pick up a new Marie Benedict novel, I know that I’m going to be taking a meticulously researched, expertly crafted historical adventure, and Queens of Crime is the latest. All I can really say is…wow. I loved spending time with the queens of mystery, including learning more about those that I haven’t had as much exposure to, like Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh. This is a must-read for all mystery lovers!

Benedict, whose previous books have brought the lesser known stories of remarkably accomplished women to the fore (e.g., Belle de Costa Greene, Hedy Lamarr’s scientific accomplishments), here convenes five prominent mystery novelists from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction—Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Marjorie Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, and Emma Orczy. She dubs them the Queens of Crime (though that band more typically comprises Christie, Sayers, Allingham and Josephine Tey) and sets them in motion through a slight from the male members of the Detection Club formed by Sayers, Christie, Orczy, and G.K. Chesterton among others. Bristling at the male members’ attempt to limit the number of women members, Sayers hatches a scheme to prove their worth: bringing the five women together to solve a locked room mystery related to the disappearance and murder of a young English nurse in France.

Biographical details of the authors appear throughout the book, giving a good sense of who they were as individuals. I learned some things I did not know about Sayers, and I had known nothing about Orczy, of Scarlet Pimpernel fame. And I learned what a Ner-a-Car was. The plot requires some suspension of disbelief, including at the start, when Sayers concocts a mini locked-room murder scene (in which she plays the role of the corpse) to see whether the women can be sufficiently collaborative to take on the real thing. The book could also have used another round of editing; there is much repetition (like reintroducing Christie’s Hercule Poirot about 10 times, as if the reader didn’t already know who he was or had forgotten since he was mentioned several pages back) and wordy and earnest dialogue that seems stilted and unlikely. I don't recall Benedict's other books having this issue. In the end, the women, of course, get their man (or men, as it turns out) and their place in the club. Queens of Crime is, at its heart, about avenging underestimated, mistreated, and ignored women—and as “revenge of the surplus woman” in particular. It is inventive, engaging, occasionally edifying, and ultimately, gratifying.