4.5 / 5.0 Stars

This was such a delectable period mystery by notable and gifted author, Marie Benedict. The year is 1931 where five female mystery writers: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham (The Queens of Crime), bond and support one another in a male-dominated profession. To gain traction and convince their male counterparts of their legitimacy as writers of crime fiction, Dorothy Sayers convinces the other female writers that they must solve a true crime. She just happens to know of one - May Daniels, an English, nurse murdered in Boulogne-sur-Mer while on a French shopping daytrip with a female friend.

Inspired by a true story from Dorothy Sayers' own life, we follow the "Queens" as they sleuth out little known and rather overlooked details of the murder while they assemble timelines and character studies of potential perpetrators. Author, Marie Benedict, has crafted a beautifully written, insightful story of the lives and natures of these five amazing women. Her character development is rich and her historical research - Herculean. The wardrobe descriptions alone are worth the price of the book. Yet, this story is so much more. It's about women fighting for each other and fighting for the marginalized women whose voices have been silenced. All in all, this was an informative and most enjoyable read.

I am grateful to author Marie Benedict and her publisher, St. Martin's Press, for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: February 11, 2025
Number of pages:‎ 320
ISBN:‎ 978-1250280756

I think I say this everytime, but this was the best book Marie Benedict has written. She is an automatic read for me, no questions asked, so I was happily surprised as I started and reading and one of the main characters was Agatha Christie! The book also introduces us to another detective novelist- Dorothy Sayers. I loved all 5 of the main characters- there was growth in each character. There was intrigue and female friendships and a lot of whodunit! I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, detective novels and to anyone that has liked books written by our main characters!

Marie Benedict has done it again a page turner Weaving in historic female mystery writers into solving a real life fictional mystery. I really enjoyed all the Queens especially Dorothy and of course Agatha. I would recommend to all book clubs and can't wait to read it again.

This is going to be on of my top 5 books I have read this year. Marie Benedict is becoming one of my go to authors. This is the ultimate girls club. I really really enjoyed this book so much! I can't wait to own a physical copy!

I have read several of the author's book. She always captures a moment in history where the reader has an opportunity to learn something about a character or a time period in history. This was not one of her stronger books.

I appreciate the opportunity to read.

Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime is now in the top five of my favorite books of 2024. I loved it! This well researched historical fiction novel with a twist, based on the true story of mystery writer Dorothy Sayers, had me at page one. The writing is so good that I didn’t want to stop reading as I had to know what happened next.

I knew women were relegated to second class citizens well into the 20th century. However, other than Agatha Christie, I had not heard of mystery writers Dorothy Sayers, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham or Ngaio Marsh. Benedict’s latest novel is based on the story of how these five women writers solved a murder. Reading about intelligent, resourceful, strong and brave women who are not afraid to break barriers engages me as a reader every time. And these women are not only smart, they are witty and fun and sarcastic and fearless!

Have you ever heard of The Detection Club? I had not until Dorothy says to Agatha Christie, “How would you feel if we hand-selected the cleverest female mystery writers to become members of the Detection Club—contrary to the men’s wishes—and form a club within a club? We would share the objectives of the Detection Club, but we will have a purpose all our own: to ensure that we have a place among the pantheon of preeminent mystery writers. Together, we would become a society of mutual admiration and support—for one another and for women everywhere”. This is where the story truly began for me and what a ride this novel has been!

I have read many of Benedict’s excellent novels and always enjoyed the Authors Notes at the end. I missed the Author’s Notes in this reading, though, as this was an ARC, but will try to read them once the book is published in February 2025. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a must-read for loyal fans of DorothySayers, Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie and the other “ Queens”;of the classic mystery genre.

I have read quite a bit about Sayers and Christie…. Less ( or nothing) about the other three authors featured in this period novel. I loved their “dance” to bond with each other to protect their interests in a male-dominated writers group. The personalities projected on them by Ms. Benedict ring true, as did their interaction with each other as they strive to solve a genuine mystery.

The book was fun, but also illuminating ( as a good historical novel should be). The prevailing attitude about working women was eye-opening to me. I had no idea nursing was not a respected profession ( post WW1) or that there was a not so veiled resentment toward single women , referring to them as Surplus Women in very disparaging tones.

It will not give anything away to say that the “Queens of crime” successfully solved the puzzle they challenged themselves with… and, it was a great journey for 5he reader to travel with them as they achieved their objective.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.

First, I want to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an ARC of The Queens
of Crimes by Marie Benedict. I’m a big fan of her historical fiction.
“Welcome to the murder game.!”
This book takes place in and around London in 1931. I was a little disappointed because the book was based on five British women authors who wrote mysteries. Agatha Christie’s name was the only one I recognized Dorothy Sayers was the narrator and unknown to me..
They felt that they were not given the recognition they deserved as authors and decided they would solve a real mystery. The authorities came to their own conclusion about murdered May Daniels. The women didn’t agree and decided this would be up to them to investigate further. And they did!
The Queens of Crimes publishes 02/11/2025.
I was unable to find author notes at the end of the book discussing what parts of the book actually happened and what parts were added by Ms Benedict. Don’t know if they will be in the published book!

First Marie Benedict book and I loved it. Such a great opening two chapters to get us adjusted to what was to come next. Great story development and awesome to see a mystery solved by authors.

Loved everything about it.

I was happy to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I love reading mysteries, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie. I'm less familiar with the other authors who comprised the group, but I am inspired to read more of their books. I found myself consulting Wikipedia while reading to learn more about their lives and backgrounds. The author did a great job bringing the time period to life, particularly about the way the police and press behaved. Although the feminist issues seemed somewhat heavy-handed at times, clearly the times warranted it. I very much enjoyed the way that the Queens solved a murder, contrasting with the police and press jumping to the wrong conclusion. I found this book a great combination of murder mystery and historical novel.

The Queens of Crime was an enjoyable read. 5 well known women mystery writers in England are struggling to be taken seriously by their male mystery writer peers as well as by society in general. To build their reputation, they take on investigating the death of a young nurse that has been written off by police investigators as well as other reporters as having brought about her own death by her poor choices. The women writers are fighting for justice for the murdered woman as well as respect for their own abilities. The story is interesting and a good exploration of women and the struggles they have endured for respect in their professions.

I love all Marie Benedict’s books and this was one did not disappoint. Reading about authors is an extra treat. I loved the story of mystery writers solving a true crime and women proving their worth. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads and will be recommending it to my reading friends.Thank you netgalley

Clever and entertaining.
Enjoyed the historical feminist angle.
Found the group of characters well-balanced with a positive dynamic.
Short chapters helped build momentum.
Hoping there'll be a sequel featuring the same Queens crew!

With thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC.

Marie Benedict has done it again. This time she draws a group of five female mystery writers together to solve a real life crime so that the women will be recognized as credible writers by a group of male writers who fail to give them credit for their literary creations. Inspired, captivating writing, as always.

Oh my goodness, YES! Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the 48 hour all call gift written by one of my all time favorite authors!
Marie Benedict choose Agatha Christie, once again as one of five female mystery writers who in 1931 called themselves “The Queens of Crime “ The all female group was formed in order to prove themselves worthy sleuths to their male counterparts in the “Detection Club” by solving a murder mystery themselves.
I fell in love with Agatha Christie’s novels when I was very young. Putting Ms. Christie in the extremely capable hands of Marie Benedict makes this book magic and for all of the Historic Fiction/ Mystery lovers out there, this one is not to be missed.

I adore the author's books and she's done it again with this true tale of five women mystery writers--Dorothy Saylers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy--who call themselves the Queens of Crime and solve a murder case to prove themselves equal to the male members of the famed Detection Club. So smart, beautifully written, and ever engaging. One of my fav books in 2024!

This is an intense, amazing historical fiction novel revolving on an unsolved murder that occurred in 1930.
A young nurse was brutally killed and five criminal novelist decide to join their talents and solve this crime to find the demon who ended this girls life.
Can these ladies unravel the clues and prove they can do better than men in this profession? What do you think?
I believe Agatha Christie and the other famous authors will do it!
But... how?

This is so good and the pace is quick. I had no idea how it would play out and yet I could not stop reading!
Marie Benedict has definitely created the best of the best here and I would truly love to see it in the theaters!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @St. Marten's Press for this wonderful ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.
Well Done!

I'm already a fan of Marie Benedict, so when I saw she had written about Agatha Christie and other female mystery writers in 1931, I was excited to get to read her latest book. How wonderful to hang out with Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh as they decide to solve a murder together. I haven't read any books by three of these authors, but after reading The Queens of Crime, I can't wait to see how they write. When Dorothy Sayers tries to get this group into a group of male mystery writers they are not accepted. To remedy this they decide they will solve a real life crime. Each woman is beautifully detailed and their sleuthing strengths are each different. If you are a fan of mysteries, this book is a great way to spend some time with the people who write them. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this novel.

This is an outstanding winner from Marie Benedict. The title refers to the famous mystery writers popular between WWI and WWII - Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. The story is told from Ms. Sayers point of view. In 1931 she has helped form the Detection Club in London and wants to add more women to the roster. To convince the male members that the women are "worthy," Dorothy decides to enlist the women, the Queens of Crime, to solve an actual murder. A nurse in London disappeared, and is later found dead, in France, while on a brief holiday with a friend. The Queens combine forces, use their many talents, and solve the crime, while becoming friends and defenders of women's rights. The writing is stellar, backed by lots of research. The writers are fascinating and fun to read about. I haven't read all the Queens, but I plan to in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC.

Oddly, this book, THE QUEENS OF CRIME, comes out in 2025, 4 weeks before another book, THE FOUR QUEENS OF CRIME, by Rosanne Limoncelli. In addition to their similar, and potentially confusing, titles, the stories involve the same women authors, minus the Baroness in the second book. Both stories are interesting and fun to read. I encourage everyone to read both, enjoy both, and compare!

Who killed May Daniels? The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict are on the case. The book is narrated by Dorothy L. Sayers, and the cast includes Agatha Christie, Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh, all real life and popular early 20th century crime novelists.. The women, after joining a Detective Writers club, feel that the male members treat them as redundant and better suited to staying home and having babies. They decided to show their worth by solving a real life crime==the murder of a young English nurse May Daniels. The book is written in Agatha Christie=ish style which I enjoyed. I felt the book was a little slow, but otherwise I liked it and gave it 4 stars.