The Queens of Crime follows five pioneering women crime writers—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—who form the Detection Club in 1931 London to elevate mystery fiction as serious literature. Facing resistance in a male-dominated industry, they take on a real-life murder to prove their worth.

Their investigation centers on May Daniels, an English nurse who vanished from a French train station bathroom before her body was found months later in a park. With Dorothy’s journalist husband covering the case, she and her fellow writers secretly travel to France to retrace May’s final steps.

As they unravel perplexing clues, the case takes a dangerous turn—someone wants Dorothy silenced and threatens to expose a personal secret.

This novel explores themes of women fighting for recognition in a dismissive society and the reluctance to investigate crimes against them. While plot-driven and engaging, character development is somewhat lacking compared to the author’s previous works. A compelling read for fans of historical mysteries and strong female leads.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of this author’s historical fiction novels, especially since she highlights the little known lives of women forgotten in history. In this novel, she has taken historical characters and delved into a mystery.

Focusing on the perspective of mystery author Dorothy Sayers, several well known female mystery authors form a group in an attempt to earn the respect and recognition from their male counterparts. Including Agathie Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Ailingham, Baroness Emma Orczy, these women call themselves “The Queens of Crime” and decide to use their wits to solve the real murder of a local nurse, May Daniels. Along the way, they find themselves mixed up in a plot suitable for one of their crime novels.

I enjoyed this novel. It had a slight historical element mixed in with an old fashioned murder mystery. The narration on the audio was great as I switched back and forth between formats.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress @netgalley for a complimentary audio and digital copy of this novel

👑 The Queens of Crime - Marie Benedict

3.5 ⭐️ - I liked this one! I’m a historical fiction fan and I’ve read a few books written by Marie Benedict (usually when she teams up with Victoria Christopher Murray) so I was excited to dive in. It’s a strong female lead story and we all know I love those.

I really enjoyed that this was based on a true story. I loved listening to the women band together and do whatever they needed to do to be taken seriously, accomplish their goal, and work in a man’s world. A little mystery, historical fiction and some names you’ll recognize, I enjoyed following along with this lovely told story. Something felt wordy about this one, or maybe a little distant but that’s a me thing. This is a really well written story and I think any historical fiction or crime fan will enjoy it!

Thanks Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin Press for the early arc and audio of this book! This one is out now!

This book is a fantastic cozy mystery. I loved the team of authors that work to uncover the murder of a local girl. I also love the location and the storytelling I guess I love reading about 1930s London! I love the inclusion of authors too (especially Agatha Christie from a previous novel by this author!) Together this group of ladies were able to do so much more. This was told from the perspective of Dorothy Sayer and based on her real life experiences. This is an author I have loved before and this book was great!

Picture this: it is London in the 1930s, and Dorothy Sayers is facing discrimination in the mystery writers club she is a member of, so she decides to join forces with Agatha Christie, Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh to form their own group; they decide to name it the Queens of Crime, but the twist is they are going to solve an actual crime, instead of just talking about their writings. Her husband is a journalist, and she mentions his latest piece to the other women. She proposes that they solve the case of May Daniels. When her husband is moved to a different story, she and the ladies continue their quest to bring justice to May, despite the story the media is trying to paint. As they continue investigating, Dorothy is threatened, but the other writers rally around her to continue. The locked room mystery writers found one of their own.

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.