What’s not to love? Five women mystery writers from the early 20th century get together to solve a real life locked room mystery! It is told from the point of view of Dorothy Sayers. She works with Agatha Christie, the author of The Scarlet Pimpernel series, Baroness Emma Orczy, as well as two others. I wasn’t familiar with the last two. May have to look into their work. They are out to proof that they are as good their male counterparts, but also come to care deeply about the victim and getting justice for her. This is a really good read!

"The Queens of Crime" brings together five powerful women crime writers who demand recognition of their mystery genre. As a way to fight against the blatant prejudice toward women in the 1930's, the Queens decide to solve the real-life disappearance and murder of a young nurse while she was on a day trip to France. With all the elements of a locked room mystery that the fictional detectives they created would excel at, the Queens quickly find out that solving a real crime could put their lives in great danger. Marie Benedict masterfully weaves a captivating tale of not only the mystery the Queens are trying to solve but also the incredible friendship that develops between these women by their shared experiences in a misogynistic world. Their determination to use the strengths and weaknesses of their distinct personalities to give a voice to a forgotten victim proved their ingenuity, talent and compassion made them all a force to be reckoned with in the world. I loved this book and highly recommend it!

This book is loosely inspired by Dorothy Sayer's life. I loved a classic style mystery, and this book delivered. The queens of crime decide to solve a real murder to prove themselves in the eyes of men. The pacing of the book was good and kept me engaged from beginning to end.

4.5 stars that I am happy to round up to 5 for the sheer fun of the book.

The Queens of Crime is a captivating read that captured my attention from the first to the last page.

I am a big fan of all of The Queens , though I did not know Emma very well but I do now.

Historical fiction tells a story thats based on fact but its what you do with that story and Marie Benedict did a phenomenal job setting up a case for Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy .

The Queens set out to solve a closed door mystery: the murder of May Daniels.

Not only do the ladies want to solve this mystery they also want to prove to the men that they can solve real mysteries as well as writing mystery novels.

My love of reading started with these infamous authors , brought back memories of my Grandmother and I sharing our books and the stories themselves.

The Queens go to no end to solve this mystery and even put themselves in danger.

The Queen of Crimes was a delightful read and one that will stay with me for a long time.

My only complaint was I did not want the book to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Queen of Crimes.

“I think we know too well that a woman’s fate often poses such complex problems that it requires other women to find the solution.”

I loved this cozy historical mystery! London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded 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. Calling themselves the ‘Queens of Crime’ the authors decides to solve a recent murder of a young woman in France who has connections to high ranking British society. From the street of France, to various locations in England, the Queens use their own detective skills and their own books as inspiration to try and solve the murder. Despite sexism and high stakes endangerment, the Queens remained committed to the case. I adored how the team of rival authors from widely different backgrounds found friendship while working together. Benedict does a fantastic job highlighting the injustices women of the period faced, especially with dismissive police workers and powerful patriarchal forces quieting witnesses. I raged for the murdered woman and for the Queens as they worked the case and tried to establish their place within the male-dominated profession.

Audiobook narrator, Bessie Carter, did a fantastic job juggling the various English, French, and New Zealand accents. I never got confused over which character was speaking, and their performance brought the investigation to life.

Unfortunately, when your husband and sons are police officers and investigators, this is not the book to pick to read. Several women trying to solve a crime when most if not all the information they eavesdrop on is not to be discussed with anyone outside the case, it is just not believable. I only made it about halfway and had to give it up. This is not my first Marie Benedict book and it certainly will not be my last. I like her writing style, just not this content. The other books I have read from her have been 5 star reads.
Anyone looking for a good mystery and do not know the proper procedural steps, will most likely truly enjoy this one.
I thank St. Martin’s Press along with NetGalley for providing this Galley edition for no requirement other than my offer to provide an unbiased review. Comes in with 3 stars.

This story was a historical fiction loosely based on true events as a group of female crime authors (including the notable Agatha Christie) band together to solve a murder. I wanted to really love this, it was an interesting premise and all, but it read extremely slow and flat. It was interesting, but not exciting. Those of you who love historical fiction may have better luck with it than I did!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I was intrigued by five mystery writers working together to solve the disappearance of a young nurse. Their initial motivation was to prove their detecting skills, but that quickly changed into understanding the real sadness and the horror for the nurse and her family and friends. It showcased how women can be discounted and not taken seriously in solving crimes and in life, especially in 1931. Even though I have only read Agatha Christie and Baroness Emma Orcz, I have heard of the other authors. I like how the author highlights their different personalities, backgrounds and how they don't always mesh well together. It wasn't a quick read for me, but it was an enjoyable one. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. After reading this book, I plan to read at least one story each from Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham.

I was quite excited to finally read a book by Marie Benedict, since I've had her in my periphery for quite a while. And, despite this being my first experience with her writing, I would venture a guess that this is not her best. The characters, all real life mystery writers, are solid, with a viable plot, but the story is also wordy and the pacing is off. It zigs and zags, lacking a streamline quality that a mystery should possess. I liked it, but didn't love it. Even so, I'm still willing to this author's earlier works.

Queens of Crime is a cozy historical fiction mystery that takes place in the early 1930s about a group of female mystery writers led by Dorothy Sayers that want to prove to the male mystery writers that they are just as important to their Detection Club. So they devise a plan to solve a real life murder. May Daniels went missing from a train station and was later found dead in a park. The police department cast her case aside as a casualty of drug use but the Queens of Crime banded together to use the skills they have given the detectives in their books to solve the case!

I found this book to be very enjoyable! I loved the five ladies of the Queens of Crime, including another appearance from Mrs. Agatha Christie. The growing friendships between the women and their side stories were a nice pairing to the mystery component. This book is my new Marie Benedict favorite!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Marie Benedict, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC of #QueensofCrime in exchange for an honest review.

The Queens of Crime bring five powerful women crime writers who demand recognition of their mystery genre. It is inspired by a true story of Dorothy Sayers’ own life.

London, 1931. The five great female writers come together and form Detection Club - an organization of mystery writers created due to lack of consideration for their work as literature. Dorothy L. Sayers leads the group which includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. Their goal is to elevate the mystery genre so the detective novels are seen as good as literary fiction. But in the male dominated world, their club rather causes them to be even more ostracized. To prove their worth, they decide to solve a real-life murder.

Recently, the murder case of May Daniels, a young English nurse, resurfaced as her body was found in a park in France. Four months earlier, she disappeared into thin-air in France, after stepping into a bathroom at the train station before bounding for England. Police reported that there was only one way in and one way out, and her friend was waiting for her outside the bathroom.

Dorothy’s husband is a journalist who previously covered the story. Now, he’s heading back to France to cover the story again. This gives Dorothy an idea to tag along with her husband, and her four co-detectives would travel to France in secret and reconnect there to get a scoop on the details.

As the women uncover details, they follow in May’s footsteps in the order they occurred. There are perplexing clues but they are good at untangling them. But this private investigation turns against Dorothy when the killer targets her, threatening to expose a secret which she’d prefer to keep hidden.

This insightful story delves into a theme of the marginalized women and how they had to propel themselves to be taken seriously. There was a reluctance to investigate the murder of a woman, and the women became serous about solving it.

The narrative is original and each of five women has her distinct voice, but I wished there was more to character development. This is a plot-driven story which is different from this author’s previous books which are character-driven. This is an excellent read for those who enjoy plot-driven stories.

Marie Benedict has written a truly captivating historical crime mystery that had me hooked!! 🤩 This novel features five legendary female mystery writers; -Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and others in 1930’s London. Their small group known as “The Queens of Crime” join to solve a murder case involving a young nurse, whereas their male counterparts have failed to do so (hence if the “Queens” solve it they’ll be seen as equals to men).

Woohoo!! Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for this amazing copy!! My curious nature got the best of me and I dove into this the second I was approved. Mystery writers turning detective to solve a crime(??).. I’m all in!! Benedict’s fictional story is based on an actual true crime - how interesting is that! I highly recommend it as there’s an abundance of twists + surprises - one being Dorothy L. Sayers herself is targeted.. and there’s just so many AHA moments especially with the female characters and what they uncover.. I really enjoyed each and every one of these women! I love that it was character driven, a fav for me.. and thought their differing personalities felt so realistic. I was easily pulled into the storyline (staying up past bedtime to finish) as the further I read, the better it was. Good golly this was so good. 📖🔎 5 stars — Pub. 2/11/25

The Queens of Crime Is a mystery novel Inspired by a true story. Author Marie Benedict brings to the front, the struggles five talented women writers endure to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of crime writing.

The main characters are: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh… five female authors from the thirties.

The five women belong to The Detection Club, an organization of mystery writers, primarily men. Soon they find themselves involved in a real life murder. A young nurse is found murdered and lying in a pool of blood. These women investigate. The media has portrayed the nurse as a loose women with a drug problem. The Queens of Crime aren’t convinced. The five are determined to find the killer and save her reputation.

This is a good mystery that kept me guessing. I did have trouble connecting to the characters and was glad when I turned the last page on this one.

Content warnings: assault, murder

Five female mystery authors in the 1930s are struggling with being accepted by their male counterparts. Dorothy Sayers is the ringleader of the women, including Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy of The Scarlet Pimpernel fame, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham. They hatch a scheme to be inducted into the mystery writers' secret society and then turn their criminal expertise toward solving a real murder.

The women band together to solve the case of an Englishwoman who was murdered in France. As the women outpace the police investigation, they become the targets of suspicious forces who are trying to keep the murderer's identity a secret.

Filled with suspense and a genuine camaraderie that's somewhat surprising considering the women's different ages and backgrounds, The Queens of Crime is a great mystery read for historical fiction fans or a great historical for mystery readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the Queens of Crime, Marie Benedict gathers 5 of the greatest female mystery writers of the early 20th century into a fictional murder solving club. Told from the point of view of Dorothy Sayers, the cast also includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy on a quest to solve the real-life murder of a British nurse who vanished on a day-trip to France. By solving this murder, the five women are hoping to secure their status within the Detection Club, a male-dominated newly formed association of Britain's best mystery authors.

I am a big fan of Marie Benedict and thoroughly enjoyed several of her historical fictions based on real women's lives. However, this one missed the mark for me. It was the epitome of "telling instead of showing." The five main characters were often described as having this or that type of personality, however, in practice, they all felt somewhat interchangeable. The story was too focused on the actual mystery and investigation, and the five investigators were more of an afterthought. This is a story that could have greatly benefited from having multiple narrators to get to know each main character better.

The mystery was, however, very engaging, and dynamic with lots of actions, twists and turns!

What a lovely read - mystery, women friendships with a side of feminism. I had read Marie Benedict’s previous book - The Mystery of Mrs Christie - which I also enjoyed and this book did not disappoint. I enjoy novels where female authors reach into the past and make efforts to offer insights and imagine the lives of women who came before us. While this book is primarily from the POV of Dorthy Sayers and Benedict’s previous book focussed on Agatha Christie - one wonders which mystery author will be the focus next. This is an enjoyable and entertaining read - great for a holiday or beach. My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Here’s to no more “surplus women” ever!

This is my first book by Marie Benedict. It was very enjoyable.

The power of a group of females is pretty strong. Even when men would have stood in the way.

My favorite line from this book is: "You saw what I wanted you to see and what you expected to see. Things are not always as they appear."

The main characters in this book are: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh. Five authors from 1931. Five female authors.

The five women decide to participate The Detection Club, an organization of mystery writers, primarily men. They are soon drawn into a real life murder. A young nurse who went missing and was found murdered and lying in a big pool of blood. These women decide to find out exactly what happened to her. Though the papers have made this woman to look like a loose women with a drug problem the Queens of Crime do not believe that. They are about to embark on a journey to find the killer and prove this young woman's fate.

What happens is a rivitating story of females on the hunt for the truth. For justice. For women to be listened to. They are determined to show that May Daniels was murdered and that it had nothing to do with a drug deal. It was from a lover who didn't want her to reveal any secrets.

This book keeps you wanting to know more and guessing along the way. It's a great mystery. Most of the characters are so likable and the history in it is great. Well written. A real page turner. I enjoyed it from start to finish. There are several things that happen to keep you on edge.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, #MacmillanAudio, for this ARC.

4 stars.

4.5 stars
STRONG recommend

This is a historical fiction mystery with real-life women writers: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. These five writers decide to solve a murder the French police have given up on. The writers think there is more to the story and decide to research and see where it leads them.

This novel had a lot of twists and turns which was fun. It was also cool that these women showed the men mystery writers in their club how it is done! This story shows exactly why women must be involved in women's crimes.

I found the process that the women use as writers and as "detectives" to solve this murder beyond fascinating. The five had different skill sets, but they worked together so well.

This is a review of an eARC/eBOOK due to be published on 2/11/2025

Published/posted dates with links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6658470715 - posted 01/06/2025
Books by Dorothea: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/review-queens-of-crime-earcebook.html - posted 01/06/2025

I absolutely loved this book! It was brilliant, bringing together the Queens of Crime to solve an actual murder! From the way the club originated, was confirmed then immediately challenged to eventually lauded was so well thought out. I really enjoyed how each character’s differences in styles were highlighted yet blended to unravel mysteries. The strengths of each of the writers is showcased and woven together. Not only did these women prove themselves up to the task, but they also showed everyone that we are all stronger when we band together. I found the murder mystery to be quite compelling and perfectly handled. The clues and red herrings were perfectly placed, and the pace was just right to keep my attention fixed and unmoving. I found myself wishing this was a series so I could continue the adventures with these Queens! I had the additional benefit of listening to an audiobook and really loved how the story came to life in a new way through the narrator’s talented voice.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This was my 2nd book by Marie Benedict and I really enjoyed it. I like her writing and the fact that the books are based on real life characters. With this one I love that Agatha Christie, in my view the queen of mystery books, was one of the main characters. I liked how the mystery was embedded in the history of the 5 ladies and hence combined 2 of my favourite genres. Maybe, if I had to mention something I enjoyed slightly less, then that might be that I could have done with a bit more action in the final showdown, but that is just a small thing.
Let"s discuss the characters, who all were well crafted in my opinion. Agatha Christie is one of the 2 main characters and I loved how she was portrayed like I would imagine her to be, held back, intelligent, fast, down to the point. Dorothy Sayers is the 2nd main character and was a nice counterpart to Agatha. I liked how she is fresh and fast in her thinking and deducting around the case. Emma Orczy is one of the side characters who does get her spotlight as well. She is an older baroness and loves her manners and customs in the English upper class. Ngaio Marsh is the unconventional of the 5 and loves her pantsuits and modern amenities (from a 1930s perspective). And last but not least Margery Allingham is the youngest of them all and up for the investigation. She is fresh and interesting as a side character.
All in all this will not be my last book by Marie and I encourage all of you historical fiction and mystery book lovers to read this one!

(A review will be posted close to pub date on my accounts on instagram and Goodreads)