What do you get when five mystery writing, including Agatha Christie, put together their knowledge and abilities to solve an actual murder, a wonderful read.

An English nurse if found dead in France and both sets of police, French and British, sweep it under the table as an unfortunate death of morphine addicted and a woman of loose morals. Enter the women crime writers who call themselves the Queens of Crime.

Marie Benedict weaves in just enough red herrings and twists to keep the reader engaged. I have read all of Ms Benedicts books and have loved each one. I cannot wait until the next one is out.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy.

Set in London in the 1930s, The Queens of Crime is a fictional historical mystery starring Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Emma Orczy. Unable to get their male counterparts in the Detection Club to take them seriously, they set out to solve a real life crime to prove themselves. May Daniels is an English nurse who went missing months ago and when her body is finally discovered The Queens of Crime are on the case. Will these legendary mystery writers be able to solve this real case and make it in a man’s world?

I was first pulled in by the cover of this book and I honestly didn’t even read the description. I was pleasantly surprised when I started the book to find out it was loosely based off of people who really existed and added so much to mystery writing during their time. I hadn’t heard of all of The Queens of Crime, but nonetheless I really enjoyed getting to know them in this historical mystery. I think this was a very creative and unique angle on a historical mystery book and it was definitely worth reading. The mystery kept me guessing the whole way through and the different side stories kept everything interesting. I almost wish this was going to be the start of a series starring these same mystery writers. I would definitely read that! If you are a historical mystery fan and want to enjoy a mystery starring some of the best known women mystery writers, this book is definitely worth the read!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a first person-POV historical mystery set in the UK and France in 1931. The Queens of Crime, the four most famous female mystery authors of the Golden Age (Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham) and Baroness Emma Orczy (author of The Scarlet Pimpernel) work together to solve the murder of a young British woman, May Daniels, in France. But their investigations will lead them back to the upper levels of British society and the misogyny of their era.

Of the authors mentioned, I was only familiar with Agatha Christie and Baroness Emma Orczy. I haven’t read any of their mysteries as I’ve only more recently gotten into the genre but many of my friends are fans of Christie’s works and I have had The Scarlet Pimpernel on my TBR for ages. Because of my lack of familiarity with their works and who they were, I am not the best person to say if the book feels accurate to who these authors were as people or if their dynamics will match the expectations of their fans. I personally found them all to have different personalities and relationships with each other, especially Ngaio and Emma, one being from New Zealand the other being Old World European, and appreciated their admiration for each other despite their differences.

Everything is from Dorothy L. Sayers’ POV, so we don’t get to see how the authors interact with each other when she’s not present. But because we do focus on this one POV, we get to spend time discussing a very specific issue: what unmarried women do when they are pregnant and either do not want to marry the man they had been with or the man will not help them or demands they have an abortion. Sayers’ herself had a child out of wedlock and feels a lot of sympathy towards May Daniels while also feeling guilt that she’s not raising her own child. There is little Dorothy can do without the support of her husband, but it’s very obvious that she wants to be in her son’s life and that she wants women to have more options.

My favorite part was the setting. It felt very specific to 1931 with mentions of the Queen and lunches at tea spots and the cast of characters helped make the world feel lived in. We spend most of our time in England and see a little bit of the theater world, the business world, and writer circles as well as the aftermath of WWI and the way nurses are still looked down upon despite their service to society and the needs that they fill.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault, pregnancy, and sexism

I would recommend this to fans of Golden Age mystery authors and readers looking for a mystery set in the UK in the 1930s

I really enjoyed this story! It was so fun getting to know these "Queens". I have only read a couple of Agatha Christie books and one by Dorothy Sayers, but this book has made me interested in reading more of their work. Reading this fictional account of their friendship was so much fun. Highly recommended! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Summary:
A group of women mystery writers ban together to prove they are worth taking seriously.

In 1931, women were often ignored, underestimated and living under the whole "better seen than heard" theory. However, Dorothy Sayers isn't taking that laying down. She was already a published mystery writer and had formed even formed an exclusive group of other mystery writers. However, when fellow male members of The Detection Club complain about being taken over by women who will undermine their work (mind you, there was only Dorothy and Agatha Christie as the female members), Dorothy decides to take matters into her own hands. So, she forms a club within the club of several fellow female mystery writers. She feels the only way they'll ever be taken seriously and prove their value is to show the men how capable they are. What's the best way to do that? Why, solve a real life mystery! Hence, the Queens of Crime is born.

May Daniels was a nurse who had mysteriously gone missing. Vanished without a trace for several months with no clues to indicate what happened. Dorothy sees the opportunity for the Queens when May's body is found. A needle is found close to her with traces of morphine in it. The police decide that she was involved in drugs and feel no reason to pursue further. However, the Queens do and what they find turns everything on it's ears.

If you love Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes books, you will enjoy this. I loved how the women were able to solve the mystery with simple actions that should've been done by the authorities. Throughout the story, you see how the women are dismissed and not taken seriously. The greatest part is how they use that to their advantage to get the answers and solve the crime.

This isn't a hang on the seat of your chair type book. I had to remind myself how the story takes place in 1931 because things that were ignored or dismissed then wouldn't have been now. It's a very cozy type of mystery. The plot twists aren't jarring. Instead they add a layer to the plot. While I do feel some holes weren't completely filled, all the important ones were.

I enjoyed the story. It was different than mysteries you read today and it was nice to visit the simplicity of solving mysteries with wits and intelligence. This would be perfect to curl up with by a fire on a rainy or cold weekend.

England. A group of male authors decide to form a Detective’s Club. As women are considered only useful as teachers and homemakers they aren’t to be included as members of the club. Mary Sayers is a well respected author of crime novels and decides to form a club of women authors who write detective novels. She enlists Agatha Christie and 3 other authors and they will call their club The Queens of Crime. The authors are very different in every way and, in spite of their differences, they work extremely well together in an effort to solve a recent murder in France.
This novel is based on a true event. The author describes the women in a way that makes you feel as though you know them.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press

Can you imagine a room with Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy and Margery Allingham? Four of the creme de la creme of mystery writing? It sends goosebumps up my arms!

Dorothy Sayers is the impetus for the gathering of these illustrious women. She has founded the Detection Club and wants to include more women. Her initial plan to do so flops and she decides that the women need to solve a real life crime to prove to the men that they are just as worthy, if not more so, to be included in greater numbers in the Detection Club.

The writers take on the case of May Daniels, an English nurse, who vanishes in Boulogne, France. Her absence is mostly ignored by the French (and English) authorities until her body is discovered in Boulogne. The press paints her as a loose woman, a morphine addict, and this helps the French authorities persist with closing the case ASAP. But the Queens suspect more and track down the facts and the perpetrators. It is a fun jaunt and you can see bits of the characters the Queens brought to life in the style of how they investigated Daniels disappearance and murder. Definitely worth a read!

Thank you Macmillan and St Martins for review copies! Marie Benedict has a flare for exploring and amplifying the stories of women in history, some well known and others less known, and giving readers a chance to know and learn about these women (though the stories are somewhat fictionalized the identities and plot points are well researched and grounded in real life events). What I really enjoyed about this book was the exploration of well known women crime and mystery writers a time when women's writers weren't as celebrated and acknowledged as they are today, particularly writers who were taking in dark and edgy themes in their writing. Though the topic might have been dark at times, Benedict has a way to making the lives and voices of women shine through in ways that highlight overcoming darkness or challenges, or showing how perseverance, wit and intelligence allow women to make their mark; these themes are even stronger in this book given the focus on women using their friendship and talents together.

While the event the story is inspired by is tragic, the author told the story tastefully. We get to read how five amazing crime writers came together to solve a crime and prove to men they were better than they got credit for. I loved their bond and watching them get closer throughout the story. They were not afraid to take chances and find out what happened to the nurse.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I can't wait to read another story. I enjoyed her writing and the way she writes her characters.

I do hope the author's notes included in the audiobook are added to the print version. The information provided in the author's notes adds to the story has a whole, making it a more interesting story.

TW: This book mentions the choice of abortion.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in advance.

This had a slow start so I debated giving up on it but I’m so glad I didn’t! I was pleasantly surprised with how good this book got! The characters were so fun and quirky, perfectly capturing several big personalities and very enjoyable to read. The plot twisted and turned and I never quite knew what was coming next. I really liked how what I thought would be the ending (them finding the letter from May) only spurred a new plot line and created even more excitement. I am happy with the ending, though I did think it was predictable. I don’t think this is always bad, especially with the historical elements of this book, which created a more cozy the crime vibe. Most of the plot holes were covered by the end, too, but I felt like there were a few I wanted more closure on (a better confession, whether Mac and Dorothy adopted John, if May’s family felt they got justice, how the Queens got recognition and convinced the police they had solved the case). I gave it 4.5 stars!

Dorothy Sayers brings together the five greatest crime writers of the time by creating a secret society that works toward equality for women. These women include Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. They work together to solve the real-life murder of May Daniels, an English nurse who seems to vanish while visiting France with a friend. The police don't seem to be taking this crime seriously, so the Queens of Crime take matters into their own hands. This is based on real events in Dorothy Sayers' life.

Thoughts 💭
I truly enjoyed the camaraderie between these five women who share a similar interest and passion. As always, it's alarming how women were treated and not taken seriously. It's even more alarming how little was done to investigate the murder of May Daniels. I enjoyed the slow progression of the investigation and how the pieces unfolded. Dorothy's relationship with her husband was refreshing. It was an enjoyable enough read with the mystery and historical aspect, but there weren't a lot of moments that wowed me. The ending was satisfying, and I think historical fiction lovers will find enjoyment in reading about the time period.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this novel! Thank you so much. Reading it was such a fun adventure into the lives of these women. Very well done. Below is the review that I posted on my social media!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: The Queens of Crime
Author: Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical Fiction

The Feels: The Queens of Crime by @authormariebenedict is a thrilling blend of history and mystery, starring five legendary crime writers—Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. In 1930s London, these female authors are being treated unequally as writers by men in a writing club, so they form a secret society to solve the murder of May Daniels, a young nurse found strangled in France under mysterious circumstances. With their detective minds and sharp wit, they’re determined to uncover the truth—and show the world they deserve to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of crime fiction.

Benedict not only delivers a gripping murder mystery full of twists and secrets, but also offers a fascinating look at these women’s personal and professional struggles. The dynamic between the characters is rich and real, and you can’t help but root for them as they navigate danger and intrigue, especially when Dorothy Sayers herself becomes a target.

If you enjoy historical fiction, complex mysteries, or stories about strong women breaking barriers and growing in friendship and admiration, The Queens of Crime is a must-read. Benedict nails the perfect mix of suspense, historical detail, and compelling characters.

I absolutely loved this book and found the characters to be quite endearing. It’s a feel good mystery! Dive in!

Thank you @netgalley for this wonderful advance DRC. 🥰

#books #book #booksbooksbooks #mystery #bookstagram #read #reading #reader #booknerd

Sadly this one didn't work for me. I DNF'd at 13%. I didn't find myself invested in the story. I've read some of her work before and liked it. This book just wasn't for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

After listening to the audio version of Marie Benedict’s latest work of historical fiction I read the print version of this intriguing who done it. Ms Benedict resurrects five noteworthy female mystery writers, banded together against exclusion in an old boys club , to solve an actual mystery. When the body of a young nurse is found, under odd and suspicious circumstances, Dorothy Sayles. , Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and Baroness Emma Orczy form an unbeatable, tenacious and very clever team of investigators. They’ve all written about murder so they surely know how to. proceed. Inconsistencies abound in the police version of the murder. These strong intelligent women mean business as they unravel the details point by point and eventually round up all the suspects in one room to reveal the culprit.

I loved this witty fast paced British mystery which came to life page after page. . Kudos to Ms Benedict who now has shown her talent as a mystery writer. I’d love to see a continuation of investigations by these five sleuths. What fun!

This story is based on an unsolved true murder which made it all the more intriguing. Four stars for a book I recommend for anyone who is a fan of British mysteries. I expect you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. It’s being published on Feb 11, 2025. Put it on your must read list. My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Fans of who done its will want to read this. Look for it.

This was a fun read for me as a fan of Agatha Christie. I had little to no knowledge of the Detection Club, though I don’t doubt for a second that having more women gain entry into a sought-after closed group would have been harrowing.

The story was intriguing and the workings of the different authors involved in the solve kept the story moving along at an interesting pace. My biggest complaint, however, is the initial premise that these women would seek to find their place in the club by solving a real-life mystery. It seems almost too simple-minded a plan to be thought up by some of the biggest names in detective fiction at the time and reduces the characters from intelligent women to girls playacting at being detectives.

With that said, the mystery was interesting and I appreciate the humanity that the women discovered in themselves as they began to understand the victim’s background (especially in a time when “surplus women” were looked down upon), rather than just seeing her as a character in their own plot. This was my first Marie Benedict novel and it kept me interested enough to consider reading some of her other books (the Mystery of Mrs. Christie, perhaps?).

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the premise of this book sounded really interesting. I liked the idea of famous mystery writers solving an old mystery. I did think the story moved a little slow at times. This is the perfect book for all mystery fans

In Marie Benedict’s “The Queens of Crime,” five notable mystery writers use their skills to solve an actual murder. It was a perfect blend of historical fiction and a locked-room mystery. As any good historical fiction does I learned as much about the time period as the characters. Having only ever heard of Agatha Christie, the other queens of crime were a welcome discovery and I’m eager to read more from them as well and Benedict.

When I saw the premise, I couldn't resist this book. I grew up reading both the "Queens of Crime" who are the protagonists in this historical fiction mystery, and the Detection Club books that came out of that society. Benedict has done a marvelous job bringing these women and their friendship to life on these pages, highlighting each of their strengths and personalities. As women "ahead of their time" in many aspects, this read true to form. I will be curious to read the author's notes that were not part of my ARC - I'm very invested in knowing what was true and what was artistic license. Highly recommend this one - for those who haven't read the golden age mysteries, as an introduction to these Queens of the genre - and for those who know them well and already have an appreciation for them. It will not disappoint!

Ever wondered what would happen if your favorite mystery authors teamed up to solve a real crime? Well, Marie Benedict's "Queens of Crime" brings that dream to life!

It's 1931, and the crème de la crème of female mystery writers - we're talking Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and their equally brilliant peers - are thrust into a real-life whodunit. Talk about meta, right?

Benedict's portrayal of these literary legends is spot-on. I particularly loved her take on Christie - all that quiet observation and sharp wit. And the way she captures 1931 London? You can practically smell the fog and hear the clack of typewriters.

But it's not all fun and games. The book doesn't shy away from the challenges these women faced in a male-dominated field. It's like a masterclass in early feminism, wrapped in a twisty mystery.

Speaking of mystery, the plot holds its own against the works of our protagonists. It's clever, layered, and keeps you guessing - just like a good Christie or Sayers novel.

There's this moment when all five women are brainstorming theories, and it's pure magic. You can feel the collective brilliance crackling in the air.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, classic mysteries, or just love seeing brilliant women kicking butt and taking names, "Queens of Crime" is your next must-read. It's the literary equivalent of your favorite detectives teaming up for the ultimate crossover episode!


Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my free book.

Marie Benedict's historical fiction novels are always so well written. This one is fun!!

We go to London in 1930. Dorothy Sayers leads a group of women writers, including Agatha Christie, to solve an actual murder and infiltrate the boys club of crime writers. These five women are off to solve the mystery of May Daniels. May is a young nurse who disappeared on an excursion with her friend.

This book was inspired by a true story in Dorothy Sayers' life. This book has mystery, thrills, and some humor thrown in. I just love the thought of these women "sneaking" into the Detection Club with their male writer counterparts. In the 1930s, that is almost unheard of.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy of this book for my honest review.