I liked this one fine, but was slightly disappointed for a couple of reasons. I don't want to be THAT insufferable person complaining about historical inaccuracy, but as someone who has done a lot of research into the Golden Age authors and the Detection Club recently, the initial chapters did turn me off somewhat.

This novel, set in 1931, predominantly follows the author Dorothy L. Sayers, creator of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. Dorothy has recently founded the Detection Club, a mystery writer's group based in London, but some of her male counterparts don't think there's a place for women in the crime-writing game. Thus, Dorothy and some other female authors - Agatha Christie, Baroness Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh - create a subgroup called the Queens of Crime to infiltrate the club from the inside and prove women are just as good, if not better, at crime writing than men. How will they do that? By solving a real-life murder, of course!

I have never heard of any male-vs-female divide within the Detection Club - it's not super hard to believe, given that men even in 2025 have a hard time dealing with powerful, talented women, but this was clearly intended as Benedict's vehicle to make a statement on misogyny and female empowerment. Additionally, there was no group called the Queens of Crime (it was a nickname given to them), Margery Allingham joined the Detection Club in 1934, and Ngaio Marsh didn't join until later in life, because she spent a decent amount of her time in New Zealand. Dorothy L. Sayers was a founding member of the Detection Club, but I don't know if it really came about the way Benedict tells it - most sources list Anthony Berkeley Cox as the main founder, with Sayers penning the famous Detection Club oath. Will most readers care about these things? No, but this is my review, and I cared! Plus, I really like discussing this topic.

I did find the girl power messaging a bit heavy-handed, with Dorothy Sayers at one point telling the book's bad guy that "all women are Queens," which was...a bit on the nose, for my specific taste. Once we got past the initial premise, the investigative beats were quite good, and I liked the Queens' investigation and how they found out more clues about what happened to May Daniels, the British nurse killed in Boulogne, France. This storyline is based loosely on a real murder case Dorothy L. Sayers was interested in.

The other main thing that bothered me about the book was the reveal of the villain, which read a bit over the top in my personal opinion. I think this was a fine read, all in all, and I see it has many four and five-star reviews already, so I am sure many people will love this.

The Queens of Crime is author Marie Benedict's tribute to five 20th century "queens" of the British crime novel: Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy, and Dorothy Sayers. The novel finds them, led by Sayers, seeking to cement their legitimacy among contemporary male crime/mystery writers while investigating the death of a young nurse, a crime that male police and journalists have too readily attributed to the victim's imagined clandestine doings.

I think Benedict has missed the boat with this one. While the plot is mildly engaging, Benedict doesn't capture the rich lives and personalities of her central characters. I've read and enjoyed all these authors, particularly Sayers and Christie; Benedict just doesn't do them justice. All these queens of crime were fascinating, brilliant women. So while I'm thrilled that the very popular Benedict focuses on them, I'm disappointed that they come across more cardboard than real..

Title: The Queens of Crime
Author: Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

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. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, 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.

May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there is an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden.

This started off pretty slowly, and I almost gave up and DNFed it. It ended up being a decent read, although it’s not fast-paced at all. I enjoyed seeing the author’s version of these famous authors on the page, but the POV felt distant to me, dragging the pace down.

Marie Benedict is a bestselling author. The Queens of Crime is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/13).

When mystery writer Dorothy Sayer talks fellow authors into investigating a real life murder, we get a wonderful cozy mystery with real life mystery authors , including Agatha Christie, in the role of detective . Did I guess the killer ? Yes ; did I have an amazing time reading the ladies solve the murder - definitely!

I honestly didn’t know the other 4 authors much - so I will have to add some of their books to my the as well

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

I loved this unique way to view the Queens of Crime and it's even more impressive this was based on a true story!

I was unable to finish this book and thus will be not be posting a full review on my blog. I found the writing boring and the dialogue over the top.
I know this is loose historical fiction but it felt like a parody. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Queens of Crime" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audio book. The story was ok. It followed a group of ladies trying to solve a crime. It just didn't catch my attention.

I enjoyed the sleuthing of The Queens of Crime novelists. Bringing their fictional detectives thoughts into a real life mystery was captivating.

The Queens of Crime
By: Marie Benedict

Set in 1930's England and France, The Queens of Crime follows real life mystery authors Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy as they form the Detection Club. Facing backlash for inviting additional women into the club, Dorothy and Agatha form The Queens of Crime (including the other women) and set out to solve the murder of a young English nurse.

I appreciated that the book was based on real people (introducing me to women writers I was not familiar with-Ngaio, Margery and The Baroness) and enjoyed the "locked room" aspect of the mystery.

I did, however, feel the story dragged a bit in the later half and found myself skimming some chapters.

I'm glad I read it (my second book from this author) and will keep her upcoming books on my radar.

I loved that this book was inspired by a true story in Dorothy Sayers' life and brought together the Queens of Crime to solve a real life mystery instead of just writing about it. The book had me screaming in frustration seeing how little women were thought of and I really enjoyed the Queens and their attempts to solve the mystery.

In the style of Agatha Christie, five female mystery authors set about to solve a murder. Along the way they will encounter danger and lies. This was a fun read. I enjoyed the friendships between the women and their collaborations to solve the mystery.

One of the problems with writing fiction about real people and real events is that sometimes pesky facts get in the way of fiction in a way that can be problematic for a reader who is aware of the actual facts. The changed timeline of the body's discovery made for more compelling fiction, but took away from the actual human tragedy. I found the characterizations of the writers unlikeable and the narrative generally lackluster. More for fans of Marie Benedict than for Golden Age Detective Era afficionados.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is an enchanting dive into 1930s crime writing, spotlighting Agatha Christie and her legendary "rival," Dorothy Sayers. The novel explores the friendship and collaboration of five iconic women crime writers—Sayers, Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—who form a secret society to solve the murder of a young nurse. Blending mystery, suspense, and the power of female camaraderie, this fast-paced page-turner is both captivating and heartwarming. The ladies learn that solving a real crime is a lot different than writing about it, but the journey is a delight. The story was a page-turner and kept me intrigued at a perfect pace. 4.5 stars. Thank you to the author, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Five of the greatest women crime writers in England in the 1930s band together to solve an actual murder in Marie Benedict's latest historical fiction novel.

In 1931, popular mystery writer Dorothy L. Sayers had been instrumental in forming the Detection Club inviting all of England's most prominent writers of detective fiction to become members but she is caught offguard when the men involved want to limit female membership to just her and Agatha Christie, She manages to have Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy initiated as well but they are treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts despite their successful careers.

Dorothy hatches a scheme to showcase the skills of the five female writers by solving a real-life mystery in the same way that they would in any of their novels. She lands on the unsolved case of a young English nurse who disappeared while visting France on a day trip with a fellow nurse and was later found strangled in a nearby park. The case which has confounded the police has all of the hallmarks of a locked room mystery as the young woman went missing from a window-less public restroom while her friend waited at the only exit. Dorothy's group of women writers who call themselves the 'Queens of Crime' embark on their own investigation but, as they get closer to unravelling the mystery, the killer targets Dorothy who has a secret from her own past that she's desperate to keep hidden.

I have always loved Agatha Christie's mysteries so I was drawn to The Queens of Crime because she's featured as one of the main characters. Loosely inspired by a true story relating to Sayers (and told from her point of view), this was an enjoyable historical murder mystery (entirely fictional) that also offers a bit of a peek into the world of crime writing in the 1930's - i.e. the golden age of mysteries and the 'rules' for the writing of such mysteries that were established by the Detection Club.

In addition to the clever mystery to work out, The Queens of Crime is also a story of female friendship with strong, successful women supporting each other and working together to prove themselves in a male-dominated field. The historical context relating to the role of women in England is also interesting as this was the period of time between the two world wars when women were expected to revert to domestic life, however, the toll of the war years meant that many young women weren't able to find husbands and were labelled "surplus" and much maligned for their marital status - particularly if they also sought employment. Overall, this was a pageturner so a fun, quick read!

I would have loved to read an author's note explaining more about these five mystery authors, the Detection Club and the historical time period but there wasn't one with the ARC - hopefully there will be in the finished copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

If you love old, Agatha Christie style mysteries, you'll love this book!
The author is an Agatha Christie fan and that definitely showed in her writing. The book was written from the perspective of one of the ladies, which sometimes threw me off because it would often refer to the other ladies by name, but only her name when she was being addressed by others.
I liked the way that the women stood up for each other. They were there for each other and wanting justice for a young woman who no longer had her own voice.
Personally, I thought the story was a little slow for my current mood. There was also several times the book used French without a translation. Most of the time you could infer what was being said, but it frustrates me when that happens.
Overall a good, slow-paced murder mystery.

I really enjoyed this novel! A great mystery with some great characters. I will definitely be checking out the author's back list after this. It was smart, fast-paced and had delightful characters. A great read!

The Queens of Crime offers a delightful twist on the classic mystery novel. The story brings together five iconic female mystery writers—Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh—who band together to form a group aptly named The Queens of Crime. Their initial goal is to solve a real-life murder and prove to the male members of the newly formed Detection Club that women are just as capable as their male counterparts.

However, as they delve into the mysterious death of young nurse May Daniels, their mission transforms from a bid for recognition to a genuine pursuit of justice. Along the way, the women discover that crafting fictional detectives is far easier than confronting real-life criminals. With engaging characters and a clever plot, this novel is a must-read for mystery lovers and fans of these legendary authors.

In the world of Queens of Crime, the real magic is not in the details of murder, but in the camaraderie and intellect of the women who investigate it. Imagine five of the greatest female mystery writers of all time—Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham—coming together to form a detection club.

Benedict assembles these literary titans, each renowned for their unparalleled knack in weaving intricate tales of suspense and intrigue. Faced with the condescension of their male counterparts and the dismissive gaze of the publishing world, these queens decide to demonstrate that their prowess is not confined to the realm of fiction.

They employ strategies to resolve a real-life case that law enforcement has dismissed as trivial. But make no mistake, the true heart of this story is in the shared insights and methodologies these authors borrowed directly from their own novels. Watching them piece together clues—discarding red herrings—is a delight, far surpassing the importance of the actual crime at hand.

For me, the narrative thrives in the collaboration, where these minds meld and clash in the creation of their deductions. Each woman brings her unique genius, and as they unravel the mystery, they also elevate their craft.

In essence, Queens of Crime isn't just a murder mystery; it’s a celebration of the art of deduction, the strength of female intellect, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Marie Benedict has based her latest novel on the life of Dorothy Sayers, a mystery writer in the 1920-30’s who was a feminist before her time. Sayer was a cofounder of the Detection Club, a group of mystery writers who banded together to dine, to aid each other, and to promote good techniques in their writings. Sayer further started a female subset of this group, The Queens of Crime, along with Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Margary Allingham. For reasons unknown to this reader, Benedict introduced a fifth Queen into the mix—Baroness Emma Orczy, co-writer of “The Scarlet Pimpernel”.
In Benedict’s novel, these Queens decide that they need to actually solve a murder, rather than write about one. Using the deductive abilities of their characters (Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot, Albert Campion) they begin to investigate the brutal death of a young nurse. Benedict cleaves tightly to Sayers’ biography and tries to properly characterize the other Queens. In this portrayal I felt that she fell flat. In my opinion, the book felt forced in many areas. This was a quick read, but I felt Benedict’s mystery did not rise to the standard set by the Queens.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

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The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Historical Fiction but with 5 prominent real life female mystery writers of the 1930s as the main characters and a true unsolved crime as the main subject (yet fictionalized the investigation and outcome), this made for a yummy book!

What I liked:
•Recognize any of these characters? Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh?
•a good mystery, many suspects, lots of red herrings and twisty outcomes!
•I loved the descriptions of the women and their fashion (or lack there of). It brought them to life for me.
•Strong, independent women in 1931

What I didn’t like:
•fortunately I read this on my kindle, because I was able to look up a lot of words I didn’t know and references to authors, books, characters and events I wasn’t totally familiar with. Honestly, it’s not really a negative experience when reading on kindle as I love learning something new. But if I’d read the paper version, I might have struggled a bit.

Thank you to @netgalley and the author for access to the digital arc of this book. Publication is set for February 11, 2025.

Book 2 of 2025
Read 1/6-1/11