Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fam of Marie Benedict and have really enjoyed her historical fiction novels. I was excited to read her newest novel based on a true story from the life of Dorothy Sayers, around factual women detective novelists who join together to solve a real life crime in 1930s London. I loved the setting, I loved the glimpse we got of the real novelists from their characters in the book. I would so love to find our Dorothy's true story. Really fun read to play detective along with these 5 authors and to see how they used their detective writing skills in a real life case.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: In The Queens of Crime, five legendary female crime writers, including Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, form a secret society to solve a high-profile murder, navigating a thrilling investigation while confronting their own personal and professional challenges in a male-dominated literary world.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a captivating historical fiction novel that pulls readers into a world of legendary female crime writers in 1930s London. Inspired by a true story from Dorothy Sayers' life, Benedict weaves a tale of intrigue, friendship, and intellectual prowess as Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy come together to form a secret society with a bold mission: to prove their worth in a male-dominated literary world by solving a high-profile murder.

As a fan of Marie Benedict’s previous works, I was once again impressed by her ability to bring strong, often overlooked women from history to life. Her writing not only explores the rich personalities of these crime writers but also captures their wit, grit, and intelligence as they navigate the challenges of their time. The mystery itself is gripping, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on edge, but it’s the dynamic between the characters—their camaraderie, sharp minds, and occasional banter—that truly shines.

Okay, this book, just wow!
I was so captivated by this book. I really enjoyed the story and the whodunnit being solved by my favorite mystery and crime writers. The author did an absolutely amazing job. I really hope this book turns into a series, I want more!

The Queen of Crime by Marie Benedict takes five of the most famous female mystery writers and groups them together into a one book. This is the ultimate book for mystery lovers. The classic mystery mixed with the classic writers leads to a fantastic story that is cozy and clever. I adored this book. I would love to read an entire series of these women solving crimes.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

This was an interesting read and I really enjoyed delving into the Life of Dorothy Sayers and this group of iconic mystery writers including Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. The mystery was really interesting and sad and I love the comradery within this group and that they feel the need to solve an actual murder to be taken seriously as mystery writers by their male peers. I loved the little peaks you got into Agatha Christies life after her mysterious disappearance and her fraught interactions with her sister. All in all, this was a great read and while it was fiction it was fun to read about these real life authors.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I know when I pick a book by Marie Benedict I am going to enjoy a fantastic story, with wonderful historical characters. This one did not disappoint. The Queens of Crime was a sleuthing, whodunnit that would have made Agatha Christie proud. Marie Benedict’s ability to get inside the heads of the famous ladies she writes about is extraordinary. There was no acknowledgement in the copy I had to read so I have no idea how much of the story was true and how much was fiction. But like all Benedict’s previous novels it really didn’t matter. She weaves a tale that enthralls and delights.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

A murder mystery wrapped up in historical fiction? Or is it historical fiction layered over a murder mystery? Either way, the premise of the story and knowing Marie Benedict wrote it puts it in the "Yes, please" category.

Dorothy Sayer, along with Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy come together to prove their worthiness in being included in the mostly male Detection Club of mystery writers by setting out to solve a real-life murder mystery that the police have shrugged off, more or less. But the Queens of Crime are not accepting their conclusion and set about finding the killer themselves.

That's all you need to know to be ready to read this mystery/historical fiction. Anything more would be a spoiler!

An incredibly enjoyable book imagining five great women mystery writers of the 1930s banding together to solve the real life disappearance and murder of an English nurse in France. I love that the narrator is Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey books) because she is my favorite among the five writers which also include Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy.

I have read and loved several other books by Marie Benedict and this is the best yet. I like how she gives different voices and temperaments to each woman. I felt that I got to know each one better, but especially Sayers. Parts of the book are funny, other parts serious and sad, but all are riveting.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of "Golden Age Crime" writers, especially these women.

I obtained an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

Wanting to validate their admission into the good old boys' club of the Detection Club, famous master writers Dorothy Sayers, and her fellow Queens of Crime: Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy set out to prove a murder of a local girl gone missing. What at first was merely a means to show the men their worth, became more of a desire to halve justice for May and other women led on by men and dismissed because of their weak sex. Intriguing and thought provoking, I was immersed in the story as I followed them in their pursuits. Some red herrings and twists and turns, the author let you know that these famous mystery writers were as stumped as we were until they put all their clues together. A page turner, it soon became a quick read for me because I wanted to know who did it. Delightful! many thanks to #mariebenedict @netgalley #stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Marie Benedict's new novel is a fun mystery starring five well-known female mystery writers from the 1930s who banded together and called themselves "The Queens of Crime". In the book they set out to solve an actual murder, to prove to their male counterparts that women mystery writers are not only equal to, but superior to the men. The story is absorbing and enjoyable. 4-1/2 stars

I received and ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

What a terrific “meeting” between Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and 3 other remarkable mystery writers from the 1930s. The author sets the stage by having these accomplished women dissed by the male mystery writers of their day. To prove themselves more than equal, these ladies set out to solve a real murder mystery and then the fun begins! There is some friction as they set out and confusion as they each solve crimes in their stories differently, but watching them come together, look for clues, interrogate participants, and accomplish their goal is entertaining. Even though there are many characters, it is easy to keep them straight as all of the primary and most secondary ones are unique in their own ways. I enjoyed being with them on this quest.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to read and review.

Book review 📖

📜The Queens Of Crime
✍️Marie Benedict
📠St. Martin’s Press
📚Mystery/Thriller/Historical Fiction
🗓️Pub date: February 11, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨In 1930s London, 5 of the greatest female crime writers band together to form a secret women’s murder detective club. Their goal is to solve an actual murder.

✨May Daniels, an English nurse on her way to a France vacation, disappears into thin air. Months later her body is found in the woods.

✨With clues from the crime scene that don’t add up and questions that beg to be answered, this is one for the women’s detective club to sink their teeth into. But when the killer sets their sight on one of the writers, they need to stick together.

✨I thought I would love this more than I did. It was a bit slow for my liking, however, very well written.

#netgalley #thequeensofcrime #mariebenedict #stmartinspress #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #winterreleases #historicalfiction #thrillerfiction #mysteryfiction

Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

Based on the real life crime novelists of the early 1900s, Benedict has this circle of writers searching for a real killer. Trying to best the men of The Detection Club, which includes Dorothy Sayers’ husband, the five lady sleuths set out to solve a murder.

Chasing back and forth from London to Boulogne, France, the ladies comb for details the police and men may have missed. May Daniels and Celia McCarthy went on an overnight getaway to France, but May never returned. Can the ladies solve this crime and prove to the men they are capable detectives as well?

An interesting concept I’ll give three stars, wishing writers could write about other women without giving constant fashion details on their clothing, though I imagine it’s to give credence to the era.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a clever new historical novel that uses five women crime writers from the past who try to solve a crime: the murder of a young woman that they are sure the police got wrong.

The authorities say she was a drug dealer peddling drugs and died of an accidental overdose.

The women writers, who are trying to convince the men in their Crime Detection Club that they are as talented as the men, are Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy, and Margery Allingham.

They travel back and forth from London across the English Channel to the seaside in France where the young nurse was murdered and her body was discovered.

Their methods are ingenious and sometimes dangerous and Benedict’s novel is delicious and definitely worth reading!

Set in 1931, this book imagines five women who wrote mystery novels in this period, banding together to solve a real crime. Told from the point of view of Dorothy Sayers, the story is fascinating. The women travel to the scene of the crime across the English Channel, interview witnesses throughout England, and put themselves in harm's way trying to figure out why a young nurse disappeared and was murdered. Their discussions of how they write and how these skills could be translated into real-life detective work is so intriguing. Marie Benedict is a wonderful author of historical fiction and I have read and loved many of her books; this one among them. I did find that the book moved slowly in parts and seemed to drag. But, it was really well done and I think that readers will really like this book. It definitely has inspired me to read or re-read these wonderful mystery novelists who are her protagonists, the "queens of crime," including Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

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An evocative novel that spotlights women who were successful mystery authors despite misogyny being the default mindset of the time period.

After WWI when the term "surplus women" was coined, referring to the excess of unmarried women. The 1921 Census of England and Wales listed 1.72 million more women than men post war. Society judged these women harshly for having the audacity to hold jobs necessary to support themselves. The murder victim in "The Queens of Crime" is one such young woman. May Daniels, a nurse found murdered and her integrity shredded in the media.

Marie Benedict sets a brilliant group of minds on the case and takes readers on a sleuthing adventure. There was a unique power in a story about women banding together to solve n atrocity committed against another woman. The Queens of Crime are comprised of: Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Mysteries), Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple), Margery Allingham (Albert Campion), Baroness Emma Orczy (Scarlet Pimpernel), and Ngaio Marsh (Roderick Alleyn). In reality Sayers did travel to France to investigate with her husband but was unable to solve this real-life locked room mystery.

I thought this was a phenomenal premise to follow these larger-than-life characters as they chase down leads. Benedict did an excellent job of bringing the author side of these ladies to the forefront. I was gripped from the first page. It was clear that the research necessary to bring this story and its characters to life was extensive and thorough. That work was evidenced in the way characters' voices rang true and their individuality sparkled. The narrative transported me to another time and place; the smart energy crackled. The red herrings were in rare form.

Misogyny and its many ugly faces are shown here. However, in the early chapters it felt as if it were being drummed into the reader. The book is otherwise well written, and this just wasn't necessary. There is enough "show" in this regard that the excessive "tell" waters down the desired effect. Luckily, this issue doesn't continue throughout the novel.

Minor quibbles aside, I flew through this one. What a divine film this would make! The Queens 👑were bright and cunning making this a delight to read. I do believe Benedict has another winner on her hands!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advance Readers Copy

This book is well-written with memorable characters (based on real people) and great detail of history and mystery writing. The novel does well at honoring history while embellishing the story with creative license. The plot is very engaging - while also rightly acknowledging that a murder victim is a human being worthy of dignity and compassion, not just a source of morbid entertainment. My only complaint is that the book was sometimes a bit heavy-handed in its messaging and in the fate of the murderer. I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to other fans of historical fiction and mystery. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC; I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted to Goodreads, and will be posted on Amazon and social media closer to publication.

Marie Benedict’s latest book is a mystery featuring several of the legendary female crime writers including Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy who called themselves the Queens of Crime. The Queens decide to solve a real murder of a young British nurse who was strangled in France in order to prove to the men in the newly formed Detection Club that they are worthy of full membership. The women are successful solving the unsolved murder by thinking through how their characters in their books would handle the challenge. The story also delves into the lives and personalities of each member of the Queens and the challenges they face as women during this time period. It’s a fun read with an interesting plot line although some of their methods for flushing out clues didn’t seem that realistic to this reader. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC copy of the book.

How can a lady's detective group prove that they are as good as a group of male detectives?

In the year 1931 women were deemed not as capable as men.

The Queens of Crime decided that if they could solve a "real life" murder, they would be respected.

They all asked themselves where could they find a real life murder to investigate and lo and behold a body of a young woman assumed to have disappeared was found.

They were on the case.

The book dragged and wasn’t a book I was anxious to get back to.

Gorgeous, pull-you-in cover, but I was disappointed because I normally enjoy Ms. Benedict's books. 3/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Queens of Crime was a fun read! All your favorite classic murder mystery female authors form a gang to take on the men trying to keep them in their place. And what better way than solving a real mystery! Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie were the most prominent characters in my mind. It was intriguing to see how they went about solving the mystery without all the high tech used today. I wonder if any of today’s mystery writers could manage to solve a real mystery?