The Queens of Crime follows legendary mystery writers Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, and a few other iconic female authors as they team up together to solve a real-life murder. A young English nurse vanishes while visiting a French town with a friend, only to turn up dead months later. The cause of death? Strangulation. But someone wants to throw off the investigators - placing a used syringe near her body to lead them in the wrong direction.

Most might have fallen for the deception, but not the Queens of Crime. These women know a red herring when they see one. As they chase down clues across England, unraveling secrets and uncovering buried truths, they realize the case might be far more dangerous than they imagined. And the more they dig, the more they risk becoming the next target themselves.

I loved watching these five women bring the detective skills of their fictional characters to life! Their dynamic - full of wit, intelligence, and unexpected friendship - made this such a fun and unique read. By the end, I felt like I knew each of them better, and now I need to read more of their books (that they wrote in real life). Marie Benedict has a way of making history come alive, and this cozy mystery was no exception! It was clever, well-written, and such a page-turner! Overall, I gave it 4 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Whether you are a fan of Agatha Christie and other classic detective stories or not, this book is a gem. Narrated by fellow author Dorothy Sayers, Agatha, Dorothy, and 3 other female writers of detective stories are struggling to be accepted by the men in the newly formed Detection Club. To prove they are as worthy as the men, they set out to solve a real life murder. I'd say it isn't as easy as they make it appear in their books, but these women talk about their writing styles and difficulties they have with their books and the many missed deadlines, so writing isn't so easy either. None the less, these women are up to the task that the police and male reporters have failed at. There is a locked room mystery, some red herrings, and there is danger along the way, but don't doubt these women for an instant. I loved the interaction of the women, their descriptions of how they write their books, and their process for solving the murder. This book in a win on all fronts, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early ecopy. My opinion is my own.

Fun book - real authors solve murder

This book was a lot of fun. If you have read any of these authors, the book is even more fun! Five female authors from the 1930's band together and solve a real murder to show up their male compatriots. I loved one of these authors (Baroness Orczy) so much when I was a teenager. I really enjoyed reading about these authors, mind you, of course, fictionalized, and will be interested in seeing how much of each of the author's past is real vs made-up. The murder itself is a challenging locked-room style plot. Shades of current events, the women are totally disrespected by police, authorities and other men, as are the victims. I will be looking for other books by Ms Benedict.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Another fabulous historical fiction novel by Marie Benedict! I always love her writing style and she's done it again in a fascinating story about five female authors in London who get together to help solve the case of a missing young woman. The woman's body later appears in the French town she visited with a friend.
Partly through the story, I started googling the backgrounds of all of the women authors, since I was only familiar with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. The story mostly delves into Sayers' life story and it is obvious that Benedict has done her research. I love how she gave a glimpse into each of the authors' writing styles and how they would each solve the crimes in their own novels. And the camaraderie among the women through their conversations was what made the story come to life. I could imagine how much they would rely on each other as women in the very male-dominated publishing world. I appreciate how she brought these women authors to life. I would be thrilled if this became a series.
My advanced copy did not include any author's notes or acknowledgements but I will search out Benedict's comments about the book. I love when a historical fiction acquaints me with people or a period of time that I do not know well. This novel certainly does that. Marie Benedict is becoming a must-read author for me in her solo writing and co-writing publications.

Many thanks to #StMartinsPress for an early copy of the digital book in exchange for my honest review.

I am not entirely sure why, but I just couldn’t engage with this novel. I love Agatha Christie and have only just begun to enjoy Dorothy Sayers. I also enjoy the thought that these ladies banded together to solve real life crimes. However, I just couldn’t connect with the internal thoughts of Dorothy, or feel the same feelings.

I also wonder if Benedict spent more time with Dorothy and none of the other 4 ladies. This felt a little off kilter for me. I would want to know what/how Margery was useful in a scheme but would only get a “telling” of what happened.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

Marie Benedict does a great job combining historical fiction, women’s fiction, mystery. This was loosely based upon an event in author Dorothy sayers’ life.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/02/17/book-review-the-queens-of-crime-by-marie-benedict/

This seemed a bit different for Marie Benedict, but very enjoyable. I didn’t know all of the women in the Queens of Crime were real. It was fun to watch them try to solve a murder. While the mystery aspect is a different turn, I very much enjoyed it. I liked how Benedict kept her feminist protagonists strong. While the book is set in the 1930s, some of the themes are still very relevant to today if one is paying attention. I appreciated her social commentary in that aspect.

I do wish the book had an author’s note, but I received an advance copy thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Perhaps the author’s note will be included in the final version.

It was a very interesting book about how these 5 famous mystery writers. We're trying to solve a murder and I like how they were always treated as second class citizens, but the writing is amazing. I like how they went about Solving MAY and her friend were close but. She did not know anything about her friend and they were both nursing students. It started in france when she died unexpectedly and nobody knew why she was there but her friend went there on an excursion from brighton beach. I like how these women solve the different clues and did it very strictly. And everything led to how she was murdered and why she was murdered. This.
Was pretty amazing at that time because they do not have a lot of the technologies we have now but it's just hard knowledge. How one piece of the puzzle would lead to another piece of the puzzle and it was interesting how they got together to figure this out because they were great writers, and they used their knowledge of what they had in their books. The title is great too because solving.This murder was pretty interesting because I had no idea why this woman died how she died but they figured it out and it is a great end and you'll love it

Thank you @netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy of The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict. This is a fun read and a very clever idea! It’s 1931 in London, and a group of male detective crime writers is forming a society. They are reluctant to include women, but two of the leading female writer’s of the day kind of force in a core group of 5 writers. Then they decide to solve an actual crime. They work as a team, using their crime writing skills, and solve a crime that the police have given up on. It’s a great idea, putting these real like authors in the story. Good historical fiction read! #thequeensofcrime #mariebenedict #advancereadercopy #netgalley #historicalfiction #lovetoread #booknerd #takeapagefrommybook

Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime brings together five legendary female mystery writers—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—as they set out to solve a real-life murder. Set in 1930s London and France, the novel follows this fictionalized version of the Detection Club as they investigate the death of May Daniels, a young nurse whose body turns up months after she vanished. What begins as an effort to prove themselves equal to their male counterparts turns into a dangerous pursuit when Sayers herself becomes a target.

The historical setting is richly drawn, and Benedict’s research shines through, especially in her portrayal of these literary icons. The premise—famous crime novelists solving a mystery—had great potential, but the execution fell a bit flat. The pace was slower than expected, and despite the impressive lineup of detectives, the investigation felt like a solo effort by Sayers rather than a true group endeavor. The character development was weak, making it hard to fully connect with these brilliant women.

That said, the book does a great job evoking the feel of classic detective fiction, and fans of Golden Age mysteries will appreciate the nods to Sayers, Christie, and their peers. The novel reminded me of Maisie Dobbs, with a similar historical mystery feel. Though not as gripping as it could have been, The Queens of Crime is still an enjoyable jaunt into the past. 4 stars

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for comps of the eBook and audiobook. The opinions are my own.

Enjoyed reading about these classic mystery writers from times gone by. Some of whom I wasn't aware of. Good story. I enjoyed how the personalities of the different authors came out in the story and the interplay between them. I liked that not only is there the normal historical fiction that you expect from Marie Benedict, but there's the added bonus of a mystery!

This is a mystery set in 1931 and features 5 real female mystery writers as characters, including Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, who narrates the story. When the group are dismissed as not up to snuff at a detective writers club for simply being female, they decide to solve a real mystery. This was a fun story, and I really enjoyed it, as will I think anyone who loves the classic mysteries of that era. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reading copy. 4/5

If you are a fan of historical fiction with mystery included, this may be the book for you. It is different from other books by Benedict; I generally prefer a straight historical fiction novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for early reader and listener copies of The Queens of Crime in exchange for my honest opinion. I knew of Marie Benedict, but this was the first book of hers that I read/listened to. I mostly listened to the audio, but I found myself following along in the ebook while listening.
The Queens of Crime is historical fiction based on a true story, in which the female authors of the Golden Age of Mystery form a secret group and work to solve a real-life murder. Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy call themselves the Queens of Crime and work together to fight against male stereotypes and preconceived notions to find the story behind the disappearance and murder of a young English nurse named May Daniels in 1930s France while abroad with her friend.
I thought the book was well paced, as I was invested in the story and didn't want to pause when I had other obligations. I liked that the main characters were authors although I had not heard of all five before reading this book. And I appreciated that this historical fiction set in Europe did not involve WWI or WWII!

I love historical fiction and was a fan of Marie Bennet's The Personal Librarian and I was intrigued by her latest novel, The Queens of Crime, which explores the real-life Detection Club, a group of prominent crime writers in the 1930s who banded together to uphold the integrity of detective fiction. While the club included both men and women, the female writers—Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—were not fully welcomed into discussions, leading them to form their own informal group within it, calling themselves The Queens of Crime. This historical foundation was one of the most interesting aspects of the book.

Reading this, my list of go-to mystery authors has grown, as I’ll be checking out more works from these actual Queens of Crime. I especially enjoyed how the novel touched upon each writer’s creative process—their muses, their approaches to murder, and the different literary devices they employed. The camaraderie among the women as they worked to solve the murder of May Daniels was also enjoyable.

That said, the novel fell short for me in a few areas. The dialogue felt overly structured, making the conversations stiff rather than natural. There was also an excessive focus on clothing descriptions—particularly of women—which sometimes felt unnecessary. Gender roles and societal expectations were two themes of the story, however, they seemed forced in the writing and redundant, rather than naturally part of the narration. While I appreciated the premise and enjoyed learning more about these trailblazing women, the mystery itself didn’t quite pull me in as much as I had hoped.

I would point readers who enjoy historical fiction centered on literary figures or those interested in the inner workings of classic crime writers to The Queen of Crimes. I appreciate the chance to read and review this novel. Thank you to NetGalley.

SYNOPSIS

- In 1930s London, five legendary female mystery writers—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—form The Queens of Crime to prove their worth in the male-dominated world of crime fiction.
- Frustrated by their exclusion from the prestigious Detection Club, they set out to solve the real-life murder of May Daniels, a young nurse found strangled in a French park under puzzling circumstances.
- But as they uncover dangerous secrets, the case becomes personal—someone wants to keep them quiet, and Dorothy herself is at risk.

MY THOUGHTS

- A unique concept – The idea of these real-life mystery legends coming together to solve a crime is absolutely brilliant. Benedict delivers a compelling mix of historical fiction, cozy mystery, and feminist themes, all wrapped in a locked-room whodunit.
- First book by Marie Benedict—won’t be my last! Her writing transported me to another era with ease, and I can’t wait to explore more of her work.
- Atmospheric & immersive – The settings, from Boulogne-sur-Mer to 1930s London, are richly described, making the historical backdrop feel incredibly real.
- Fast-paced & engaging – The mystery had me hooked from the start, and while I predicted the murderer early on, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment. The journey was just as compelling as the destination.
- Dorothy’s POV – The story unfolds solely through Dorothy Sayers’ perspective, but Benedict ensures that the other women feel just as vivid and distinct. I also learned a lot about Dorothy’s real life, which was fascinating.
- The characters shine – Each of the women is distinct and fully realized, with her own quirks, strengths, and motivations.
- A solid, well-constructed mystery – While I guessed the murderer early on, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The complexity of the case, the layered clues, and the way the Queens piece everything together kept me engaged. The locked-room aspect of the crime was intriguing, and even though the reveal wasn’t shocking, the journey to get there was incredibly satisfying.
- A powerful look at women’s struggles – This book explores the broader struggles women faced in the early 20th century. The Queens’ fight for recognition mirrors the plight of the victims they seek justice for—women dismissed, ridiculed, and overlooked by men in power. Benedict highlights the misogyny of the time, from how female crime writers were sidelined to how female victims were diminished in the press. The discussions on “surplus women” after WWI and the way women’s intelligence was often only valued within marriage were particularly striking. I also thought it was interesting how nursing was even discouraged.
- Touches on important themes – The book explores issues like unwed motherhood, socioeconomic struggles, sexual assault, and abortion—all woven seamlessly into the narrative.
- The friendships are a highlight – The camaraderie between the Queens was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Their respect for one another, their banter, and their shared determination to fight for their place in the literary world were so well done. Watching them come together to solve the mystery—and support one another along the way—was incredibly rewarding.
- Satisfying conclusion – While the identity of the murderer wasn’t the most surprising twist, the resolution was still deeply satisfying. More than just solving the crime, the book leaves readers with a sense of triumph—not just for the Queens, but for all the women they represent.

TL;DR

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A brilliantly crafted blend of historical fiction, mystery, and feminist themes. The Queens of Crime is a must-read for fans of Golden Age mysteries, stories about trailblazing women, or anyone who loves a good whodunit. Marie Benedict’s writing is immersive, the characters are richly drawn, and the story is both entertaining and thought-provoking. An absolute gem.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now.

I enjoyed this historical fiction that is loosely based on a true story. In 1930, crime writers decide to come together and create the Detection Club but the men aren't keen to allow the 2nd class women crime writers to join. The women create their own club - The Queens of Crime - and then set out to prove the men wrong. They ban together to solve the murder of nurse May Daniels. As they work to uncover clues, they become more and more angry at the police for wanting to make this poor girl out as bad guy who deserved what she got. I enjoyed the way the ladies bounced ideas off of each other and thought about how their characters would feel to help them find clues to solve this mystery. We not only learn the true story of who orchestrated the demise of May, but we also learn a few other mysteries about the Queens of Crimes themselves. The story kept me guessing right up until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I ended up quite enjoying it, even if I did figure out whodunnit quite early on.
I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan, I've read the bulk of Sayers' mysteries, and tried to read The Scarlet Pimpernel, but I've never even heard of the other authors, so I'm looking forward to tracking down copies of their work.

The Queens of Crime is a fictionalized depiction of the real Queens of Crime who broke glass ceilings and demanded equal seating in the legendary Detection Club: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. What would happen if they banded together and tried to solve a real crime of their own? I have to say, their talents lie in the details and in their willingness to flaunt convention. Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery read, and I enjoyed getting to know the authors as they played out their roles in this story. I've read much of AC and Sayers, and I most definitely look forward to exploring the works of the other Queens of Crime very soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.