I was intrigued by this book, I heard a lot of things about The Housekeepers and thought this would be fun as well. I did enjoy the story and the mystery of who this other person was that kept following Quinn around and seemed after her. I loved the idea of the con and the ways that Quinn went about it. I would have liked a little more of the secondary characters, though there were some great OMG moments that I did not fully expect how things would turn out.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book. This is by the same author as The Housekeepers. This book shows his talent for an engaging read even more. This is the story of Quinn La Blanc, also known as the Queen. She is the Queen of Fives which is a five part plan to get money out of unsuspecting marks. This time she has set her sights on the Duke of Kendal. A lot of the book is her meticulous planning but also gives us glimpses into someone who is undermining her operation. This person is only known as the man in the blue waistcoat. A major problem is the fact that the Duke of Kendal has promised his sister Victoria, Tor, that he won’t marry. What follows is a good game of cat and mouse. I read this while on vacation, it kept my interest and I found I could pick it up easily after going for a dip. This would be really fun for book club. Read this and thank me later!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay.
Queen of Fives is an entertaining and clever novel, where nothing is as it seems. Quinn is London's most talented con-woman, and she has 5 days to pull off a very ambitious plan!
It gave me vibes of Oceans 11, Now You See Me, and the Prestige - you're rooting for the one(s) trying to get one over on the establishment.

The Queen of Fives by Alex Hays is a very intriguing novel. I found it to have an enjoyable plot, however the language and vernacular used was a bit challenging at first, as it does take place in the late 19th century. Once the reader gets into the swing of the story, a slow burning con game unfolds. The game seems to have many levels and our protagonist, Quinn, doesn't always know what she is getting herself into. The Queen of Fives has a great amount of plot twists, and character quirks written in that will keep the reader engaged and always guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel. I look forward to reading Alex Hays future works.

The Queen of Fives proved to be a story, set in London in the late 1800’s, full of deception and trickery. Quinn, also having inherited and earned the title of The Queen of Fives, finds she and her “family” are in need of money. Quinn seemed to me to be a very bright con artist with a dedicated, (most of the time) group of others who help her carry out her plans. She inherited the title from her mother and has been successfully completing cons.
She chose Max, a duke from a very wealthy family, and devised a plan to con him into marrying her. The plan involves her entering high society as a very wealthy woman seeking marriage. I had such high hopes for Quinn and Max, each with secrets they want to keep hidden. They seemed to be kindred spirits and I found myself rooting for them.
At times the story seemed to get bogged down with characters that did not seem to add anything other than confusion.
Much was made of the past involving Quinn’s mother, which later made sense. I so enjoyed the conversations Quinn and Max had. I personally found the ending with the dolls too bizarre.
Many thanks to Alex Hay, Graydon House, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this read. Three stars.

The Queen of Fives is set in the Victorian era and is packed with twists, heists, and surprises that keep you guessing until the very end.

Quinn is a bold and talented con woman who finds herself in a desperate situation. To survive, she has to pull off an incredibly daring heist—getting close to the Duke of Kendal, one of the richest and most powerful men in society, in just five days.

The premise of this book immediately pulled me in, and I really enjoyed Quinn as a main character. She’s strong, smart, and fearless, which makes her fun to follow. The story is full of unexpected turns, which kept me hooked, but at times, there were so many twists and new characters that it got a little confusing. I read the book and also listened to the audiobook, and I have to say, the audiobook is probably a better way to read this book.

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing and The Hive, for this book!

I enjoyed the premise and the historical setting. The multi POV was necessary but I wish there was more separation as sometimes it felt that they were bleeding into each other, especially Quinn and Silk, when they were in the same scene.

"The Queen of Fives" is an intricate, twist-filled Victorian thriller that keeps you on your toes. The story follows Quinn Le Blanc, a master con artist, as she maneuvers through a high-society scam involving a duke, a fortune, and an ambitious plot. The concept of the five-stage confidence scheme is brilliant, and the book excels at weaving together clever scheming, unexpected twists, and dark deception. While the pacing is slow at first, with a bit more fluff than I typically enjoy, the final act delivers a satisfying payoff with plenty of surprises. The intricate plotting and sharp wit make this a fun, engaging read, even if the ending didn’t completely work for me. Overall, "The Queen of Fives" is a captivating historical thriller with a unique premise and plenty of suspense. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.

This book was a fun read, but pacing was an issue. I enjoyed the story and the setting, but it felt like something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it, I will have to reread the story to see where I felt the disconnect.

Twisty victorian con man fair, the author sets up a series of rules the main character has to abide by to pull off her con, and then steamrolls her through those rules. One of the most fun parts of a con-man story is watching a puppet master pull strings, and the main character stumbles through the endgame here, which I think hurts the magic trick a bit. Still this was a fun overall read.

This is a book that had some really fun ideas, but the execution didn’t quite meet the mark for me. The premise, featuring a Victorian-era mystery with a confidence woman as the protagonist, had me intrigued from the very beginning. I was fully invested for the first quarter of the book! The intrigue, the Chateau, and the mark were all fascinating.

The mystery element felt obvious from the very moment it was introduced, though, and then it took a very long time to get to the payoff. And in all of that, the characters felt a bit flat so I didn’t get the character development I usually look for in a slower paced book.

I feel like this is one of those cases where a movie adaptation could be a better medium for this story. This might be fun for someone who likes an easy mystery with a strong female criminal as the main character!

“The Queen of Fives” by Alex Hay is a brilliantly crafted, immersive novel that is nothing short of a literary triumph. From the very first page, Hay draws readers into a world of complex characters, intricate relationships, and thrilling twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The writing is sharp, evocative, and emotionally resonant, making it impossible to put the book down once you’ve started.

The protagonist is a character you can’t help but root for. Her journey is not just about survival but also self-discovery, and the way Hay unravels her arc with such nuance is simply impressive. The author has a keen eye for detail, making the setting feel rich and alive, while also capturing the inner turmoil and strength of her characters.

What truly sets “The Queen of Fives” apart is the way Hay blends suspense with emotional depth. It’s not just a page-turner; it’s a story that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading. Whether it’s the unexpected plot twists or the powerful themes of loyalty, betrayal, and resilience, this book is one that will stay with you.

Overall, “The Queen of Fives” is an absolute must-read. Hay's storytelling is nothing short of exceptional, and this novel is destined to leave a lasting mark on readers. It's a captivating, thought-provoking, and immensely satisfying book that will keep you thinking long after the final page. I highly recommend this book!

I liked the premise of this book so much, but I do wish it had been better executed. First, I think it ran a bit too long. The first third of the book dragged, the middle third piqued my interest (thank you man in the blue silk waistcoat), and then the final act dragged a bit again until the climax. Also, a majority of the characters were either sadly hollow or downright unlikable to me. The only one I was truly rooting for was Mr. Silk. Though our not so secret villain was entertaining, their motives ultimately fell flat for me.

For the things I did enjoy, the idea of a secret player in the game, making the player an unwitting mark, is so fun! I wished we had spent more time on that. The man in the blue silk waistcoat and the lady in the cream dress kept me turning the page for hope at another glimpse into the scheme. I also enjoyed the spinning of gossip and secrets into currency, another idea that felt far too glossed over for me.

This book had a lot of potential, and I do think the author is great at writing capers. I’ll give his other book a shot as I hear it’s more heist focused and that may be more to my liking.

The Queen of Fives is a thrilling adventure full of mystery and twists. Hay’s storytelling is captivating, with a world that draws you in and keeps you guessing until the end.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Quinn Le Blanc is a talented con-artist and specializes in pulling off confidence schemes in a series of five planned stages. She has chosen her most ambitious mark yet, the Duke of Kendal, and prepares to act the role of a new and wealthy debutante to gain entry into the highest society circles. Quinn has five days to trap the duke into marriage and gain access to the fortune of what is reputed to be the wealthiest family in the country. But as she moves among the inner circle of the Kendals, she finds that the family each have secrets of their own, and hers may not be the only game of deception afoot.

While I had a rather mixed review of the previous book by this author I read, The Housekeepers, I liked the concept quite a lot, so I was interested to see what this book would be like.

Five days to pull off a daring con was certainly an ambitious timeline to base this story around, but it worked so well! I didn’t entirely grasp why it had to all be done in exactly five days given that there were no real time constraints apart from perhaps Quinn’s debts, but it made this book all that much more thrilling of a read.

The mystery was my favourite part and the way it unfolded throughout the story kept me guessing right until the end on who exactly this other player in the game was, their connection to Quinn and their motives.

One thing that would have been interesting to see is Quinn successfully pulling off a con. We’re told throughout the book how skilled the Queen of Fives is and how many cons Quinn and her predecessors have pulled off, but we don’t really get to see that in action. The scheme she was focusing on in this book goes wrong right from the very beginning and while that certainly made for some great reading, there was nothing to compare it to per se.

This book had a slow start but quickly turned into a riveting read with so many plots running side by side, it was impossible to predict where the next twist would lead. Between the plot and narrative style, I felt this book would probably make for an excellent movie.

There were times when I felt there were too many POVs. Three would have been sufficient – Quinn, the Duke and the mysteriously named ‘Man in the Blue Waistcoat’. The other POVs such as Quinn’s assistant Mr Silk or even the Duke’s sister Tor, while providing an outside perspective of events and even some useful background information, would not have significantly changed the story by their absence in my opinion.

This book was somewhat lacking in the character department, unsurprising given the genre, but I found them all to be quite two dimensional and didn’t find myself getting invested in any of their arcs individually. My interest was always with the overarching plot and even the little tidbits we got about various characters, their pasts and childhoods didn’t grab my attention as much as it could have.

That said, Quinn was a likeable character overall, and it was impressive how she could think on her feet even as her carefully laid plans failed or were foiled.

I loved the drama of the ending and how all the various pieces and side plots came together. I certainly could never have predicted who was behind it all, especially just how long in the works the whole plot was. It might have been fun to see Quinn get away with it all, but this ending was just as fascinating.

The Queen of Fives was an entertaining read and I would recommend it for fans of the genre! Even if you didn’t enjoy The Housekeepers, I would suggest picking this up as I enjoyed this much more. I’m looking forward to seeing what this author’s next book will be.

Started off good, had lots of potential but then just lost the thread. Pace slowed. Too much was trying to remain a mystery but just left me confused of who was working with who. Too many parts found unbelievable. Maybe a good edit will get this book back on track.

There are five moves to a confidence scheme and Quinn LeBlanc is the reigning queen of con artists in 1898 London. Lately there have been a number of setbacks to her plans and debts must be addressed. The Kendall family is one of the richest in London and Quinn devises a con to trap Max Kendall into marriage and steal the family fortune. There are rules to be followed and Quinn has only five days to succeed. With the help of her valet, Mr. Silk, she is introduced into society as Quinta White, a wealthy orphaned debutante. While she catches the attention of the Kendall family, they have secrets of their own. Max and his sister Tor had both vowed to never marry and the Dowager Duchess is suspicious and determined to stop Quinn. There is also someone in the background, a master of disguise, who has been working against Quinn. This person had once tried to win the title of Queen of Fives. When they were unsuccessful they disappeared. Mr. Silk knows what she was capable of and has always dreaded her return.

This is an intricately plotted story that follows Quinn through the five movements of the con. She has had a number of successes in the past and has developed a number of informants and contacts throughout the city. She is confident in her abilities, but sometimes appears vulnerable. While Max is in control of vast estates, he seems to have no interest in them. He is being pushed to marry and provide an heir, but the person that he loves would never be acceptable and Quinn might just be the answer. Alex Hay’s story involves plans within plans with unexpected twists around every corner. There is blackmail, kidnapping, betrayal and an explosive ending. It kept me reading late into the night and hoping that Hay will find a way to let Quinn return for another adventure. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing - Grayson House for providing this book.

An enjoyable enough read, though missing anything that might make it stand out from the sea of similar stories.

This is *sort of* a historical con novel, and while the con is pretty good, the historical part is fairly thin. This is a very slow read for the most part, and while that doesn’t bother me at all if it’s due to a lot of description or historical information, we don’t get much of either in this book, and that makes this a real slog at times.

I liked the structure of the con, and indeed the best parts of the book are where we see that in action. Hay’s last book was very heavy on character backstory and we didn’t see much of the actual heist it was supposed to be centered on so I appreciate the improvement in that regard in this novel, but both are missing that intangible thing that gets the reader hooked on the story.

I think some of the problem that while it’s clear which characters you should root for and which you shouldn’t, they’re all a bit stony, especially the protagonist. The way she was written certainly makes her sound like a mastermind, but it also left her cold and wooden in exchange, and many authors have demonstrated in the past that one can have both a tough and highly competent character who is also dynamic and at least a little bit warm. It’s also incredibly obvious who the villain will turn out to be, though I did think the why of that was well executed.

I very much enjoyed Alex Hay’s debut novel, The Housekeepers, when I read it in 2023. It was Ocean’s 8 meets Downton Abbey and it was right up my alley. His sophomore novel is The Queen of Fives and was just published today. I didn’t love it as much as his first but this historical fiction featuring a con woman kept me turning the pages!

Here’s the book’s description:

A confidence scheme, when properly executed, will follow five movements in close and inviolable order: I. The Mark II. The Intrusion. III. The Ballyhoo. IV. The Knot. V. All In. There may be many counter-strikes along the way, for such is the nature of the game; it contains so many sides, so many endless possibilities...

1898. Quinn le Blanc, London’s most talented con woman, has five days to pull off her most ambitious plot yet: trap a highly eligible duke into marriage and lift a fortune from the richest family in England.

Masquerading as the season’s most enviable debutante, Quinn puts on a brilliant act that earns her entrance into the grand drawing rooms and lavish balls of high society—and propels her straight into the inner circle of her target: the charismatic Kendals. Among those she must convince are the handsome bachelor heir, the rebellious younger sister, and the esteemed duchess eager to see her son married.

But the deeper she forges into their world, the more Quinn finds herself tangled in a complicated web of love, lies, and loyalty. The Kendals all have secrets of their own, and she may not be the only one playing a game of high deception...

Hay - and all mystery writers - amazes me with how he managed to weave together such an intricate web of a storyline. There were cons upon cons and so many threads to keep track of. I was shocked (in the best way) by a few of the twists while others I just wanted to be revealed asap.

I found this book to be a little darker and much more tense than Hay’s first and I think that’s why I didn’t like it quite as much. It also absolutely could have been my mood - maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind!

I didn’t particularly like the characters, which was honestly kind of fun. I still respected (most of) them and the choices they were making. Quinn (and the Queens before her) had a code she lived and worked by that makes the reader root for her and the success of her con. I didn’t want anything to happen to her and, as I got further into the novel, the more worried I got. Another reviewer noted that she wished we had gotten more from Quinn and that she felt a little two-dimensional. That could be why I didn’t really have any feelings for her - I may not have consciously noticed that she was a flat character (while others were getting backgrounds and more motivations) but I must have subconsciously clocked that.

I did, however, quite like the time period. The Victorian Era is coming close to its end (not that they know that) and times are changing. Hay doesn’t hit readers over the head with historical facts but there’s enough tidbits sprinkled throughout that you get a real sense of what life would have been like in London in 1898. I especially liked that he highlighted how few rights women had during this time as well as how complicated estates were.

While The Queen of Fives slightly missed the mark for me, I still enjoyed reading Alex Hay’s latest novel. And I’m still interested in seeing what he writes next!

*An egalley of the novel was provided by the publisher, HTP Books, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I loved how intricate this plot was and I found the characters interesting and compelling. This was such a unique story full of genre bending moments with a setting and plot that pushed me to fly through the story. Quinn is such an interesting character and while I feel as though we were not necessarily meant to root for her, I related to her scrappiness in a lot of ways. I haven't read many historical books, especially historical thrillers, but this was a lot of fun!