I listened to the audiobook version of The Queens of Crime and loved the author’s narration. This was a fast-paced mystery with well-developed characters. You will be drawn into the story and held tight until you have absorbed the last word of the book. Based on a true unsolved murder, the “queens of crime” do an admirable job of using their mystery writer gifts to help uncover the person who is guilty of committing the crime. In addition to the unsolved murder, one of the characters is targeted by the killer which adds to the intense atmosphere. What a group of strong and intelligent women. It was also nice to see the relationships they develop with each other. A great addition to the historical fiction genre and one I encourage you to add to your to-be-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Fiction
Historical
Historical Fiction
Historical Mystery
Mystery
Mystery Thriller
Thriller

I listened to this audiobook over the holiday break and it was a great choice, as I was fully able to get lost in the story. While I’m very familiar with Christie and Sayers, and somewhat familiar with Orczy, Marsh and Allingham are new to me, so in addition to a new story, I also have more authors to explore. I think that Benedict introduced all five authors skillfully- we learned enough about them and their careers/novels to keep up with the story, but it was not clunky or forced. (There is a reason her novels remain popular.)

The story is framed around the women wanting to prove themselves to their male contemporaries by solving a real crime, a story that feels rather relevant even in 2025. Because you can’t very well have five people wandering around investigating everything together, you get some very interesting combinations throughout the novel. (The different pairings allowed us to dive into different aspects of each author’s life and career, and I think it works perfectly.)

Bessie Carter’s narration for the audiobook is sublime, as always. (Yes, the Bessie Carter who is the daughter of Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter and was Prudence in Bridgerton.) She has quickly become one of my favourite narrators and I will continue to look out for her next projects!

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

It’s 1930 and 5 of the greatest women crime writers want their props… So they decide to solve an actual murder…It’s got all the makings of a lock door mystery and the police are stumped!

So the author takes 5 of the most notable women crime fiction writers of the 30s…Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy and makes one of the most exciting mystery novels I have read in a long time! It was exhilarating.

May Daniels, a nurse, is found murdered but no one saw her leave a bathroom with one exit.. I was enthralled!! It was pretty well paced for a mystery too! The plot was amazing and centered around the real life Detection club that included all 5 of these crime writers! I went down a rabbit hole about it. The writing was quite excellent and the narrator did a super amazing job of bringing these epic women to life for me.

4 stars

This fiction story is told from the POV of real life authoress Dorothy L Sayers, who joins up with Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy to form the Queens of Crime. In order to prove their worth to their male mystery writer colleagues, they decide to sole a real mystery of an English nurse, May Daniels, who is murdered in France.

The women use their skills, more from being female than being authors, to figure out what happened to the nurse. Their unique perspectives result in new information coming to light. For example, they question female business owners and shop girls more than the police ever did. Particularly asking and evaluating the answers to questions based on things that only seem odd or relevant to another female. As the women dig into Ms. Daniels’ life, the reader learns more about the Queens’ lives as well. The book cleverly brings up many issues that women of the times (and often our own as well) faced as a result of society’s standards for women.

What I enjoyed the most is the author’s prior research and dedication to her subject. In her Author’s notes she mentions her love of Golden Age mysteries and her research into Ms. Sayers’ life. As it turns out, the murder in this book actually happened and Dorothy reviewed it as part of her research, however she did not actually try to solve it herself.

Who better to solve crimes than the golden age women who wrote about them? The characters are Dorothy L Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. As members, some founding of the Detection Club, these women feel the men are questioning their membership, so they form an offshoot group called the Queens of Crime. It isn’t long before they take on their first case. As a fan of these authors and their writing, it was fascinating to read about their process as it may have been – tying the actual crime-solving into how they would write about the crime being solved.

The pacing was a little slower, reminiscent of their own novels, but it did drag a little in the middle. Bessie Carter’s narration of the women was exactly how I would expect them to sound/talk.

The Queens of Crime was delightful. I immediately recommended it to a coworker who loves all things Agatha Christie. I'm fascinated that The Queens of Crime features characters based on real women, investigating a crime that is based on a true story. Reading a story that features feminist themes (despite being set in a world and time where that is not the case) is a breath of fresh air, albeit not very realistic. This was a fast read that would be enjoyable to many mystery readers, and I generally recommend it. Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC of The Queens of Crime, which is available now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it, fun while I was reading it
This is such a great concept, five female mystery writers team up to... solve a murder. Set in the 1930's, starring primarily Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie, I enjoyed the writers' thought processes more than the actual mystery. It was a fun one for me, because of the historical fiction element rather than the resoltion of the who done it.

The narrator, Bessie Carter, did a great job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, with what expression/intension.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Marie Benedict for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Queens of Crime is out February 11, 2025.

Marie Benedict's Queens of Crime is a masterful blend of historical fiction and classic mystery, told from the perspective of my favorite Golden Age crime writer, Dorothy L. Sayers. As a longtime admirer of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, I loved exploring Sayers' life while watching her and her fellow female mystery authors take on a real-life murder.
Set in 1930s London, the novel follows Sayers and four other literary icons-Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy-who, frustrated by sexism within the Detection Club, decide to prove their worth by solving an actual crime. Their case? The baffling murder of May Daniels, an English nurse found strangled in a French park. As they apply their skills, they uncover overlooked details, reconstruct timelines, and analyze suspects with the precision of their fictional detectives. But when Dorothy herself becomes a target, they realize this mystery may reach the highest levels of British society.
Benedict's research is impeccable, bringing these trailblazing women to life with rich characterizations, stunning wardrobe descriptions, and period-accurate details. More than just a mystery, Queens of Crime is a powerful story about women fighting for recognition-not just for themselves but for all marginalized voices.
The novel also highlights the persistent bias against female victims, drawing striking parallels to today's world.
I've read several of Benedict's historical novels, and she never fails to balance fact and fiction beautifully. I often find myself pausing to research elements of her stories, and this book was no exception. The insights into Agatha Christie's disappearance, Ngaio Marsh's unconventional style, and Emma Orczy's aristocratic background add fascinating depth. But the heart of the novel is the camaraderie between these brilliant women, whose support for one another gave them the strength to challenge both literary and societal norms.

For fans of historical fiction and classic mystery, Queens of Crime is a must-read—a thrilling, insightful tribute to the women who reshaped crime fiction.

Five female mystery writers team up to solve a real-life murder in this historical fiction offering.

I know Marie Benedict has written several novels but this was my introduction to her work. I thought this story starring Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie was thoroughly entertaining and intriguing although the ending didn't seem terribly surprising. It involved aspects of the authors' lives that I found really interesting.

The narration by Bessie Carter, whom I know from Bridgerton, was excellent. I would love to hear more audiobooks read by her.

I was too late in downloading the audio version of this but will read the book in print and will give feedback at that time. I preferred the audio and feel bad that it disappeared when I believed I had downloaded it and would circumvent the archive date. Here is my print version feedback. In the 1930s, four female mystery writers, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and Margerie Allingham, were dubbed "The Queens of Crime." Marie Benedict tosses in Baroness Emma Orczy in this historical fiction mystery, joining the women in a quest to solve a real murder to raise their stature in the newly founded Detective Club. While the male members don't mind including a couple women, Sayers and Christie, they pointedly ignore the three women that these female members tricked them into acceptance. The novel is narrated by Sayers and definitely includes historically accurate pieces of the lives of the women I was familiar with.

This is, from start to finish, an enjoyable novel, with the nature of each writer brought to the fore as they collaborate, show occasional frustration, cover the tracks the police missed by asking the wrong questions with no follow up and take risks that they should not take. Having been a lifelong fan of Sayers, Christie and Marsh, I could see how Benedict used their writing approaches and plotting style to create this novel, without making it full of references as to feel like it is in your face. Her writing is engaging. The settings in France, rural England and London are also appealing. The mystery is about the disappearance and murder of a British nurse on a day trip to France with a friend. The writers' methodology is sound. The plot is good enough and certainly the clues are all there. I recommend The Queens of Crime in particular to those who love the original Queens of Crime but also to those who just like a good clever amateur sleuth mystery. Especially sleuths with intellects that make them knowledgeable of all things murder and police.

This seems like a pretty cute premise for a mystery, and one I might recommend to friends. However, i really hated the writing style. I hate first person present, particularly in. Historical fiction novel. It completely ruins the book for me. Additionally, Christie’s famous disappearance is mentioned in the first chapter like a Forrest Gump event. Not for me, but fun for others.

Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime employs a first-person narrative that sets a deliberate yet sluggish pace, making the story feel more drawn-out than immersive. While the premise is compelling, excessive exposition diminishes the suspense expected from a mystery. Despite focusing on pioneering female crime writers, the portrayal of women relies on familiar tropes, limiting the narrative’s depth. The novel follows five legendary authors—Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, and Emma Orczy—who form a secret society to challenge their second-class status in London’s prestigious Detection Club. Though Sayers helped found the club, many male members resisted admitting women, providing a fascinating historical backdrop. This real-life dynamic is woven into a fictional murder investigation inspired by the unsolved 1930s case of British nurse May Daniels. Told from Sayers’ perspective—often considered Christie’s greatest rival—the novel highlights their intriguing dynamic, but the other three writers remain frustratingly underdeveloped. The dialogue often feels contrived, further weakening immersion, and the author does not give depth to the character, especially real life nurse and murder victim May Daniels, whose chilling disappearance is not explored nearly enough. Ms. Daniels was on a day trip with a friend but mysteriously vanished from a French train station moments before boarding a train to England. The only entrance and exit to the bathroom she entered was in plain sight, yet she was never seen again—until her body was discovered months later in Boulogne-sur-Mer. This real-life mystery provides a compelling foundation, but the novel prioritizes personal relationships over a tightly woven detective story, making the execution feel unbalanced. An author’s note on Benedict’s research and creative liberties would have added valuable context. Additionally, untranslated French dialogue may alienate non-fluent readers. The conclusion ultimately feels unsatisfying, leaving key elements unresolved. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Marie Benedict for the advanced reading copy. 3/5

She is the moment, an icon, a feminine anthem book. I really liked this one it was so fun and intriguing. The narrators were wonderful too. Cannot recommend this one enough.

Writing a mystery that ends up being solved by the queens of mystery writing is such a fabulous idea. I absolutely devoured this book. I would love for this to become a series!

I adored this book. Everything about it.

I loved the narrator's performance, I loved the women the author chose to be the Queens, and I loved that it's loosely based in Dorothy Sayers' reality.

This book is a fun romp with 4 amazing female authors. Three of them I'm less familiar with, but the characterizations seem to be excellent all around. The mystery is an interesting one, based in reality, and an homage to the locked room mysteries many of the women featured wrote. I just can't say enough good things about this book.

I recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, but especially those looking for a great story about women uplifting and supporting each other.

Thank you very much for this ARC!

Such a fun listen! What better way to host a closed room murder mystery than to have it solved by the queens of the genre? I enjoyed meeting the fictionalized characters behind so many of my favorite mystery books. It’s the perfect title for women’s history month. These ladies show everyone how it’s done!

I liked the perspective of underestimated women solving murders of women who were overlooked and not given the care they deserved. I also like the satisfying ending of this book.

Great combination of historical fiction and mystery.

This story brings together five female mystery writers that are not respected by male mystery writers in 1930 London. So they decide to come together and solve a real murder to get the respect of their male writers. It does not take long for the women to realize that being a detective is very different than writing about detectives in their books.

The women are described in detail so this gives you information about women of the time. They are fighting to be treated equal to male writers, this is not a new topic and is still an issue today. They divide and conquer to solve the mystery which sometimes causes trust issues between the women. But I found the way they tried to solve the mystery interesting.. The pace of the book was a little slow but did not keep me from wanting to see what happened next.

I loved and absolutely devoured this book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book from the historical fiction genre and this absolutely did not disappoint! I loved Benedict’s writing style, the depth of each character, and how women worked together to contribute to the greater good while risking their lives and their jobs.

Set in London, 1930. Five of the most popular women writers join forces to create a murder club, a secret society of sorts. Their initial mission is to prove that they are not second-class citizens when compared to their male counterparts in the Detection Club. Both clubs were initially created for fun…murder mystery societies of sorts.

However the women in the new club are determined that they can outsmart their counterparts and solve crime, specifically murder mysteries, not only faster…but better. They have the grand plan to prove their place in society by solving an actual murder.

The story line follows the female authors as they put their sleuthing and solving skills to the test. Often met with danger and the unraveling of letters that reference their own novels. They will not give up until each piece of the puzzle is put into place and justice is served.

Creative plot. Strong female characters. Similar vibes to the Alice Network, The Nightingale, etc. Similar to any book that brings a group of women together to make the world a better place while risking their lives...simultaneously set in an era where women are not respected and do not have the same rights as men.

4.25⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook. This was such a great audiobook. I loved the development of the story. I love that this has facts mixed in with fiction. I was hooked, and trying to solve the mystery right along. I really appreciated a mystery with no cursing and no gory details.