I loved reading about all the "queens" in this novel, especially little Hira! This is a fantastic reimagining of Diamond Annie and the Forty Elephants and Officer Lilian Wyles set against the backdrop of post WWI London. For anyone fascinated by untold stories of women in history, this book is a must-read, offering a unique glimpse into a world where women, despite the odds, dared to reach for power and autonomy. It's a captivating blend of suspense, drama, and a deep exploration of human nature--especially from the female perspective.

From the publisher: A tale of dark glamour and sisterhood, Queens of London is a look at Britain’s first female crime syndicate, the ever-shifting meaning of justice, and the way women claim their power by any means necessary. 1925. LONDON. When Alice Diamond, a.k.a. “Diamond Annie,” is elected the queen of the Forty Elephants, she’s determined to take the all-girl gang to new heights. She’s ambitious, tough as nails, and a brilliant mastermind with a plan to create a dynasty the likes of which no one has ever seen. MAYBE WOMEN CAN HAVE IT ALL. AS LONG AS THEY’RE WILLING TO STEAL IT.

My thoughts: Webb's story focuses on 4 women set in 1925s London. Her novel opens eyes to the complicated web that tied together criminal and police circles in that era and the unsuspecting people caught in the middle. This famous group introduces me to Diamond Annie, the most infamous criminal in London history. She decided she wanted the beautiful things the middle and high class society women had, but didn’t have the means to obtain. Her moral compass was compromised so badly she had no second thoughts about using crime to get what she wanted.

Alice clearly has ambitions to do more than just rake in the cash for a fleeting good time, but her plans to take care of her girls are met with obstacles. Diamond Annie's plans are jeopardized by Inspector Lilian Wyles, one of the first policewomen in English history, set to shutdown the Elephants. Intelligent, courageous, and desperate to prove herself to her bosses, Lilian is focused to nab Diamond Annie.

Based on real events and real people, Queens of London shows that no matter what the circumstances, we need to work to prove ourselves. Life has layers and it takes courage to fight for your goals in the world and society.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmarks for introducing me to 1925s London, the history of an all-female crime syndicate, and the fascinating ways they duped the street police at the Met.

The Queens of London by Heather Webb. Even on the dark side where the gangs have their own codes there can be some light and a miracle or two! I absolutely loved Hira and her best pal puppy Biscuit!

This book was based on fiction and nonfiction. Whose named alice diamond Ran a gang called forty elephants. These women would rob stores for jewelry and Clothing. They were brought up in a very harsh environment. The book had a really interesting turn when this woman called LIL Lam. Who was a metropolitan police officer in nineteen twenty five in london. She was one of the only 2 women on the force and the police s Chief center to watch these gangs of women to see if she could arrest them. There was a girlh Ina. Whose uncle was responsible for her upbringing? Because she was part Indian when her family died. The uncle wanted to send her to a orphanage boarding school up north. She ran away onto the streets of london. And had a dog she met named biscuit. She was very frightened at first but she seemed to get along really well. The first person she ran into was dorothy Who worked in the department store. She was hiding out from the police because she did not want to be picked up. Then she met alice who put her up in her home and introduce your way gang life. Please all stories all inter between these three different women. Dorothy was dealing with her boss who was a palameder. Alice fell in love with the bartender. But she could not love him because she was very concerned about her G a n g. Her brother was also in a G a n g. This book was really interesting because it showed how society with some different for these people who had to survive like this. The book had a happy ending to it too. And everything typed together. Nicely at the end and with a nice big surprise

I really enjoyed reading about the Forty Elephants. This was a not a topic I was knowledgeable of before reading this book, but I'm very interested in learning more. I easily got invested in historic London.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved how both Alice and Lilian were strong women fighting to prove they belong in the “mans” world, working in professions that woman have yet to make a name in. I loved both of their pov but I got to say my favorite was Hira. I was not expecting the child to grab my attention as much as she did, but I loved her. She was smart and quick on her feet. She still tried to stick to the person she wanted to be while doing what she needed to survive and her relationship with biscuit was so cute. I loved how the girls were intertwined but still got a lot of backstories without it dragging. Knowing how each operated I never knew where the story was headed. Webb’s atmospheric writing brings emotion, adventure, and strong character development. I love how the author’s note at the end talks more about the people the story is based on and where liberties were taken.

Thank you @msheatherwebb @netgalley and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

Yes!!! All hail The Queens of London. You got Diamond Annie, an organized group of woman thieves in the roaring 20s! I mean what else can you ask for!

This book was really enjoyable! We follow a gang of female jewel thieves in old London called The Forty Elephants and their escapades thought the city. The idea of a female thief gang was really interesting; it was wonderful to see what these girls got up to every single time. They're not meant to be perfect characters, yet they always have you rooting for them! I loved the bond between them, and, as a leader Annie Diamond is a badass woman!

Loved this book about the gang of female thieves told in a different prospective than the other novel about this group out now . I found the story well plotted and it kept you engaged with the story till the end!

Fabulous! I loved learning about the untold lives of these amazing women who dared to live life on their own terms. Rich with detail, Webb spins a magnificent tale.

1925: The men are home from war, and women are back to their miserable jobs as laundresses and cleaners, but not for Diamond Annie who refuses to work herself to the bone for pennies. As the head of the notorious all girl gang the Forty Elephants, she is determined for her girls to have a better life, despite their criminals means of reaching that dream. Diamond Annie, Alice, wants to buy a building so her girls can, like her, get out of their parents’ house and support themselves. To do this she needs far more money that her typical heist provides. No more five-finger discounts, this time, the girls need to go to the source, the manufacturers, to get the scale of stolen goods to move them up and out.

Young Hira Wickham has run away from her greedy miserable uncle who threatened to move her to a boarding house that runs more like an orphanage after her parents passed away. Life on the streets is tough for a posh half Indian girl, and other than one friend at a department store, Hira’s only hope of surviving the winter is under the protection of Diamond Annie. The Forty Elephants are anything but maternal, and Hira does what she can to stay out of the way and be useful when necessary. Alice has a job for her, and after that Hira wants out.

Inspector Lillian Wyles simply wants her male colleagues to see her as an equal. As a former war nurse, she has seen her fair share of blood and heartache. Lillian, despite being put on a the shopping lifting/chasing orphans beat, knows her time is coming when she’ll finally make a name for herself and earn a little respect at the Met. She has her eyes trained on Diamond Annie, if only that orphan Hira wouldn’t stand in her way.

Inspired by the real Forty Elephants gang, Heather Webb gives us a fun fast paced story about women who are willing to do what they must to get ahead and their deep-rooted loyalty to one another. These “Queens of London” will keep you turning the pages long after bedtime.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and of course the author Heather Webb for the advanced copy of the book. Queens of London is out now. All opinions are my own.

An story full of glamor and danger, Queens of London transports us into London’s criminal world where Diamond Annie rules as queen of the Forty Elephants women’s gang.
Four fascinating characters whose lives crash together to create a page-turner of a novel, Queens of London is an fun story of three women and a young girl who take charge of their lives and become experts at their chosen professions. Set in 1920s London, the story revolves around the infamous Forty Elephants, a gang of female thieves who robbed London’s best high-end department store, they are led by Diamond Annie, aka Alice. The tale of a lady detective, an honorable thief, a department store clerk, and an orphan kept me up late into the night. I was routing for these criminals! The characters are so flushed out and really enjoyable.
A fast read and worth your time.

This historical was absolutely unputdownable. It is a boutique London first all women crime syndicate and a female detective at Scotland Yard. So good! It completely captured me and I couldn't stop thinking about this book. One of the best historical reads I've read.
I just reviewed Queens of London by Heather Webb. #NetGalley
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Alice Diamond aka Diamond Annie runs her gang of women on the tough streets as the Queen of London. Diamond Annie takes in a street kid and takes her under her wing while teaching her the ways of the streets. The gang spends a lot of time taking from others as their livelihood. Toss in a fairly newly minted inspector with the local police and the story is a classic cops and robbers. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Never hearing about this famous female “mobster”, I was immediately interested in this book! It’s one of my favorite time periods set in one of my favorite places. There are many strong personalities within the women in the book and I loved how the worlds of Hira, Dorothy and Annie intersected. I adored Hira and her resolve to set herself apart from what her uncle had in store for her as well as Annie being the ultimate girl gang leader of the Forty Elephants, which was an actual female crime syndicate! Then there’s Dorothy who hasn’t quite found her happy place but plays a key role. The alternating MC to Diamond Annie is detective Lillian who puts up a tough fight to prove her worth to her male counterparts to bring down Diamond Annie and her gang. I really felt for Lillian with her sharp mind and her warm heart trying to protect women.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and author Heather Webb for my gifted physical copy and this eARC to read and review!

This is an absolutely riveting 1920s historical fiction based on the real life all-girl crime gang, The Forty Elephants. This story focuses on the lives of 4 very strong, cunning and capable women .... from both sides of the law! But don’t you dare think that because this is about women gangsters and pink-collar crime that it isn’t full of fast-paced action! It’s a page turner bursting at the seams with drama and intrigue that got my heart pumping … but also a heartwarming tale of found family that pulled at all my emotions!

This was a new corner of history for me and I found it very captivating. Heather does an amazing job interweaving fact and fiction (don’t miss the author’s notes at the end of the book) and I was not only entertained, but learned so much too! This is a big recommend from me!

I enjoyed this look at a historical women's gang of thieves. I haven't read about this topic in the time frame in the story and I found it so interesting. The author bases some of her characters on real people and I loved the author's note at the end detailing her inspiration and how it all came together. The audiobook is very well done and it was a fun way to enjoy this book.

Queens of London tells the dark and glamorous tale of Britains first all female gang, The Forty Elephants. Alice Diamond is the most notorious leader of the Forty Elephants and expects complete loyalty from her girls. Lillian Wyles is of Londons first female detectives and she’s determined to catch Alice and end the reign of the Forties. The two women are drawn together by Hira, a young girl runaway who needs their help.

Queens of London is a historical crimes novel. It was full of fast paced action. The Forty Elephants and characters are drawn from real life. The story is told from the perspective of the three main characters; Alice, Lillian, and Hira. Hira is a smart girl who uses her wits to survive on the streets of London. Alice and Lilian are real life characters. They are both strong and fierce and their characters were fully fleshed out.

I switched between the physical and audiobook. I enjoyed the narration by Amy Scanlon. She portrayed each character in a unique way making it easy to follow the different points of view.

This is my first novel by Heather Webb and I will definitely be reading more of her books! Queens of London is a great pick for fans of historical fiction!

Courtesy of Sourcebooks Publishing and Netgalley I received the ARC of Queens of London by Heather Webb. This well researched atmospheric historical novel is set in 1925 London and relates the stories of Diamond Annie, head of the Forty Elephants female crime gang, and Inspector Wyles, the first female inspector in the Metropolitan Police Force, and their intersecting paths. In a world not hospitable to women trying to survive on their own merits, the compelling and intelligent fictional characters of young and resourceful runaway Hira and beautiful hard working Dorothy add to the compelling narrative. This tale of strong women survivors on both sides of the law is highly recommended!

Heather Webb has introduced me to a whole new world of thieves. 1925 is the time of Diamond Annie, AKA Alice, in London. I love that she led a gang of women, Forty Elephants, doing heists in major department stores. In exchange for these thefts, Alice offers her girls protection from the world around them. I love the grit, the strength, and the wits that had to be shown to pull off their heists and to keep them out of jail.

The other story, Hira’s story, was also interesting. I love seeing this young girl’s will to make something of herself and her struggle with right and wrong. Her understanding that to live on the streets sometimes you have to do the wrong thing but that does not make you a bad person showed how grown up she was. While her life was not easy, she never gave up on making something of herself.

The Queens of London is a marvelous historical fiction book that tells of a part of history that I had not heard of before. This book teaches me about history but also tells me a story that is new to me.