Not normally the type of book I pick up for myself.

But it was interesting! This book seems to be based around true events, which I love!
And led me to do research of my own.

If you love strong women and historical fiction scoop this one up immediately!

Thank you NetGalley and Heather Webb for this ARC!

If you enjoy stronge female characters and history then this book is for you! It’s a quick easy read and I found myself unable to put the book down! This does have some action and it is fast paced. I highly recommend.

Strong female characters all over the place in this book! This was a quick read with fast paced action and tense situations. I struggled to choose sides for most of the book because both sides of the law were so compelling and even Alice had her redeeming moments!

✅ Great age spectrum! I loved seeing the different views and priorities of Hira versus Alice and Dorothy.
✅ We love a heist! The 40 Elephants were incredibly fun to follow around and I caught myself rooting for the "bad guys" frequently.
✅ A tidy happy ending that makes you feel warm inside!

❌ Dorothy/Hira book discrepancy. It was mentioned early in the book that Dorothy bought Hira a book but she didn't actually buy the book until chapt 23. Probably just an editing mistake!
❌ I would love to know what happens between Simon and Alice after the epilogue.
❌ I think the cover art could be more in line with a grittier London gang vibe. Not entirely sure what that looks like.

Overall, a great book with a lot of complex characters just trying to survive! 4/5 ⭐

This was an engaging story set in the 1920 in an area of London that challenges even the most stalwart of people, and the four main characters of this story prove their grit by surviving.

Alice, AKA Diamond Annie, is the leader of the infamous group of women thieves, The Forty Elephants. At times Alice is a harder-than-nails leader and enforcer of loyalty, but she also has a soft side. That soft side lets her befriend young Hira, who has run away from her uncle and the prospect of going to an orphanage because he no longer wants to support her.

The gang robs high-end department stores and that's where Hira encounters another friend, Dorothy, who is a clerk at one of the stores.

Then there's Lilian, one of the first female detectives at Scotland Yard, who constantly has to prove her worth. She's relentless in her efforts to solve a big crime so she can do more that patrol streets and chase orphans. She's after Diamond Annie.

All these character's lives intertwine in an absorbing tale of challenges met, relationships formed, and justice served. They all have strengths and weaknesses that propel the fast-moving plot, and at times it was hard to put the book down.

Of all the characters, I really liked Hira the best. It takes a lot of courage to run away from a life of luxury and end up on the streets, and her spunk in finding a way to survive was a great aspect of her characterization. I actually breathed a sigh of relief when Hira and Alice connect, and then later when she befriends Dorothy.

If you like stories that showcase strong women, and a look at a slice of history, I highly recommend Queens of London. It's a page-turner.