I thoroughly enjoyed this story of four strong women making their way in the world. Lilian Wiles, proving her worth as a female detective in Scotland Yard; Alice Diamond, queen of the Forty Elephants, the first female crime syndicate in London; Hira Wickham a 10 yr old runaway orphan living on streets, and Dorothy McBride, honest, caring store clerk. I loved seeing their lives intertwine and the respect they received from each other and those that were part of their inner circles. The narration was very good and kept my interest. Thank you to Recorded Books and NetGalley for the ARC in change for my honest review.

I loved that this book was all about women. The woman, in power, Officer Lilian Wyles, and the criminal, Diamond Annie, the Queen of the Forty Elephants.

Diamond Annie leads a ring of women that steal on the streets of London, from people, from stores, anywhere they can set up a heist. Officer Wyles is stuck in a man’s world, where she is treated like she’s incompetent and gets inconsequential jobs just to keep her busy. She wants to prove herself, so she is determined to catch Diamond Annie and dissolve the Forty Elephants.

Lilian and Annie are both strong, independent women. They both want to make their mark on the world in their own ways. I loved how each character was written. I wanted to be friends with both of them.

I enjoyed Amy Scanlon’s narration of this book. She did a good job distinguishing between the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for my ALC of this book.

This is the second time I’ve picked up a novel about the Forty Elephants in the last year, so I was a little nervous it would feel repetitive, but Webb has done something really different with the story here from what Erin Bledsoe did in her version, eponymously titled Forty Elephants. Both were excellent books, and proof that there are many ways to take an historical subject while still trying to be faithful to the real story.

The addition of a child protagonist to this one makes it likely the less realistic of the two, but it also may be the more entertaining and certainly the closer to a happily ever after ending.

I preferred Bledsoe’s Alice, but I liked Webb’s portrayal of her better. This is likely closer to what the real Diamond Annie might have been like, and though I expect both authors may have been kinder to the legacy of Lilian than the likely reality, it’s a good way to create a heroine for the story on the other side of the law.

Though it’s entirely fictional, Hira’s role in this book was my favorite part of it, and I loved how Webb imagined her role into some of the real events involving the Forty Elephants. And of course, I adored Biscuit.

4.5/5 stars. historical fiction about strong women leading gangs, strong women trying to arrest those gangs, and the strongest little girl to ever run away from home? count me in.

this was a delicious read inspired by real events and individuals in london, and one of the rare books where i found myself liking all of the main characters. diamond annie, the leader of the all-women's gang featured in this book, was my favorite by far, though. heather webb did an amazing job of humanizing her and giving the reader insights into her struggles as queen of a notorious gang, without spoon-feeding or sugarcoating anything. i loved the way annie's relationship with simon was written in particular, especially the ending.

i also wanted to write a special mention about what a phenomenal job the narrator did in the audiobook edition of this. each character was given a unique voice and accent, to the point where i felt like a movie was playing in the background as opposed to a novel. this translated very well to an audio format, and i'd definitely recommend it.

i received an ARC of the audiobook edition in exchange for an an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alice Diamond is the head of an all woman gang, the 40 Elephants, in London in the 1920s. She comes by it naturally, as the eldest of 8 children, in a family that has always skirted the law she is the first one to become successful. The Elephants look out for each other and commit crimes together, usually looting the high end department stores, to get by. Alice prizes loyalty above all else. One day she encounters a spunky street urchin named Hira, a recently orphaned upper crust runaway with a pup at her heels, and decides to take the girl under her wing and train her in the ways of the gang. But Alice's focus is divided as her gang is on the brink of splitting and they have met their match when Lilian Wyles, Scotland Yards' first female detective, begins to investigate them. These women are the real queens.

Loosely based on real people Heather Webb's historical fiction is captivating and original. I found the subject matter and women to be intriguing as I was unfamiliar with either of the real women's stories. The plot is face paced with the three main characters contributing their POVs. Although the characters are vastly different they are connected and ultimately understand each other . Webb's descriptions and ability to capture the worlds that these ladies lived in is impeccable. I love a good historical fiction that can capture the essence of a time frame but with character and an undercurrent that still feels relevant today.

I had the audio version read by Amy Scanlon who's narration was engaging and enjoyable to listen to.

Just goes to show you that women really can be anything - even criminals!

I was so surprised by this book - picked it up on a whim after receiving an advanced audio copy and it absolutely blew me away. I am 100% in my historical fiction era, and like most fans of the genre, am often in search of a unique time period/location. I had not previously read anything about Diamond Annie or the Forty Elephants, and was just fascinated at the premise of an all-female street gang, let alone one that was in place 100 years ago. This was also my first Heather Webb, but I am sure it won't be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley + RB Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

“Queens of London” by Heather Webb, narrated by Amy Scanlon, is a thrilling and captivating tale of power, ambition, and sisterhood set in 1925 London. The protagonist, Alice Diamond, also known as Diamond Annie, is the fearless leader of the Forty Elephants, an all-girl gang determined to leave their mark on the city. Alice is a brilliant mastermind with big dreams of creating a crime dynasty, unlike anything the world has seen before.
On the other side of the law, we have Officer Lilian Wyles, one of the first female detectives at Scotland Yard. Lilian is a determined and skilled investigator looking to prove herself in a male-dominated world. When Lilian catches wind of the heist planned by Alice and her gang, she sees an opportunity to make a name for herself by taking down the notorious Diamond Annie.
The story is fast-paced and action-packed, drawing readers into the lives of these strong and complex characters. The dynamic between Alice and Lilian is tense and gripping, showcasing the power struggle between two formidable women on opposite sides of the law. The supporting characters, such as Hira and Dorothy, add layers to the narrative and offer different perspectives on the challenges faced by women during that period.
I particularly enjoyed the historical and factual elements woven into the narrative, shedding light on the notorious female crime syndicate, the Forty Elephants. The author's note at the end provides valuable insights into the real-life inspirations behind the story, adding depth and authenticity to the novel.

Overall, “Queens of London” is a compelling and thought-provoking read that explores themes of justice, power, and resilience. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and anyone looking for a riveting tale of strong, independent women making their mark in a male-dominated society. Heather Webb has crafted a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

The Queens of London by Heather Webb is a story about London society: the good parts and the ugly parts. I almost didn't listen to it, as I didn't know if I would enjoy it but I am glad I did. The story has some endearing moments, especially with young Hera, an Indian child who has to survive on the streets. I felt for sweet Dorothy, who was naïve but had so much promise. Diamond Annie, the gang leader, hurt my heart, as she had so much potential for good, but only knew how to survive. Finally, Lilian, the police officer, who wanted to change the world, one woman at a time, was a delight to read about.

Who knew the measures that women would go through in post-WWI London to get by. Diamond Annie is straight gagster with a heart of gold. The way she cares for and helps provide for the Forty Elephants but she does expect the upmost loyalty from each of them.

Sweet innocent 10 year old Hira Wickham is just trying to escape her uncle who is wanting to take all her inheritance and send her away to a boarding school. She runs away. While living on the streets she befriends Biscuit whom becomes her most loyal companion. She stumbles upon Diamond Annie and helps the Forty Elephants pull off one of the biggest crimes.

I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really liked Queens of London. Webb's story made you feel like you were in the streets of London with Diamond Annie, Hira, and the Inspector. I liked getting to know all of the characters. They were well developed. I also liked that it was based on real people and that the author provided info at the end of the story. The story was fast paced and exciting. I was sad when it ended. I highly recommend this story if you are a historical fiction lover or love a story about strong women and found family.

This is a weird one. I liked the narrator, and I liked the premise of the novel. I liked getting to learn about a "real life' gang of women, and thinking about the strength they showed when strong women were an anomaly. However, I really didn't like the novel/audiobook. The two biggest problems are that I really didn't like either of the main characters - I didn't find Lilian or Alice engaging or interesting or compelling. Alice was annoying, selfish, and strangely stereotypical. Lilian was too bland, wishy-washy, and not fleshed-out enough. Too many of the plot elements relied on things that were too unbelievable to too much of a "coincidence" and too much of the story was overly predictable.
All that said, there are a couple of supporting characters who have REALLY stayed with me, and I think of strangely often.

Both Hira and Dorothy are charming, and sweet, and I really want to follow them after the pages of the book. Again, I'm not sure why they both, but especially Hira, have really stayed with me, but it is because of them that I raised the star rating of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Queens of London is set in the 1920’s from the perspective of four women and a child. Alice Diamond is head of the Forty Elephants women gang and is a force to be reckoned with. Hira is a young runaway who is just trying find her place in the world without her uncle’s control. Officer Lilian is a strong, smart woman who knows her intelligence and worth. And Dorothy is a kind and compassionate woman who wants to find love and liver her dreams of becoming a designer. I loved how strong, yet vulnerable all of these women were and how at the end of the day, they supported each other directly or indirectly. I really liked the narrator’s voice and reading of this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley & RB media for the arch audiobook for review!

I genuinely enjoy this books. It was well thought out and the characters are very compelling. I really enjoyed reading about a women at the head of a heist ring. Although she was considered the "bad guy", you could not help but like her.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this audiobook! I loved reading about Alice and the 40 Elephants. I feel like so many books like this are told about men or from a man’s perspective and I loved reading about powerful women, even if they were technically criminals! There were so many restrictions on women and I loved seeing how all of these characters pushed back against that. I loved Dorothy!

It was okay. Not something I would read again. Interesting characters and storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Don't judge a book by it's cover!

I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and am under no obligation to provide a review.

I'm not a fan of the headless woman fashion for book covers, so I wasn't sure when I noticed this one. I'm glad I gave it a try.

I won't rehash the book, since anyone who's interested in it can read the blurb on what it's about.
Pros and cons
* What characters! I really, really loved Hira, the little girl, and of course Diamond Annie. These two have stayed with me, and I actually rooted for Alice, and her gang for a bit. What good writing to make me want to do that. Lilian Wyles was also captivating.
*Fascinating time period. I knew nothing about the 40 Elephants. Now I have to learn more.
*I listened to this on audio. The narrator was very, very good. The only place she really fell down was with Lilian's voice (to nasally and it makes her sound villainous) and with the lawyer who seeks to help Hira. Same complaint.
* Dorothy McBride - I really rooted for her as well. What a wonderful character. In my minds eye she looked like the actress Amy Beth Hayes who played Kitty Edwards in the tv series Mr. Selfridge. I did want to shake her several time and tell her to THINK about what she was going through, and not to be so dumb. She ended up doing that, so that made me happy.

As I said above, I listened to this on the NetGalley app, and last night on my way home from work I sat in the car for the the last half hour because I had to see how it would end, I just couldn't wait for the morning ride. It was rainy and cold, but it was worth it to hear the end. I've thought about this book many times in the time I listened to it. Many books don't do that, so that's how good it was.

I really enjoyed this book. At the beginning I did feel like the different storylines were hard to keep track of but once I sorted out who was who, I really got into it. The story was exciting and moved at a nice pace. The characters were likeable for the most part and I think this was really well written.

I gotta say, I haven’t read a historical fiction novel quite like this one before! I’m used to wartime stories where the men are behaving badly, but certainly not the women! I truly appreciate a novel with feminist undertones that’s centered around strong, independent women—especially in the 1920s! A looting and scheming all-girl gang? Yes, please! Queens of London was such a refreshing read, and extremely well-researched. I couldn’t get enough of Diamond Annie and the Forty Elephants. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I didn't really love the narrator, but the story was good.

Queens of England follows four female main characters, but my favorite one of all was the little girl, Hira. She was sweet and smart, cunning and cute. Her pup, Biscuit, was probably my favorite character of all and anytime he was in the narrative my ears perked up a little bit, excited to see how he was there for Hira when she needed him. They were two little besties and I loved it haha. My favorite character development was the police officer, Lilian Wiles. She reminded me a lot of myself, primarily interested in following the rules and holding others accountable to them, too. However, at the end, she seemed to realize that sometimes justice and "the right thing" might not always be accomplished and carried out if they never bent the rules.

This book was full of action and kept me engaged all the way through the end. I was excited to see what was around each turn! I'd definitely recommend it :)

This historical fiction book takes place in London in 1925. Alice Diamond is the head of an all-female gang, The Forty Elephants, and she has big plans for the group. Unfortunately for her, Lillian Wyles, the first female detective at Scotland Yard has her eye on the gang and she is looking for a way to bring them down.

Two other females are also central to the story – Dorothy, a naive shopgirl, and Hira, a young girl who runs away from her cruel uncle only to end up in Alice’s care.

Why We Liked it: Initially, the four narrators were hard to keep track of, but eventually this mob story came together with all the stories weaving into one. I couldn’t help but root for Hira, my favorite protagonist.