Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This book starts off in 1930s London where FIVE of the greatest female mystery writers have come together to form their own Detection Club. It’s led by Dorothy L. Sayers who asks Agatha Christie (who has a mystery of her own). They ask three others to join them and they embark to solve an actual murder.
What I loved about this book is that it was a true page turner! You got to see these characters grow as writers and as detectives. I had to keep in mind the era and location. I found myself Googling various places throughout the book as I became intrigued by writers and their own books mentioned throughout.
There were times where the book was slow but i think it added to its character and the pacing. I also think some of the minor characters could have been developed a bot more but other than that I greatly enjoyed it!

Set in 1930s London, The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a captivating blend of historical fiction and mystery that brings together five of the era's most renowned female crime writers: Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. Frustrated by the condescension of their male counterparts in the Detection Club, these literary luminaries form their own secret society, aiming to prove their mettle by solving a real-life murder. Their target is the perplexing case of May Daniels, a young English nurse who vanished during a trip to France and was later found murdered under mysterious circumstances. The investigation unfolds with all the hallmarks of a classic locked-room mystery, challenging the authors to apply their fictional expertise to a genuine crime.

Benedict portrays each writer with distinct personalities and motivations, highlighting their camaraderie and determination to challenge the patriarchal norms of their time. The narrative delves into themes of female empowerment, friendship, and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. Readers are treated to a richly detailed depiction of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, evoking feelings of nostalgia and admiration for these pioneering women. The interplay among the authors adds depth to the story, making their collaborative sleuthing both engaging and thought-provoking. The book offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of these iconic authors, leaving readers with a renewed appreciation for their contributions to the mystery genre.

This novel is recommended for fans of historical mysteries and those intrigued by the lives of classic crime writers. Readers who appreciate strong female protagonists and explorations of literary history will find The Queens of Crime a delightful and enlightening read.

If you love Agatha Christie mysteries, you do not want to miss this one! The author goes right back to the time when Dame Agatha was writing. So be ready to step back into the 1930s and enjoy walking through solving a cold case with the ladies. You will not be disappointed!

In The Queens of Crime: A Novel, Marie Benedict provides a true-crime, locked-room mystery set in England and France during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and investigated by perhaps the five best-known women writing mystery novels at that time. In other words, in this book Benedict offers something to attract readers of several different mystery sub-genres as well as fans of her historical and biographical novels highlighting important and perhaps overlooked historical women.

The novel opens in 1931 around the time of the creation of the Detection Club. In the novel (with a bit of chronological license from the real-world timeline), Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers join the club as founding members, and Dorothy dreams up the idea to trick the male majority of club members into welcoming 3 more female colleagues: Baroness Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh. Between them, Christie and Sayers created Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Lord Peter Wimsey, and Harriet Vane. The other women wrote series featuring, respectively, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Albert Campion, and Roderick Alleyn. In truth, all these women did belong to the Detection Club, but Marsh and Allingham joined later.

They soon discover that, although the gambit works to secure the initiation of more women, the ladies of the club still find themselves chatting alone in the corner and excluded from talking shop with the men of the group.

When the young English nurse May Daniels goes missing on holiday in northern France, Sayers joins her journalist husband as he covers the story. She soon sees this tragedy as a call to action. She doesn’t think the men are giving Miss Daniels the depth of investigation she deserves, in the first place. In the second, she takes the notion that the five women of the Detection Club would gain increased credibility with the men of the club if they successfully solved a real-life murder where the police had failed.

Can they do in real life what their creations do in books?



Perhaps Emma was correct when she pronounced that May’s murder needed to be solved by women, in part because only female sleuths properly credit female witnesses (Kindle location 1304).



Their quest forces these women of varying ages, backgrounds, personalities, and social standing to set aside prejudices, ego, and quirks of temperament to work together. Learning to leverage their different strengths and divide responsibilities, they raise new questions as they answer others. In so doing, they inadvertently attract the attention of powerful men with destructive secrets, and the most closely held secret of one of them is threatened with exposure along the way.

The crime they investigate did actually occur, though a few years prior to the action of this novel. Dorothy Sayers really did take an interest in the investigation at the time, though not to the extent depicted in this book. In truth, as far as my research went, the trail went cold and May Daniels never received justice in the law courts. Will Benedict’s fictional investigation give her poetic justice?

By uncredited; published by Boni and Liveright in connexion with her 1925 release Whose Body - Publicity photo from her American publishers; copy at the National Portrait Gallery, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138275206

The focus on Sayers herself, through whose thoughts we experience the story, attracted me to this book. To my knowledge this is the first fictionalized attempt at depicting her life on page or screen. As such, The Queens of Crime is a good introduction to Sayers and to the women of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction beyond the celebrated Dame Agatha Christie.



“I guess the best way to describe the way I solve the murders is that I serve the work,” I [Dorothy] reply. “What on earth does that mean? Sounds very mystical,” Ngaio—of course—says. I don’t let her shake me. “I take direction from it and shape it according to that guidance. I don’t let my own predilections or potential readers’ desires dictate the course of the plot or its conclusion.” “So you let the muse direct you?” Emma asks. “That’s one way to describe it. Although for me, the muse is God rather than the ancient Greek mythological figure with a capital M. I grew up in a religious household; my father was an Anglican vicar. Those teachings have never left me, although they have taken on their own form in my adult years.” The women are quiet. Religious beliefs are a topic upon which we haven’t touched. Although why not? We are dealing with life and death as well as good and evil in the case of May Daniels. This secular age in which we live and the intellectual labors in which we engage don’t lend themselves to religion, I suppose. That is a conversation, however, for another day. Or is it? (Kindle location 3600, galley copy)

If you like cozy mysteries and/or historical fiction, this is a good book for a snow day or travel, for carpool lines, book clubs, or solitary lunches. I sincerely enjoyed reading my advanced reader copy (thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin’s) on my e-reader in the pool last autumn. Fans of Marie Benedict’s other work will not be disappointed. (Blog readers: It is not a Christian book. Sayers’s faith is mentioned respectfully. The action of this novel occurs before Sayers began her work in Christian apologetics.) If there were contemporary “queens of historical fiction,” Benedict would certainly merit a place among them. This book follows naturally from her fascinating book The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, which tells of Agatha Christie’s infamous disappearance in the context of the dissolution of her first marriage.

I do not consider The Queens of Crime a Great Book: one that repays repeated reading throughout life, leaves a lasting mark on one’s character, and merits study in English classes for decades to come. But it isn’t trying to be that. We need good as well as great books.

My hope and expectation are that this engaging, entertaining novel will attract many readers and acquaint them with these women, some of whose works are classics worth reading, rereading, and studying. I especially hope that it kindles increased interest in the life and work of Dorothy Sayers, the ringleader of the queens depicted in this book. Some of her work, to my mind, lands firmly in the Great Book category.

The mystery novels of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Baroness Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh are still widely available in print, ebook, and audiobook versions, as are the other historical novels by Marie Benedict.

Simply put, The Queens of Crime is just plain fun! It follows an eclectic cast of lovable characters: the five greatest women fiction crime writers in 1930s London (including Agatha Christie). These five women decide to band together to try to solve a real-life crime that the police barely looked into before considering it closed.

Told in a very humorous manner, this story also focuses on female friendship and personal growth. I had expected it to be a bit more of a thriller, and it’s really not. Instead, this reads more like a cozy mystery. It is filled with so many cliches that at times the satire feels borderline vintage soap opera. I personally found this to be very fun once I realized the vibe of the book is not the thriller I was expecting, but others may either absolutely love or dislike this about it.

Thank you to Marie Benedict, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like if all the great women crime writers formed a club of their own?" If so, The Queens of Crime is the perfect book for you.

Set in the early 1930s and inspired by true events, this novel follows Dorothy Sayers as she brings together five legendary women authors of detective fiction. Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, Baroness Emma Orczy, and herself come together to form their own group within the larger Detection Club. Determined to be taken seriously by their male counterparts, they set out to prove their skills by investigating the real-life case of May Daniels.

I had so much fun reading this book. Told from Dorothy Sayers’ perspective, it was fascinating to see the different writing styles and personalities of these iconic authors come to life. Their teamwork, intelligence, and unwavering support for one another made for a compelling read. Their fight for justice for May Daniels and other women who were just forgotten was heartwarming. As a woman, I could understand the oppression and the downright misogyny that they must have gone through. To be honest, it's not that different even today. I especially appreciated how the novel focused on uplifting female friendships rather than rivalry. I can only hope they were truly friends in real life, too!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this book.

As a lover of golden age mysteries I was excited to read this book! I’ve read many books by all but one of the female authors who make up the Queens of Crime. It was a fun journey reading about them as portrayed in this book. A fun mystery!

I LOVED this book. It is one of the books that I have been most anticipating and am so happy to have read it!

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to team up the five queens of crime, look no further. Marie Benedict's new book is centered around the very ladies: Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy - all whom are powerful female crime writers within the mystery genre. In 1930, London: the Detection Club is formed by several big-name authors who have come together in support of each others work in mystery fiction. As Dorothy L. Sayers (co-founder) comes to realize that the formation of this new secret society has further ostracized women within her genre, she comes up with a secret plan to introduce more female writers into the society. In order to gain a bit of notoriety within their league, the five Queens of Crime have decided to take on a real-life murder case of an English nurse, May Daniels, whose body was found far from a train station bathroom from where she seemed to have vanished into thin air. This mystery will have the five Queens of Crime trekking to France and back in search for answers behind May's mysterious death.

Inspired by a true story, this book is everything a classic crime aficionado is looking for. I am a huge fan of Marie Benedict's writing and loved the way she spun this story. I have always felt that good mystery writers would make excellent sleuths, and this book is a work of dreams. Watching the five crime authors use the same genius used when plotting for their beloved fictional characters was every bit entertaining. I am a great fan of Dorothy L. Sayers and am an even greater fan of Agatha Christie, so it was equally thrilling to see Dorothy L. Sayers take the lead instead of Agatha Christie. I will admit, I was looking for more insight into Agatha's real-life disappearance and assumed the author would divulge a little nugget of information, but alas that incident shall remain an even greater mystery.

"Men are so often put on a pedestal, and women are taught to prop them up there. But we only learn about our humanity and develop empathy from our mistakes-and we could do with more doses of humanity, here and elsewhere."

This book struck a note on how marginalized women were, not only in their professions but in society during this time period. The male authors disparaging and ostracizing their female members and the missing female victims ridiculed in the press or deemed as "surplus" was such an unfortunate reminder of the misogynistic views of the time. Even after WWI, women's role in society had not progressed very much, and as successful as the five women were as authors, there was such an apparent line between their merits as women in comparison to the men. I am grateful for books such as this that highlight strong female lead characters but am infuriated by the toxic masculinity and male chauvinism during this time period.

Whilst reading mystery novels, my mind usually starts buzzing with conjectures, but this is one instance where I allowed my problem solving thoughts to take a back seat so that I could truly enjoy the events as they unfolded. This book is a gem, and if you love classic crime novels, you will enjoy this book.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. This review was voluntary, and all thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own

Marie Benedict is one of my favourite authors. She writes about strong women and the trials and tribulations that they encountered in their lifetime( Clementine Churchill, Agatha Christie, Hedy Lamarr, The Mitford sisters etc.). The Queens of Crime is only a slight departure from her previous books in that it surrounds a mystery. Benedict's main protagonist is author Dorothy L.Sayers, who along with four other mystery writers( Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh) find themselves trying to solve the mysterious death of a British nurse vacationing in France. At the same time, the authors are trying to find their place in a very male-dominated Detection Club(London Detection Club). The crime provides all five women with the chance to prove their worth as real detectives.

I found this book to be very entertaining and from the moment I opened the book, I was committed to following these five author sleuths to the end of the tale. I have read several Agatha Christie titles and have read at least one title of Dorothy Sayers and Baroness Emma Orczy under my belt. However, I thank the author for bringing to my attention two authors- Margarey Allingham and Ngaio Marsh that I was not familiar with but now desire to find their books to read.

The story also highlights views in the 1930s on women writers, children out of wedlock and those who fell prey to serious crimes. A very memorable read.






Publication Date 11/02/25
Goodreads Review 12/02/25

The Queens of Crime follows five pioneering women crime writers—Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—who form the Detection Club in 1931 London to elevate mystery fiction as serious literature. Facing resistance in a male-dominated industry, they take on a real-life murder to prove their worth.

Their investigation centers on May Daniels, an English nurse who vanished from a French train station bathroom before her body was found months later in a park. With Dorothy’s journalist husband covering the case, she and her fellow writers secretly travel to France to retrace May’s final steps.

As they unravel perplexing clues, the case takes a dangerous turn—someone wants Dorothy silenced and threatens to expose a personal secret.

This novel explores themes of women fighting for recognition in a dismissive society and the reluctance to investigate crimes against them. While plot-driven and engaging, character development is somewhat lacking compared to the author’s previous works. A compelling read for fans of historical mysteries and strong female leads.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of this author’s historical fiction novels, especially since she highlights the little known lives of women forgotten in history. In this novel, she has taken historical characters and delved into a mystery.

Focusing on the perspective of mystery author Dorothy Sayers, several well known female mystery authors form a group in an attempt to earn the respect and recognition from their male counterparts. Including Agathie Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Ailingham, Baroness Emma Orczy, these women call themselves “The Queens of Crime” and decide to use their wits to solve the real murder of a local nurse, May Daniels. Along the way, they find themselves mixed up in a plot suitable for one of their crime novels.

I enjoyed this novel. It had a slight historical element mixed in with an old fashioned murder mystery. The narration on the audio was great as I switched back and forth between formats.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress @netgalley for a complimentary audio and digital copy of this novel

👑 The Queens of Crime - Marie Benedict

3.5 ⭐️ - I liked this one! I’m a historical fiction fan and I’ve read a few books written by Marie Benedict (usually when she teams up with Victoria Christopher Murray) so I was excited to dive in. It’s a strong female lead story and we all know I love those.

I really enjoyed that this was based on a true story. I loved listening to the women band together and do whatever they needed to do to be taken seriously, accomplish their goal, and work in a man’s world. A little mystery, historical fiction and some names you’ll recognize, I enjoyed following along with this lovely told story. Something felt wordy about this one, or maybe a little distant but that’s a me thing. This is a really well written story and I think any historical fiction or crime fan will enjoy it!

Thanks Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin Press for the early arc and audio of this book! This one is out now!

This book is a fantastic cozy mystery. I loved the team of authors that work to uncover the murder of a local girl. I also love the location and the storytelling I guess I love reading about 1930s London! I love the inclusion of authors too (especially Agatha Christie from a previous novel by this author!) Together this group of ladies were able to do so much more. This was told from the perspective of Dorothy Sayer and based on her real life experiences. This is an author I have loved before and this book was great!

Picture this: it is London in the 1930s, and Dorothy Sayers is facing discrimination in the mystery writers club she is a member of, so she decides to join forces with Agatha Christie, Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh to form their own group; they decide to name it the Queens of Crime, but the twist is they are going to solve an actual crime, instead of just talking about their writings. Her husband is a journalist, and she mentions his latest piece to the other women. She proposes that they solve the case of May Daniels. When her husband is moved to a different story, she and the ladies continue their quest to bring justice to May, despite the story the media is trying to paint. As they continue investigating, Dorothy is threatened, but the other writers rally around her to continue. The locked room mystery writers found one of their own.

A murder mystery based on famous murder mystery authors of the 20th century.

While I went into this book expecting more historical fiction, that it was lacking. I did enjoy the story and the concept of five famous authors of detective fiction stumbling upon an actual murder that they decide to try and solve.

It was a sold 3.5 ⭐️ for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Can five female mystery writers solve an actual murder and prove to all they are the queens of crime? The Queens of Crime is a brilliant mystery filled with engaging characters, a complex plot and an intriguing investigation. The five main characters are five of the greatest female mystery writers: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy. Written for the historical mystery lover, The Queens of Crime is an unforgettable story.

I have to start with these characters. Marie Benedict makes these female trailblazers come to life. Each character is like an icon to me, so it was fun to see them in a different setting. I mean, I’ve read all their books but never knew much about their personal lives. I could close my eyes and envision the dialogue and action of each woman.

The mystery plot itself is complex with subtle clues, a detailed investigation, and a few red herrings thrown in. I was captivated by the mystery and got swept away.

The writing is sublime. Not only is it historically accurate but the author encapsulates historical figures to perfection. Another gem by Marie Benedict and worthy or multiple awards.

** “Only together can we assess (his) statements. I would propose we tackle this the same way we map out the resolutions to our mysteries. We may not be real detectives, but no one can match us for solving puzzles.” **

Marie Benedict brings together five real-life mystery writers in “The Queens of Crime,” a story of teamwork and the power of women.

When author Dorothy L. Sayers decides she wants more women to be part of the Detection Club she created — thereby giving women mystery writers more credence — she strikes a plan along with fellow member Agatha Christie. They would invite three others — Ngaio Marsh, Emma Orczy and Margery Allingham — to join, and then they would solve an actual murder to earn more respect (“What if we got our hands dirty and found an actual murderer? How could the male Detection Club members think us anything but eminently worthy? No one would dare slight us or question our place in the club then.”)

So the five women dive into the months-old mystery of nurse May Daniels’ disappearance and murder. Will they be able to extract clues in a world where women aren’t considered important enough to be involved? Can they crack the case, and earn their place in the world of mystery writers?

Told from the perspective of Sayers, the author does a great job of creating a story filled with twists and drama, offering several suspects and subtle clues. She fills a story with historical people, all with varying personalities and strengths, who come together to use those strengths for a common cause.

Fans of mystery novels, the five featured actual authors, and current authors like Melanie Benjamin and Allison Pataki will love “The Queens of Crime.”

Five stars out of five.

St. Martin’s Press provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Always excited to see a Marie Benedict release. I love historical fiction and her books are so well researched. I was so excited to dive into The Queens of Crime. I was captivated by the time period and the characters. I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves Marie Benedict. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was great fun. It had suspense, mystery, sisterhood and much more. It centers around authors of crime novels: Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They called themselves "The Queens of Crime". Dorothy's husband, a reporter got word that they wanted a story of a young woman, May Daniels, who was found strangled in a park in France. So of course, Dorothy got all her counterparts in on the investigation and they proceeded to try to solve the crime. The story is told by Dorothy and she takes us on the adventure to solve the crime. I have to say that the women are very conniving and bold. They were also so much better with their detective skills than the police. The author goes into the fashion of the time of 1930's and also into theater. How women are treated at that time too is also mentioned since of course, they do not get the respect they so deserve. It was an absolute great read and I highly recommend you pick up a copy which is available 2/11/2025. Thanks to #netgalley, #stmartinspress and @authormariebenedict for an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a story of four women fighting for a place in literature as they race to solve a murder. It’s London, 1930, five women crime writers band together to form a second society with the goal to prove they deserve to be recognized, the Queens of Crime are Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Nagio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. How do they prove they are worthy of recognition? Solve the real life murder of May Daniels was a young English nurse who discovered during a trip to France with her friend, seemingly vanishing into thin air. When her body is discovered months later in nearby woods. There are so many questions and inconsistencies that the women know that someone is hiding something. As they get deeper into their investigation, the killer targets Dorothy Sayers with a dark secret from her past.
The only Queen of Crime I am familiar with is Agatha Christie. I have heard of Dorothy L Sayers by name only. The other ladies I had not heard of. I was looking forward to a fictionalized story of a true story from Sayers’ life, especially her unique relationship with Agatha Christie as a professional “rival” and friend. Unfortunately, I struggled with this story. I had no interest in the murder investigation and the constant girl-power, “I can’t believe he thinks that” attitude was annoying. I was also surprised there was no author’s note at the end of the story giving some insight into the author’s inspiration or thoughts on the real women. Author’s notes are usually very insightful and add more to the story. It was disappointing not to see it there. By the end of the story, I felt I did not know more about these women. I do not recommend The Queens of Crime.

The Queens of Crime is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook