I was quite excited to finally read a book by Marie Benedict, since I've had her in my periphery for quite a while. And, despite this being my first experience with her writing, I would venture a guess that this is not her best. The characters, all real life mystery writers, are solid, with a viable plot, but the story is also wordy and the pacing is off. It zigs and zags, lacking a streamline quality that a mystery should possess. I liked it, but didn't love it. Even so, I'm still willing to this author's earlier works.

Queens of Crime is a cozy historical fiction mystery that takes place in the early 1930s about a group of female mystery writers led by Dorothy Sayers that want to prove to the male mystery writers that they are just as important to their Detection Club. So they devise a plan to solve a real life murder. May Daniels went missing from a train station and was later found dead in a park. The police department cast her case aside as a casualty of drug use but the Queens of Crime banded together to use the skills they have given the detectives in their books to solve the case!

I found this book to be very enjoyable! I loved the five ladies of the Queens of Crime, including another appearance from Mrs. Agatha Christie. The growing friendships between the women and their side stories were a nice pairing to the mystery component. This book is my new Marie Benedict favorite!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Marie Benedict, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC of #QueensofCrime in exchange for an honest review.

The Queens of Crime bring five powerful women crime writers who demand recognition of their mystery genre. It is inspired by a true story of Dorothy Sayers’ own life.

London, 1931. The five great female writers come together and form Detection Club - an organization of mystery writers created due to lack of consideration for their work as literature. Dorothy L. Sayers leads the group which includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. Their goal is to elevate the mystery genre so the detective novels are seen as good as literary fiction. But in the male dominated world, their club rather causes them to be even more ostracized. To prove their worth, they decide to solve a real-life murder.

Recently, the murder case of May Daniels, a young English nurse, resurfaced as her body was found in a park in France. Four months earlier, she disappeared into thin-air in France, after stepping into a bathroom at the train station before bounding for England. Police reported that there was only one way in and one way out, and her friend was waiting for her outside the bathroom.

Dorothy’s husband is a journalist who previously covered the story. Now, he’s heading back to France to cover the story again. This gives Dorothy an idea to tag along with her husband, and her four co-detectives would travel to France in secret and reconnect there to get a scoop on the details.

As the women uncover details, they follow in May’s footsteps in the order they occurred. There are perplexing clues but they are good at untangling them. But this private investigation turns against Dorothy when the killer targets her, threatening to expose a secret which she’d prefer to keep hidden.

This insightful story delves into a theme of the marginalized women and how they had to propel themselves to be taken seriously. There was a reluctance to investigate the murder of a woman, and the women became serous about solving it.

The narrative is original and each of five women has her distinct voice, but I wished there was more to character development. This is a plot-driven story which is different from this author’s previous books which are character-driven. This is an excellent read for those who enjoy plot-driven stories.

Marie Benedict has written a truly captivating historical crime mystery that had me hooked!! 🤩 This novel features five legendary female mystery writers; -Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and others in 1930’s London. Their small group known as “The Queens of Crime” join to solve a murder case involving a young nurse, whereas their male counterparts have failed to do so (hence if the “Queens” solve it they’ll be seen as equals to men).

Woohoo!! Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for this amazing copy!! My curious nature got the best of me and I dove into this the second I was approved. Mystery writers turning detective to solve a crime(??).. I’m all in!! Benedict’s fictional story is based on an actual true crime - how interesting is that! I highly recommend it as there’s an abundance of twists + surprises - one being Dorothy L. Sayers herself is targeted.. and there’s just so many AHA moments especially with the female characters and what they uncover.. I really enjoyed each and every one of these women! I love that it was character driven, a fav for me.. and thought their differing personalities felt so realistic. I was easily pulled into the storyline (staying up past bedtime to finish) as the further I read, the better it was. Good golly this was so good. 📖🔎 5 stars — Pub. 2/11/25

The Queens of Crime Is a mystery novel Inspired by a true story. Author Marie Benedict brings to the front, the struggles five talented women writers endure to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of crime writing.

The main characters are: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh… five female authors from the thirties.

The five women belong to The Detection Club, an organization of mystery writers, primarily men. Soon they find themselves involved in a real life murder. A young nurse is found murdered and lying in a pool of blood. These women investigate. The media has portrayed the nurse as a loose women with a drug problem. The Queens of Crime aren’t convinced. The five are determined to find the killer and save her reputation.

This is a good mystery that kept me guessing. I did have trouble connecting to the characters and was glad when I turned the last page on this one.

Content warnings: assault, murder

Five female mystery authors in the 1930s are struggling with being accepted by their male counterparts. Dorothy Sayers is the ringleader of the women, including Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy of The Scarlet Pimpernel fame, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham. They hatch a scheme to be inducted into the mystery writers' secret society and then turn their criminal expertise toward solving a real murder.

The women band together to solve the case of an Englishwoman who was murdered in France. As the women outpace the police investigation, they become the targets of suspicious forces who are trying to keep the murderer's identity a secret.

Filled with suspense and a genuine camaraderie that's somewhat surprising considering the women's different ages and backgrounds, The Queens of Crime is a great mystery read for historical fiction fans or a great historical for mystery readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the Queens of Crime, Marie Benedict gathers 5 of the greatest female mystery writers of the early 20th century into a fictional murder solving club. Told from the point of view of Dorothy Sayers, the cast also includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy on a quest to solve the real-life murder of a British nurse who vanished on a day-trip to France. By solving this murder, the five women are hoping to secure their status within the Detection Club, a male-dominated newly formed association of Britain's best mystery authors.

I am a big fan of Marie Benedict and thoroughly enjoyed several of her historical fictions based on real women's lives. However, this one missed the mark for me. It was the epitome of "telling instead of showing." The five main characters were often described as having this or that type of personality, however, in practice, they all felt somewhat interchangeable. The story was too focused on the actual mystery and investigation, and the five investigators were more of an afterthought. This is a story that could have greatly benefited from having multiple narrators to get to know each main character better.

The mystery was, however, very engaging, and dynamic with lots of actions, twists and turns!

What a lovely read - mystery, women friendships with a side of feminism. I had read Marie Benedict’s previous book - The Mystery of Mrs Christie - which I also enjoyed and this book did not disappoint. I enjoy novels where female authors reach into the past and make efforts to offer insights and imagine the lives of women who came before us. While this book is primarily from the POV of Dorthy Sayers and Benedict’s previous book focussed on Agatha Christie - one wonders which mystery author will be the focus next. This is an enjoyable and entertaining read - great for a holiday or beach. My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Here’s to no more “surplus women” ever!

This is my first book by Marie Benedict. It was very enjoyable.

The power of a group of females is pretty strong. Even when men would have stood in the way.

My favorite line from this book is: "You saw what I wanted you to see and what you expected to see. Things are not always as they appear."

The main characters in this book are: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh. Five authors from 1931. Five female authors.

The five women decide to participate The Detection Club, an organization of mystery writers, primarily men. They are soon drawn into a real life murder. A young nurse who went missing and was found murdered and lying in a big pool of blood. These women decide to find out exactly what happened to her. Though the papers have made this woman to look like a loose women with a drug problem the Queens of Crime do not believe that. They are about to embark on a journey to find the killer and prove this young woman's fate.

What happens is a rivitating story of females on the hunt for the truth. For justice. For women to be listened to. They are determined to show that May Daniels was murdered and that it had nothing to do with a drug deal. It was from a lover who didn't want her to reveal any secrets.

This book keeps you wanting to know more and guessing along the way. It's a great mystery. Most of the characters are so likable and the history in it is great. Well written. A real page turner. I enjoyed it from start to finish. There are several things that happen to keep you on edge.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, #MacmillanAudio, for this ARC.

4 stars.

4.5 stars
STRONG recommend

This is a historical fiction mystery with real-life women writers: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. These five writers decide to solve a murder the French police have given up on. The writers think there is more to the story and decide to research and see where it leads them.

This novel had a lot of twists and turns which was fun. It was also cool that these women showed the men mystery writers in their club how it is done! This story shows exactly why women must be involved in women's crimes.

I found the process that the women use as writers and as "detectives" to solve this murder beyond fascinating. The five had different skill sets, but they worked together so well.

This is a review of an eARC/eBOOK due to be published on 2/11/2025

Published/posted dates with links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6658470715 - posted 01/06/2025
Books by Dorothea: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/review-queens-of-crime-earcebook.html - posted 01/06/2025

I absolutely loved this book! It was brilliant, bringing together the Queens of Crime to solve an actual murder! From the way the club originated, was confirmed then immediately challenged to eventually lauded was so well thought out. I really enjoyed how each character’s differences in styles were highlighted yet blended to unravel mysteries. The strengths of each of the writers is showcased and woven together. Not only did these women prove themselves up to the task, but they also showed everyone that we are all stronger when we band together. I found the murder mystery to be quite compelling and perfectly handled. The clues and red herrings were perfectly placed, and the pace was just right to keep my attention fixed and unmoving. I found myself wishing this was a series so I could continue the adventures with these Queens! I had the additional benefit of listening to an audiobook and really loved how the story came to life in a new way through the narrator’s talented voice.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This was my 2nd book by Marie Benedict and I really enjoyed it. I like her writing and the fact that the books are based on real life characters. With this one I love that Agatha Christie, in my view the queen of mystery books, was one of the main characters. I liked how the mystery was embedded in the history of the 5 ladies and hence combined 2 of my favourite genres. Maybe, if I had to mention something I enjoyed slightly less, then that might be that I could have done with a bit more action in the final showdown, but that is just a small thing.
Let"s discuss the characters, who all were well crafted in my opinion. Agatha Christie is one of the 2 main characters and I loved how she was portrayed like I would imagine her to be, held back, intelligent, fast, down to the point. Dorothy Sayers is the 2nd main character and was a nice counterpart to Agatha. I liked how she is fresh and fast in her thinking and deducting around the case. Emma Orczy is one of the side characters who does get her spotlight as well. She is an older baroness and loves her manners and customs in the English upper class. Ngaio Marsh is the unconventional of the 5 and loves her pantsuits and modern amenities (from a 1930s perspective). And last but not least Margery Allingham is the youngest of them all and up for the investigation. She is fresh and interesting as a side character.
All in all this will not be my last book by Marie and I encourage all of you historical fiction and mystery book lovers to read this one!

(A review will be posted close to pub date on my accounts on instagram and Goodreads)

Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime (pub date 2/11/25) 👑👑👑👑

This was intriguing to get into the minds of 5 crime writers at their prime in 1931 as they set off to solve a murder. #truecrime
If only there were pod casts back then. The story is intriguing and moves quickly. While actively depicting women’s suppression during the 1930’s, she captures the strength and empowerment women provide to one another to overcome injustices. Loved it ❣️

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced copy.

#queens #womensfiction #womenempowerment #mariebenedict #queensofcrime #netgalley #stmartinspress

4/5 ⭐️
Real Mystery Writers become detectives and try to solve a crime! This is a wonderful and fun mystery novel to read. My first approach to Marie Benedict andI really loved her writing style. The Queens of Crime is inspired by real events and it is told from the perspective of Dorothy Sayer, and English Novelist. Having Agatha Christie as a sidekick was a delight. Benedict’s new novel will be published next February 11th, 2025

This was an excellent book!! I enjoyed the character development as well as how the plot was developed throughout the story. The author was able to to do a good job with all aspects of the story. I would recommend to others.

Marie Benedict’s latest, The Queens of Crime, is a fictionalized story about a real group of British women crime and mystery writers in the 1920s and 1930s.

In this book the authors, including our main character, a fictionalized version of Dorothy Sayers, work together to solve a real life crime, the disappearance of a single young nurse while visiting France with a colleague, in order to prove their skills to their male counterparts and fellow members of a cub of writers, the Detection Club.

The group includes, along with Dorothy, Agatha Christie (who also appeared in a previous Benedict novel that I enjoyed, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie) and lesser known writers Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh (along with Emma Orczy who doesn’t appear to have been a real life member of the group, although she did write the Scarlet Pimpernel novels).

I like Benedict’s writing because although it is historical fiction, and although it is old fashioned in some ways, it still feels modern and tackles topics relatable to women of all ages and eras.

Fans of her previous books, as well as fans of closed door/Agatha Christie type mysteries, will enjoy this latest book!

Marie Benedict writes a locked room mystery a la Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy from the golden he of mystery. Who better to solve it than those amazing authors? Narrated by Dorothy Sayers, Benedict brings each of these women to life while also addressing their second class status in the mostly male Detective Club. They believe they will be taken seriously by the men if they can solve a real life murder.

This is a highly enjoyable mystery full of twists and turns. For any mystery reader who enjoys the Grand Dames of the Golden Age, Marie Benedict has hit it out of the park.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

In THE QUEENS OF CRIME, written by Marie Benedict, the story is told from Dorothy Sayers’ point of view and is set in 1930s London. Dorothy Sayers leads a Detective Club (The Queens of Crime) consisting of female mystery writers—Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. What is this group up to? I wonder if they will be accepted by male mystery writers.

The novel holds my attention from the beginning scene, where Dorothy Sayers meets with Agatha Christie, to its conclusion. The Queens of Crime work together to explore the real-life mysterious disappearance and death of a nurse, May Daniels. I would have liked this mystery to surface earlier in the book, but that may because I read so many novels where death is the focus. In this novel, I enjoy getting to learn about the female mystery authors and glimpses of how they write their mysteries. The actual mystery involving May Daniels is also interesting but does not take center stage for me. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of THE QUEENS OF CRIME.

The Queens of Crime - Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery
Imagine one of your favorite contemporary writers writing about some of your favorite historical writers - what a dream, right? So it is with Marie Benedict’s The Queen’s of Crime - a mystery reader’s delight. Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Baroness Emma Orczy, and Ngaio Marsh are treated as “less than” in an exclusive club for mystery writers because they are women. With Dorothy in the lead, they decide that solving the murder of young nurse May Daniels that has baffled police for some time will gain them the notoriety they need to break that glass ceiling. Along the way they must challenge that ceiling in more ways than they can initially fathom.
Dorothy Sayers is a force with which to be reckoned. She will use her journalist husband’s sources, travel, rally the ladies, and take on some powerful British men and the police to solve the story of May Daniels. Throughout their journey, she of all the queens has, perhaps, the most to lose. She has protected her own secrets for quite a long time. The mistreatment of another woman spurs to risk even those. Women have been battling to be heard at a number of levels for a very long time. Benedict captures that battle while crafting a fascinating mystery that would have made the queens proud. She also captures the spirit of friendship in a beautiful way. Each of the queens comes to the table with her own quirks - one prefers pants, another is well used to her wealth, more than Dorothy has a secret. Rather than allowing these quirks to divide them, they use them to work together. Because of this effort, beautiful friendships develop - again speaking to the power of women working together. May never gets to benefit from their work, but what they gain is incalculable, professionally and personally. We get the sense that these queens have only just begun.
Benedict does not disappoint. I love how through her commitment to women and to detailed research, she continues to bring the lives of unsung women in history to life. I can easily become discouraged as in many ways the fight to be heard as women continues. And really, how dare I, who has more privileges than even my mother, and certainly more than my grandmothers, be discouraged? In The Queens of Crime, Marie Benedict provides mystery, history, amazing women, and, of course, inspiration.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
Narrated by Bessie Carter

It is thanks to Marie Benedict's The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and other historical fiction that I really became interested in all the secrecy about Agatha Christie's past. Now the author has written an historical fiction that includes Agatha Christie and other real life crime fiction writers of old. I was only familiar with the name of Dorothy Sayers and not familiar at all with the other featured crime writers in this book, besides Agatha Christie. Dorothy leads the way with this story as we see things from her POV.

I was able to have both the audiobook and ebook in front of me. Bessie Carter does a fabulous job of narrating the book and the ebook allowed me to search the internet for names and places as I listened to the story. Although the story is historical fiction, the afterword by the author lets us know what parts of the story lean on real life events and what parts of the story have been fictionalized. Now I'm interested in several other women crime fiction writers than just Agatha Christie and I foresee more more reading and researching in my future.

I got such a feel for the time and place and became well acquainted with the manner of dress and affectations of each of the women crime writers who aid Dorothy and Agatha in their investigation of the death of May Daniels, a young nurse who has been done wrong. Law enforcement wants no meddling from women and they also want to shelve this incident, putting all the blame of her death on the young woman herself. Dorothy, Agatha, and their cohorts are not going to allow this to happen and it's fun following them around on their sleuthing jaunts. Each woman will fall back on "what would so and so do", using their own fictional characters to help them decide how to approach each turn in this murder case. I was able to buddy read this story with DeAnn and we are now both interested in learning much more than we ever knew about these women.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.