I was so excited to get my hands on Marie Benedict’s upcoming release The Queens of Crime. Her latest story combines two of my favorite genres: historical fiction and mystery. In 1930 murder mystery writers Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy decide to demonstrate their skills to their male counterparts by solving a recent murder of a young woman. I enjoyed getting to learn more about the background of these famous female writers while also being totally engrossed in the murder mystery aspect of the story.

I had the opportunity to hear Benedict speak at a library gala where she described her desire to excavate women of the past to bring their stories to our attention in modern times. Benedict was successful in her mission not only for the famous writers represented in her novel but in the murder victim May Daniels, a “surplus” woman of her time. Overall, the story was well paced, entertaining, and thought provoking.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Three women, all of whom were real writers of mysteries, try to be recognized by their male counterparts. The story involves them trying to impress the men by finding the person who murdered the French woman, . Dorothy Sayers. Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh are in this group of or detectives!

What a unique premise: Dorothy Sayers gets Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and Baroness Emma Orczy to join forces with her in order to solve the mystery involving the murder of a young girl (and they do so to make the men who belong to the Detection Club, which Dorothy and G.K Chesterton founded, to take them seriously). This was an engaging story, with snippets of real history thrown in, but it dwelt much too much on the rights of these women authors and how they were being treated unfairly — so much so that it all seemed merely like childish whining at times. The plot also moved very, very slowly, and included some events that appeared to be merely random ones with no real connection to the main storyline. Nonetheless, it was an interesting read.

This is a fun fictional mystery featuring historic female crime fiction writers. This is the second novel I've read by Marie Benedict. I really enjoy how she takes real people and events and creates a mystery, While "the Queens of Crime" are made up of a group of women, this book really focuses on Dorothy Sayers. I didn't know much about her going into this, it was fun to learn more.

If you enjoy golden age mysteries and the women who wrote them, this is an entertaining read!

Thank you to @stmartinspress @netgalley @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 and @authormariebenedict for the #gifted e-book and audiobook.

The author skillfully weaves real events into a captivating fictional tale.

In a unique collaboration, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy, dubbed the Queens of Crime, unite to tackle the murder of a young girl. Faced with the challenges of sexism from the male-dominated club, these remarkable women leverage their mystery-writing prowess to crack the case. This locked-room mystery not only serves as an intricate puzzle to solve but is also a powerful opportunity for them to earn the respect of their male peers.

I was thoroughly captivated by the stimulating plot, the tenacity of the characters, and their clever banter. The determination of these women to join forces and unveil the truth behind the murder was truly inspiring.

The narrator excelled in bringing this vibrant story and its diverse cast to life. Her pacing, distinctive voices, and genuine emotions enriched the experience, making it an absolute delight to read along with the book.

If you have a passion for mystery and empowering female protagonists, this book is a must-read for you. Mark your calendars for February 11, 2025!

I want to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I always like Marie Benedict's books and this was no exception. It is a story about 5 female mystery writers in England in 1931.They are Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayres,Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy. Agatha an Dorothy were asked to be part of a "Detection Club". made up of famous male mystery writers. Dorothy and Agatha conspire to get the other 3 women in the group. They suceed,but realize that the men really are condescending to them. They decide to solve a real life mystery and prove their abilities. They take on a case of a missing nurse. There are a lot of layers to this story.At the outset, it is a murder mystery, starring 5 authors who usually do the writing , but not the sleuthing. It is also a story of 5 women who are very different in life and background, but who bond together to help one another and solve a case. It is also a story of women, in the 30's in England, and how even the famous and successful struggled against men's bias and misogyny. It is a well written tale. I found myself unable to put it down!
It is especially interesting as Marie Benedict recently wrote a book about Agatha Christie. This book is
clearly an outgrowth of that one. The other thing of interest is that there is a similar book which will come out in March called The Four Queens of Crime. It is written by Roseanne Limoncelli and tells a story of 4 of these women,also solving a mystery. I am reading this second one now,and while there are some similarities, there are also a lot of differences. I highly recommend that you read both as I did.

Rounded up from 2.5 stars

"Ooh, a novel in which the creators of Hercule Poirot, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Lord Peter Wimsey, and other colorful fictional characters solve a real-life mystery! This is bound to be fun," thought I.

It was not. It was tedious, and if the real Dorothy L. Sayers wrote prose as plodding as the fictional one does as the narrator of this tale, I will definitely cross her books off my to-read list. (Marie Benedict might have been better off having Agatha Christie as the narrator, as her writing style was generally workmanlike as well.) The mystery itself was basic, and the way Sayers, Christie, Baroness Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, the titular Queens of Crime, went about solving it thoroughly unimpressive. The dialogue was stiff, except when it was absurd, and the characterizations two-dimensional. The early 1930s setting held my interest, though apparently our heroines weren't affected by the deprivations of the Depression.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Queens of Crime is a wonderful fictional story of some of the great women mystery writers, banding together to solve a mystery. By Marie Benedict the writers are brought to life in this story, just as they did with the characters that they wrote in theirs. While it was disheartening why they decided to first solve a “close-door mystery”, I could understand, knowing that women in the 1930’s did not receive the respect that was deserved.

Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy name themselves the Queens of Crime as they go about finding the information, clues and secrets that will solve the crime. They do so brilliantly, giving a young woman a voice when she had been silenced through murder. Now this looks like a one-time novel but who knows, perhaps these characters will work together to bring to light another unsolved mystery.

"The Queens of Crime" is a captivating and insightful read that celebrates the achievements of these pioneering female writers. Benedict's vivid writing and engaging storytelling bring this fascinating era to life, making this a must-read for history buffs and fans of historical fiction alike.

A book featuring the major women crime fiction writers from the 1920s sounded right up my alley, particularly as it stars Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayer. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for a DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was excited by the premise of this book, set in 1930, a group of women writers come together to not only support one another in their pursuits but to also solve a crime they feel has been causally dismissed by the authorities. What a tale this story weaves! From the women and all the adversities they face to thrive in their chosen profession, to the easily written off murder of a young nurse, this book gives a look inside the world of women during that time period.

I quite enjoyed getting to know Dorothy Sayer and her backstory as well as the other female writers of that time. I wasn’t familiar with all and so ended up down a google rabbit hole to find out more. This was a true delight for me and so appreciated how the story brought them together and allowed them to each be seen. This is a definite recommendation from me to pick up when it is released in February 2025!

Who doesn't love a good whodoneit? This one does not disappoint. "The Queens of Crime", finds 5 well known female mystery writers attempting to solve a real murder; just to prove to their male mystery writer friends that they are just as capable as they are at solving mysteries. And also to prove that they deserve to be members of the Detection Club, an elite club for male mystery writers. What makes this even more delicious is that the story is based on an actual event that happened to Dorothy Sayers, one of the female mystery writers.

Well written, suspenseful, and well thought out, Ms. Benedict has given us a wonderful novel. It's a real page turner and I highly recommend it.

This was an interesting concept for a story about five famous women mystery writers who are trying to solve a real crime. I thought it would be more engaging than it was. The story dragged on in many parts which lessened my overall enjoyment. Just an “okay” read for me.

The Queens of Crime tells the gripping story of five legendary women crime writers—Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy—who form a secret society in 1930s London to prove their worth in the male-dominated world of detective fiction. Their plan is to solve a real murder: the case of May Daniels, a young English nurse found strangled in a French park under mysterious circumstances. As the women investigate, they uncover shocking secrets and become targets of the killer. Inspired by true events in Dorothy Sayers’ life, this novel explores the lengths these authors go to gain respect in their field.

This book is a captivating blend of magical historical fiction and suspenseful mystery. From the very first page, I was hooked, especially by Dorothy’s unique perspective. I admired how the women in the story supported one another, harnessing their individual strengths—both as women and as authors—to unravel the murder. The bond between these five women truly brought out the best in each of them.

The mystery kept me guessing until the very end, with twists that never ceased to surprise. I also appreciated the biographical depth that enriched the novel. This won't be the last Marie Benedict book I read—I highly recommend it.

Spice: 0/5 but sensitive topics are touched on
Rating: 5/5

Tropes:
The Red Herring
The Locked Room
Consulting a Criminal
Strong female lead

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Marie Benedict for a chance to read ARC. All thoughts are my own.

An absolutely exquisite novel! Marie Benedict takes the readers back to a time when some of our favorite classical authors were alive and has them solve a crime for us. It is exciting to walk beside them as they use their gifts, developed in their writings, to give honor to a murdered woman who was cast aside by her killer and the boys of the press and police. I am a fan of this author already but this novel makes me realize what a genuine gift for enveloping the reader and pulling them into the story until they experience every emotion, thought and action as the characters themselves do that Marie Benedict has. Definitely a five star read.

I received an audiobook from St. Martin Press through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This was so enjoyable to read. I really liked all the big 1930s female mystery writers out solving their own "real life" mystery, and got really invested in figuring it out myself and was able to figure out some things before they were revealed, which is always fun. I also had all these wild predictions that never happened, but I still enjoyed the puzzle of it all combined with the history and the setting. Also, of course, the inherent feminism was just great, especially the theme of "surplus" women who were single and fending for themselves after so many young men died in WWI. I would love for this to be a whole series, honestly. I would definitely read more.

The Queens of Crime was an excellent read. I love Marie Benedict's books. It involves a combinations of some of the greatest golden era classic murder mystery female authors who decide to form their own personal "club" - The Queens of Crime" to include themselves in the current Mystery Writers Club. While doing this, they find themselves involved in a real life murder mystery! Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie were figured prominently as the two main characters of the group, along with Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and Baroness Orczy. This was an enjoyable, well written book and I would love to see it turn into a series.

After having their mystery novels branded as "pulp fiction," five "queens" of crime; Agatha Cristy, Dorothy Sayers, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, decide to earn their acceptance into the male dominated detection club by solving a real life murder. Following the trail of a cold case, the queens use the same techniques they attribute to their characters to find out how a girl could just disappear from a locked room. If you have read any of these authors' books, you will enjoy this fictional romp.

The setting: "London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France..."

"May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there is an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden."

And so it begins.

I did not think I would like this book as much as I did--in part because I'm not a huge fan of Marie Benedict, but this one captured my interest and kept me going!

The reveal/s of the personal lives of the mystery writers was quite interesting--as was the way they each wrote and plotted their novels --and paralleled their investigation into May's death.

The power of friendship and sexism are two predominant themes.

Interesting facts:
The times and women's roles--a nurse was considered more lowly [a dirty and gory profession] than a clerk or secretary!
Most people wrote in black ink as blue was more expensive, harder to come by, and more likely to be used by affluent individuals [as those accustomed to endorsing contracts and the like as was used for signatures on documents].

Description:
"a head full of wasps" --to describe a hangover.

Solid 4.

What an interesting concept, fiction female crime writers solving an actual crime. Marie Benedict takes us into the detective skills and amazing cooperation of five rival writers all striving to solve the crime of May Daniels, a nurse found strangled in a park in 1930. Narrated by Dorothy L. Sayers, the others are Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. Until this book, I had only heard of Agatha Christie. From Benedict's description of the others, I came to know them, enough to look up their books and bio information. Men in this era didn't think women writers could be taken seriously and these five proved them wrong. It was interesting to read how they would approach gathering clues to the murder as if they were writing fiction and then as they actually solved the crime. All clues are important but not as much as listening as you, the reader will discover. This book is a deviation from reading about just one woman in history, as you have five that interact to solve a mystery within a mystery. I highly recommend this book to learn more about this period of time, women and society. I thank NetGalley for the advanced copy in return for my review.

Another great story from Marie Benedict! Although the “queens” include Agatha Christie and three other female mystery writers of the day, the focus is on Dorothy Sayers this time. Her character was developed so well and as usual, I appreciate the extensive research done by the author. All five of the women had such strong and interesting personalities! I especially liked how Agatha became such a great support to Dorothy in her personal life. Of course, the highlight of the book is the actual solving of a murder. Anyone who likes murder mysteries will appreciate how creatively the women uncover the clues and work together to trap the murderer. The suspense around the threats to Dorothy’s life adds to the enjoyment of the book. And I have to mention again that the women had such strong personalities - it was almost comical how they outwitted the men.