Marie Benedict has yet again brought a book full of intrigue. She has never failed me in terms of writing a book that holds my interest and keeps me turning the page. The Queens of Crime provides a historical mystery that kept me on my toes and made me think. One thing Benedict does very will is that they allow for the reader to see themselves in her characters, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I wanted to love this book—I really did—but for me, it ended up just okay. I did really enjoy learning more about the real-life authors it centers on, like Dorothy Sayers. That part was fascinating and definitely sent me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. :)

But the story itself moved a bit too slowly for my taste. There was a lot of introspection that kind of dragged the pace down. I’m more into fast-paced mysteries. If you’re someone who loves getting deep into a character’s inner world, though, this one is for you!

Also, some of the themes felt a little too on-the-nose. That said, I appreciated learning more about 1930s society—especially the whole “surplus women” topic. That was eye-opening and sent me down another rabbit hole. So in hindsight, I think I should’ve gone into this expecting more of a historical novel that explores the social landscape of the time, rather than a Poirot-style mystery. And that would have done the trick for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, Marie Benedict, and St Martin's Press for the e-Arc.

I really enjoyed The Queens of Crime! It’s a clever, character-driven mystery that brings together iconic women writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to solve a murder in 1930s London. The plot is fun, but what really shines is the dynamic between the women—their wit, ambition, and refusal to be underestimated. If you love classic mysteries and strong female leads, this one’s worth picking up.

This book is a total treat for mystery lovers and fans of literary history. I loved watching real-life legends like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers team up to solve a murder that feels straight out of one of their own novels. The blend of fact and fiction is clever, the writing is sharp, and the 1930s London setting adds just the right moody atmosphere.

Packed with locked-room vibes, dark secrets, and sharp commentary on women in publishing, The Queens of London is a smart, engaging read that celebrates the brilliance and boldness of the original queens of crime.

The five greatest female crime writers decide to form a club, The Queens of Crime, to try to solve a muder mystery to give, not only justice, but also the voice back to a nurse that is the victim of a violent murder. May Daniels vanished during a Paris trip with her friend. Weeks later her body is found and the police is not interested in solving the case when they found evidence that she might be a part of the drug traffic.

The motivation to form the group is just so irksome... Why must the women prove themselves to the men? This book is extremely slow. It felt way longer than its 310 pages. The 5 take their time to discover clues and we have to follow each thought that goes through our narrator`s mind and through her friends mind. And their thoughts feel like a list of things instead of being presented as a narration. It just felt lkike infodump. There isn't one character that was compelling; they were so wooden. And nothing happens up until the ending of the book.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

A fascinating blend of historical fiction and classic mystery bringing together five legendary women crime writers for a thrilling whodunit. The mystery is engaging with a locked room style murder
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my review!

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set in the 1930's with all of the great mystery writers that we have come to know and love. Led by Dorothy Sayers the "Queens of Crime" as they dub themselves also includes the authors Agatha Christy, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and the Baroness Emma Orczy.

I thought that it was really fascinating to take these real life authors who pioneered detective and crime novels in the 1930's and give them a sort of origin story. While these authors have already been writing at the start of the novel the group came together out of necessity to prove to themselves and their colleagues that they were as good as they claimed to be by solving the case of a missing woman. Part historical fiction and part cozy mystery this was a great look at what life would have been like for these women in the 1930's in a time where men still held most of the power. This novel is centered around feminism, both in the relationships and support between the five women, but also in the way that they all come together to help May, the nurse who has disappeared and the other girls that they meet along the way.

The Queens of Crime is yet another fantastic historical fiction book by Benedict. This time, she takes us back to the golden age of detective fiction, bringing together Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy, and Margery Allingham (The Queens of Crime) on a real-life murder investigation. Benedict’s twist-filled homage is a clever and delightful tribute to these groundbreaking women. The mystery is gripping, the characters vibrant, and the story a fantastic glimpse into the challenges these women faced in a male-dominated world. For anyone who loves classic detective stories, this book is a true treat!

Marie Benedict has become an auto-read author of mine! And I love that she's returned to the age of classic detective fiction by not only returning to Agatha Christie, but also bringing along Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy and Margery Allingham aka The Queens Of Crime. But here they're going to solve a real murder together instead of writing one themselves! Any of them would be proud of Marie's twist filled tribute to them in The Queens Of Crime.

Marie Benedict's The Queens of Crime is a delightful and clever homage to the legendary female pioneers of mystery fiction. For anyone who loves the classic detectives and intricate plots of the past, this novel is a true treat. Benedict brilliantly brings Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and their contemporaries to life, placing them at the center of a compelling missing person case. It's not just a gripping whodunnit; it's a wonderful tribute to these groundbreaking women and their resilience in a male-dominated world.

The story beautifully highlights the bonds of sisterhood and cleverly exposes the underestimation these brilliant women often faced. I particularly enjoyed the ingenious twist of having the Queens infiltrate the esteemed Detection Club, shining a light on the corruption lurking within. Benedict masterfully recreates the elements of a classic mystery: a plot that unfolds at a satisfying pace, carefully placed clues that keep you guessing, and that iconic final gathering where the truth is revealed.

The Queens of Crime is both a loving celebration of the golden age of detective fiction and the extraordinary women who shaped it. This enjoyable and cozy mystery, inspired by real history and amazing writers, is the perfect read for anyone who loves a well-crafted puzzle and a story that leaves you with a smile.

Many thanks to NetGallery and Saint Martins Press for sharing this interesting read that shined a light into the past by Benedict.







Gemini ca

In the spirit of the great mystery writers of the past and their brilliantly crafted detectives, this novel brings the legendary Queens of Crime to life, placing them at the heart of a gripping investigation into a missing woman. As a longtime admirer of these pioneering women in crime fiction, I was intrigued by the premise, and the book absolutely delivered.
It serves as a fitting homage to their legacy, highlighting not only their literary talents but also their resilience in a male dominated era. The story beautifully explores themes of sisterhood and the persistent underestimation of women’s intellect by men. I especially enjoyed the clever twist of having the Queens infiltrate the renowned Detection Club, exposing the corruption of its male members.
What stood out most to me was the return to the classic elements of mystery, a slow burning plot, meticulous clues, and the iconic final gathering where all suspects are assembled to unmask the killer. This book is both a celebration of golden-age detective mystery and the powerful group to the women who shaped it.

*Thank you to Marie Benedict, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

The Queens of Crime takes readers on a delightful journey investigating a murder alongside five writers of detective novels, including Agatha Christie. The book brings to life legendary authors as they cross the English Channel to probe the details of a horrible crime and find out who murdered a young nurse. It took me a while to grow invested in the story, but when I did, I enjoyed it. This book is another enjoyable read from Marie Benedict. I received a copy of the book through Net Galley, but the opinions are my own.

This author can honestly be a little hit or miss for me, but Queens of Crime is easily my favorite one I’ve read. The writing flowed well & the characters were great.

** this was not reviewed on a platform as I DNF'd this **

I found the premise and concept of this book really intriguing, especially since I love a good historical read, so I was pretty excited to dive in. That said, I have to admit it might not be my cup of tea. It felt a little slow to me, and some parts delved into details that I didn’t find particularly important, which made me glaze over and skim through those sections. Unfortunately, that made it tough for me to really connect with the story and the characters, which was a bit disappointing. At first, I thought maybe it was just my mood at the time—kind of a coincidence that it was matching up with a slower story—so I decided to put it down and try again later. But even after giving it another shot, I kept feeling that slow pace, a disconnect from the characters and the story, and too many details that didn’t seem essential, so I couldn’t continue on. While I may not have finished this, I do think this is reader preference issue and would suggest it a specific reader who I know enjoys specific things that align with this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Marie Benedict, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this one, despite not knowing much about the characters beforehand. I found it easy to read and really interesting and suspenseful. I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know what happened! The ending was satisfying and I enjoyed learning more about the history in the author’s note. If you like historical fiction novels, be sure to pick this one up.

Marie Benedict is an automatic buy/read for me. I love historical fiction and it is always done soo well. Where else can you find women in a mystery plot, historical fiction and actually a great story to grab your attention. It never feels like reading a history book but always an adventure. Benedict does exceptionally well with her novels and I will forever recommend them to my friends and followers.

In this brilliant new release from Marie Benedict, readers join a group of women crime writers in 1930s London -- Dorothy L Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy -- as they decide to change their status in the Detection Club from second-class members to full and equal contributors to the group. The Queens of Crime have decided to solve the murder of May Daniels, a young English nurse who vanished while on vacation in France, and track down the killer to prove their capabilities off the page. As they travel to France and begin their investigation into the scant clues available, the group’s friendships deepen despite their original conflicts, but when the killer targets Dorothy herself, time starts to run out before they can safely solve the case. Based on a true story and incredibly brought to life, readers will love this fantastic new historical fiction novel for its cast of iconic and capable women detective writers and the intensely exciting murder mystery plot. The characters are all complex and brought to life incredibly well, while the different locations, drama, and unfolding murder mystery really create a fantastic atmosphere for this incredible new historical mystery novel from Marie Benedict.

I just couldn’t finish this book. Although I love Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers, the way they were presented at the beginning of the book just didn’t gel with the way I think of these women. Also, I am not familiar with the other writers mentioned and they seemed two-dimensional to me. The premise of the book just seemed forced and I gave up halfway through. Just not my kind of story.

I won’t bother to share my review because it would appear that many others like the book. I don’t want to be negative.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the DRC of The Queens of Crime! All opinions in this review are my own.

I feel like I'm always excited to read historical fiction books about well-known people, but then end up not enjoying them as much as I thought I would. The Queens of Crime is the exception! I loved this group of mystery writing women and how they are trying to solve a case to bring justice to a woman that men don't really seem to care about solving. I don't know if there are plans to but I would love a sequel with this cast of characters and another mystery to solve!

Quick and Dirty
-1930’s London setting
-based on a true story/real women
-multiple characters but single POV
-fiercely feminist

Y’all, I think I’m in my historical mystery era! I really loved this book and want everyone to read it. It might feel slow for those who love fast-paced thrillers and contemporary mysteries, but I think it was perfectly paced and historically accurate. Women couldn’t just go traipsing around solving crimes in the early 20th century, at least not without an escort or groups of lady friends. Reputations were still a thing. Propriety was still a thing. Protecting oneself from gossip was extremely important, especially if you were trying to make a name for yourself as a crime writer, which was a relatively new thing for women at the time. Benedict did an excellent job setting the stage for readers, giving readers a glimpse into the life and times of these great women. I loved that we got a single point of view but still had a full cast; it added depth to the story, in my opinion. The mystery was compelling, and the twists and turns kept me intrigued and engaged. I loved the emotion behind Sayers’ story, which paired perfectly with that of the victim, serving to heighten my investment in solving her murder. My favorite part of the entire book was how Benedict used the individual crime writers’ main characters as inspiration for their approach to solving the mystery. It was a brilliant literary device! I really want a sequel to this book. I could easily see myself reading dozens of books with these characters at the helm! This will be in my stack of favorite reads of the year for sure!