👑👑👑👑👑
An evocative novel that spotlights women who were successful mystery authors despite misogyny being the default mindset of the time period.

After WWI when the term "surplus women" was coined, referring to the excess of unmarried women. The 1921 Census of England and Wales listed 1.72 million more women than men post war. Society judged these women harshly for having the audacity to hold jobs necessary to support themselves. The murder victim in "The Queens of Crime" is one such young woman. May Daniels, a nurse found murdered and her integrity shredded in the media.

Marie Benedict sets a brilliant group of minds on the case and takes readers on a sleuthing adventure. There was a unique power in a story about women banding together to solve n atrocity committed against another woman. The Queens of Crime are comprised of: Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Mysteries), Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple), Margery Allingham (Albert Campion), Baroness Emma Orczy (Scarlet Pimpernel), and Ngaio Marsh (Roderick Alleyn). In reality Sayers did travel to France to investigate with her husband but was unable to solve this real-life locked room mystery.

I thought this was a phenomenal premise to follow these larger-than-life characters as they chase down leads. Benedict did an excellent job of bringing the author side of these ladies to the forefront. I was gripped from the first page. It was clear that the research necessary to bring this story and its characters to life was extensive and thorough. That work was evidenced in the way characters' voices rang true and their individuality sparkled. The narrative transported me to another time and place; the smart energy crackled. The red herrings were in rare form.

Misogyny and its many ugly faces are shown here. However, in the early chapters it felt as if it were being drummed into the reader. The book is otherwise well written, and this just wasn't necessary. There is enough "show" in this regard that the excessive "tell" waters down the desired effect. Luckily, this issue doesn't continue throughout the novel.

Minor quibbles aside, I flew through this one. What a divine film this would make! The Queens 👑were bright and cunning making this a delight to read. I do believe Benedict has another winner on her hands!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advance Readers Copy

This book is well-written with memorable characters (based on real people) and great detail of history and mystery writing. The novel does well at honoring history while embellishing the story with creative license. The plot is very engaging - while also rightly acknowledging that a murder victim is a human being worthy of dignity and compassion, not just a source of morbid entertainment. My only complaint is that the book was sometimes a bit heavy-handed in its messaging and in the fate of the murderer. I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to other fans of historical fiction and mystery. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC; I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted to Goodreads, and will be posted on Amazon and social media closer to publication.

Marie Benedict’s latest book is a mystery featuring several of the legendary female crime writers including Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy who called themselves the Queens of Crime. The Queens decide to solve a real murder of a young British nurse who was strangled in France in order to prove to the men in the newly formed Detection Club that they are worthy of full membership. The women are successful solving the unsolved murder by thinking through how their characters in their books would handle the challenge. The story also delves into the lives and personalities of each member of the Queens and the challenges they face as women during this time period. It’s a fun read with an interesting plot line although some of their methods for flushing out clues didn’t seem that realistic to this reader. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC copy of the book.

How can a lady's detective group prove that they are as good as a group of male detectives?

In the year 1931 women were deemed not as capable as men.

The Queens of Crime decided that if they could solve a "real life" murder, they would be respected.

They all asked themselves where could they find a real life murder to investigate and lo and behold a body of a young woman assumed to have disappeared was found.

They were on the case.

The book dragged and wasn’t a book I was anxious to get back to.

Gorgeous, pull-you-in cover, but I was disappointed because I normally enjoy Ms. Benedict's books. 3/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Queens of Crime was a fun read! All your favorite classic murder mystery female authors form a gang to take on the men trying to keep them in their place. And what better way than solving a real mystery! Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie were the most prominent characters in my mind. It was intriguing to see how they went about solving the mystery without all the high tech used today. I wonder if any of today’s mystery writers could manage to solve a real mystery?

Marie Benedict’s latest is a charming mystery featuring several of the legendary crime writers of the 1920s and 1930s, an era known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham were called the Queens of Crime. In this work, the author has added one additional writer to this group, Baroness Emma Orczy, author of The Scarlet Pimpernel. In this delightful story, these authors, though well known, aren’t respected by their male counterparts in the Detection Club. In order to prove themselves, the group decides that they will solve a real murder to gain the respect they deserve. This venture goes beyond the original intention as it turns into a quest to bring justice to a young nurse who unfairly gets her reputation trashed by the police and the press.

The mystery of who strangled a young English nurse in Northern France is well thought out. It contains the classic locked room device, which is quite fitting since the Queens of Crime used this often. The mystery is both intriguing and frustrating as the Queens are not only matching wits with the murderer, they must also contend with chauvinistic, ignorant, and indolent government officials, policemen, and news reporters.

While the mystery aspect of this novel is first-rate, the friendship among the Queens is truly the heart of the story. As the characters develop, one feels a genuine sense of camaraderie and love between them. The author also deftly weaves true aspects of their personalities into the book. Also, a real life secret that Dorothy Sayers had kept hidden during her lifetime is utilized as a key plot point in this story.

This book can be ranked as one of Marie Benedict’s best novels yet. If you love classic British mysteries or stories involving female friendships, you will definitely want to meet the Queens of Crime! This gets my highest recommendation!

I really liked The Queens of Crime. This was an interesting story about woman Mystery Authors who band together to solve a murder mystery. I loved the characters, Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers were my favorite. I loved the ladies time they spent in France. A true Mystery with twists and turns. Looking forward to reading more of this Authors work.
#TheQueensOfCrime #NetGalley

I give The Queens of Crime 4 stars for its interesting plot.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction fans.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and mostly kept my interest. I really admire Marie Benedict's niche of bringing often neglected female historical figures front and center. I'm not sure I'll be thinking of this book much past today, but it certainly entertained while it was in front of me. recommend.

Coming soon Feb 11th, 2025!

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

An all-female group of famous authors turned detective sleuths? Sign me up! This was a fun one to read. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the culprit was in this locked-room mystery.

Synopsis: 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 who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment.

Inspired by a true story in Sayers’ own life, New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict brings to life the lengths to which five talented women writers will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters as they unpuzzle a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels.

Pre-order your copy today!


Thank you @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for sending an Advance Reader’s Copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Queens of Crime is about ladies of the Detection Club, in 1930 London. Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy long to be treated as equals by their male counterparts in the Detection Club, and so under the leadership of Dorothy, they decide to investigate a true crime that recently hit the headlines. May Daniels disappeared from a train station lavatory in France, while on a day trip with a good friend. Months later, her dead body is found discarded near a monument park in the same French town. Together the woman channel their mystery know how and work to solve the mystery of May's disappearance and death.
Dorothy is the narrator of the story, with the book told 100% from her perspective. For anyone familiar with the works of Sayers, or Christie, this book follows a similar formula, with the women working together to investigate the crime in a manner that their characters would in their novels. This book is enjoyable and intriguing from start to finish, but there were a few spots in the novel that felt a bit choppy in their execution, however these moments did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. The conclusion of their investigation was logical, and satisfying, with the clues throughout leading them to the May's killer.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
Benedict offers a different style novel that still stays in the historical fiction genre. Readers meet five women who were detective/mystery story writers in the early part of the 20th century. Dorothy L. Sayers invites the following women to be part of a Detective Club - Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. She asks their help to solve a real murder. A young English nurse disappeared and has been found murdered in France. The five embark on a real life journey to solve this murder and bring the killer(s) to justice. Though some liberties are taken with historical accuracy, the story captures the era. I appreciate the way these women stand up to their fellow male writers, the authorities, and the men who committed this crime and others. Benedict weaves the women's investigative work together with sensitivity to their real lives. A thoughtful read that lets readers join the writers to search for clues and find answers as well.

I enjoyed learning about the host of female detective writers in the 1930s. The mystery that they solve together further exemplified the inequities that women suffer in all aspects of life. Although I have read Agatha Christie novels, I did not know much about her personal life.

The legendary female mystery writers from the Golden Age of detective fiction come together to solve a real crime, in part to be taken seriously by their male contemporaries. It was so incredibly frustrating to read the blatant sexism and chauvinistic behavior of their fellow male writers. (Especially when they were more successful than a lot of the men.) I found the mystery and the unfolding of the plot to be enjoyable. The era was well researched all the way down to the clothing details which made it a great read.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I started reading this book full of anticipation. As a lover of the works of the main characters, I truly expected to enjoy this book, but I found it sluggish and difficult to get into. While I appreciate the message, I grew tired of the repeated, heavy handed theme about women and how they are mistreated and overlooked. Too much!! After setting the book aside for a couple of weeks,I tried again and still couldn’t get into it. I did not finish after reading 32%.

Benedict uses actual female writers as her protagonists and they solve the crime. Not only do they have to sneak around to avoid the police, but husbands as well. Set in the 1930s, the characters are well written and the story moves at a good pace. I enjoyed the book. It was a good mystery and kept me guessing.

Enjoyable, albeit a bit predictable, mystery romp with bygone well-known female mystery writers. Nicely paced.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie are recognized by fellow mystery writers, mostly men, in 1931. In an effort to raise awareness of these men to other female authors, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham, Dorothy forms a “Queens of Crime.” To advance the group’s reputation, she finds an unsolved murder of a young woman to solve on their own. Using individual skills found in the characters they have created, they are not all in agreement at times, but their loyalty to one another is evident. Marie Benedict showcases the idiosyncrasies of each of the Queens. Told through the eyes of Dorothy, we learn her secrets as she ponders those of her allies. Each character is unique and their teamwork drives the storyline. Another enjoyable experience from Marie Benedict.

An enjoyable story based on the five famous female mystery writers including Agatha Christie. This novel features Dorothy Sayers as lead character, pulling the together these female writers to storm the male dominated field of writing. Can women write mysteries as good as men? Can women solve mysteries better than those men paid to solve it? Can these ladies who are competing against one another in the literary world be friends? As I enjoy all of Marie Benedict's novels, I enjoyed this one too! I'm looking forward to the release of book club materials on her website.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Queens of Crime
Author: Marie Benedict
Mystery?

Thank you so much Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC! I really enjoyed it! This book takes us back to 1930 London, featuring Agatha Christie and her four other female writer friends that band together to create “The Queens of Crime”. A young woman was found strangled in a park; and they take it upon themselves to solve the case! I really enjoyed it and all of the characters. It was twisty, and keeps you on your toes. I loved the setting of 1930 London. Historical fiction isn’t usually for me, but I guess when it’s in thriller / mystery form I love it! If you want something unique, please check out this book! It releases 2/11/2025! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎

The Queens of Crime was inspired by the life of Dorothy Sayers, a well known detective fiction writer and a founding member of the Detection Club (along with Agatha Christie and Anthony Berkeley).
The year is 1931. Sayers and Christie, and three other women members of the Detection Club (the Queens of Crime), investigate the ‘locked door’ murder mystery of May Daniels. The women develop a time line, talk to witnesses and follow clues just like the characters in their own detective novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the lives of these strong, intelligent, witty ‘Queens’ and how they came together to solve a highly publicized murder. Benedict also gives the reader a peek into their personal lives.
Any historical fiction and/or mystery lover will enjoy this novel! Releases February 11th, 2025.