Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Inspired by a true story in novelist Dorothy L. Sayers’ own life, the clever premise of this well-written historical mystery begins when the five greatest women crime writers of the 1930s band together to show they are as capable as any of the male members of the Detection Club, comprised of the day’s leading British detective novelists. How to demonstrate their talents and be taken as seriously as their male counterparts? They plan to solve an actual murder using the same skills they employ in writing their best-selling murder mysteries.

Led by the accomplished Dorothy L. Sayers, who narrates the story, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime.

It took a few chapters for me to become absorbed in the novel – the mystery, the women writers, Dorothy’s personal story, but then I couldn’t wait to finish it. I enjoyed trying to solve the murder along with the famous women writers. I must admit I was able to solve most of the clues ahead of the Queens, but that didn’t make the book any less engaging.

In addition to the mystery, I appreciated the message within the novel that women must be taken seriously – as writers, as detectives, as people in all walks of life. This was an especially significant point as I read the novel during Women’s History Month. Also, the fact is as important to highlight today as in 1930. Another point emphasized throughout the novel was the power of women’s friendship.

The author’s research brought the time period to life – the clothes, transportation, food, and mannerisms as well as the sexism and prejudices against women.

I’ve read several of Marie Benedict’s historical novels and have a few others waiting to be read. She is an author I can count on to entertain as well as offer thoughtful perspectives of educated women who overcome the limitations of their time. And now I want to explore Dorothy Sayers’ mysteries as well.

The Queens of Crime was such a fun romp, and with some serious topics too. Told from the perspective of Dorothy Sayers, 5 female mystery novelists team up when their male counterparts leave them out of the Detection Society. They decide to solve an actual murder using their expertise from writing mysteries. They are never taken seriously by the men in the book, but that often leads to their advantage, and they keep finding clues that men have missed. It's really fun to follow this story, which reads like a mystery in itself.

Marie Benedict is back with THE QUEENS OF CRIME, inspired by a true life story in Dorothy L Sayers’ past.

In the 1930’s, five of the greatest crime writers come together to solve the real life murder mystery of May Daniels and prove to their male counterparts, the ‘good ole boy’ Detection Club, that these women are their own force to be reckoned with. Dorothy L Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy call themselves THE QUEENS OF CRIME and set out to discover what happened to nurse, May Daniels who disappeared on a trip to France with her friend. She simply walked into a restroom and never came out. While the police are stymied in their pursuit and then May’s remains are discovered, the women fly under the radar to catch a killer. They gather clues while seemingly only interested in the goings on surrounding the case and meet in secret to discuss their findings and put the puzzle together. Drawing from their own writings, the women slowly slot the many pieces into place to finally form the whole picture and prove that they are just as capable as the men.

I loved all of the characters in this one. I felt like I learned a bit about each of the Queens and some of their backgrounds.( I mean, what DID happen to Agatha during her eleven unexplained days missing? Was she ever really gone?) I must admit that I had never heard of two of the Queens but I’m interested enough now to seek them out. Isn’t that what a good book does, after all?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Marie Benedict's Queens of Crime is a masterful blend of historical fiction and classic mystery, told from the perspective of my favorite Golden Age crime writer, Dorothy L. Sayers. As a longtime admirer of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, I loved exploring Sayers' life while watching her and her fellow female mystery authors take on a real-life murder.
Set in 1930s London, the novel follows Sayers and four other literary icons-Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy-who, frustrated by sexism within the Detection Club, decide to prove their worth by solving an actual crime. Their case? The baffling murder of May Daniels, an English nurse found strangled in a French park. As they apply their skills, they uncover overlooked details, reconstruct timelines, and analyze suspects with the precision of their fictional detectives. But when Dorothy herself becomes a target, they realize this mystery may reach the highest levels of British society.
Benedict's research is impeccable, bringing these trailblazing women to life with rich characterizations, stunning wardrobe descriptions, and period-accurate details. More than just a mystery, Queens of Crime is a powerful story about women fighting for recognition-not just for themselves but for all marginalized voices.
The novel also highlights the persistent bias against female victims, drawing striking parallels to today's world.
I've read several of Benedict's historical novels, and she never fails to balance fact and fiction beautifully. I often find myself pausing to research elements of her stories, and this book was no exception. The insights into Agatha Christie's disappearance, Ngaio Marsh's unconventional style, and Emma Orczy's aristocratic background add fascinating depth. But the heart of the novel is the camaraderie between these brilliant women, whose support for one another gave them the strength to challenge both literary and societal norms.

For fans of historical fiction and classic mystery, Queens of Crime is a must-read—a thrilling, insightful tribute to the women who reshaped crime fiction.

I have enjoyed all of the books I've read by Marie Benedict. The care and research she puts forth into her books are so well done.

For her books that are based on real people, I'm always in awe of how well the depictions of the characters are.

The Queens of Crime brings together five of the greatest women crime writers: Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy as members of the Detection Club. To prove that they should be taken as serious and worth as their male writer counterparts, they decide to solve an actual murder of a young woman found strangled in a park.

All of the ladies use their strengths as mystery writers to piece together this locked-room mystery.

Benedict does an amazing job bringing forth basis and ideologies men have against female victims and how they can be vilified in the media.

Marie Benedict is known for writing compelling novels about extraordinary women, and The Queens of Crime is another great addition to her repertoire. This book brings together five of the most iconic female crime writers of the 1930s, following them as they attempt to solve a real-life mystery to prove their worth in the exclusive Detection Club.

Blending historical fiction with classic mystery elements, Benedict crafts an engaging and atmospheric story that highlights both the brilliance of these pioneering women and the deep friendships they form along the way. The novel captures the essence of golden-age detective fiction while offering an insightful look at the challenges women faced in the literary world.

While the pacing lags at times, the intriguing premise and well-researched historical details make for an enjoyable read. Fans of classic mysteries and strong female protagonists will appreciate this clever and entertaining novel.

Thank you to netgalley for the free ARC in return for my honest review.

This book was a lot of fun. The five greatest female mystery writers of the early 20th century join forces to form a secret society to solve the murder of a young female nurse in France and to show the men of the Detection Society that women should be recognized for their crime solving skills.
I just loved the concept of this book and the way each author used her main character's methods to solve the crime.
The women traveled from England to France to walk the town where the nurse's body was found and try to follow her footsteps. They stayed at the same hotel, visited the dress shop that she did and even took the same train.
The women were not helped by the local French police, but the hotel proprietor and shop people did provide some leads to them.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

In the 1930s, four female mystery writers, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and Margerie Allingham, were dubbed "The Queens of Crime." Marie Benedict tosses in Baroness Emma Orczy in this historical fiction mystery, joining the women in a quest to solve a real murder to raise their stature in the newly founded Detective Club. While the male members don't mind including a couple women, Sayers and Christie, they pointedly ignore the three women that these female members tricked them into acceptance. The novel is narrated by Sayers and definitely includes historically accurate pieces of the lives of the women I was familiar with.

This is, from start to finish, an enjoyable novel, with the nature of each writer brought to the fore as they collaborate, show occasional frustration, cover the tracks the police missed by asking the wrong questions with no follow up and take risks that they should not take. Having been a lifelong fan of Sayers, Christie and Marsh, I could see how Benedict used their writing approaches and plotting style to create this novel, without making it full of references as to feel like it is in your face. Her writing is engaging. The settings in France, rural England and London are also appealing. The mystery is about the disappearance and murder of a British nurse on a day trip to France with a friend. The writers' methodology is sound. The plot is good enough and certainly the clues are all there. I recommend The Queens of Crime in particular to those who love the original Queens of Crime but also to those who just like a good clever amateur sleuth mystery. Especially sleuths with intellects that make them knowledgeable of all things murder and police.

3.5 stars Better than expected historical mystery. Legendary golden age mystery novelists investigate the murder of a young woman whose murder has been written off. The characters are a little superficial but the mystery is solid.

As a fan of Agatha Christie, The Queens of Crime was a lot of fun!

Five well-known female mystery writers come together to prove their worth and earn a place in the prestigious Detection Club. In a bold move, they decide to solve a real crime, the murder of May Daniels, a nurse found dead under mysterious circumstances. While the authorities conduct their own investigation, their efforts leave many questions unanswered and stones unturned. The women, determined to make their mark, work collaboratively to unravel the truth behind the crime, showcasing their unique skills and intellect. While some of the side plots felt unnecessary and the pacing was occasionally slow, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

A very interesting premise of a novel that combined history and locked room mystery!

Dorothy Sayers has recently become part of a Detection Club with one other female author, the infamous Agatha Christie. She is desperate to include more women amongst their ranks, which is when she decides to gather up three other popular female mystery authors to solve an actual murder and prove their prowess.

As the book is narrated through Ms. Sayer's POV, we get snippets of her life outside of being an author. I would have loved more of this kind of background from each of the other 'Queens' as well. This was a bit slow to pick up but overall a solid historical fiction piece! Agatha is the only referenced author I was familiar with so if nothing else I will use this as an opportunity to explore the works of the others!

“𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 - 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬.”

The Queens Of Crime is a fun historical mystery, for lovers of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction!

Marie Benedict’s historical mystery features authors Dorothy Sayers, and Agatha Christie, alongside Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy attempting to solve a real life disappearance and subsequent murder of nurse May Daniels. Besides a clever mystery, Benedict explores the expectations of females in the 1930s and highlights the judgement society so easily throws upon them. Although Sayers is the narrator, and Christie gets the most time with her, Benedict cleverly finds ways for the reader to spend time with each of the Queens in investigation, getting to know them a bit as individuals. I also loved the way Benedict highlighted Dorothy and husband Mac’s relationship; it isn’t perfect but they have a deep love and respect for one another, and he is nothing but supportive when he finds out what the Queens have been working on. Benedict does a great job at weaving fact with fiction; I didn’t realize that May Daniels’ disappearance is unsolved to this day. The clues the women uncover range from clever to shocking; the way Benedict has the ladies find information and piece it together is worthy of the Detection Club.

The Queens Of Crime is a well-paced mystery with ruthless characters, clever reveals, and positive female friendships. Thank you to St. Martins and NetGalley for the ARC!

This historical mystery brings together legendary crime writers in a thrilling mystery! While the first part of the book was a bit slow for my taste, the crisp writing and intriguing mystery kept me going. The ending? Absolutely worth the wait! I found myself racing to the resolution, eager to see justice served.
Thank you, NetGalley & St. Martin's Press, for the ARC!

This book was interesting - I’d love to read more about it and learn more about what is true versus fiction. Overall, though, I thought it was a little slow - I kept wanting things to move along!

Female friendship and power are on display in this intriguing historical mystery by Marie Benedict!

When famous novelist Dorothy Sayers is snubbed by male members of the Detection Club she helped found, she brings together the five most formidable female minds in mystery fiction: Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. Their goal: to solve a real life murder and prove their place among the men.

As the Queens use their sleuthing skills and female energy to track down the killer of May Daniels, a nurse who seemed to vanish into thin air, they bond and learn to trust each other. But the killer targets Dorothy herself, threatening her life and a secret she’s long kept hidden.

The story is well-written and intriguing, if a touch slow paced. The settings in England and France are fun to imagine, and the themes woven in highlight issues women faced in the past and still struggle with today. It’s a good mystery bordering on cozy and would be enjoyed very much by sleuths of the classic works.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Writing style
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Characters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Premise
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pacing
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Impact

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict is a historical fiction/mystery story featuring The Queens of Crime, their founding and friendship, and a locked room mystery they work together to solve in 1930 London and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Told solely from Dorothy Sayer's perspective this is an entertaining story with an intriguing mystery.

Mystery writers Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham band together as The Queens of Crime to be recognized as equals to the male members of the legendary Detection Club. To receive that recognition, they plan to solve an actual murder straight out of the headlines.

A young nurse takes a day trip to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France with a friend and disappears. She went into the ladies room at the ferry terminal and never came out. Her body is discovered several months later in a park with signs of strangulation. Determined to solve the mystery, the ladies use their skills to investigate. As they get closer, Dorothy is threatened with the revelation of a secret from her past and attacked. Will they be able pull all their skills and talents together to solve the mystery before anyone else becomes a victim?

I was really looking forward to getting this book, and while it is an entertaining read, with an excellent locked room mystery intertwined, the Queens are not as fully developed as individual characters as I was hoping for. I felt Dorothy was developed as a good lead character, but the other ladies were lacking. There is a heavy emphasis on their clothes and food, with in my opinion, only minimal emphasis on their personalities. I enjoyed the history surrounding the WWI "surplus girls" and the mystery plot itself, though it started slowly it was filled with interesting twists and red herrings.

Overall, an enjoyable historical fiction/mystery book, just not my favorite by this author.

What if the best female detective story writers of the 1930s teamed up to solve a real murder mystery?

Dorothy Sayer and Agatha Christie are the only female writers in the Detection Club and the men in the club think 2 are more than enough. Of course, Dorothy thinks not, and as a founder of the club she decides to create a club within the club just for female writers. She and Agatha identify 3 other women mystery writers: Baroness Emma Orczy (Scarlet Pimpernel), Ngaio Marsh (Chief Inspector Alleyn), and Margery Allingham (Lord Peter Wimsey). The men aren't fans so Dorothy decides the women need to solve a real-life murder mystery and she knows just the case: A young nurse went missing while on a day trip to the coast of France.

I recognized Dorothy Sayer (though I don't think I've read her series) and Agatha Christie. I recognized the Scarlet Pimpernel but I didn't know the author. The other two authors were unknown to me. The Queens of Crime was a real group, but when I looked them up, Emma Orczy was not listed in any of the entries that mention the Queens of Crime. Otherwise, a lot of the details about the women and the Detection Club are accurate. There is no evidence that the women ever teamed up to solve a murder.

The story Benedict crafts is a lot of fun and there are enough facts about the women that it feels like they could have done this. I wanted to read big chunks at a time unfortunately my schedule didn't allow for that If you want spend the day reading, this would be an excellent choice.

My review is published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/03/can-you-solve-these-murder-mysteries.html

📖 Book Review 📖
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
Genre: murder mystery
3 🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♀️ out of 5
This was a good story. Nice lil murder mystery in London in the 1930s. If you like Agatha Christie novels, I think you’ll really like this.
#netgalley #bookreview #goodreads #bookstagram

Writing a mystery that ends up being solved by the queens of mystery writing is such a fabulous idea. I absolutely devoured this book. I would love for this to become a series!

Five real-life mystery writers--Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Emma Orczy--join to form the Queens of Crime. Despite their considerable success, they bristle at still not being taken seriously by male writers and decide to gain their respect by solving a real-life mystery. May Daniels, an English nursing student, disappeared while on a day trip to France with a friend. When she is discovered with a hypodermic needle close by, her death is treated as an accidental overdose, despite considerable inconsistencies in that story. The Queens of Crime begin investigating, initially helped by the fact Dorothy Sayers's husband is one of the reporters following the case. But when Mac is reassigned to another story, the five women continue.

As Dorothy Sayers becomes the target of an unknown assailant, the five women realize they must be getting close to solving what they now believe to be May's murder.

I loved the period details, but found the story a little slower than I would have anticipated. And I'm embarrassed to admit that Agatha Christie is the only one of the authors I've read, which I need to remedy. #TheQueensofCrime #NetGalley