The Queens of Crime: Book Review
If you’re a fan of twisty mysteries, brilliant women, and historical fiction that perfectly blends fact with fiction, Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a must-read. In this captivating novel, Benedict shines a spotlight on five of the most influential women in crime writing history—including Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. Vivid storytelling and meticulous research bring their world to life in this book. Queens of Crime is a fascinating journey into the golden age of mystery fiction—and a perfect pick for readers who love when history and storytelling collide.
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Quick Look
-1930’s London setting
-based on a true story/real women
-multiple characters but single POV
-fiercely feminist
Pub date: February 11, 2025
Thanks, @stmartinspress , for the gifted copy and early access!
Publisher's 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.
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.
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.
My Review
Y’all, I think I’m officially in my historical mystery era! I absolutely loved this book and want everyone to read it. While it might feel slow to fans of fast-paced thrillers or contemporary mysteries, I found the pacing spot-on and easy to follow.
Let’s be real: women in the early 20th century couldn’t just run around solving crimes without facing serious social consequences. Reputations mattered. Propriety mattered. Gossip could ruin you—especially if you were trying to break into the male-dominated world of crime writing, which was still a relatively new space for women.
Benedict did a fantastic job setting the scene, offering readers a vivid glimpse into the lives of these incredible women. I loved the single point of view—it gave the story focus—while still managing to include a rich, full cast that added so much depth.
The mystery itself was compelling, with just the right amount of twists and emotional weight. I was especially drawn to Sayers’ story, which paralleled the victim’s in such a powerful way that it made me even more invested in solving the murder.
And can we talk about the literary brilliance of using each crime writer’s fictional detective as inspiration for how they approached the mystery? Such a clever device!
I’m seriously hoping for a sequel. I would happily read a dozen books featuring these characters at the helm. No question—this one’s going in my stack of favorite reads of the year!
My Rating
Queens of Crime is a brilliant tribute to two women who forever changed the landscape of mystery fiction. Marie Benedict masterfully blends fact and imagination to create a story that feels both intimate and inspiring, perfect for fans of historical fiction, literary history, and, of course, classic whodunits. If you love novels that celebrate the power of women’s voices and creativity, this is one you won’t want to miss.
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