Karen's Reviews > The Queens of Crime

“The Queens of Crime is…a work of fiction, inspired by real events and actual people from the past.” Be sure to read the ‘Author’s Note’ at the end.

“Very few of us are what we seem.”

It is 1931. Mystery writer Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey) is plotting. And, it isn’t her latest book. She and Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy & Tuppence) want more women in the esteemed Detection Club. The “preeminent organization of mystery writers” which is unfortunately dominated by males. And, they are both determined that women authors, who have made a name for themselves, will be part of this group. Thus, they have invited fellow female mystery authors, Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Roderick Alleyn), Margery Allingham (Albert Campion) and Emma Orczy (Sir Percy Blakeney), to join and also be a part of the “Queens of Crime.” (Hence: the title of the book!)

Sayers desire for such a group was to “inspire members to extol one another’s talents, support one another’s novels, collaborate on books, and elevate the genre so reviewers see that the detective novels are every bit as good as so-called literary fiction.”

But this effort to consider women as worthy of being a part of this group isn’t working the way the women hoped. And so, the women set out on a mission to solve a real murder. The death of a 21-year-old nurse named May Daniels whose body has just been discovered.

How do they intend to do this? And, what kind of notoriety will this bring the women? And, will they gain the respect they deserve from their male counterpart mystery authors who also make up the distinguished Detection Club?

As Sherlock Holmes would say (even though he and his author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are not a part of this)…

The game is afoot!

As the police and journalists make assumptions about May’s death and life, the women dig in and through relentless pursuit of information move forward with their investigation. What truth will they discover? Will they find her killer? Most importantly, will they discover the truth of who May Daniels was as a person? And, in so doing, will they find justice for May Daniels? And, perhaps solve another mystery, as well? (No spoilers from me.)

Will these authors also be able to find out something about themselves that can enhance their own writing experiences?

“Suddenly I wonder: Have I ever had my detectives experience these emotions as they study the belongings of the victim? I fear I’ve created cold and calculating investigators who don’t recognize the humanity of the deceased and feel a sense of loss at their death.”

This is a fast-paced, engrossing procedural though the eyes of authors who meticulously plan out mystery plots that will intrigue their readers. And, in this case, Benedict does. Intrigue us. And, take us on an amazing journey for the truth, as well as give readers background on the author’s themselves, based on fact. Which makes this story a beautiful marriage of fact, historical fiction and mystery.