Keri Stone's Reviews > The Queens of Crime

I’ve read two other books by this author and I can say I’ve liked them all. The other books I would consider historical fiction, while this is perhaps that also but mixed with the cozy mystery genre. I found this book to be a lot of fun! Or at least as much fun as a book based on a woman’s murder can be.

The book features five women crime writers , set in London in 1930. Dorothy Sayers is disturbed that a club she helped create for crime writers looks down on their female counterparts. She brings Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and the Baroness Emma Orczy together. She suggests they gain status by solving a current unsolved crime.

They decide to take on the case of May Daniel’s, who disappeared during a trip to France with her friend; May is later found dead. They start where the mystery starts, as a locked room mystery. And of course… they solve that part! They find out bits and pieces from shop clerks and others that saw the young woman, but will they really be able to identify the killer?! Based on Dorothy Sayers’ life and certain historical elements, the author takes us all to this earlier time. Women have gained some rights, but there is still push back from society when women act too independent. And a woman can easily lose her reputation and face shame. I would love for the story of these crime writing, mystery solving women to continue!