Who: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy and Margery Allingham.
When: 1931
Where: London, England and Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France
What: These five mystery writers, otherwise known as the Queens of Crime, are determined to solve the very real murder of a young English nurse named May Daniels.
Why read it: This book is a fun combination of historical fiction and mystery. And it's so well written. Dorothy Sayers is the main narrator and the main driver of the plot. I thought the author did a good job of depicting her and the other four women authors. I really enjoyed their interactions. And the mystery was interesting, too. I liked how these five women call on their unique writerly skills to aid in their investigation. It's an interesting time period to read about, too. All in all, an entertaining and satisfying novel.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Happy Reading!
This does sound like a fun mystery! I like all five of those authors.
ReplyDeleteSeeing them together working to solve a mystery was so fun. I would love it if she wrote a sequel. :D
DeleteThis was one of my book group's books over the summer, and I missed it! I had a busy month and just didn't get to it in time, but I'd heard others really liked it, and now seeing your review, I'm feeling like I should read it anyway, even if it's too late for book group!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun read. I think you would enjoy it. :D
DeleteThis sounds like a really great mystery. Another one to add to my list! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's a good one!
DeleteA great lineup of golden age mystery writers. It would be fun to see what they were like in real life. I have read Christie and Sayers. Need to give the other three a try.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a book you would really like.
DeleteI really enjoyed this one! I especially loved Ngaio Marsh in it. I've read Sayers, Christie, and Marsh but now really want to read the other two.
ReplyDeleteThe Scarlet Pimpernel by Orczy is very fun. I haven't read any of Allingham's books yet, but would really like to try one or two now.
DeleteHaving read a book by Dorothy Sayers, I really find this plot fascinating! Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun read. :D
DeleteThis sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it a lot.
DeleteOh that sounds fun!!
ReplyDeleteAsh @ Essentially Ash
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It really is. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteIt would be interesting to see how each of those authors is depicted in this book. And how five people would cooperate to solve a crime.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I loved best about this one.
DeleteThese writers actually sat down together to solve the murder mystery? That sounds really interesting! I love Agatha Christie but I'm not familiar with the other author's works.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very fun historical fiction mystery. I loved seeing these famous authors interact with one another. I've read all by Allingham...though I've only read one of Marsh's books and two of Sayers. But they were both good.
DeleteWhat an interesting concept for a book. I've read all of those authors except Orczy and enjoyed them all. They were all fabulous writers.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by Allingham...yet. But I want to. And I thought Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel was a very fun read. :D
DeleteI like all the authors and using their combined skills must be formidable.
ReplyDeleteThat was the funnest part.
DeleteOoooh, will look this one up. Have just started to read some Margery Allingham and am finding her writing and plots to be excellent. I think the only one of those five I haven't read is Ngaio Marsh.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cath! How are you? I've read one of Marsh's mysteries...her first one, but want to try another. And after reading this book I'd really like to give Allinghams' mystery series a try. I think you would really like this book.
DeleteI'm fine thanks, Lark. Been a bit busy with one thing and another but hoping to blog a bit more often now that autumn is here. *Hugs*
DeleteThis does sound like a fun one, though I'd never considered Baroness Orczy as one of the queens of crime--I only thought there were four. But it's true: The Old Man in the Corner and Lady Molly stories were all pretty great
ReplyDeleteThe author includes her in this book...she makes a fun contrast to Marsh, Christie and Sayers. So maybe that's why.
DeleteLove it.
ReplyDeleterkrsrue.blogspot.com
:D
DeleteI like the time period, I have not read much set then
ReplyDeleteThis book is a good one if you're looking for a book set in that time period!
DeleteSuch a clever idea to let the queens of crime solve a real mystery.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a great idea? I really want her to write another book with these characters in it.
DeleteI'd like to know more about Dorothy Sayers. I liked Marie Benedict's novel The Personal Librarian .... a pretty good author.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try some of her other books. Maybe the one set in Egypt.
DeleteA new to me author. its good to know that the mystery was fun.
ReplyDelete