Queens of London
A Novel
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3.4 • 5 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“A rollicking ride through the criminal underbelly of post-WWI London. Gritty at times and tender at others, Queens of London unmasks the most lawless—and likeable—gang of women you've never heard of.” —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
Maybe women can have it all, as long as they're willing to steal it.
1925. London. When Alice Diamond, AKA "Diamond Annie," is elected the Queen of the Forty Elephants, she’s determined to take the all-girl gang to new heights. She’s ambitious, tough as nails, and a brilliant mastermind, with a plan to create a dynasty the likes of which no one has ever seen. Alice demands absolute loyalty from her “family”—it’s how she's always kept the cops in line. Too bad she's now the target for one of Britain’s first female policewomen.
Officer Lilian Wyles isn’t merely one of the first female detectives at Scotland Yard, she’s one of the best detectives on the force. Even so, she’ll have to win a big score to prove herself, to break free from the “women’s work” she’s been assigned. When she hears about the large-scale heist in the works to fund Alice's new dynasty, she realizes she has the chance she's been looking for—and the added bonus of putting Diamond Annie out of business permanently.
A tale of dark glamour and sisterhood, Queens of London is a look at Britain’s first female crime syndicate, the ever-shifting meaning of justice, and the way women claim their power by any means necessary, from USA Today bestselling author Heather Webb.
Customer Reviews
Great Book Club Pick!
A fascinating read set during 1925, that highlighted the ins and outs of the gang, Forty Elephants, run by women who operated a shoplifting ring in London, police work from a woman’s perspective, and what it was like to be orphaned as a child living on the streets of London. This fast paced book will definitely keep you turning the pages to find out who ultimately wins in the end! I loved how the author included what was Fact vs Fiction and further details on The Complicated History of Women Police in her author’s note. If you like a Cat/Mouse detective story, then this is a must-read! A great book club pick as well!
A thrilling look women in crime.
This story is based on two real women in English history that I didn’t know about, and I found that fascinating. This story is a mix of pink-collar crime, women empowerment, taking you on a tour of the gritty and glamorous underworld in the roaring twenties. These women are molded by their circumstances and how they have been treated. Heather does a fantastic job of weaving a rich and compelling tale of these women and bringing you into their world. You feel for them even when they are on the wrong side of the law. The narrator in the audiobook was fantastic for transporting me to the world Webb created. You can’t go wrong with any format for this book! If you are looking for feminists-forward historical fiction, then pick this one up! Fans of shows like Peaky Blinders and writers like Rys Bowen, Madeleine Martin, and Kate Quinn will enjoy this book.
Thanks to the Source Books I received a copy of the book to read and review. All thoughts are mine.