Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m not a mystery fan and have never read Agatha Christie, but The Queens of Crime completely won me over. I loved the clever idea of turning famous mystery writers into real-life sleuths. Following the clues with them was engaging and fun, even for someone unfamiliar with their work. A smart, imaginative blend of true crime and literary history. Definitely worth a read.

5-8-25: My 32nd finished book of 2025! A historical fiction account of a group of female mystery writers including Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie trying to become members in the male driven Detection Club. Once they have joined and realize they will never being taken seriously, they set out to solve a real life “locked door” mystery of a young nurse brutally murdered. They travel between England and France to find clues and bring justice.

Themes: Historical Fiction Mystery, Famous Authors as characters, 1930‘s London

This was an okay read, it‘s between a so-so and a pick. It wasn‘t amazing but I was interested enough to keep reading it. A good library borrow 👍

This is the lower end of the pick scale for me. I really wanted for all the Queens to be clearly depicted, but only Christie and Sayers have pretty distinct personalities. Marsh and Allingham were only distinguishable from each other by Marsh‘s New Zealand accent and their respective clothing styles. The book was also a bit slow paced in the first half but picked up later. #audiowalk

I‘ve only read a couple of Dorothy Sayers‘ books and don‘t know much about her, so it‘s interesting listening to a book with her as the main character, with Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham as sidekicks. I‘ve read at least one book by all of them except Allingham. Beautiful day for a #audiowalk.

We listened to John Scalzi on our trip to the beach. I switched to The Queens of Crime for my #audiowalk, and then I sat, relaxed, and read The Long Walk. This is my favorite type of weather. ❤️

I love novels with strong female characters. And when you can make the women varied in ages and personality and show that they can get along and solve a murder? Even better. Set in the 1930s and focusing on the death of a young nurse, five female mystery writers join forces to solve her murder when the police seem ready to write it off as nothing but an unfortunate accident.

#arc

I wasn't blown away by this, but it may have been more me than the book. I had to read most of it while my partner was in the hospital for a procedure; constant interruptions and distractions (he's doing well, BTW). I almost wish I could re-read it while curled up in a chair. I enjoyed the relationships among the writers and the look at the plight of "surplus" women in the period between the world wars.

#mystery #historical #historicalfiction

I'm just starting this one. Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Emma Orczy, and Margery Allingham all band together to solve a real murder to prove that they're equal to, or better than, the authors in the "boys' club" who don't accept them. So far, good character development and lots of 1930s period charm. Reading for a book discussion later this week.

#mystery

Marie Benedict is an auto-buy author for me. This one wasn't my favorite of hers, but I think it would hit it out of the park for readers of mysteries like Agatha Christie, who is one of the characters in this book. I like how it is based on a real cold case. The feminist angles appeal to me as much as the treatment of women as disposable angers me.