What a fun book this was. I enjoyed every minute that I listened to it. It is a fictional story of a gathering of actual women crime writers who work together to solve a murder. The story is told by Dorothy Sayers who along with Agatha Christie, gather the women together. The others are Ngaio Marsh, Marjorie Allingham, and Emma Orczy. I was a big fan of Dorothy Sayers’ Peter Wimsey series, especially after Harriet Vane came into the picture. And of course Agatha Christie is irresistible. I recall reading a few Ngaio Marsh books and I think they are probably worth another go. I’ve heard of Marjorie Allingham, but haven’t read any of her Albert Campion series and was not aware of Emma Orczy.
I did read another fiction book with a historical figure in it by Marie Benedict which I understand is her usual approach. I found The Personal Librarian most valuable for its introduction of that amazing historical figure Belle da Costa Greene rather than the fictional story by Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. When I heard a recommendation from Sherry, I did put The Queens of Crime on my TBR list and I’m glad I did.
The portrayals of the writers added interest; the narrative was in the voice of Dorothy Sayers so her character has the most bandwidth. Agatha Christie’s mysterious disappearance and her marital difficulties were referenced, but the more intriguing aspect of her character was the appearance of her older, overbearing sister. Christie did have an older sister who at some point was thought to be the more talented sister. While I know little about the other three, the characterization of Allingham as always cheerful, Orczy as Hungarian aristocracy, and Marsh as a hard-edged New Zealander was pleasant enough.
Marie Benedict, The Queens of Crime, St. Martin’s Press, 2025, 310 pages (I listened to the audiobook). Available in the public library.
What a fun idea!
It was fun! Much of the pleasure was in the interactions of the authors.