Tuesday, 17 June 2025

The Queens of Crime / Marie Benedict

 

Book 11 of the 2025 Read Your Hoard Challenge

3.75 stars?

I picked up this novel with very high hopes—perhaps too high. I mean look at that gorgeous cover! It just begs you to read it. Plus it features Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers as characters, both of whom are writers who I love. All of this potential goodness wrapped up in one volume.

It took me a while to warm up to the first person, present tense writing. Somehow it kept me at arm's length from the action, not really fully engaged. Eventually I found my stride and was able to quit obsessing over it. Told entirely from Sayers' point of view, I felt the story could have been improved by giving at least one of the other authors their turn.

I haven't read any books by Margery Allingham or Ngaio Marsh, nor have I read biographical material of them or Emma Orczy. I have read many of Sayers' Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane books and almost all of Christie's novels. In addition, I've also read Christie's autobiography and a recent biography and a biography of Sayers. My memory is less than perfect, but Benedict seems to have done her research on these women. I will be trying some Marsh and Allingham mysteries in the future in order to get to know these women.

It was a great idea, based on actual events. The author's note at the end sorts out the fictionalized aspects. I will have to re-read the last pages once more before heading off to book club tomorrow. I am scheduled to chair this meeting and I'm interested to hear the opinions of the other members. The book came highly recommended by a bookstore employee, but I am struggling to analyze exactly how I feel about it. Perhaps our discussion will help me sort out my thoughts?



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