Queens of London

By: Heather Webb

Narrated by: Amy Scanlon

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

MAYBE WOMEN CAN HAVE IT ALL. AS LONG AS THEY’RE WILLING TO STEAL IT.

1925. LONDON. When Alice Diamond, a.k.a. “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 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 crack a major case 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.

"Looting, lying, and the letter of the law: Queens of London delivers 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 likable—gang of women you’ve never heard of."—SARAH PENNER, bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

©2024 Heather Webb (P)2024 Recorded Books

A Feminist Peaky Blinders

Historical fiction for those of us who adored Peaky Blinders and especially favored Aunt Polly and Ada.

Wish I Could Give More Stars

I love historical fiction, and this is one of the best. Very well researched. Loveable, well developed characters. A story that will be hard to put down, like when you have to go to work or go to sleep. I will read more from this author.

Well written and held my attention throughout my reading.

The characters were well developed. The story though partially fiction was very informative about the times after the war and the survival of the people.

More Than the Cover

The premise to QUEENS OF LONDON sounded exciting enough, and then, several chapters in, I found another character who completely stole my heart: Ten year old Hera and her friend, Biscuit. That sealed the deal and I had to know what happened.

QUEENS begins with the female equivalent to Peaky Blinkers, Diamond Alice, herself. Alice is a fascinating character, based upon fact, though this is not a biographical novel. As things progress, her eyes are opened to the choices she's making, that, perhaps, she doesn't really even have to make. One truth, though, is unchangeable, and that is that no many will harm a woman on her watch. I gotta love a character like that. Then there's Inspector Lillian, who needs to catch Alice's gang, the Forty Elephants, in order to make a name for herself. And also shopgirl Dorothy, who can't seem to see the lies behind a man's silver tongue to save her life. Again though, the crucible in all of this, is Hera, and who will help her, save her, befriend her, or just let her live her life, with her beloved little doggie, too.

Webb has written a diamond of a page-turner with real heart and soul. and is made even more memorable by the audio. Narrated by Amy Scanlon, it hits all the right tones and accents.

Don't worry about the dog!

This is a really intriguing work of historical fiction! It brings to light a lesser-known piece of women's history, and two real women who took power from the resources they had at hand. The fictional Hira is also a good example of a girl who did this, on her own terms, at a much younger age. The thing with historical fiction, though, is that we have to remember that it is fiction. You don't know the real stories unless you look them up yourself. The author's note at the end is critical to understand the real stories that inspired the book, so I strongly encourage you to read it. And for those who worry about the animal characters like I do - the dog makes it through :)