Queens of London

 

Queens of London
Heather Webb
Pub date: Feb. 6, 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 👢👢👢👢

Summary: 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.

My thoughts: This book is a prime example of all the "good" stuff no one learned about in school! Webb dazzles readers with the glamour of crime by providing Alice with dimension. She wasn't just a crime leader. She was a woman who had wants, needs, and desires. Lilian mirrored Alice in knowing she was the best at her job but consistently had to contend with her femininity. In adding the characters of Dorothy and Hira, Webb allows readers a glimpse into the other pitfalls that females had to endure. Being unloved, unappreciated, and undervalued have led women throughout the centuries to make hard decisions. Webb balances crime and compassion in a story that will be enjoyed by many. 

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