And Then There Were Five

What if five of the greatest female mystery writers from the 20th century banded together to solve a real-life murder? Marie Benedict explores this question in her historical fiction novel The Queens of Crime, which stars Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. I picked up my first Agatha Christie detective novel several years ago, and ever since, I have been hooked. So, when I heard about The Queens of Crime, I was intrigued. I realized that despite my love of Christie’s work, I have never delved into the work of her contemporaries. Would reading Benedict’s novel both shed light on these great women writers and weave a murder investigation worthy of these Queens of Crime?

Set in 1931, The Queens of Crime centers on the respected mystery novelist Dorothy L. Sayers, creator of the detective Lord Peter Wimsey and co-founder of the real-life Detection Club for crime writers. After being shunned by the club’s male members, Sayers bands together with fellow female authors Agatha Christie, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham. These self-named “Queens of Crime” plan to solve the real-life murder of a young English nurse named May Daniels, showcasing their worth to the men in the club. They conduct their investigation by traveling to France, where May’s body was found, and interviewing women involved in May’s life. These women were overlooked as witnesses by the police due to their gender and working-class status. Solving the murder becomes increasingly urgent when the police and press seem eager to dismiss May as a drug addict and close the case without proper investigation. The Queens soon realize the reality of the situation as “the only ones, aside from her killer, who know the truth,” and “the only ones who will do right by May” (Chapter 45).

The concept behind the book is brilliant. However, staying true to historical facts, juggling the characters of all five women, and creating a satisfying murder mystery is a complicated task. Benedict succeeds at using true events to create a historically accurate story. Nevertheless, I found myself disappointed with her simplistic portrayals of the Queens’ characters and the lack of suspects and suspense throughout most of the plot. 

Benedict, however, does an admirable job of including details from Sayers’ real life, such as her and Christie’s roles in founding the Detection Club and the proceedings of being sworn in, which include a special oath and the use of a skull. Learning tidbits like these were a treat. Benedict also includes Sayers’ husband Oswald Fleming, her illegitimate son John, and her beloved cousin Ivy in the plot. I was surprised to discover that the murder of May Daniels was a true case actually investigated by Sayers and her crime reporter husband, even though Benedict took creative liberties with its written conclusion. In reality, the case was never solved, making the women’s quest to obtain justice for May even more pertinent. Benedict also accurately portrays the gender-based stigmas of the time, particularly the treatment of unmarried working women, who were dubbed “surplus” after not finding husbands post-World War I. As explored in both the novel and real-life, these women were attacked by the public and press for “stealing” jobs from men after the war. May is dismissed as one of these “surplus women,” and her death is minimized by both the press and police. Benedict uses this to shine a light on the consequences of these sexist attitudes, making me wonder how many other women during this time failed to receive help or justice due to such perspectives. In this way, Benedict succeeds at recognizing the silent voices of many women buried by history. Unfortunately though, she fails to give life to the voices that matter most in the story.

Benedict may have painted a realistic picture of Sayers’ life, but her portrayal of the other Queens’ characters is lackluster, which detracts from the established character voices. She takes great pains to emphasize Sayers’ strong will and moral strength and Christie’s reserved personality. Both women exhibit these traits in practically every scene, making them seem too consistent to be believable. By only focusing on these aspects of their personalities, Benedict makes Sayers and Christie seem predictable and unimaginative instead of clever and compelling. Similarly, the characters of aristocratic Orczy, sharp-tongued Marsh, and cheerful young Allingham are extremely simplified. Each seems to exhibit only one personality trait. This lack of depth makes them come across as supporting characters instead of representations of real, brilliant women. 

Without vivid characters to carry the story, a lot relies on the plot. Unfortunately, the novel has a slow start, and I did not feel truly invested in the mystery until near the end. This is partly because the suspects are not introduced until almost halfway through the book. Additionally, the reader is not given many clues or opportunities for forming their own suspicions. Normally I do not mind slow-paced detective novels, especially knowing that many of Christie’s mysteries unfold slowly. However, this type of quiet sleuthing relies on a building of suspense. Due to its lack of subtlety, The Queens of Crime does not have enough psychological tension to enliven the gradual pace of its plot. Most of the dialogue, both external and internal, is over-explained and leaves the reader with nothing to wonder about themselves, making the mystery less intriguing.

Though The Queens of Crime may not live up to the classic mysteries penned by its title quintet, it still succeeds in honoring these female writers by showcasing their talent and determination in a fiercely patriarchal society. Reading it made me feel just a little closer to these inspiring five women. It sparked my curiosity about their lives and work, encouraging me to pick up novels I had never thought of before. A heartfelt, if clumsy, celebration of the beloved murder mystery genre, The Queens of Crime invites you into the world of the greatest female writers of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.

Lead photo: Cover art of Queens of Crime.

The TeenTix Newsroom is a group of teen writers led by the Teen Editorial Staff. Each month, writers are invited to pitch reviews to the editorial staff, expanding the scope of art covered on the TeenTix Blog. 

The TeenTix Press Corps promotes critical thinking, communication, and information literacy through criticism and journalism practice for teens. For more information about the Press Corps program see HERE.