Queens of London
"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 likeable--gang of women you've never heard of."
--Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
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.
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"Heather Webb lures readers into a page-turning, high-stakes game of cat and mouse in her latest historical novel, Queens of London. When Lilian Wyles, one of the first female police officers at Scotland Yard, crosses paths with Alice Diamond, queen of the all-female crime syndicate the Forty Elephants, neither woman will stop until they achieve their own forms of "justice." But what neither Lilian nor Alice realizes is that there's more to justice than meets the eye, and in a world disinclined towards women like them, they must redefine loyalty and fairness to prevail. Compelling and suspenseful." -- Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author
"Heather Webb returns with this compelling glimpse into London's underworld in the 1920s. Readers will cheer for Lilian's straight-arrow ambition, Hira's innocent desperation, and Dorothy's generous spirit. Add in Diamond Annie's criminal intrigue, and Webb is able to weave a rich tapestry of women's lives in the early 20th century. Webb's storytelling shines, culminating in a fast-paced chase and a deeply gratifying finale." -- Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author
"Strong women, ripped-from-the-headlines history, and page-turning suspense in a rich setting, Queens of London grabbed me and would not let me go. From the opening salvo, Heather Webb spins an atmospheric and heart-thumping journey into the heart of 1920's London. In these pages, we meet Diamond Annie, the head of an all-girl gang and Lilian Wyles, one of England's first female detectives as they each try and outwit the other to survive. With a cast of vibrant and witty wise-cracking women, and an orphan who might upend it all, this novel will keep you guessing (and holding your breath) until the last satisfying page. Known for her immersive historical fiction, Heather Webb has done it again and better than ever!" -- Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea
"An action-packed story full of glamour and danger, Queens of London transports readers into London's criminal world where Diamond Annie rules as queen and Officer Lilian Wyles is the only woman cunning enough to stop her. A gritty, glittering addition to any reader's shelf." -- Julia Kelly, international bestselling author of The Last Garden in England
"Three unique but disparate women and a young orphan are brought together by love, loyalty, and crime in 1920s London. With highly engaging characters and vivid peeks into the secret haunts of history, Queens of London is a fascinating and cleverly rendered story of resilience and determination that kept me reading long into the night." -- Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiffany Girls
"Diamond Annie is a true original - a heroine who is tough, feisty, and handy with a blade, yet also capable of compassion, even if it's against her better judgement. Queens of London captures the stench and squalor of Elephant and Castle in the 1920s, in contrast to the glitter and fragrance of the new department stores in the West End. The dialogue is as sharp as Annie's blade, and the plot as fast-paced as her 'Elephants' fleeing after a heist. It's an unforgettable story of vulnerable but resourceful women finding ways to survive and thrive in a world where the odds are heavily stacked against them." -- Gill Paul, USA Today bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival
"Four fascinating characters whose lives intertwine to create one page-turner of a novel, Queens of London by Heather Webb, is an absorbing tale of three women and a young girl who take charge of their lives and excel at their chosen professions. Still, when those lives collide, you'll never forget Alice, Lillian, Dorothy, or Hira and the choices they make. Set in 1920s London, the novel's action revolves around the infamous Forty Elephants, a gang of female thieves who robbed London's best high-end department stores?led by Diamond Annie, aka Alice. The tale of a lady detective, an honorable thief, a department store clerk, and an orphan in Webbs' skilled hands will keep you reading until the wee hours. A must-read." -- Denny S. Bryce, bestselling author of Wild Women and the Blues
"With engaging characters and strong women protagonists, Webb's page-turning historical work speaks to the challenges that women faced in the 1920s and the fortitude they needed in order to succeed in society led by men." -- Booklist
