Queen of Thieves: An unforgettable new voice in gangland crime saga

by Beezy Marsh

Rachel Atkins (Narrator)

'A deliciously unputdownable novel for the underlying rebel in all of us' Book of the Month (Historical Fiction)

'A colourful tale of love, lust, making good and revenge' The Sun 5* eBook of the Week

Gangland was a man's world - but the women knew different

London, 1946.

Alice Diamond, the Queen of the Forty Thieves, rules over her gang of hoisters with a bejewelled fist. Nell is a slum girl from Waterloo, hiding a secret pregnancy and facing a desperately uncertain future.

Sensing an opportunity to exploit Nell's vulnerabilities, Alice takes her under her wing and, before long, Nell is experiencing the secret world of hoisting, with all the dangers - and glamorous trappings - that comes with this underworld existence.

Alice has a longstanding feud with Billy Sullivan's all-male gang in Soho, and thinks Nell could be a useful weapon in her vendetta. But Nell has a secret agenda of her own, and is not to be underestimated. And the more she is exploited by both Alice and Billy, the more her hunger for revenge grows. As she embraces the seedy underbelly of London, will she prevail in carving out her own path to power and riches...

...and crown herself the Queen of Thieves?

From Sunday Times bestselling author Beezy Marsh comes a thrilling new crime saga series, perfect for fans of Sam Michaels, Martina Cole and Jessie Keane.

Readers are loving Queen of Thieves

'Gangland at its best'

'Oooh this book was so good...I am hooked now and can't wait to see how this series develops'

'This is a proper bang on London saga and I loved the characters...The author is spot on with all her research that makes this book such a unique read'

'WOW totally pulled into the storyline from the start... it's a real page turner I devoured in one sitting'

• ISBN10: 1398708666
• ISBN13: 9781398708662
• Publish Date: 22 August 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Orion Publishing Co (Digital)
• Imprint: Orion Spring
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 9 hours and 49 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

The year is 1946, and the war has finally ended. That means the end of the Blitz and a time of recovery and peace – for most. However, for gangs and thieves, the end of the Blitz implies the beginning of a whole new wave of trouble.

Enter the Queen of Thieves, Alice Diamond. She knows how to rule her gang, but she also knows that things are about to get more complicated now that the blackout period is over. Perhaps she was so determined to bring Nell into the fold.

My Review:

I picked Queen of Thieves because I wanted to try and break out of my comfort zone and read more historical fiction and the like. While Queen of Thieves is very well written, I think it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The drama is real and tense, but it got a little too graphic and rough for me at times. Likewise, I had trouble staying connected to all the thievery and backstabbing. On more than one occasion, I lost my place.

That said, I do think historical fiction fans will love this book! Especially if you like post-WWII era and gang talk.

Highlights:
Historical fiction
All woman gang of thieves
Revenge best served cold

Trigger Warnings:
Rape (on page)
Injury/knife wound
Betrayal
Prison

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