Excellent book featuring two real people Diamond Alice who is queen of a gang and a policewoman Lilith in 1925 London. However, the star of the book is a clever 10 year old girl who runs away from home and is clever enough to make friends and survive the streets of London. Hira has struggles but her survival is probably completely unrealistic but this is fiction. ( )

Queens of London, another great page-turner by Heather Webb, is a story of two strong and determined women who want to rule the streets of London. Alice Diamond a.k.a. Diamond Annie, leader of a crime gang called Forty Elephants, organizes high-end department store heists, and Lillian Wyles, the first female detective, in a male dominated police force are each other’s nemesis throughout this gripping cat and mouse story. Hiro Wickham, an orphan, keeps you intrigued throughout adding a mystery element.

Heather Webb, a great storyteller, brought her real and fictional characters to life in the underworld of 1920’s London. Webb had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time as I became engrossed in this fast paced story. I highly recommend this must read to those who enjoy historical fiction.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for the opportunity read and review an advance copy of this wonderful book. I was under no obligation whatsoever to write a favorable review and all opinions are my own. ( )

Hira is a young girl living with her uncle in London. Her parents have passed away and he is threatening to send her to an orphanage. Hira runs away and ends up on the streets. She finds a wonderful dog that she names Biscuit. But she also finds Alice. Alice, the queen of the streets and leader of a crime syndicate, takes Hira in and trains her. But Hira knows she can’t keep this lifestyle up.

Wow! What a great read! So different and unique! I love a story that teaches me a thing or two! I had no idea about a gang of women in London, the first female crime syndicate. Not only that. this story also covers female detectives during this time period.

This is a well researched and absolutely captivating tale. I was hooked in the very first chapter. I love all the layers, time period and characters! Do not miss this one!

The narrator, Amy Scanlon, is extremely talented and did the child’s voice perfectly. That is a big turnoff for me. But this narrator nailed it!

Need a fantastic, engrossing tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

We meet four wonderful characters, and characters you will love even though one is on the wrong side of the law part-time and one full-time.

You will love Hira, a 10-year-old who ran away from a life of luxury at her unloving, cruel uncle’s house, just because of her innocence about not knowing what was really out there outside of her lovely upbringing.

You will love Alice just because she’s a feisty woman in the 1920s and head of a gang of women who steal to survive.

You will love Lillian, a police woman from Scotland Yard, who is trying her best to show the men that she can do what they do, and even do it better.

You will love Dorothy, an unassuming, but talented clerk in a department store who is kind and generous especially to Hira.

Queens of London will capture your interest immediately because of the setting, the time period, the characters, and the interest about these women called The Forty Elephants and what they do.

You won’t know who to root for because they are all likable characters, but I was sort of leaning toward Hira, because she didn’t know what she had gotten herself into after leaving her uncle's house even though she knew it would be worse where he was going to send her.

Dorothy was also a favorite because she was a sweetheart, and I hoped she would be able to get her designs noticed.

I knew Heather Webb would not disappoint.

Her books are always amazing...terrific writing and interest-keeping storyline.

Her research is impeccable.

Based on characters, THE QUEENS OF LONDON will be enjoyed by historical fiction fans and fans of life in London at this time.

ENJOY the antics, sorrows, and lives of the characters!!

Be sure to read the author’s notes for more information. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ( )

Queens of London is Heather Webb's new novel. I knew it was one I wanted to read when I discovered that Webb took inspiration from actual historical events. She's woven fact and fiction into Queens of London.

Who are the Queens you ask? "Diamond Annie" is the Queen of the all women's criminal gang, Forty Elephants. The opening prologue gives you a good idea of how tough these women are. And what they are capable of. The book is set in 1925, post WWI. Money is short and this is how the gang makes their ends meet - and a little bit more. Much more is what they want...

Hot on Annie's heels is Detective Lilian Wyles - a woman who has who has fought her way into the male dominated Scotland Yard. There are two other characters who play pivotal roles in Queens of London - a clerk in a department store and a young woman named Hari. I had my favorite, but each woman has their own story. Oh, there's a great little dog as well. Each of the four women is given a point of view with their own chapters.

There's also lots of action in the book that will keep the reader reading 'just one more chapter'.

Queens of London explores women's roles in this time frame. All four women - on both sides of the law - want nothing more than to just have a say in how they're treated and the expectations piled on them. Society and mores of the timeframe dictates an opposite model from what they want. As the book progresses, the reader can see the writing on the wall...

This was a first read of Webb for me and I have to say I really enjoyed this latest book. ( )