Queen of Thieves
Set in London shortly after World War 2, this novel explores the world of the Forty Thieves, a highly successful gang of female thieves, mostly shoplifters, who were not afraid to use violence to avoid jail or test loyalty. The two main characters are young Nell, a homeless pregnant girl, and Alice, the Queen of Thieves, who finds Nell to be an intelligent and skillful apprentice.
The relationship between them is anything but smooth as Nell’s allegiance is tested and Alice’s position as Queen is demonstrated. Nell quickly learns the skills of sweeping expensive items off countertops in the poshest of shops and stuffing furs, dresses, toiletries down past the elastic at her waist and into voluminous knickers. She relies on others to create diversions at the right moment and on a luxurious getaway car waiting for her, until the inevitable happens and her plan to take over as Queen of Thieves is disrupted.
Marsh has carefully researched the Forty Thieves gang over its lifetime of almost a century. The novel’s fascination lies in her clear descriptions of the ease with which items—even large ones—could be shoplifted and also on the women’s accepting attitude to violence. She shows how they modelled their approach on the behaviour of London’s male gangs, and were even more successful.
This novel is packed with action, violence, and subterfuge in the hands of women who are strong but not necessarily nice. It explores a different view of a different world. We have read about Blitz-wrecked London before, but exploring how a group of women from the poorer parts of the city took advantage of this to access luxuries is a unique experience.
