The Four Queens of Crime
1938 London. Agatha Christie isn’t fond of public appearances, but she has agreed to attend a ball at Hursley House, the estate of Sir Henry Heathcoate, to raise funds for the Women’s Voluntary Service as they help Britain prepare for a possible war. The four top-selling female mystery writers—Agatha, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham—will serve as hosts. Agatha is expecting nothing out of the ordinary, but then Sir Henry is found dead, poisoned by his own cigar, and Detective Chief Inspectors Lilian Wyles and Richard Davidson arrive on the scene. They begin to interrogate each witness, which include mostly members of the family and staff, in addition to the four writers, who decide to gather evidence on their own.
The prologue and beginning chapters introduce us to Wyles and the four “queens,” and we get to learn a bit about each of their personalities. In a hat-tip to Christie, this is a locked-room mystery, as nobody is permitted to leave the house and grounds. The writers begin to gather evidence that the inspectors would have missed: Agatha and Ngaio by stealth, and Dorothy and Margery through their abilities to connect with others. It is Wyles who realizes she needs to use the writers as assistants to the official investigation. Wyles, who was a real-life Detective Chief Inspector, is a strong woman who serves as a bridge between the different classes present in the house. The mystery is complex and layered, with many possible suspects. As the weekend progresses, one of the writers begins a budding romance, and another one is attacked as she is about to discover an important clue. All of the main characters are easy to connect with and understand. Mystery fans will love this novel featuring the queens of the genre.
