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A review by dragoninwinterfell
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I have rarely finished a novel and simply didn't care about any part of the story. I pushed through on The Queens of Crime because it was an ARC and the premise is very interesting. But the execution of this book did nothing for me.
To start with the good, Marie Benedict came up with a very interesting idea. She took real female mystery writers in the 1930s, a real unsolved murder, and brought them together in a fictionalized scenario where the authors attempt to solve the murder. I found the historical representation of the time period to be authentic. This book will also encourage me to look into the mystery authors I haven't checked out before.
Otherwise, it was a struggle to push through. I felt that the plot was dull. I kept zoning out and having to rewind or sometimes not rewind so I could get through it.
It also felt very preachy. I am a feminist. Even so, I felt like I was being hit over the head with women's rights rhetoric. It was to the point where it didn't feel natural. In the author's note at the end, Benedict even admitted that she made the detection club more sexist for plot purposes. So, she went completely over the top with sexism, which is odd given how sexist that time period already was.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To start with the good, Marie Benedict came up with a very interesting idea. She took real female mystery writers in the 1930s, a real unsolved murder, and brought them together in a fictionalized scenario where the authors attempt to solve the murder. I found the historical representation of the time period to be authentic. This book will also encourage me to look into the mystery authors I haven't checked out before.
Otherwise, it was a struggle to push through. I felt that the plot was dull. I kept zoning out and having to rewind or sometimes not rewind so I could get through it.
It also felt very preachy. I am a feminist. Even so, I felt like I was being hit over the head with women's rights rhetoric. It was to the point where it didn't feel natural. In the author's note at the end, Benedict even admitted that she made the detection club more sexist for plot purposes. So, she went completely over the top with sexism, which is odd given how sexist that time period already was.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.