Published January 30th, 2025 by Headline
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Crime Fiction, Domestic Fiction
Happy publication day to this clever and cunning slice of Victoriana. Thank you to Headline for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Nothing is quite as it seems in Victorian high society, in the twisty and original new novel from the author of THE HOUSEKEEPERS…
They whisper her name in every corner of town.
The lady with a hundred faces, a thousand lives.
Five moves, five days – for such are the rules of her game.
1898. Quinn Le Blanc, London’s most talented con woman, has five days to pull off the seemingly impossible: trick an eligible duke into marriage and lift a fortune from the richest family in England.
Masquerading as a wealthy debutante, Quinn is the jewel of the season. Her brilliant act opens doors to the grand drawing rooms and lavish balls of high society – and propels her into the inner circle of her target: the corrupt, charismatic Kendals.
But as she spins in and out of their world, Quinn becomes tangled in a dangerous web of love, lies and loyalty. The Kendal family all have secrets of their own, and she may not be the only one playing a game of high deception…
********
MY REVIEW:
1898. Quinn Le Blanc, London’s most talented con woman, is the reigning Queen of Fives. For her latest con she has just five days to trick an eligible duke into marriage and take a fortune from him. But Quinn isn’t the only one with a trick up her sleeve; someone else is playing their own con. And their sights are firmly set on the Queen of Fives…
Alex Hay transports us back to Victorian high society for this clever, cunning, shrewd and daring story of subterfuge and fortune-hunting. Skillfully written and cleverly choreographed, Hay had me in his thrall from start to finish. I was on tenterhooks as I tried to predict who could trust who or what would happen next and totally invested in Quinn’s game. I loved that while Quinn is so focused on her game she’s also unwittingly embroiled in a play of someone else’s making, raising the stakes higher than ever before. With its many storylines it kept me on my toes as Hay expertly and intricately wove the many storylines together to create an explosive and jaw-dropping finale.
Furnished with a cast of fascinating and richly drawn characters who were so much fun to read, no-one is what they seem in this complex tale. Feisty, spirited, crafty and undaunted, Quinn thrived on the high stakes games she plays, unlike her faithful assistant Mr. Silk, who is much more jaded. The pattern of opposites continued with the Kendal Family as we have the feisty, independent and determined Tor alongside the much quieter and weary Duke. The ‘boy in the blue waistcoat’ was a dastardly villain who added a tantalising air or mystery that kept me guessing right up until the big reveal.
Audacious, immersive and fiendishly delightful, this story of Victorian high society, high jinx, deception and danger is one not to be missed.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alex is the bestselling author of The Housekeepers, which won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. He grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff in the United Kingdom, studied History at the University of York, and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector, and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Write Your Novel course. His second novel, The Queen of Fives, publishes in January 2025. Alex lives with his husband in South East London.
********
BUY THE BOOK:
Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links
********
Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx
Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.
Emma's Biblio Treasures 