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The Forty Elephants
Inspired by the true story of Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants, the first all-female gang of London.
London in the 1920s is no place for a woman with a mind of her own. Gang wars, violence, and an unforgiving world have left pickpocket Alice Diamond scrambling to survive in the Mint, the gritty neighborhood her family has run for generations. When her father goes to jail yet again and her scam artist brother finds himself in debt to the dangerous McDonald crime syndicate, Alice takes over. Fighting for power at every turn, she struggles to protect her father's territory and keep the people she loves safe from some of London's most dangerous criminals.
Recruited by the enigmatic Mary Carr, Alice boldly chooses to break her father's edict against gangs and become part of a group of notorious lady shoplifters, the Forty Elephants. Leaving the Mint behind, she and the other girls steal from the area's poshest department stores, and for the first time in her life, Alice Diamond tastes success. But it's not long before she wants more--no matter the cost. And when her past and present collide, there's no escaping the girl from the Mint.
London in the 1920s is no place for a woman with a mind of her own. Gang wars, violence, and an unforgiving world have left pickpocket Alice Diamond scrambling to survive in the Mint, the gritty neighborhood her family has run for generations. When her father goes to jail yet again and her scam artist brother finds himself in debt to the dangerous McDonald crime syndicate, Alice takes over. Fighting for power at every turn, she struggles to protect her father's territory and keep the people she loves safe from some of London's most dangerous criminals.
Recruited by the enigmatic Mary Carr, Alice boldly chooses to break her father's edict against gangs and become part of a group of notorious lady shoplifters, the Forty Elephants. Leaving the Mint behind, she and the other girls steal from the area's poshest department stores, and for the first time in her life, Alice Diamond tastes success. But it's not long before she wants more--no matter the cost. And when her past and present collide, there's no escaping the girl from the Mint.
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First published August 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
April 21, 2022
"Some steal out of desperation. Some steal because they like it. I do it for both...This job, one that I was born into, is my only calling...Taking risks is the only way women ever get ahead of men in this city."
The Diamond family brought order to The Mint, a neighborhood where "the streets are blackened with London grime...a den for thieves, killers, and liars...". As a collector or shoplifter, Alice Diamond suddenly had to "up her game" since her father, the head of The Mint, was incarcerated. "...these streets talk about [Alice],... a fighting spirit of a man with [her] father's temper to match." Safecracker Tommy, Alice's brother, had amassed a huge debt. To prevent Tommy from being "owned" by The Elephant and Castle Gang, Alice was determined to pay off the debt to ensure her family's safety. But, she wanted to maintain the family rule set by Thomas Diamond: The Diamond family doesn't join gangs. Circumstances dictated otherwise.
Alice's childhood friend, Maggie Hill aka The Reaper, introduced her to Mary Carr, the head of a female gang of thieves called The Forty Elephants. Mary dealt in goods and profits. This gang of professional collectors, wore clothes designed for large thefts; large pockets sewn into garments or, perhaps crinolines and bustles that could conceal a stash. Mary would then "fence goods before the coppers can track it down. [She] had all kinds of connections to this city and the men who control it."
"Honest men are the best men...No man is honest. So the best man is no man... The girls that followed Mary, did so willingly. She wanted to give every woman a chance to wear silk and ride in cars they own. Women can make their own destiny." Alice aka Diamond Alice reveals, "It's hard to believe-a female gang of thieves, under no man's law, running by their own rules. I have power in The Mint, but only because my dad gave it to me." The Forty Elephants was a game changer for Alice. Gang life provided a taste of freedom. Real freedom always had its price!
"The Forty Elephants" by Erin Bledsoe is a fascinating work of historical fiction describing female shoplifters in 1920's London. With poverty rampant, accomplished collectors could keep the family fed. Diamond Alice succeeded Mary Carr as Queen of the Forty Elephants, a street gang in Victorian London. Collectors, mingling with the rich by wearing stylish clothes, worked as a threesome... "a face, a pair of eyes and skilled hands..." "... why survive, when you can thrive?" Highly recommended.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Diamond family brought order to The Mint, a neighborhood where "the streets are blackened with London grime...a den for thieves, killers, and liars...". As a collector or shoplifter, Alice Diamond suddenly had to "up her game" since her father, the head of The Mint, was incarcerated. "...these streets talk about [Alice],... a fighting spirit of a man with [her] father's temper to match." Safecracker Tommy, Alice's brother, had amassed a huge debt. To prevent Tommy from being "owned" by The Elephant and Castle Gang, Alice was determined to pay off the debt to ensure her family's safety. But, she wanted to maintain the family rule set by Thomas Diamond: The Diamond family doesn't join gangs. Circumstances dictated otherwise.
Alice's childhood friend, Maggie Hill aka The Reaper, introduced her to Mary Carr, the head of a female gang of thieves called The Forty Elephants. Mary dealt in goods and profits. This gang of professional collectors, wore clothes designed for large thefts; large pockets sewn into garments or, perhaps crinolines and bustles that could conceal a stash. Mary would then "fence goods before the coppers can track it down. [She] had all kinds of connections to this city and the men who control it."
"Honest men are the best men...No man is honest. So the best man is no man... The girls that followed Mary, did so willingly. She wanted to give every woman a chance to wear silk and ride in cars they own. Women can make their own destiny." Alice aka Diamond Alice reveals, "It's hard to believe-a female gang of thieves, under no man's law, running by their own rules. I have power in The Mint, but only because my dad gave it to me." The Forty Elephants was a game changer for Alice. Gang life provided a taste of freedom. Real freedom always had its price!
"The Forty Elephants" by Erin Bledsoe is a fascinating work of historical fiction describing female shoplifters in 1920's London. With poverty rampant, accomplished collectors could keep the family fed. Diamond Alice succeeded Mary Carr as Queen of the Forty Elephants, a street gang in Victorian London. Collectors, mingling with the rich by wearing stylish clothes, worked as a threesome... "a face, a pair of eyes and skilled hands..." "... why survive, when you can thrive?" Highly recommended.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2022
London, 1920. Alice Diamond is a new waitress at 43 Club at night. During a day, she works as a maid. Her name and experience change on paper constantly. It all depends what is required for the next gig. Constantly biding her time until the moment is right to rub someone blind.
Her friend, Maggie, has come a long way since stealing chocolates, now, putting on the posh. She introduces Alice to Mary Carr and her gang of thieves called the Forty Elephants. They do the collecting, a word they prefer over stealing, from the department stores, not something Alice had guts to do.
It is a fascinating story based on true characters and gangs of London during 1920s. A place that was ruled by gangs at the time. Alice and her accomplices saw that they had only two choices, at least from the background they came, stealing or selling their bodies. They chose the first one and working for a woman, they felt she gave them a choice. They weren’t bullied into stealing as in other gangs.
The story starts strong with character-development, but then it slows down. It’s one of those stories where I’m not sure if it’s further driven by character or plot. When it comes to plot, I wanted the events to move faster or have more to it to make the pace faster.
Overall, it is an interesting story, narrated with beautiful prose.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Her friend, Maggie, has come a long way since stealing chocolates, now, putting on the posh. She introduces Alice to Mary Carr and her gang of thieves called the Forty Elephants. They do the collecting, a word they prefer over stealing, from the department stores, not something Alice had guts to do.
It is a fascinating story based on true characters and gangs of London during 1920s. A place that was ruled by gangs at the time. Alice and her accomplices saw that they had only two choices, at least from the background they came, stealing or selling their bodies. They chose the first one and working for a woman, they felt she gave them a choice. They weren’t bullied into stealing as in other gangs.
The story starts strong with character-development, but then it slows down. It’s one of those stories where I’m not sure if it’s further driven by character or plot. When it comes to plot, I wanted the events to move faster or have more to it to make the pace faster.
Overall, it is an interesting story, narrated with beautiful prose.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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March 23, 2023Love reading about girl gangs! This was a fun one.
February 8, 2024
Great book 4++/5
Fascinating history and time period, badass heroine, adventure, lots of gin, fast paced plot, and a splash of romance.
Fascinating history and time period, badass heroine, adventure, lots of gin, fast paced plot, and a splash of romance.
March 14, 2023
This fast paced historical fiction is entertaining from beginning to end. This story takes place in London in the 1920s and the author does a great job of taking you there and showing you the inside of a female pick pocket gang. While that doesn’t sound terribly exciting it comes across as women’s struggle to survive in a man’s world and to gain control and power over their own lives.
Based on the life of real life career criminal, the main character is Alice Diamond and she is both likable and despicable at times. There is no doubt that she is dedicated to her cause, sometimes to the detriment of friends and family despite her declared devotion to both.
The author shows you all sides of Alice but nothing is ever enough for her. What starts out as a means to survival develops to an obsession with control.
The descriptions of locations, neighborhoods, department stores, clothing, relationships, all paint a vivid picture of the roaring era. The author takes you there and keeps you engaged throughout.
The characters are growing, changing, and developing constantly and each turn advances the plot.
In the the acknowledgments the author notes a reference to “Peaky Blinders” and it seems this is her female version of similar story.
A great read on perhaps a little known piece of female gangs in history!
Based on the life of real life career criminal, the main character is Alice Diamond and she is both likable and despicable at times. There is no doubt that she is dedicated to her cause, sometimes to the detriment of friends and family despite her declared devotion to both.
The author shows you all sides of Alice but nothing is ever enough for her. What starts out as a means to survival develops to an obsession with control.
The descriptions of locations, neighborhoods, department stores, clothing, relationships, all paint a vivid picture of the roaring era. The author takes you there and keeps you engaged throughout.
The characters are growing, changing, and developing constantly and each turn advances the plot.
In the the acknowledgments the author notes a reference to “Peaky Blinders” and it seems this is her female version of similar story.
A great read on perhaps a little known piece of female gangs in history!
December 3, 2024
I have no frame of reference to compare this account of Alice Diamond to, but I will be looking her up.
Coming into this one blindly, I thought it was a LOT of fun! I loved Alice; I loved the wiity way that she dealt with life and the way that she was able to come up with solutions to impossible problems.
I would have loved to have a series and to know more about The Reaper.
I would have also liked some more background on her family and how she was meant to take the rap for family issues while others were absolved of their mistakes.
The audio narration was a joy.
4.5 Stars rounded up!
Coming into this one blindly, I thought it was a LOT of fun! I loved Alice; I loved the wiity way that she dealt with life and the way that she was able to come up with solutions to impossible problems.
I would have loved to have a series and to know more about The Reaper.
I would have also liked some more background on her family and how she was meant to take the rap for family issues while others were absolved of their mistakes.
The audio narration was a joy.
4.5 Stars rounded up!
August 23, 2022
Well, if this is how Bledsoe is writing a debut novel, I'll be on the lookout for her next books! This was really good, and you can find out why if you read my #bookreview on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2022/08/2...
November 28, 2022
Historical fiction set in 1920s based on the true story of Alice Diamond and her all-girl gang of thieves- The Forty Elephants. This is a well researched, interesting story of how women with limited resources, education and opportunities banded together and became a ruthless gang stealing high end furs, jewelry and cash from wealthy Londoners and branched out throughout England. This book has already been optioned for a movie and prompted additional/research reading for me.
4 stars
4 stars
November 14, 2023
I love fiction books based loosely on a real life character. Alice is the fictional version of Peaky Blinders. 1920’s and female gangs, who knew, I learn something new everyday. A woman’s struggle in a male dominate era, gotta love the excitement of this!
August 31, 2022
Overall Rating: 3.5
Plot: amazing storyline, the idea is very great and i love how it's lowkey inspired by the peaky blinders too. it's a classic scheme but it works well.
Writing: Needs a bit of cohesiveness, sometimes actions and scenes feel uncompleted like there is gaps in between the actions that characters are doing so it feels rushed, empty and a bit confusing. The first person pov is not my favorite, and there's small lack of lyricism and depth in the character's monologues. I wish there was less tell than show. The scenes feel jumpy, as if the author can't wait to start the next scene, so I'd have loved if she slowed down, and write the scene to be more whole. The book is a bit fast paced too, we don't get to sit and simmer with the events, and the characters' dialogue at times seems rushed, like they're too easy to persuade. Some characters needed more personality to them. We had an obvious villain, and an obvious hero, but some of the side characters like the McDonald's needed more charisma into them, and the Hill brothers too. More feelings, more history, more human interaction.
Plot: amazing storyline, the idea is very great and i love how it's lowkey inspired by the peaky blinders too. it's a classic scheme but it works well.
Writing: Needs a bit of cohesiveness, sometimes actions and scenes feel uncompleted like there is gaps in between the actions that characters are doing so it feels rushed, empty and a bit confusing. The first person pov is not my favorite, and there's small lack of lyricism and depth in the character's monologues. I wish there was less tell than show. The scenes feel jumpy, as if the author can't wait to start the next scene, so I'd have loved if she slowed down, and write the scene to be more whole. The book is a bit fast paced too, we don't get to sit and simmer with the events, and the characters' dialogue at times seems rushed, like they're too easy to persuade. Some characters needed more personality to them. We had an obvious villain, and an obvious hero, but some of the side characters like the McDonald's needed more charisma into them, and the Hill brothers too. More feelings, more history, more human interaction.
October 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book but after reading up a little bit on Alice Diamond, I feel she deserved better. I did enjoy the heist - the planning, the set-backs, and then finally carrying it out and how that all went down. But there was A LOT of time spent on this one event when I think there could have been more attention spent on the fascinating life and history of Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants gang.
(And just as a side note: Why why why do authors feel it is necessary to throw in a token love story when the main character is already such a strong, interesting, woman with a full life that can stand all on her own????)
(And just as a side note: Why why why do authors feel it is necessary to throw in a token love story when the main character is already such a strong, interesting, woman with a full life that can stand all on her own????)
August 5, 2023
I had this in print and audio book. Ended up going with the audio version because the narrator sounded exactly like my grandma. The accent and enunciation was just like her so I could close my eyes and pretend it was her reading the story to me. 😊
This is a story about revenge and I found my evil side relishing in it at the end. 😆
I have steered away from historical fiction as of late, I think I wore myself out with most of it being from WWII with similar storylines. So, finding something from 1920's London was a delight. I had no knowledge of The Forty Elephants gang of girls before so this was a fun and informative read.
While reading I kept imagining this on screen. It would make for a fabulous tv series!
Any book that gets me researching is a good book, I say! And this one transported me to London and had me looking up more about the gangs there.
If you are a fan of historical fiction I highly recommended this one! 😎
This is a story about revenge and I found my evil side relishing in it at the end. 😆
I have steered away from historical fiction as of late, I think I wore myself out with most of it being from WWII with similar storylines. So, finding something from 1920's London was a delight. I had no knowledge of The Forty Elephants gang of girls before so this was a fun and informative read.
While reading I kept imagining this on screen. It would make for a fabulous tv series!
Any book that gets me researching is a good book, I say! And this one transported me to London and had me looking up more about the gangs there.
If you are a fan of historical fiction I highly recommended this one! 😎
December 23, 2022
This sounded so promising, and started off pretty well, but at some point I realized I just wanted it to be over. The sense of time and place was incredibly mushy, to the point that it felt anachronistic whenever someone mentioned a car, even though it wasn't. The pacing was not great, and the characters, I don't even know where to start. We're told over and over about how Alice is the leader of the Mint but what does that even mean? Who knows. She spends all her time in other places doing crimes, and sometimes she goes back to "run things," which means "kill some dudes in street fights," and then she's gone again. Everything about the Mint is all tell and negative show. She spends absolutely massive amounts of time agonizing over all the responsiblity she has to run things, but zero time doing any running. She has the exact same two conversations & inner monologues over and over and over again, about the terrible sacrifices she has made and about how much men suck, including when someone has just fired a gun at her. Plenty of time to cry about her sacrifices! Time to duck, not so much. Anyway. Alice Diamond was a real person, and she deserved much better than this.
October 11, 2022
The Forty Elephants takes us to 1920s London, with a group of rebellious young women living in the midst of glitz and glamor, determined to take what the world won’t give them.
Alice Diamond immediately became one of my favorite female characters ever. She’s tough, independent, and dangerous, but she also has a heart of gold hidden under her battered exterior.
While this is a crime story filled with darkness and desperation, we have rays of light and an underlying sense of hope to keep us afloat within the despair. Plus, the setting is so much fun!
Complex characters, cinematic atmosphere, and a well crafted plot make this story feel like a living, breathing entity. I loved every moment!
*I received a free copy from Blackstone Publishing.*
Alice Diamond immediately became one of my favorite female characters ever. She’s tough, independent, and dangerous, but she also has a heart of gold hidden under her battered exterior.
While this is a crime story filled with darkness and desperation, we have rays of light and an underlying sense of hope to keep us afloat within the despair. Plus, the setting is so much fun!
Complex characters, cinematic atmosphere, and a well crafted plot make this story feel like a living, breathing entity. I loved every moment!
*I received a free copy from Blackstone Publishing.*
April 30, 2022
This is so great. I love feminist literature, and this one has a good balance of happy parts and sad parts. Alice has a lot of responsibilities but doesn’t get a ton of credit for all that she does, and this struggle to be taken seriously is something that I’m sure all women reading this will find relatable. This takes on plenty of more serious topics, but I just find heists and girlbossery so fun. I read a description of this that compares the novel to Ocean’s 8, and I agree that fans of the movie should seek this out.
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 5, 2024
¿Queréis mujeres fuertes, luchadoras, con mucha ambición y que no se rinden por nada? Pues aquí tenéis una novela de ficción histórica con unas cuantas de estas mujeres. Situada en Londres en el 1920.
“Alice intenta sobrevivir a las guerras de gángsteres. Cuando su padre va a la cárcel y su hermano se encuentra endeudado con una familia criminal, Alice debe tomar el control y defender su barrio. Mientras tanto, la enigmática Mary escandaliza a toda la ciudad con su banda criminal de mujeres. Y ahora Mary necesita reclutar a Alice, que puede matar con más violencia que el delincuente más temible.
Alice sabe que el éxito y la riqueza la esperan, pero la ambición podrá ser su peor enemiga. Deberá traicionar una y otra vez, romper su juramento y dejar sin protección a quienes más quiere.”
La historia nos engancha de principio a fin. Intriga, suspense, giros inesperados. Nos cuenta sobre la pobreza, las diferencias de clases sociales y de las guerras de las bandas callejeras de la época, sin olvidarnos del machismo. Maltrato, mujeres fuertes e inteligentes, empoderamiento, ambición.
Narrada en primera persona y de forma equisciente. Me ha gustado la traducción de Julián Alejo Sosa, es muy amena. La edición puede mejorar, esta vez.
¿Que vas a dejar atrás para conseguir lo que realmente quieres?
“Alice intenta sobrevivir a las guerras de gángsteres. Cuando su padre va a la cárcel y su hermano se encuentra endeudado con una familia criminal, Alice debe tomar el control y defender su barrio. Mientras tanto, la enigmática Mary escandaliza a toda la ciudad con su banda criminal de mujeres. Y ahora Mary necesita reclutar a Alice, que puede matar con más violencia que el delincuente más temible.
Alice sabe que el éxito y la riqueza la esperan, pero la ambición podrá ser su peor enemiga. Deberá traicionar una y otra vez, romper su juramento y dejar sin protección a quienes más quiere.”
La historia nos engancha de principio a fin. Intriga, suspense, giros inesperados. Nos cuenta sobre la pobreza, las diferencias de clases sociales y de las guerras de las bandas callejeras de la época, sin olvidarnos del machismo. Maltrato, mujeres fuertes e inteligentes, empoderamiento, ambición.
Narrada en primera persona y de forma equisciente. Me ha gustado la traducción de Julián Alejo Sosa, es muy amena. La edición puede mejorar, esta vez.
¿Que vas a dejar atrás para conseguir lo que realmente quieres?
April 20, 2022
Who run the world? Girls! This book packs a punch of female strength and power. I was mesmerized from the beginning and loved that it’s based off real women. The main character, Alice, is bold and passionate which resonates off the page.
I definitely got Peaky Blinder with a mix of Ocean’s 8 vibe from this book. I’m always a fan of stories from the 1920s and even better, ones that are based in London. It made for an entertaining read! If you want to learn about an all female gang, The Forty Elephants, be sure to read this when it’s out in August!
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy! All the thumbs up to Erin Bledsoe for this fantastic book!
I definitely got Peaky Blinder with a mix of Ocean’s 8 vibe from this book. I’m always a fan of stories from the 1920s and even better, ones that are based in London. It made for an entertaining read! If you want to learn about an all female gang, The Forty Elephants, be sure to read this when it’s out in August!
Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy! All the thumbs up to Erin Bledsoe for this fantastic book!
March 28, 2023
I had never heard of the Forty Elephants Gang until I saw a Facebook post about it, like "Did you know there was an all-woman gang of shoplifters in 1920's London?" Why, no, I did not know, and Google'd the topic, only to find there was a novel written about it. YAY!
And what a novel! This is gritty crime fiction wrapped in a pretty dress, diamond earrings, and a slick bob haircut. Strong, complex characters, exciting action, and forbidden love abound!
Highly recommended for fans of strong heroines, gangster-era fiction with a strong feminist twist, and really anyone that enjoys stickin' it to The Man!
And what a novel! This is gritty crime fiction wrapped in a pretty dress, diamond earrings, and a slick bob haircut. Strong, complex characters, exciting action, and forbidden love abound!
Highly recommended for fans of strong heroines, gangster-era fiction with a strong feminist twist, and really anyone that enjoys stickin' it to The Man!
February 13, 2023
4.85 stars page turner. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is there are a couple of small credibility issues but it was a very good book overall. I enjoyed the story enough to look into the true story of Alice Diamond that this is based on. I hope this author writes another book soon.
July 26, 2023
I'm not normally a historical fiction gal but this book roped me in. I was intrigued with the fact that it was based on a real life person, Alice Diamond. I had no idea who she was but I did do some digging during this book. Such a great story, a good Oceans 8 mixed with The Italian Job. Loved it!
November 29, 2022
“The forty elephants” is a engaging historical novel based on the true story of Alice Diamond, the leader of The Forty Elephants,the first all-female gang in London during the 1920s.
The novel consists of twenty-five chapters presented in two parts.
Alice Diamond is twenty years old and steals out of desperation as well as because she likes it. Since Alice is the daughter of a master thief, she believes that shoplifting is what she was born to do. As the novel begins, Alice is working as a maid by day and a cocktail waitress by night in order to steal from the rich.
While attempting to see from a rich woman one night, she runs into a Maggie Hill, a long-lost friend who tells her about The Forty Elephants, an all-female gang.
Alice is surprised to meet the all-female gang who steal from department stores in the richer part of town. Mary Carr, leader of gang, tells Alice that they don’t steal, they “collect,” which is a much softer word than stealing.
Alice rebuffs offers to join the gang since they’re allied with an enemy gang. Alice supports family of mom, dad, sister, and brother. When beaten brother is returned to the family, Alice is forced her to join The Forty Elephants.
Alice tries to pay off brother’s debt without getting too attached to the gang but Mary provides such things as a place to live and safety from law enforcement. With a new place to live, Alice dreams of moving her sister and mother out of the Mint.
While Mary is satisfied with collecting and staying hidden in the shadows, Alice has higher goals to achieve. Mary likes staying in the shadows and letting the police focus on men and their criminal activities. Alice hates that her only options to have pretty things are to either sleep with men as a comfort girl or become a thief and work for someone else.
Alice returns home and discovers her family has changed for the worse. With Maggie’s assistance, Alice sets a plan in motion than provides her and her friend with ultimate power. Part one ends with Alice regaining control of the Mint and gaining control of the Forty Elephants.
Part two begins with Alice plotting a legendary heist. As part of the heist, Alice has to act as a proper lady in order working in a fancy department store. In order to make sure the plan is successful, Alice befriends a female police detective. During her time working at the department store, Alice is surprised at how her and the police detective both want power and want to show men that they are strong and a force to be reckoned with.
By the end of part two and the end of the novel, Alice becomes Queen of the Forty Elephants but this power comes at a large price for her personally. In addition, Alice learns that by working with others, she builds community of people who will be loyal and defend her with until they die.
Having finished this novel, I loved the loyalty shown by the residents in the neighborhood of the Mint as well as the loyalty and sisterhood of the girls in the Forty Elephants gang. In addition, I enjoyed seeing Alice and other women in the novel do whatever is needed to upset a male dominated world to get what they want out of life.
The novel consists of twenty-five chapters presented in two parts.
Alice Diamond is twenty years old and steals out of desperation as well as because she likes it. Since Alice is the daughter of a master thief, she believes that shoplifting is what she was born to do. As the novel begins, Alice is working as a maid by day and a cocktail waitress by night in order to steal from the rich.
While attempting to see from a rich woman one night, she runs into a Maggie Hill, a long-lost friend who tells her about The Forty Elephants, an all-female gang.
Alice is surprised to meet the all-female gang who steal from department stores in the richer part of town. Mary Carr, leader of gang, tells Alice that they don’t steal, they “collect,” which is a much softer word than stealing.
Alice rebuffs offers to join the gang since they’re allied with an enemy gang. Alice supports family of mom, dad, sister, and brother. When beaten brother is returned to the family, Alice is forced her to join The Forty Elephants.
Alice tries to pay off brother’s debt without getting too attached to the gang but Mary provides such things as a place to live and safety from law enforcement. With a new place to live, Alice dreams of moving her sister and mother out of the Mint.
While Mary is satisfied with collecting and staying hidden in the shadows, Alice has higher goals to achieve. Mary likes staying in the shadows and letting the police focus on men and their criminal activities. Alice hates that her only options to have pretty things are to either sleep with men as a comfort girl or become a thief and work for someone else.
Alice returns home and discovers her family has changed for the worse. With Maggie’s assistance, Alice sets a plan in motion than provides her and her friend with ultimate power. Part one ends with Alice regaining control of the Mint and gaining control of the Forty Elephants.
Part two begins with Alice plotting a legendary heist. As part of the heist, Alice has to act as a proper lady in order working in a fancy department store. In order to make sure the plan is successful, Alice befriends a female police detective. During her time working at the department store, Alice is surprised at how her and the police detective both want power and want to show men that they are strong and a force to be reckoned with.
By the end of part two and the end of the novel, Alice becomes Queen of the Forty Elephants but this power comes at a large price for her personally. In addition, Alice learns that by working with others, she builds community of people who will be loyal and defend her with until they die.
Having finished this novel, I loved the loyalty shown by the residents in the neighborhood of the Mint as well as the loyalty and sisterhood of the girls in the Forty Elephants gang. In addition, I enjoyed seeing Alice and other women in the novel do whatever is needed to upset a male dominated world to get what they want out of life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2022
This book ticked all the boxes: strong female protagonists, historical fiction, London, gritty underworld. But I became disenchanted about halfway through. You know how some books don't have much in the way of plot? This had almost too much plot, and not all of the storylines get resolved, to the point that it must be part one of a series. (And I don't like when books the are intentionally left open-ended for that reason are not labeled as such; it feels deceptive to me.)
Worse, the book didn't feel grounded in 1920s London, despite the likes of Selfridges playing a key role. The Mint, where the narrator was from, felt more like a stereotypical Wild West town than a crowded, cramped London neighborhood. What's more, though I know the protagonist is based on a real woman, she simply didn't seem realistic.
Thank you, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Worse, the book didn't feel grounded in 1920s London, despite the likes of Selfridges playing a key role. The Mint, where the narrator was from, felt more like a stereotypical Wild West town than a crowded, cramped London neighborhood. What's more, though I know the protagonist is based on a real woman, she simply didn't seem realistic.
Thank you, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2022
Can we please have pavements in London, not sidewalks?
January 15, 2023
Not my usual style, but oh my gosh, I couldn't put this book down. If you like London gangs, standing up for women, and women empowerment in a time that wasn't heard of... this book is for you! If you're looking for a break from your usual reading genres, I can't recommend this one enough!
Trigger warnings (and possible spoilers): sibling death, domestic violence
Trigger warnings (and possible spoilers): sibling death, domestic violence
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
4.5 stars!
April 4, 2023
Despite the 3 star rating, I enjoyed this book. It was interesting and a quick, fun read. Toward the end I became annoyed with it, I’m not sure why.
August 11, 2024
I want Alice Diamond in my corner!
March 24, 2023
The Forty Elephants by Erin Bledsoe is historical fiction inspired by the true story of Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants, the first all-female gang of London. I was hooked immediately. I fell in love with the setting, London in the 1920s. I really enjoyed the characters and learning about the gangs. They were fleshed out and felt alive to me. I know a gang of thieves isn’t probably a group of people you should be rooting for but I was rooting for Alice, her friends, and her family. It was a fascinating story of how some of the women in London lived or felt they had to live to get by and the choices they had.
I will definitely be reading more about Alice Diamond. I will definitely be reading more by Erin Bledsoe. I recommend if you enjoy historical fiction, books based on true people or events, and if you enjoy stories with strong female characters.
I will definitely be reading more about Alice Diamond. I will definitely be reading more by Erin Bledsoe. I recommend if you enjoy historical fiction, books based on true people or events, and if you enjoy stories with strong female characters.
October 30, 2022
Diamond Annie. Alice Diamond. Queen of the Mint.
Such a delightful story of women being dominant during a time when they were so marginalized. This book did a great job of creating a story that was a realistic dichotomy of what women were like during this time period. A period of time when so many women were trying to conform to what was expected as wives and mothers to the women living the night scene dancing, drinking and carousing like men. The 40 Elephants paints a picture of how women rebelled in big and small ways.
Alice Diamond has inherited a kingdom from her father who now sits in prison. She is the Queen of the Mint, a tough neighborhood filled with tough people. Alice does her best to make sure that business runs smoothly and the Mint prospers, but she is struggling to conform to the method and rules that her father created to run it. When her brother gets in trouble with a local gang and they demand that she pay an impossible sum of money for his continued safety, she struggles to find a way out of the mess that he created. Enter the girl gang of the 40 Elephants run by Mary Carr. Mary offers the girls plush living accommodations, a sister-hood of thieves making more money that Alice can imagine for so little effort compared to the hustle required in the Mint.
At first, Alice is skeptical of the gang and continues peevishly to resist what seems like a dream to other women, stealing for a sisterhood where spoils are shared and living is fast and easy. As she gets more accustomed to her new lifestyle and starts to relax and become a fixture of the gang herself, she realizes that Mary Carr might be the poisonous spider she originally imagined. Controlling and manipulating the women that steal to enrich her.
Alice and Mary go head to head after Mary threatens the peace and safety of Alice's family living in the Mint and of her sister, newly forming a new life for herself. She has Mary jailed after turning her warehouses into the police and then plans the heist of the decade. While she is planning every detail of the heist that will set her and the other women free, men of the Mint rebel and she must put things to rights at home as well. Can she make the hard decisions necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone she loves? Can she beat the woman filled with other's secrets which can be used to cajole and extort? She can and she does. All hail the Queen of the Mint, long may she reign.
Loved every minute of this one. Tragedy is present, but triumph prevails. This book was made infinitely more interesting when I learned that the 40 Elephants, Alice and Mary were very real. Once you have read the book, give the gang a Google to check out the history and pics. Its also worth it to get this one on audio book as the narrator does a fantastic job.
Such a delightful story of women being dominant during a time when they were so marginalized. This book did a great job of creating a story that was a realistic dichotomy of what women were like during this time period. A period of time when so many women were trying to conform to what was expected as wives and mothers to the women living the night scene dancing, drinking and carousing like men. The 40 Elephants paints a picture of how women rebelled in big and small ways.
Alice Diamond has inherited a kingdom from her father who now sits in prison. She is the Queen of the Mint, a tough neighborhood filled with tough people. Alice does her best to make sure that business runs smoothly and the Mint prospers, but she is struggling to conform to the method and rules that her father created to run it. When her brother gets in trouble with a local gang and they demand that she pay an impossible sum of money for his continued safety, she struggles to find a way out of the mess that he created. Enter the girl gang of the 40 Elephants run by Mary Carr. Mary offers the girls plush living accommodations, a sister-hood of thieves making more money that Alice can imagine for so little effort compared to the hustle required in the Mint.
At first, Alice is skeptical of the gang and continues peevishly to resist what seems like a dream to other women, stealing for a sisterhood where spoils are shared and living is fast and easy. As she gets more accustomed to her new lifestyle and starts to relax and become a fixture of the gang herself, she realizes that Mary Carr might be the poisonous spider she originally imagined. Controlling and manipulating the women that steal to enrich her.
Alice and Mary go head to head after Mary threatens the peace and safety of Alice's family living in the Mint and of her sister, newly forming a new life for herself. She has Mary jailed after turning her warehouses into the police and then plans the heist of the decade. While she is planning every detail of the heist that will set her and the other women free, men of the Mint rebel and she must put things to rights at home as well. Can she make the hard decisions necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone she loves? Can she beat the woman filled with other's secrets which can be used to cajole and extort? She can and she does. All hail the Queen of the Mint, long may she reign.
Loved every minute of this one. Tragedy is present, but triumph prevails. This book was made infinitely more interesting when I learned that the 40 Elephants, Alice and Mary were very real. Once you have read the book, give the gang a Google to check out the history and pics. Its also worth it to get this one on audio book as the narrator does a fantastic job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2022
How are there not thousands of 5 star reviews on this gem? This novel took me on the best ride. I loved it and look forward to reading more from Ms. Bledsoe. What a stellar debut novel.
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