Queen of Clubs

Queen of Thieves #2

by Beezy Marsh

The Queen of Thieves is back! Queen of Clubs is the second in Beezy Marsh’s thrilling UK historical series about a ring of all-female gangsters in 1950s London. London, 1957: After rising up against gangland’s queen, Alice Diamond, formerly downtrodden Nell is living the perfect life of crime. Far from the East End slums where she was raised, she’s now an accomplished professional thief by day—lifting luxury goods from high-end department stores—and a glamorous nightclub owner after dark. Dressed in stolen silks and furs, Nell cuts a dazzling figure in the dimly lit clubs where she calls the shots. But a betrayal and botched robbery suddenly reverse Nell’s fortunes...and her old rival Alice is hell-bent on taking her down. Nightclub dancer Zoe is finally earning a living after escaping a poverty-stricken childhood. She’d rather work for Nell than set scores for Alice. But the life of luxury Zoe craves comes at a terrible price. When a vicious gang tightens its grip on Soho, all three women realize it pays to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Mystery, Crime

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2022

About the author

Beezy Marsh is an international #1 and Sunday Times top-ten best-selling author who puts family and relationships at the heart of her writing. She believes that ordinary lives are extraordinary. She is also an award-winning journalist, who has spent more than 20 years making the headlines in newspapers including The Daily Mail and The Sunday Times. She began her career as a writer after graduating from Leeds University with a Joint Honours degree in English Literature and French. She was Women’s Editor on The Northern Echo in the North East, where she grew up, winning awards for her reporting before moving to the Daily Mail, where as Health Correspondent she was nominated for a National Press Award for her investigations. Her historical novels featuring the gritty lives of working class women in the first half of the twentieth century have spent six weeks in the Sunday Times best top ten bestseller list in the U.K. and nine weeks at the coveted #1 slot in Canada. She is married, with two sons, and lives in Oxfordshire with a never-ending pile of laundry.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to London’s underworld and 1950’s gangland! I loved this entrancing and tragic sequel. I love how Beezy makes the voices of Alice Diamond and other 1950’s English gangland characters come to life. I felt like I was watching a movie versus reading a book. I could not put it down. Highly recommend. The way things ended leaves it open for more of this series, and I sure hope so.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Diamond was a gangland and hoisters queen, she was betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust, and her own brother, she’s gone to ground and changed her name.

Nell Kane owns a night club with her partner James Feeney, she still steals luxury goods during the day and at night she’s dresses to impress in silk dresses and furs. She considers herself the new queen, but with the Detective Chief Inspector Walter Munro looking for excuses to raid her club, and Jimmy when comes up with an idea of making them richer than they could ever imagine with a big heist, her world comes crashing down and she has her little girl Ruby to care for and protect.

Zoe's life changed for the better when she was sent to the country as an evacuee, now the war is over and she can’t stand living with her slovenly mother and she leaves. A job falls into Zoe's lap and she earns good money dancing in Nell’s club, she’s flattered when Vinnie Partridge wants her to be his girl, and she’s playing with fire in more ways than one. Zoe has been sent to the club as a spy, she has no idea whose she’s really working for and how toxic and dangerous the people she mingles and associates with are.

Set in 1957, crime gangs, crooked cops and the Teddy Boys, with their drainpipe trousers and ripple shoes rule the streets of London, engaging in violent clashes and attacks on immigrants. The narrative takes you from hang outs in abandoned bomb shelters, clubs in Soho and to Notting Hill where slum landlords didn't care about their tenants and before it became a posh suburb.

The Queen of Clubs follows on from Beezy Marsh’s first book The Queen of Thieves, thanks to HarperCollins Publishing and Edelweiss Plus for my copy in exchange for an honest review and readers get to catch up with familiar characters and some new ones.

The 1950’s were a time of change, the war was over and so was rationing, people wanted to enjoy themselves, there was a demand for luxury dresses, layers of petticoats and furs. Lots of things fell off the back of a truck, and were sold in pubs and in the back streets and it was a common practice. Women still struggled, they were used, and abuse and many turned to alcohol and drugs to cope and forget.

Four stars from me, I enjoyed reading about the ups and downs of the notorious and back stabbing English underworld and I can’t wait for the next book in the series Queen of Diamonds.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 and just as addictive as Book 1 ( Queen Of Thieves ) you can read as a standalone but for me it would be better to read in order
All the characters from Book 1 are back and this time grittier, nastier and more scheming, this book is set mostly in Soho with Notting Hill and Elephant and Castle also being featured
It was quite sad in parts and some storylines did have me surprised at their outcomes, there is a tendency for happy endings in some books ( which is great ) not so in this book and I was genuinely shocked when some characters left the story
It really shows how cutthroat the 1950’s underworld was, especially for women and there are harrowing themes explored, however be in no doubt some of the women are equally as ruthless
I really have enjoyed these books and look forward to Book 3, ( I found this out after the lengthy authors notes at the end which are fascinating and a good inclusion to the story ), they are well written and addictive reads

[Marci carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lived this 2nd book even more! Review to come

[Nick Vallina (MisterGhostReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike the first book I really struggled with this one. I might just not have been in the right mood for it. I really did like the back half of the book but the first bit was a drag.

I will be reading another book in this series if one comes out after this one (I know a prequel is coming but I mean a book taking place after this one lol).

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book of the year. It wasn't bad, but I had a hard time with the author's writing style, and I just couldn't get into the characters. The plot seemed to go everywhere, and have no cohesiveness. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brandon Allers · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK INFO:
Publisher - William Morrow
Author - Beezy Marsh
Page Count - 304
Type - Paperback/ARC
Format - Perfect Binding, Pages "Off-White," Prologue, Epilogue, Author's Note, Acknowledgements, Uncorrected Proof Copy
Cover - Satin Medium Gloss, Portraiture
Title(s) - Queen of Clubs (Queen of Thieves, #2)
Audience - NA 18+, A
Genre - Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Mystery


SUMMARY: 1957 London, Nell is the Queen of Thieves, having ousted the previous monarch, Alice Diamond, from the throne of the underworld, and Nell has made the concept "Queen of Clubs," the catchphrase for all the elite celebrities, crooked politicians, and gangland benefactors who frequent the hottest spot in Soho; "Rubies." Being Queen isn't for the feight of heart; between raising a daughter, leading her all-woman gang of Forty Thieves, and keeping her man Jimmies ambitions reasonable, anyone with a fraction of her mettle would break.
But fate was never a fan of tranquility, and Alice has not been idly sitting by in the shadows. While Nell stands in the limelight, Alice plays her hand, setting traps in the form of a lost soul behind enemy lines, a young dancer, Zoe, to loosen stitches in the carefully maintained but always temperamental garb of organized crime; a dazzling smile here, and a flash of skin there do wonders when your goal is to pull a man's wandering eyes away from where they ought to be, and poverty-stricken Zoe realizes that she could probably get by without answering to either the current or former Queen, after all, Queens might have clubs and diamonds, but no man can resist the allure of angels wings.


PROS: Period and Place Language, good chapter transitions; suspense of 1st person with flexibility of 3rd person, good balance of dialogue narration by characters, and adheres to genres.


CONS: A map of London, some period photos or illustrations, an index of UK terms for non UK English speakers.


RECOMMENDATION: If you like ambiguous heroes and villains, this book is full of them; if you have ever shoplifted before, then you will relate to the characters; if surviving by grit alone is your poison, then give this book a read! You are never sure who should be cheered on when the law is shades of gray.


MY FAVORITE QUOTE: "N/A" -


***** Vishuddha = "Aether" - Especially Pure
(You name your children after the characters, or at least think about it)

[Trish Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen of Thieves is back! Queen of Clubs is the second in Beezy Marsh’s thrilling UK historical series about a ring of all-female gangsters in 1950s London. London, 1957: After rising up against gangland’s queen, Alice Diamond, formerly downtrodden Nell is living the perfect life of crime. Far from the East End slums where she was raised, she’s now an accomplished professional thief by day—lifting luxury goods from high-end department stores—and a glamorous nightclub owner after dark. Dressed in stolen silks and furs, Nell cuts a dazzling figure in the dimly lit clubs where she calls the shots. But a betrayal and botched robbery suddenly reverse Nell’s fortunes...and her old rival Alice is hell-bent on taking her down. Nightclub dancer Zoe is finally earning a living after escaping a poverty-stricken childhood. She’d rather work for Nell than set scores for Alice. But the life of luxury Zoe craves comes at a terrible price. When a vicious gang tightens its grip on Soho, all three women realize it pays to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Queen of Clubs was so good! It’s the second book in the Queen of Thieves Series. While it could be read as a standalone, knowing the characters’ history from Book 1 is an absolute plus. I enjoyed the first book (Queen of Theives) but the second one was SO much better! Lots of plot twists and scheming, the 1950s Underworld is full of cutthroats and corruption. It was a great story, kept you engaged and am super excited for the third book (Queen of Diamonds) in the series. Beezy Marsh did a fabulous job reintroducing characters and tying things together. So much has happened !! SO MUCH DRAMA! 🤯💥

I’d like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an eARC copy of Queen of Clubs by Beezy Marsh in exchange for honest feedback.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book!
This book is second in a series but reads quite well as a stand-alone.
Based in London in the late 1950s, Nell is living a life of luxury at night and during the day she is successful thief. Nell is the head of a gang of thieves and recently took the title away from Alice. Nell also has a successful nightclub where she wears the expensive things she lifted during the day. (If you love vintage fashion, you will love reading about Nell’s choices of what to steal).
This exciting and luxurious life becomes chaos due to a betrayal. Nell is at risk of losing everything. This is where Alice, the former gang leader, comes into play. I am not giving more info as I am so close to giving spoilers. I will say there is more at risk than just Nell’s life of luxury. Betrayals usually affect more than one person. Do they not?
I received this book in a gracious giveaway on Goodreads by the publisher William Morrow. A review was not asked for neither was it promised. My review is based on my opinion alone.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but for some reason this second book just didn't work for me and it ended up a DNF.

I think this was a "me" issue, because I knew what I was getting here. This is a book about criminals and I knew that going in. So was the first book, but somehow this time around I really disliked pretty much all the characters. I found them mean, petty, selfish and just generally unlikable.

Not sure why the second book felt different from the first, but for whatever reason it just wasn't for me. Moving onto something else on my very large TBR list.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sequel to the high drama 1950s East End London world of cut throat thieves and territorial disputes. I loved getting to know more about what happens to this group of women - this second book has even more action, betrayals and women doing anything for the people they love. Great on audio too!

[Darcia Helle]

It's a me thing. I just don't connect with the writing style.

I expected to love this series. The premise, characters, and era fascinate me. But the first book fell flat for me, and this second one isn't working for me either. So I'm calling it quits.

DNF

*I received an eARC from the publisher, via NetGalley.*

[leslie collins]

I was excited to read this sequel to Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh. The sequel delivered the gritty life of the female thieves and dancers in 1950s London. I enjoyed visiting the characters again with some new characters and setting added. Zoe had an interesting story throughout and one feels that her story was fairly common during that time. It was a part of history that one does not get to often explore. I thought the author did a wonderful job of putting the reader into the setting and making us want to know what happens next. I loook forward to the next book in the series. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Ric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not entirely sure what it is about this one, but I didn’t like it as much as the first in the series. Maybe it’s because Zoe’s story wasn’t as compelling as Nell’s as a newcomer in the first book, or maybe because it was super obvious who Maud was. Either way, this was just okay unfortunately.

[Sarah W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, like its predecessor, came together for a highly compelling conclusion. Several of the morally compromised characters from Queen of Thieves continued their stories, along with some new characters. Power and poverty drive these characters to criminal action, but also to scheme against each other. It's deeply disturbing to read about the situations some of the characters find themselves in, which made reading this novel a little harder for me. Overall, an interesting and compelling piece of history that is often either glamorized or overlooked in both fiction and nonfiction.

[Taylor Betz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy to have found the second one in the series! Not one I was dying for, but good enough to finish it quickly. Marsh has more moving pieces in this one that weave together with some mystery really well.

[CAROLYN Wyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Clubs by Beezy March

Queen of clubs is a fast paced historical drama loaded with betrayal, twists and heartbreak. I’m not sure what I expected but I loved the mafia style drama. Everyone has their own best interests at heart and anyone will betray you.

[Katie Prouty · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a story! alice is back. plot twist after plot twist. betrayal x 100. definitely check content warnings. there’s a lot in this one!

[Antonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book! I sure hope there is a third one coming out! I love the time period & characters. This story would make a great movie.

[Shradha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start off this review by saying that if you haven't read "Queen of Thieves" before picking up this book, I would really recommend that you do so. Although Marsh does a good job of getting people up to speed on the plot and dynamics of characters, it spoils events of the first book if you dive straight into this one.

When I last read "Queen of Thieves" it started me off the rabbit hole of looking up the real Forty Thieves or Forty Elephants, a girl gang in 1890s-1950s London that was notorious for shoplifting. Although this book briefly mentions the Forty Thieves, the real focus is the stranglehold the mafia had on clubs and property investment in 1950s Soho. And, there are a couple characters that are pretty much dead ringers for the Kray twins, a twin brother crime duo that managed a nightclub and mingled with film stars in 1950s-1960s London.

Unlike the previous book, which was focused on the characters and their dynamics, this book is largely plot-focused. In fact, I would argue that the summary is largely a gigantic plot spoiler, since it essentially summarizes the first half of the book and reveals a major (albeit fairly obvious) twist.

That does not mean that the book isn't interesting; Marsh is a lot more entertaining when she tosses off historical events and goes her own road, and that is precisely what she does in this book. But it does mean that I am a lot less invested in the new characters that are introduced, because we spend so little time with them and don't get to know them in nearly as much detail. Most of the joy of the book is of course the dynamic between Nell and Alice, and how they both attempt to get one over on the other one last time.

Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for allowing me to read a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Aimee Dars]

Thank you so much to @williammorrowbooks for sending me a copy of THE QUEEN OF CLUBS by Beezy Marsh which went on sale this week.

Although Nell had an impoverished childhood, she learned the art of shoplifting under Alice Diamond, leader of a group of women thieves. She was able to outwit Alice, and now Nell and her beau, Jimmy, are gangland royalty. By day, Nell, a master of disguises, runs the “hoisting” operations of the Forty Thieves, and at night, she runs the popular Soho club Rubies.

Not everyone is content with Nell as queen. A driven police officer and a smarmy reporter are waiting for Nell and Jimmy to make a misstep, and Alice wants nothing more than to regain her place at the top of the pecking order. Zoe, a young dancer, dreams of becoming a star while being used by both Alice and Nell, but it’s her association with a new rival gang on the scene that could be her salvation or downfall. All three women want power, but there can be only one queen.

I really loved QUEEN OF THIEVES and was so excited to read the sequel, set in 1957. Like the first book, this is a great read with bitter rivalries, backstabbing, and betrayal. The glamorous aspect of club life is depicted at a time in England when rationing from the war is over and social norms loosening. Marsh describes Teddy Boys with their stovepipe slacks and slicked quiffs and the skiffle bands with makeshift tea chest and washboard instruments. She also unveils predatory behavior—slumlords taking advantage of new immigrants and gang members using women for personal gain.

Both entertaining and revealing, THE QUEEN OF CLUBS is a gripping story of three women’s heartache, resiliency, and facing off against one’s enemies against the backdrop of 1950s London underworld.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaways

Set in 1957 in the seediest parts London, "Queen of Clubs" looks at what organized crime was like. The clubs and lifestyle of the criminals is very much in contrast to the barely survivable poverty of the era. The poor only had what the rich would allow. Both ways of life were hard in their own ways. When crooked law enforcement is added to the equation, nobody really wins.

Nell and Jimmy were the King and Queen of Soho. They are raising their daughter, Ruby, so that she won't have to live a criminal life. Nell is the leader of the Forty Thieves, a gang of women who shoplift high end items from department stores. Jimmy is a crime boss. They had it all: clubs, money, fancy cars and clothes; but there is always someone waiting to take it away. Their lives begin to fall apart when a robbery is botched and a cop is shot. Jimmy is arrested and the Queen of Diamonds shows up in Nell's apartment. Nell tries desperately to hold onto what she can to support her and Ruby. Getting away from that life is nearly impossible.

Beezy Marsh writes of this era with such knowledge that the time and place really become another character in story. The poverty-stricken slums are described in such detail that the reader can see how awful it must have been to live there. The high life being lived by the people at the top is so far out of reach that people, especially women, must do whatever it takes to try to survive. Women were used and abused without a second thought.

"Queen of Thieves" is the first book in the series. The third book in the series, "Queen of Diamonds", isn't out yet; but when it's released, I want to read it.

[Nancy Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

The setting of this book is 1950's London in the Soho area, an area of tenements, poverty, and crime; the focus is on the gang element. One of these gangs is particularly unusual because both its leader and all of its members are women. The Forty Thieves is a group of women who are known throughout London for their prowess at shoplifting, especially as they target some of the best-known department stores. While there is a Robin Hood element in that they then sold the stolen merchandise to others at severely reduced prices, their motivation was not altruistic. The author did an excellent job of creating a sense of time and place as well as in developing characters. This is the second book in the series, and I'm glad I took the time to read the first book before starting this one; I think otherwise I would have been very confused as to the relationships between characters and the past events that shaped the plot of this series entry. I don't think this book would work well as a standalone, but I'm definitely looking forward to reading more in the series. The book is grittier than some, and as was most likely true in that setting, there are episodes of violence. I do wish there had been a glossary included to define the slang terms used throughout the books. Many of them were understandable because of context, but a glossary would have been a help.

[Diane Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Clubs is Beezy Marsh’s 2nd novel in the Queen of Thieves series. Queen of Clubs is the story of a female ring of thieves in 1950s London. Zoe was sent to the countryside during the bombing of London during World War II. It is there that she lived and learned about the live that she wanted to have. She has baths, clean clothes that fit, bows in her hair and food on the table. Then she is sent back to London to a mother who is never home and when she is blames Zoe for all her problems. Zoe steals money from her mother and runs to Soho. It is her that she is introduced to Nell who hires her as a dancer in her club. Nell worked her way up to the Queen of Thieves. She is now an accomplished businesswoman who continues to steal just now it is luxury items. Her life continues to get better until the former Queen of Thieves returns and is determined to destroy her.
Queen of Clubs is a page turner. It is the 2nd novel in the series but is easy to follow even without reading the first novel. It has its highs and lows and then takes Zoe and Nell even lower. Beezy Marsh describes the streets of 1950s London to point that you feel you are walking in the crowd and holding your belongings tight in order not to have them stolen from you.
Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow and Beezy Marsh for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and partner Bibliolifestyle, William Morrow Books and the author for my gifted physical copy and eARC to read and review!

I am absolutely addicted to this series! I loved Queen of Thieves, where we were introduced to Alice and Nell and their band of female hoisters ... and was thrilled that the story of these cunning and gritty women continued! I was on the edge of my seat as the rivalry and plot for revenge between the two queens escalated and watched with held breath as the fallout of this feud wreaked havoc on those close to their circle.

In this book, we see more male involvement on the crime side, get to know Nell's daughter Ruby, experience a couple of surprise twists and are introduced to a new character, Zoe ... and fair warning, her story will just rip your heart apart!

The author does such an amazing job of dropping you into the glitter and glamor of London's Clubland of the 1940's and 1950's ... while also giving you a look into the underbelly of the sleazy flipside of the crime syndicate that ran it all. This series is a fast paced, action packed page turner that will have you feeling all the emotions! I am anxiously awaiting the next book, Queen of Diamonds!

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through a Goodreads giveaway, I received an advanced reader’s addition from William Morrow/Harper Collins for my review. Thank you to both the publisher and author.

A content advisory is needed for this novel since it contains scenes involving rape, intimate partner violence, prostitution, murder, and drug use/overdose. This subject matter may not be appropriate nor suitable for all readers.

Diverse, interesting characters with writing that takes the reader back in time to late 1950s London. Engaging dialogue that moves the story forward. The rise and tragic fall of powerful club owners and gang leaders in London will keep readers engaged. Unexpected twists and turns hold the reader’s interest. Although this is the second novel in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Frequent use of British slang may make it challenging for American readers who may pause to look up what the slang words mean. In places, the slang works well and is necessary for the scene and dialogue. This novel would be more accessible and easier for American readers if the slang was toned down or a British slang glossary was added to the novel.

[Andrea George · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Queen of Clubs" by Beezy Marsh is the second in a series. I have not read the first book in the series, "Queen of Thieves". This certainly did not take away from the plot or background of the characters. Ms. Marsh did a wonderful job of providing all of the details to make "Queen of Clubs" a standalone novel. The plot was original, and the characters were engaging and believable. The setting takes place in London in 1957. I loved that even though the female characters were in the 1950's, Ms. Marsh provided strong female gangsters characters that could stand toe-to-toe with any of their male counterparts. Without giving any of the plot away, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. Was it a fairytale ending? Absolutely not, but it was realistic and really made the reader think of the times and how life, at times, is out of our control. Very good read. I'm looking forward to reading "Queen of Thieves" and any additional novels written by this great author.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW

Beezy Marsh, the Author of “Queen of Clubs” has written a captivating and intriguing UK Historical Fiction Novel, set in the aftermath of World War Two in London. The genres for this book are Historical Fiction, Fiction, Suspense and Mystery. This is the second book in a series of Women Gangsters in London during the timeline of 1950-1959, but can be read as a stand alone. Most of the gang members came from poverty from the War, as well as coming from the slums of London. There is competition in clubbing, thieving and stealing merchandise to offer to people who want luxury items. There are a few gangs involved, and betrayals, revenge, kidnapping, threats, danger and murder seem to fit in this lifestyle. There are also men in “gangs”

The author vividly describes her colorful and dramatic characters, the plot, and scenery. I read this in one sitting, and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to others.

[Tiffany | bookshelf. at .tiffanys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Clubs is book 2 in the Queen of Thieves series. While I recommend reading Queen of Thieves first so that you have the background knowledge for this title, it's not necessary. It could be read as a standalone.

I have to say, I actually enjoyed this book more than I did book 1. It's a really good sequel! We're back in the 1950's London Gangland. Nell is living the life of luxury with Jimmy and their daughter. They own a lucrative nightclub and Nell is still the Queen of Thieves. Little does Nell know that her perfect life is about to get turned upside down when Alice, the former leader of the forty thieves, re-enters the picture. Everyone in this book seems to have a highly specialized background in the art of betrayal.

I gave this one four stars because I honestly felt like Zoe (a new character and one of the multiple POVs we get) just wasn't a great addition. I just didn't find her story to be very compelling or interesting. I was way move invested in the characters from the previous novel.

As for the ending... I wasn't expecting it, I love a good plot twist! Looking forward to the next title in this series!

Thank you to Beezy Marsh, William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kidlitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DRC was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and swanky review.

A solid sequel to a sleeper of a first book, about women leading their best - and worst - lives in 1950s criminal London. The grime, grit and hard-won glamour that Nell and Alice - dueling Queens of Thieves - display firmly roots them in a moral grey zone but they continue to be immensely relatable characters. They make questionable choices in their struggle to land on top of Soho's underworld and their alternating circumstances on the wheel of fortune drives the suspense of the plot. There is less of grim post-war England and hints of the Swinging times to come but it's still a tough world for women like them with the promise of more to come. An absorbing read with page turning action and a bit of humor midst the tragedy.