Queen of Thieves

Queen of Thieves #1

by Beezy Marsh

An electrifying historical adventure about a ring of bold and resourceful women thieves in post-World War II London. Gangland was a man's world. Or so they thought. The women knew different. London, 1946 . The city struggles to rebuild itself after the devastation of the Blitz. Food is rationed, good jobs are scarce, and even the most honest families are forced to take a bit of "crooked" just to survive. Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, rules over her all-female gang with a bejeweled fist. Her "hoisters" are expert shoplifters, the scourge of London's upscale boutiques and departments stores. Their lucrative business stealing and fencing luxury goods always carries the threat of violence; Alice packs a razor, and has been known to use her heavy rows of diamond rings like brass knuckles. Young Nell is a teenager from the slums, hiding a secret pregnancy and facing a desperately uncertain future when Alice takes her under her wing. Before long, Nell is experiencing all the dangers -- and glamourous trappings -- that comes with this underworld existence. Alice wants Nell to be a useful weapon in her ongoing war against crime boss Billy Sullivan's gang of rival thieves. But Nell has a hidden agenda of her own, and is not to be underestimated. The more she is manipulated by both Alice and Billy, the more her hunger for revenge grows. As Nell embraces the rich spoils of crime and the seedy underbelly of London, will she manage to carve out her own path to power and riches? Might she even crown herself the Queen of Thieves?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Book Club

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2023

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

[Marci carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book and it was fantastic! Had me in the edge of my seat. Gasping at time. Waiting to hear what was next. Even the epilogue was full of gasps and excitement! Definitely a great read. I highly recommend the audio. Well maybe I learned more than I wanted to about being a thief. That being said, the writer did a great job keeping with the time era and setting the stage!

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell Hart lives on Tenison Street in London’s Southbank, near the Waterloo Bridge and Waterloo Railway Station. Her father is very strict and her mother does what she’s told, Nell meets a boy called Jimmy and she finds herself in the family way. Her father will throw her out on the streets when he finds out, a desperate Nell meets Alice Diamond and she convinces her to join her crew.

Alice Diamond is the Queen of Thieves, her gang of women are professional shoplifters or hoisters, in 1946, London is still struggling to rebuild after the war, food and jobs are scarce and many people buy things off the back of a truck and from the black market. Alice Diamond’s group are called 'The Forty Thieves' and they teach the fresh looking and pregnant Nell all the tricks of the trade. They hit up market shops, stealing silk stocking and underwear, clothes, jewellery and fur coats.

You don’t want to mess with Alice, she wears her flashy diamond rings as brass knuckles and she carries a knife and uses it. Nell soon discovers that Alice is using her for her own gain, she has a problem with crime boss Billy Sullivan and Alice wants to bring him down from his lofty perch. Nell wises up, she discovers that Alice has a big secret, Billy is nothing but a thug and gets others to do his dirty work for him.

I received a copy of Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh from Edelweiss and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. It’s an interesting story about a life style and occupation I knew very little about, how the hoisters hit the department stores was extremely well planned, they had so many tricks and places where they hid the stolen goods. It gives readers an in-depth look at the seedy side of post war London, the poverty, lack of options for young women, many lived with men who had fought in the Second Word War and were subjected to domestic abuse, the power struggles between gangs, widespread police corruption and it even went as far as the House of Lords.

Four stars from me, I highly recommend Queen of Thieves, it's certainly not boring and it’s released on the 3rd of January 2023.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 1st of 2 ( at the mo ) books based on the ‘Forty Thieves’ a real group of women ‘hoisters’, a notorious gang in the 1940’s who ran the Capital’s underworld branch of thievery from ‘the posh shops’, they were revered and had a fearsome rep
The book is from 2 points of view, Alice who is the Queen of the gang and Nell who is the newest recruit and intends to take Alice’s crown
I LOVED that a lot of the book was set in Waterloo and the street I live on is featured, even if it was ‘riddled with rat infested brothels’ 😟 it gave a unique insight into the area and what it used to be like ( an insight you rarely hear about ), I had no idea when chose this book it was based all round here so that was a bonus, I also loved the other historical aspects and the descriptions of the department stores, basically reading about 1940’s London was fascinating and an eye opener
As for Nell and Alice, I really loved Nell but couldn’t stand Alice, at all, but you cant love every character
Not overly keen on the narrative when its told in the way of the character talking directly to/at you, it did though work well for Nell….
Storywise it was pretty full on but not as brutal in anyway as most gangland reads, I would say this was a historical saga that features gangs
I enjoyed it well enough that am starting the follow up book now

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in post-World War II London this historical adventure features bold enterprising women. It starts out with a slow burn but picks up as you invest in the rich characters, especially Nell. There's wickedness, revenge, love and the whole range of human emotions. I got a kick out of the historically accurate language, since I'm an English speaker from the east coast US. I don't know if you'd call the ending happy, but it was satisfying. This is a new to me author and I received this book in a giveaway.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh is both fun and informative, and if you like historical fiction, I think it is definitely worth picking up. It seems like it is going to be the first of a series, and after a conclusion that gave me slight chills, I think it is necessary to have at least one more. There are 2 viewpoints in the book which are Alice (the current Queen of Thieves) and our poor little Nell who has a dad I personally would never want to meet. I did say this book is fun and, in some ways, it is, but it was also slightly tough to read at times. Nell and Alice both had things happen that no girl should have to experience, and those parts were by far the toughest for me. I had never heard of The Forty Thieves gang prior to reading this book, and I found what they did along with the gangsters of the time to be utterly fascinating.

I thought that Marsh did such a great job bringing this era and post-WWII London to life, and I got fully lost in the setting and the story as well. If anyone is interested, I was able to find the audiobook on Scribd and it is a good one! Rachel Atkins may be the only narrator, but there were times when I felt like I was listening to 2 different people thanks to the voices she did for both Nell and Alice. She brought a certain grittiness to Alice that was completely necessary, and for Nell, she did some very high-pitched action! Those parts grated a little bit, but man did they fit in perfectly. There ended up being a really interesting dynamic between Alice and Nell, and I can honestly say I had absolutely no idea how the book was going to end. If you like historical fiction with crime, twists, drama, and intrigue all rolled into one - Queen of Thieves is something you should read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love to read about strong, independent women. Queen of Thieves didn't disappoint, it gave me Nell and Alice who survived in the darkest periods of their lives. They didn't make do with what they had, they soared through and made themselves shone like diamonds.

Gangsters in the early twentieth century is a fascinating subject, they were heartless and cruel in their deals but sometimes they showed a tiny bit of their human side.

Queen of Thieves showed us glamour and at the same time the poverty of London after the war. It was a sharp contrast and it went straight to the heart.

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5/5

CW:this book contains mentions of violence, rape, pregnancy and prison.

This was a bit of a different read for me, as I don't usually read gangland stories, but I love a good heist so I was fairly sure I'd enjoy this one. And I'm really glad I did! Queen of Thieves is a captivating read, as our protagonists play in the high-stakes game of post-WWII London gangland. Only one will emerge as the Queen of Thieves, and the future is far from rosy for the loser...

I had a lot of fun with this book, despite it touching on some tough topics and including some pretty explicit violent scenes. The characters were far from likeable, but they were certainly interesting, complex and resourceful and as morally grey as they come. I enjoyed the double narration from Nell's and Alice's POVs and getting to know both of them better. They were both extremely interesting as MCs, highly resilient and ready to do whatever it takes to not only survive, but thrive in a brutal, male-led environment. I love the recent trend that centres women's experiences in traditionally male stories, and Queen of Thieves does a great job of that.

The plot itself was interesting enough, although I had foreseen the main twists and reveals quite early on, so I wasn't particularly wowed by anything. It still flowed smoothly though and kept me interested to see who would crown herself the Queen of Thieves. The setting was also great, as post-war London and its seedy underbelly really came alive and played a key role in all the characters' actions.

What I really struggled with was the writing. The style just didn't work for me: I found it too simplistic and, often, confusing. There was also some major spelling, grammar and coherence issues, which I hope will have been fixed in the final version, but really dampened my enjoyment of this ARC. Now, this is entirely personal taste, and this writing and I didn't click but that doesn't mean it will be the same for you!

Overall, Queen of Thieves is an entertaining read, perfect if you're looking for a quick read to keep you engaged without an overly complex plot. Fans of heists, gangland and crime will particularly appreciate this work in centring female characters in what has been an overwhelmingly male trend.

For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

[Jess K · Rating 2 out of 5]

BOTM January 23. Wow! This never got better!

[Nicole W. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am really frustrated that I wasted a book of the month credit on this. It was not good.

This is definitely not the book for me. The characters are absolutely blobs of nothingness. There is 0 character development. None at all. The plot is horrendously paced. The story is predictable and boring. And the writing is so juvenile and unrefined that I cringed a few times while reading it.

[Sandra ford · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needs a proofreader

I’m actually speechless at the appalling writing. There are way to many spelling mistakes, sentences that don’t make sense.
Sentences with the wrong word or a missing word or words written in the wrong order….not just here and there but right the way through the book.
It’s such a shame as the story would have been interesting but the way it’s written makes it frustrating to read

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

London’s Gangland wasn’t just a playground for the boys.

Set in the aftermath of WWII “Queen of Thieves,” takes place in the late 1940s streets of London. Barely surviving on rations and looking for ways to better support their families, women found the allure of Alice and her Forty Thieves too compelling to turn away from. With promises of a better life - money, food, shelter Nell was one woman captivated by the possibilities of a better future. Pregnant and unwed, Nell needed this network of women - now more than ever.

As Alice welcomed Nell into the family, Nell would have to learn the hard way that Alice wasn’t everything she claimed to be. Manipulation and psychological warfare were Alice’s true forte. Suspecting she’d been set up Nell promises to enact revenge. But at what cost is she willing to pay in her quest for revenge. There can only ever be but one Queen - so she better be all in.

This book is so good! I say it again: this book is so good!! Although a historical fiction story - it reads like any other thriller and the action is nonstop. The story hooks you from the start and holds tight throughout. You feel a bond to the characters.

Marsh weaves a story so well written that you can imagine the story taking place right in front of you. I have to say, Marsh has some of the best metaphors I’ve seen in awhile. It’s her talent as a writer that elevates this story. It’s bound to stick around in your head for a while.

Thinking deeper: it’s hard not to see Alice as a victim - a product of her home life. Used and abused she learned what it took to survive the streets of London. On the other hand, what she does to other women and Nell especially, pushes her out of that victim role and into predator territory. It’s a good discussion anyhow.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: QUEEN OF THIEVES
AUTHOR: Beezy Marsh
PUB DATE: 01.03.2023 Preorder Now

Call the Midwife meets Peaky Blinders

Gritty
Dark
Suspenseful

I was enamored by this electrifying read from the first page. It’s 1946 London, where only the crooked and those desperate to live will survive. There is Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, and then there is Bill Sullivan in a rival gang. However in between is Nell from the slums and with nothing to lose, uses her street smarts to survive.

The writing was superb, with rich details about the women hoisters, the world of post WWII London, the characters and the two POVs really presented an incredible picture of the time. The ending was incredible and it would be hard press not to have a sequel after this.

Historical Fiction readers, this is not to be missed!

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beezy Marsh gives us an intimate peek into Post-WWII London and the working class who are trying to make ends meet in a city with limited opportunities and resources. Told in the alternating povs of the two main characters, Queen of Thieves reveals the underworld of Gangland, and a plucky group of female "hoisters" known as the Forty Thieves. Alice Diamond, the Queen, rules her gang with a bejeweled fist and relishes her place at the top, overseeing shopping expeditions to fancy boutiques where elaborate hoisting schemes, including stuffing furs in their over-sized knickers, lead to big pay-offs. Nell is the latest recruit, young, pregnant, unwed, and from a bad family, she turns to the gang to escape the impending fate of working in a fur factory and becoming a miserable housewife. When Alice tests her loyalty, though, Nell ends up paying for it and promising herself that the Queen would be dethroned.

This is a story of power, ambition, betrayal, and loyalty, with a surprising twist that also makes way for the next installment of what is sure to be an entertaining series. The Author's Note reveals that the 40 Thieves, aka the 40 Elephants were actually an all-female London crime syndicate who specialized in shoplifting during the 19th and 20th centuries. This adds dimension and interest to this intriguing tale. However, the writing is heavy on the British working-class slang, which is often humorous but can sometimes make the characters feel like caricatures who lack depth or originality.

Overall, I recommend this story as a highly atmospheric ride through London's underworld after the war. Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and William Morrow and Co. Publishers for the gifted copy of this gem.

[౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

I originally rated this 3 stars right after I read it, but now I’m rethinking and it’s really more of a two star read.
The sad thing? I loved the plot, the story, and the characters, everything basically EXCEPT two MAJOR things; the pace, and the WRITING.

Even if we ignore how appallingly slow this book was and how the pace changed so frequently (one second it’d be so slow and then all of a sudden so quick for no reason?) we still have the matter of writing.

This issue could EASILY be resolved if an editor goes through because there were so many spelling errors and the writing itself felt very…clunky? Like, picture the tin man before he got the oil he needed. Except that as writing…

I was extremely excited for this but it was really disappointing.

(Praying to the book gods my next read is better 🤞)

[Shradha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't realized that "The Queen of Thieves" was based on a real London gang until I did a bit of research into the Forty Thieves, or, as they were better known, the Forty Elephants. A shoplifting organization that operated from the 1870s to the 1950s, its last confirmed member/possible leader, Shirley Pitts, operated as late as her death in 1992! I also found that Alice Diamond, the self-proclaimed "Queen of Thieves" and her deputy Molly were real people, while Nell, a desperate, pregnant teenager that begins to eye Alice's crown, appears to have been a figment of the author's imagination.

Perhaps that is why Nell's parts shined in terms of character development and plot, whereas Alice's were, despite the tragic backstory involved, kind of dull. It seemed as if the author let her craft loose when describing Nell's induction into the Forty Thieves, and the way she begins to turn on Alice. But when Alice's own description of events came on, it felt as if she was listing off a bunch of events in history. In other words, Nell's parts read like a real gangland novel, whereas Alice's was more like a gangland biography. Both interesting in their own ways, but I found Nell's to be more entertaining. Overall, I did like "The Queen of Thieves" because it got me to learn a little more about London's history in the interwar/postwar period that I otherwise would not have known.

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

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This might be the worst book I have ever read in my life and I say that as a connoisseur of Kindle smut and someone who has read exactly one Colleen Hoover book.


The writing is ... Not Great (TM). Every time there was an opening for character development or nuance the author just … didn’t use it. There’s also weird timeline stuff going on. Nell goes into labor in December but then has the baby in a chapter labeled February. There’s also a million typos and verb tense agreement issues all over the place.

[Erin Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of WW2 historical fiction, but this one set in London post-war about the “girl gangs” was about totally different characters than the usual! I kept turning pages to find out what would happen, but will admit it felt a little long. I also couldn’t decide who I was supposed to be rooting for as all of the characters were crooked! We are planning a trip to London so it was fun to read about all of the places we plan to see and I’ll definitely think of this book, Nell, Alice and the 40 Thieves!

[Stella 🍉 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Y’all, I can’t. The writing for this book was SO BAD. The same three idioms were overused every two or three chapters, and there was not grammar check. I realize that the author was trying to make their voices and speech realistic for the time period and characters, but Jesus Christ it was bad. For a book that was supposed to be about female empowerment, there were almost no healthy female friendships or relationships, and everything revolves around men. The author establishes very early in that Nell and the other hoisters (thieves) have power only because men are attracted to them.
I was tempted to dnf this book halfway through. Overall disappointed, bc it had such an interesting premise.
(Also yes I’m aware that I’m complaining about grammar with my own bad grammar, but I also wrote this at 7 in the morning). I would have rated this two stars, but it felt like a three star read so idk what to tell you

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I'd been a review that loved this one but, sadly, I just didn't enjoy it. I thought this would be a fun story of girl thieves, stealing from the rich and helping the poor. Instead, it was a war between 2 women - one who felt wronged by the other. And the thieves, they stole pretty furs, stockings and undergarments - to sell and. . .use it to hurt others, bribe and blackmail other women and. . .just all around do nothing good with it. Sure, they paid off some debts and maybe provided some food - but it was always with the understand that it would be repaid, with interest, or else. It was so disheartening to read yet another book where women beat, manipulated and crawled over each other to get to a top that was always below the men around them. I found Alice, our Queen of Thieves, completely unlikable and I hated her POV. I found Nell more likeable but I didn't love her parts either, as she wishy-washy her way through life. Even knowing this was based on true people didn't up my enjoyment. I wish, so much, I'd loved this one. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Ric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been a big fan of books featuring a gang of thieves, so I had high hopes with this one. And it was really enjoyable, Nell was a solid main character and I liked Alice’s opposing POV. The plot got a little slow in the middle at times, but for the most part I was intrigued throughout. If there does wind up being another book, I’ll absolutely read it.

[☆☆☆Bibliolatrist Jordan☆☆☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: ☆☆☆☆(4.0)
Writing style: ☆☆☆☆
Entertainment ☆☆☆☆
Characters ☆☆☆☆
Plot: ☆☆☆☆
Ending:☆☆☆☆

I adored this novel. Such a new take on post WWII Era. A story with characters that sometimes have to do things, just to survive. 

When Nell runs out of options,  she turns to the Queen of Forty Thieves for help. Only the help she receives comes with a price tag!

Alice takes her under her wing with the promise of belonging and purpose.  It also doesn't hurt how much Alice tells her she would make if she became one of the Forty--girls who go into unsuspecting shops and pilfer luxury clothes and accessories for the less fortunate to buy at a discounted price. Like female Robinhoods.

But when you're working with a gang of thieves, can you trust their honor?

The characters are phenomenal and the plot was great. There was only 1 point in which the dates for the chapter did not align correctly with the plot of pregnancy gestation and other circumstances.  Otherwise, once I got over that,  the book was fantastic!

I didn't want to put this one down!

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well written story. It was about two girls: Alice and Nell, and switched between their POVs. This took place around WWII and had a very captivating plot. If you love historical fiction, especially around WWII time period, I recommend checking this out. Beezy Marsh does a wonderful job crafting this story of Alice and Nell. And that ending makes me excited to read her future books.

[BookWormBecky · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0

Underbelly, hoister’s drawers (passion killers), Mrs . Tibbs…


In postwar London, “victory may have tasted sweet, but it didn’t stop the hunger pangs.” So, many residents resorted to “ taking a bit of the crooked.”

Alice Diamond, the queen of the thieves, realizes that being down on your luck can make you more able to focus. The world of Alice and her girls doesn’t involve making do and mending. She never works for men, although she does use male getaway drivers, often brothers of her girls.

Alice recruits Nell, who is 20, a factory worker, single, and pregnant. She presents her “job offer” as shopping for a living. She will train Nell, teaching her all the tricks, to be another one of her successful, skilled workers.

A tale of plotting, fixing the deck, revenge, gangland, and naked ambition. Who will reign as the Queen of the thieves, that other Queen in London?


* Decadent excess! Fashion, money, and fame!

* A fun read- I laughed throughout.

* Enjoyed Alice’s rules. Example: never wear what was stolen. Use the resale money to buy (pay for) items.

* Based loosely on Alice Diamond, who led the gang, beginning in 1916. Lots of info online. Disbanded in 1992, when it was becoming more of a legend.

* Don’t miss the author’s “behind the book.” She mentions interviews with descendants. Very informative!

* Great ending! One twist I did not see coming!

* I loved it— highly recommend!

* I first heard about this on Goodreads.

[Danielle Tropea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty predictable. But overall kind of a cool story of women running their own game. Didn’t like the lack of math - Nell got 6mos in June 1946 and stayed for 8mos (February 1947) in jail. Author oversight I think. A quick paragraph explaining why she got 2 extra months would have been easy - or just gotten the dates right….

Kinda slogged in the middle then it felt like all of a sudden the story picked up pace and felt rushed. Such great detail over the first 3/4 of the book and all the action really happened in the last 70 pages.

Overall good bones - just a few details either missed or just rushed.

[Kate Aymond · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a different take on post WWII. The end redeemed it for me, and there was a “twist” that I didn’t see coming, but the middle kind of dragged for me.

[Sarah Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up really, really enjoying this! It started a bit funky for me with all of the slang and old-time jargon but once you settle into it, it’s cake. There were some really great twists and turns, and it was left with some nice cliff hangers for a potential sequel. I will add my own bit of a trigger warning for some scenes of rape and violence. Overall, another successful historical fiction read.

[Jessi - TheRoughCutEdge · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, I enjoyed the historical note at the back but the characters actions the second half of the book seemed ridiculous.
BotM

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say women are the fairer sex but never mistake this for weakness. Especially when you meet the women of the Forty Thieves gang…

Oh my days! How much did I love this story? I was completely blown away. So much so, that I have tried countless times to write a review and have ended up with a load of gobbledygook to show for it due to an abundance of word vomit aka a thousand and one thoughts trying (read: screaming) to come out at the same time. Hmph, reviewer’s block is a thing!

My poor mother was treated (tongue firmly in cheek) to in-depth character and storyline de-briefs as I was reading Nell, Alice, et al’s story. I had a burning need to talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Including casting characters which I never do *shakes head*. Honestly, I was one step away from bringing out a whiteboard, markers, pins, and string… *palms face*

*coughs*

Queen of Thieves is a gritty, dark, and suspenseful crime noir. WWII may be over, but the struggle to survive continues as these women can attest. When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose, and some people will do anything (anything!) to protect what power they have.

Full of intrigue and double-dealing, QoT will keep you on your toes as you piece together all the threads of the story (see why I wanted that whiteboard?). I was reaching for my metaphorical cushion on more than one occasion afraid to look then forgetting to breath towards the end as the tension started to ramp up!

That ending though *gasps*. It was the perfect ‘I KNEW IT!’ ending whilst also leaving the door open for a possible sequel. Puh-lease tell me there is going to be more!

Beezy Marsh has gained a new fan with her strong female (albeit morally grey) characters and rich storytelling.

[Shelby · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept was so strong, but underdeveloped and cliche. As a female gang leader, Alice should have been the most intriguing perspective to read, but she became a cliche cartoon who lacked any nuance.
The “protagonist” Nell wanted everyone to know that she wouldn’t be controlled by any man. A sentiment that should have been empowering, but she literally told everyone she encountered and in her narration several times. We get it, you are a strong woman who doesn’t need a man and you don’t have to hit us over the head with your Tommy gun about it. Both of these characters were just one dialogue line away from saying “why I oughta…” and smoking cigars like British Al Capone parodies.
I found myself actively rooting against both characters and was very disappointed.