1920s Glamour Meets Sisterhood in Novel of London’s First Female Crime Syndicate

Queens of London by Heather Webb

In Queens of London by Heather Webb, the Forty Elephants is a group of ferocious, loyal and determined women who definitely don’t need a man to help them make their way. When Alice Diamond, “Diamond Annie,” is elected to be their leader, she aims for the stars. Nothing is too small to conquer and her girls are more than capable of pulling off bigger and better heists than ever before.

But Officer Lilian Wyles is also determined to make a name for herself and prove that women police officers deserve to be on the force — and she realizes that catching Diamond Annie would be the win she needs to establish herself. Which woman will end up on top?

Women Dedicated to Fellow Women

At her core, Alice is trying to make a better life for everyone in her world. For the girls that make up the Forty Elephants, she wants them to have good lives and be able to look out for themselves without depending on the shady men who try to control them. Several of the girls are in bad situations and Alice realizes that she could be in a position to have a “clubhouse” of sorts for them to find a safe haven in.

So Alice sets her sights on this big goal — but money is power. As you’d expect, she needs to pull off the biggest heist that London has seen in order to get the dough to pay for a building for her girls. One little orphan girl, Hira, who has been longing for family and connection her whole life, is able to teach Alice some of the most valuable lessons on loyalty, friendship and family.

Perfect for Fans of Peaky Blinders

If you like Peaky Blinders, boy is this book for you. It’s hard to imagine a time when gangs ran rampant, department stores were the place to shop and women police officers had to wear skirts. But what never seems to change is the way that women love and stand by each other. Though the characters in this book are flawed, they are loveable because they are so fiercely dedicated to their fellow women. Despite being on different sides, even Diamond Annie and Officer Wyles look out for each other.

It never occurred to me that there were likely women who ran gangs in the 1920s. I don’t know why, and as a woman, that makes me feel like I don’t give us enough credit. What’s amazing about this book is that it’s based on real events and real people. Women are powerful and smart, and this book shows that no matter what the circumstances we need to work to prove ourselves.

We see three women with completely different backgrounds who are all fighting to establish a place in this world and make something of themselves. And the beautiful lesson here is that success can look different for everyone. It can be getting recognized at work, being a leader, or finding people who appreciate and care for you. This world is tough and we’re all trying to find our way — that’s what I think makes Queens of London so special.