I really enjoyed reading Alex Hay’s first book The Housekeepers so was very interested in reading this. The first thing I have to say is that this is a novel where you really need to concentrate, there are a few different narrators, all who have a big role in this novel. Not one of them wanted the same outcome and I didn’t trust a single one of them.
A wealthy family and a handful of people who want some of their fortune, all any of them seemed interested in was the money. I felt that the Duke and his sister, Tor, were close but I had a feeling that they would betray each other if it benefited them.
Quinn is the outsider who has made it her mission to get her hands on some of their money and the way she will do that is to marry the duke within a deadline of five days. She has help from a few that she trusts, in particular Mr Silk who I have to admit is one of my favourite characters in the novel. If only for the reason that he is probably the only one who has a conscience.
This author shows the Victorian era in a completely different way to what you would expect from a historical novel. The women aren’t silent, invisible and incapable of making a decision. They are vocal, brave and can run rings around most of the men. They know exactly what they want and how to get it. The men, especially the Duke and Mr Silk. aren’t ignorant of the women in their lives. They appeared to be more respectful and somewhat fearful. It made very entertaining reading.
Whilst these were characters I loved reading about they weren’t easy to like, they were con artists. But I knew that before I started. I was however taken aback by how duplicitous some were. There was a lot I didn’t see as I read and I feel I now need to reread.
This was a wonderfully entertaining second novel by Alex Hay. I have no idea what he will do next.

I did manage to plug through about a third of this book before giving up. It just didn't grab me at all

A gripping thriller featuring Quinn Le Blanc a con artist known as the Lady, infamous throughout the city, from the genteel drawing rooms of the ton to the the less than salubrious corners of Victorian London. But what they don’t know is the chatelaine of the chateau is down on her luck and needs a big score to refill her coffers and return her to the heady heights she’s used to. Her chosen mark is the Duke of Kendal, supposedly one of the wealthiest peers of the land, her aim to trick him into marriage with a five day deadline to land her whale but in the words of Walter Scott 'Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive, Quinn is about to find out there may be more players in the game than she knows and one who knows the game as well as if not better than she does.

The overall story was absorbing and atmospheric, albeit one that was slow to begin with, however it did pick up its pace as event began to unfold and secrets were revealed. I want so much to love this book and while I enjoyed the premise of the plot, I really didn’t take to the character of Quinn. I did however enjoy the Kendal brother and sister, Max and Victoria who had my sympathy as a victim of the era, born first but dependent on her brother on whether she could stay in their family home. It pains me to say this as someone who generally prefers books to television, but I think with The Queen of Fives the opposite may be true, and this is one book I would love to see a TV adaptation of. I honestly think I might prefer it.

It was a great mystery/thriller novel what I liked the most was the originality of the story and the setting.
It was slow at the beginning and then I was so invested in the story which made me want to know what was going to happen next.
I highly recommend to give it a shot.
Thank you NetGalley for this early E-ARC .

When Bridgerton meets the Hustle with a side of Sherlock Holmes. The game is a foot!

I cannot believe that this book only spans over 5 days, so much happens! A plot to ensnare a marriage within 5 days to the Duke of Kendal!!

What a brilliant novel where the twists kept coming! The intrigue, the mystery, the plot - it was all fantastic! I didn't want it to end but also couldn't wait to get to the end to find out all the mysteries.

The juxtaposition of all the different characters POVs, with their competing actions and wishes really made the tension grow throughout the story, with the setbacks and the side characters coming to end the game.

Alex Hay is a fantastic writer and I cannot wait to read his other novel as well as anything else that gets released.

Well done!

I loved the authors previous book The Housekeepers so I very eager to read The Queen of Fives. Victorian London is one of my favourite book setting. The concept is a good idea but it didn't quite grab me like the last book, I'm also not sure historical fiction is the right genre for it. 3.5/5

Quinn Le Blanc is a con artist who sets out to ensnare a Duke to marry her within a set time limit. Quinn along with Silk, find a mark that is suitable for the con. However, all is not right within the Duke's family, which Quinn discovers to her detriment. I found myself routing for Quinn all the way through the story. It's a entertaining, fast paced read with a few humorous moments!! I hope we see Quinn come back in another book.

"The Queen of Fives" is Alex Hay's second novel set in Victorian London. Once again we get glimpses of the upper echelons of society as well as those struggling to make a living, either in service or on the streets. The tale revolves around Quinn. a confidence trickster, and her entourage. She is the current Queen of Fives and all confidence tricks take place over a period of only 5 days. The trick this time is known as False Heiress.

There are many wonderful characters in this novel, with some especially strong women including Quinn, Mrs Airlie and Victoria. Many of the men are not to be trusted but a couple come good in the end. The plot is twisty and complex, and totally enjoyable. Can't wait for the next book from Alex Hay.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved Alex Hay’s The Housekeepers and so was delighted to be offered the opportunity to review his second offering, The Queen of Fives. I loved this even more than I hoped I would. It truly was a fun, tense, historical drama romp! I loved the descriptions of all the characters and the place settings which were so well written I could picture all the action as I was reading. There was a lot going on with different POV but it was so well executed it was easy to follow. I had to force myself to slow down as I got to the final chapters as I was rushing, desperate to know what was going to happen and how things would work out in the end for each character.

I highly recommend this book and make sure you read the Author’s Notes at the end as they are fascinating.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an eARC of The Queen Of Fives.

Having enjoyed this author’s debut book, The Housekeepers, I have been delighted to discover that his second novel is every bit as good as the first as with skilful manipulation we are drawn into a devilishly clever story of conspiracy and subterfuge. Quinn Le Blanc is the infamous Queen of Fives, a mistress of deception in a long line of female con artists however, being short of money Quinn needs to pull off one of her most audacious confidence tricks. Setting her sights on the wealthy Duke of Kendal, Quinn must entice him into a quick marriage but the stakes are higher than even Quinn could have anticipated.

Deep, dark and filled with secrets of a family in turmoil, Quinn must be able to pull off the subterfuge within the obligatory five days without revealing her true identity however, there are people who have their own agenda, as Quinn soon discovers. I raced through the book with all the eagerness of an amateur sleuth trying, sometime in vain, to put together all the pieces of the complex puzzle which the author blends together so cleverly. There are secrets and lies to be disclosed but before the final pieces of the puzzle click together there is a tremendous adventure to enjoy. The Victorian world comes alive with all its dark and complex ways, and as we sit in the grand drawing rooms alongside Quinn so we get embroiled in her world of deception, intrigue and deadly danger. And as Quinn enters the world of high society, a place so riddled with secrets, it soon becomes impossible to see where the truth ends and the lies begins.

Intricately plotted, and with a feisty protagonist at its heart, The Queen of Fives is every bit as good as I hoped it would be. I look forward to reading more exciting historical fiction from this talented writer.

I was given an ARC of The Queen of Fives from Netgalley and Headline (thank you), and I was very happy to have it because I loved The Housekeepers when I read it last year.

Quinn Le Blanc is a con artist from the Chateau, a place with rulebooks to ensure that the scams run are always original and always work. But, what starts out as a system is subverted by a shadowy figure out for revenge. The whole plot is an elaborate, scheming double-cross which seems to get more and more involved, until everything blows apart... I would describe this book as exciting and enthralling, I just couldn't wait to find out what happened next, and I tore through it.

I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley and am grateful for the opportunity to read it.
I read Alex Hays previous novel The Housekeepers and looking back on that review feel like this might be more of the same.
This book is Set in Victorian London with the Rich and privileged and those who would like to be in their shoes.
Quinn le Blanc or Quinta le Blanque hs inherited the title of Queen of Fives. The Role of this titleholder is to create the best Confidence trick with the greatest impact (maybe). Of Course there is another who believes this title to be hers - and is willing to do anything to get it.
The Narrative is a veritable panolopy of events and side players that, as far as I was concerned, became more and more outlandish as the book moved onn. Men turned into women or perhaps it was the other way round - maybe they were just hermaphrodites. Everyone played on both sides and also to their own benefits. It was just too complicated - My head is a shed i have no idea what is occurring in the Author's.
the writing style was difficult, the narrative Jumpy.
The Book is described as Historical fiction - there is little except the time of events (Victorian) that has any relationship to History real or Imagined. I suggest it would sit more easily in Fantasy or even magical Realism Genres

I wanted this book to be over, it was too complicated and frankly unbelievable. There are lots of things in this book that mirror the last offering from this author and I am not sure he will feature on my TBR again

Quinn Le Blanc is the Queen of Fives, a confidence trickster in Victorian London, who sets her sights on the Duke of Kendal. Enter a world where nothing is quite what it seems.
A measure of how much I'm enjoying a book is how easily I'm distracted by Facebook or TV, in the case of this book I found myself reading more and watching less TV. Although this type of book isn't my favourite genre I found that the the twists and turns of the plot, the mystery of the man in the blue waistcoat and all kicked off with the whole story starting with the penultimate scene and then going back to the beginning really grabbed my attention. If you enjoy a good mystery you'll love this book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This book is really a master class in deception. I fairly had my eyes opened by the planning behind the Queen of Fives process of securing their operational target and the level of support that was required.

The main character, Quinn was brilliant. I loved how she managed to "think on her feet" as circumstances surprisingly changed.

Her lieutenant Mr Silk was also impressive in a supporting role - what a guy!

My third favourite was "Tor" - what an amazing lady!!

This book is an entertaining read that almost forces you to turn each page faster. I normally would not read this genre of books but I am glad I did.

A really great book to read, extremely original in ideas, which is always brilliant to find.
Some wonderfully captivating and twists and turns, which was obviously well plotted out. Excellent research. There were fantastic characters who were were so well crafted that they were quite believable, in their own weird and wonderful ways.
I do find that I can predict what is going to happen in most books, so it was lovely to find myself surprised and captivated several times.
The denouement was quite brilliant, and the way it linked back through the book was a delight to uncover.
For someone who is not normally interested in historical novels, I find myself hoping that this clever author will continue!

I was asked by NetGalley to review

Wow what a story.

Victorian London- a woman con artist - going for the top - attemps to marry a Duke and gain a fortune from one of Englands richest family.

Sound like I have summed this up - no as with most plans they dont go as planned and the readers is taken a journey through Victorian England with society, social standing and all the restrictions of the times

Loved this book and recommended - due for publication 30 January 2025.

I really enjoyed Alex Hay’s first book, The Housekeepers, and was excited to receive a copy of this from NetGalley. The Queen of Fives is the ultimate con artist, living in luxury in Victorian London. It’s a title given the the best but the current incumbent, Quinn, has fallen on hard times, bills are mounting up and in order to restore herself to glory, she must pull off a five move con, and be married to a rich duke. In five days.
Quinn, the current queen is ably assisted by Mrs Airley, who has responsibility for a group of girls who are also all working hustles. Quinn also has help from a faithful servant, Silk, who plays a pivotal role in preparing the ground for the plan. What Quinn doesn’t know is that there are forces conspiring against her from the start. Can she pull off this coup, or will she be thwarted and left ruined?
The hustle, and the timeline, creates a pacy plot. Like in The Housekeepers, you find yourself rooting for the criminal to succeed. Theres a lot to think about in terms of women’s place in society and freedom. Great stuff.

Thank you to @randomthingstours for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Alex’s previous book so was super excited to read this one. It was brilliant, it grabbed hold of me at the start and didn’t let me go till it was done.

Quinn is the Queen Of Fives, and needs a new trick. She finds one in the Duke and has 5 days, as per the rules, to pull it off. Does she or will all tumble down? There seems to be a few people working against her, namely the man in the blue waistcoat. I changed my mind about 3 times who that was, and didn’t get it until the big reveal! So well disguised throughout, it was difficult to stick to one person it may be. I loved Mr Silk and felt for him at times too, a strong character that really came into his own.

Amazingly well written, gripping and intriguing, everything you want from a historical fiction novel that could be set at any time really! Can’t wait for more from this author.

I enjoyed this book, Quinn is the Queen of Fives, living on her wits according to the rules of the Chateau with her sidekick Silk.
Their recent scams haven't gone well so they start a new plot for Quinn to marry the Duke of Kendal. Quinn calls in all her favours to get an introduction and the game is on.
There are lots of characters in the book, all wheeling and dealing and often double crossing.
It was quite fun but got a bit chaotic towards the end when there was so much going on.
Enjoyable

The Queen of Fives, 1890s con woman extraordinaire Quinn sets her sights on reclusive Max Duke of Kendal. Can she land her mark and walk away with his fortune?

Twisty and turny, atmospheric and suspenseful.

A good romp of a book.

Thanks to NewGalley for the advance copy to review.