"A thrilling and multi-layered story of trickery and deception, truth and lies, poverty and riches, that is sheer delight from start to finish. Alex Hay has created a searing anti-heroine in a world painted with all the sumptuous color and brooding darkness of the late 1800s. Absolutely enthralling!" --Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal "Rich in delicious detail and enticing prose, while terrifically fast-paced, Alex Hay's The Queen of Fives has stolen my heart! All the stars to this brilliant follow-up to The Housekeepers. Put simply, I am in awe of Alex's talent." --Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates "Alex Hay has plotted another stylish and masterful scheme. The Queen of Fives is a ripper of a historical thriller: high stakes, high society and high drama, with a gleaming cast of characters and a game that keeps you guessing till the last. Hay's writing is a sheer joy, brimming with delightful Victorian detail. This is a must-read.
Five stars for The Queen of Fives!" --Kate Foster, author of The Maiden "Audacious, cunning, quick-witted--this is a jewel of a book from the seriously talented Alex Hay. I was rooting for the Queen of Fives from the very first line." --Louise Candlish, author of The Other Passenger "A period piece, a full-throttle thriller, and a masterclass in characterization: Historical fiction doesn't get more exciting than this." --Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said "Bridgerton meets The Sting in this effervescent offering from Hay. Hay has conceived of a wholly original take on Victorian London and populated it with a gallery of colorful underworld types. The plotting will have readers on the edges of their seats as one twist after another sets the stage for a series of jaw-dropping revelations. This literary confection is a delectable treat." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "This is a rollicking adventure through upper-crust, historical British society, with deceit, double-crossing, and twisty intrigue that will keeps readers guessing through the explosive final act.
" --Booklist "[C]lever. Hay is especially strong on character. As the entertaining twists pile up, a case could be made that, like the characters in the book, we're all tricksters. And that the biggest trick we play is fooling ourselves that we aren't." --The Minnesota Star Tribune "The Queen of Fives is a well-plotted and intelligent novel with more than a few delightful twists to keep the reader hooked. While Quinn Le Blanc is a strong anti-hero whose living subsists on lies, author Alex Hay gifts her character with enough pathos to engender sympathy and make her relatable." --Los Angeles Book Review (5 stars).