The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay is a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable read that grabbed my attention from the very first page. The story is fast-paced and brimming with energy, making it impossible to step away for long. Alex Hay’s writing style is sharp, immersive, and perfectly balanced between plot-driven action and rich character development.
What stood out most to me was how the tension built so naturally with each chapter ended with just enough intrigue you will find it hard to put the book down. The twists were clever without feeling forced, and the pacing kept the momentum going right to the final scene.
This is the kind of book whilst building anticipation it also makes you care about the characters and their fates. If you enjoy well-crafted, high-energy stories with a dash of unpredictability, then The Queen of Fives will not disappoint.
A fantastic read which I highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline, and Alex Hay for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A female hustler in Victorian London, where nothing is what it seems.
Quinn le Blanc, London’s most talented con woman, has five days to pull off her most ambitious plot by trapping a highly eligible duke into marriage and lifting a fortune from the richest family in England.
While I didn't find it very believable, I did love the mostly unpredictable twists and turns.
It was good fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed this unusual caper.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

An excellent book that I could not put down!! The story is heart warming and very entertaining. The author has written in a style that is captivating and you can imagine being there with the characters.

Another absoultely fabulous book from Alex Hay. Keeps you hooked to the end, really couldn't put it down. The main character is a hustler with her crew and if possible, and I didn't think it would be, it's better than the Housekeepers.

Fast paced, can't put down book thats amusing, a thriller, a crime novel and an historical setting all in one. Can't wait for Alex hay's next book. 5 star rating (would have 6 stars if allowed!)

Quite boring and not at all what I expected. The pace was quite slow, and at times too slow. I really wanted to like this but was quite disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wasn't convinced at first but glad I stuck with it. As characters & story developed it became harder to put this one down. Must admit by a third of the way in I had an idea who I suspected and by half way through was convinced, and turd out I was right. However the twists towards the end were masterful & have to say it was a very enjoyable read.

A con woman tries to capture an eligible bachelor in Victorian London. Hay's second novel is good but not great - similar enough to The Housekeepers to draw in fans but not as unique and self-assured. The plot is pacy and understandably complicated, with a strong main character in Quinn, but it lacked a certain spark thaat ultimately made the entire book feel flat.

The Queen of Fives is based around fictional.character Quinn Le Blanc, a Victorian fortune hunter and con artist who is employed to bring wealthy men into disrepute

Its a fun story with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. An easy read, something different for fans of historical fiction

This is an excellent book which twists and turns. It’s based on a confidence scheme, whereby Quin Le Blanc has fives days to manage to marry an earl… and steal his fortune. I was gripped by the plot where nothing is ever quite what it seems and each chapter unravels another layer.

The premise of this book was so intriguing and drew me kn, unfortunately the execution wasn't so great. I found it a jot complicated to follow. Maybe because I had such high expectations but I just felt a bit flat after reading it.

Three and a half stars.

Quinn Le Blanc is the Queen of Fives, sort of head of a group of con-artists of the highest order with strict rules of engagement, including that no con can last longer than five days. A bit like the TV series Hustle, Quinn and her crew only target the evil, the corrupt, the cheaters. But things haven't been going well for a long time, she is sinking deeper into debt and needs to pull off a big con to re-establish herself. Quinn decides to raise her aim from cheating bankers and stockbrokers to the Duke of Kendal, reputedly one of the wealthiest men in England and also, allegedly, a depraved man who unsavoury personal proclivities. Quinn decides to play the False Heiress con, pretend to be a wealthy heiress, get engaged to the Duke, and then vanish into thin air with lots of his lovely wealth.

Unfortunately, all is not what it seems in the House of Kendal and there is another player on the scene, someone who wants to be the Queen of Fives, spoiling Quinn's plans.

The other week I reviewed the third book in Anthony Horowitz's excellent Susan Ryeland series and remarked that it was easier to follow the story reading than I found it watching the series on TV. Well I think this would be easier to watch on TV or in a film that it is to read - you know when in the Ocean's Eleven films they show you flashbacks to reveal how the con was performed - like that. As it was, reading it the twists felt too implausible and difficult to follow. Also, keeping the identity of Quinn's nemesis a secret required a lot of convoluted shenanigans and I'm not sure it really worked - I also suspect the timeline wouldn't work.

Overall, not really Bridgerton, maybe more steampunk meets Oceans Twelve or Thirteen (ie not the best one).

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Great twists but not my favourite book I've read, I did struggle with the amount of characters and the very slow pace. DNF at 44%

In this fun bit of historical fiction we meet Quinn Le Blanc – the reigning “Queen of Fives” – known for her ability to pull of elaborate confidence tricks. When she hatches a plan to seduce and marry the notorious Lord Kendal within five days, she must draw on all her resources to pull off the biggest con of her career.

The characters in this novel are great – from Quinn and the Duke, to his rebellious sister and enigmatic stepmother. There are plenty of twists and turns, and some fun surprises along the way. The plot licks along at a nice pace, and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a caper!

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

I found this to be a captivating read, although it took some time to fully engage with. However, once I did, I found it to be truly excellent. A cleverly written Victorian-era novel, filled with intriguing scandal, betrayal, masquerades, and a powerful climax. Alex Hay consistently delivers exceptional works, and this one is no exception; it's unique, entertaining, and delightfully quirky. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical dramas.

Thank you for this ARC.
I really wanted to enjoy this and I did parts of it but it was a bit one dimensional.
Not one I would recommend,

An historical thriller is right up my alley and this book is one I couldn't put down. Set in Victorian London this is a book that took me back through the ages and kept me enthralled throughout. The pacing was perfect and kept me on my toes and the characters worked perfectly, Quinn Le Blanc being an intriguing con-woman and the perfect match for this story.

Well written, a wonderfully thrilling read and one I would highly recommend. Twisty, interesting, fun, fast and very readable. Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

After having loved this author’s debut novel - The Housekeepers - I was keen to dive into his latest novel, The Queen of Fives. I was delighted to discover another hugely entertaining read! This book is a wonderful historical fiction novel that brilliantly blends suspense, ambition, deception and intrigue. Set in Victorian London, the story follows Quinn Le Blanc, a fearless con artist determined to outwit England’s elite. With a plan as bold as it is dangerous, Quinn aims to marry into the aristocracy and claim a fortune, all while navigating a web of secrets and betrayals. The writing is vibrant and immersive which really brings 19th-century London to life with its opulent details and shadowy underside. It has a nice steady pace, and a plot full of clever twists that held my attention from start to finish. This novel shines not only in its gripping storyline but also in its rich character development. Every figure, from the cunning Quinn to the enigmatic members of high society, felt brilliantly crafted. With themes of power, deception, and resilience it’s a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The Queen of Fives is a great read for fans of historical fiction and thrillers alike. With its thrilling plot and unforgettable heroine, it makes Alex Hay a standout voice in this genre.

I loved The Housekeepers and this book from Alex Hay didn’t disappoint.
Fantastic story and an original concept- very much recommend

This was an interesting read, I found it hard to get into but once I did it was really good. A clever novel based in Victorian times, plenty of scandal, betrayal, masquerades and power being the ultimate climax.
Alex Hay always produces great reads and this was different, entertaining and quirky
I would recommend to anyone liking historical dramas

Quinn Leblanc is the Queen of Fives inheritor to an underground Victorian Kingdom built of secrets and deception but times are changing and with it her fortunes. She risks it all on one last roll of the dice and her target: the extremely rich, extremely insular Kendal family. Quinn sets herself up as the diamond of the season in an attempt to catch the first son of the family and take him for a large chunk of change but unknown to Quinn there’s pretender to her throne lurking in the shadows and determined to scupper everything Quinn has worked for. This was a right romp, it ripped along at smart pace, there’s multiple view points to keep it interesting and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It smart and twisty with just the right amount of heart. Excellent capers.