Quinn Le Blanc is a conwoman and has just 5 days to convince a man she hasn't even met yet, the Duke of Kendal, to marry her. The sister is worried she'll lose her home once her brother is married and the step mother wants someone from a wealthier background to marry the Duke

It took me a while to get into this book, a real slow burner and I'm pleased I didn't give up on it as it really grew on me towards the end!!

A lot of twists and turns that I never saw coming

I really loved The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay. In Victorian London, there is a house called the Chateau where the ultimate swindlers live carrying out confidence tricks that follow a particular set of rules. The latest trick is that of the “False Heiress” whereby Quinn Le Blanc sets her sights on marrying a Duke in five days. This is challenging enough but the Duke’s family, the Kendals, have their own secrets and agendas. Not only that, someone is conspiring against the Chateau who holds a grudge from 20 years previous. This is a thrilling, clever and compelling atmospheric mystery that I highly recommend.

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.

I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it as it was a bit of a slow burner at the beginning. I persevered though and I'm really glad I did as I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was full of twists and turns rather like a poker game and I was sorry when I turned the final page. Well worth reading.

I got this from NetGalley partly because the blurb sounded interesting but also because I'd read The Housekeepers (also through NetGalley) by the same author.  Both books are about con artists in 19th century London so obviously a plot that this author feels comfortable with.  I only rated The Housekeepers 2 stars, mainly because it was too slow and had too many characters.  This book has a much smaller cast of characters which is good but it's also quite slow so perhaps pacing issues are something that comes with this author's books. 

There's several aspects that reminded me of The Lies of Locke Lamora, particularly a house which trains young children to be con artists, with a long history of doing so, referring to cons as 'games', giving the cons names, and having a large repertoire of them that has been supplied by the previous heads of the house.  The characters are a bit lacking.  I found Quinn to be a bit annoying and her name seemed to be slightly too unusual to be realistic.  The ending was quite unexpected but mostly because of how ridiculous it was.  It's a shame because the author has some interesting ideas for plots but somehow they don't seem to come off overly well.  

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy to review.

Quinn Le Blanc has five days to pull off her most daring con to date, convincing the Duke of Kendal to marry her. As if that wasn't hard enough to do to a man she hasnt even met yet, she has five days to do it in and her quarry has sworn off marriage in a pact with his sister. But when his stepmother unexpectedly shows interest in making a match for the Duke, it is clear that she wants anyone but Quinn. Can Quinn and her trusted friends pull of this con without being caught and secure the fortune they need.

This was a great read that felt a bit like Bridgerton meets Leverage! Fast-paced with a great cast of characters, well worth a read if historical fiction is your bag!

An enjoyable page turner with a cast of interesting characters. I was transported to Victorian London and was kept engrossed by the quick pace of the story and all the twists and turns.
Quinn is a con artist, who has five days to marry an eligible bachelor. She has set her sights on the Kendall family, who have their own secrets. Quinn knows how to win a game, but this is the hardest one she has played and she may not be the only player with a stake in it.
I was sent a copy of the book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Another dose of deception and intrigue from the author of The Housekeepers. Rereading my review of that novel, I could almost repeat it word for word for this follow up. The cast of characters and plot lines are different, but the essence of the story is much the same, mischief is afoot and money and influence are still the driving force. There are the usual twists and turns, with foul play ever threatening, but it is still an entertaining page turner.

I love the Alex Hay books that I’ve read. They, and this one too, are multifaceted capers. You see the puzzles laid out, the players are slowly introduced and the shenanigans start. Yet how the main character(s) are going to win the day isn’t clear. And then you get the reveal. And I’m once again satisfied with the whole reading experience. Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Another great romp through the underworld of Victorian London from Alex Hay Quinn le Blanc is a con woman who sets out to ensnare a rich gentleman in marriage to access his fortune. She is a likeable female protagonist with a dry sense of humour. The rules are 5 moves within 5 days. Its pacey, humorous and witty. A great book for fans of not too hewvy historical fiction

Fast paced with beautifully vivid descriptions of Victorian London, I found this an exciting and enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This is an extremely fast-paced novel with lots of intrigue and mystery, and which I enjoyed immensely. Most of the main characters are well developed, and I suspect that the few caricatures were intended to be such. I had my suspicions by a third of the way through, and couldn't put the book down until I reached the end, which I think is a bit rushed. I would love to know what the future held for them all!

A very unusual story. Deception, intrigue and secrets. The history of the academy and the queen of fives. Finding the mark, setting up the scam and following it through to conclusions.
A multi layered story that unfolds like a flower as the story progresses.
Enjoy I did.

A humorous cat and mouse novel which at times has echoes of the Netflix series Bridgerton. The plot centers around the quick thinking, strategist Quinn Le Blanc. As the current queen of La Chateau (queen of the con), she has five days in which to pull off a scheme that will pay off the house’ debts.

Her loyal sidekick Mr. Silk and former teacher in confidence Mrs. Airlie are enlisted to assist her in performing the most daring of tricks to date. Quinn must get the Duke of Kendal to marry her in five days before she ultimately steals his fortune. This is no easy task given that the duke has sworn to bachelordom. However, it’s approaching the end of the season and for some reason his stepmother wants to make a match for him with anyone other than Quinn.

Hay produces a fast-paced novel which easily glides between the past and present, interlacing twists and vendettas to create a thoroughly enjoyable read. While Quinn believes she is in control of the game there is a foreboding figure constantly presiding over her affairs. One wonders whose game is actually being played.

There are plenty of moments of absolute magic as we are given hilarious insights into the behaviour and description of Victorian high society.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

I thoughly enjoyed this novel set in Victorian London. Quinn Le Banc is a con-artist who aims to snare a duke into marriage. I loved the period detail and the rich cast of characters. Following the complexities of the plot required some concentration. Overall, this is a fast-paced, witty and fun read.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Another fast-paced belter of a book from Alex Hay. Cleverly crafted plot lines that follow Quinn Le Blanc, queen of cons and mistress of deception, as she undertakes the grandest plan of her life. Loved the untrustworthiness of the characters and revelled in their shenanigans.
Superb.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

This was a nice easy read about a Victorian con woman. The characters were easy to become attached to. Written really well with an ending I didn't expect

The Queen of Fives is a hustler in a long dress and bound by the conventions of society- on a mission to land (or maybe not land) a peer and his money.
The characters of Silk, Quinn, Willoughby and Kendal are extremely effective, with each a well rounded and very different being, from the weasellyness of Willoughby to the jaded and worn Silk and the feisty Quinn the Duke didn't really stand a chance.
I found the ending a little rushed with a seeming desperation to unveil the villain and have them complete their dastardly side-plot- a little more time for the reveal would have been good but overall a great read!

Imagine Bridgerton crossed with Hustle (only 10 times better!) and you have an idea of the delights ahead in The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay.
I absolutely loved this storyline from the opening paragraph to the final line.
Though set in the Victorian era, rather than Regency times, the expected behaviour and class lines are still very much in place, providing a perfect opening for Quinn Le Blanc, the Queen of Fives, aka the reigning Queen of Cons in London to play a classic fraud. Quinn runs La Chateau, the home of cons in London. Quinn has decided to play one of the mosts dangerous cons of all, to pretend to be an heiress to ensnare the wealthy, and single Duke of Kendal in marriage, with the intention of stealing of his fortune. There's just one rather major catch - the con must be completed in 5 days. Oh and there is a mysterious figure watching her.
The story moves at a fast-pace, commencing on the infamous day five, and then jumping back in time to explain how Quinn has reached this point and the delicate web of relationships that could come crashing down at any moment and cost Quinn, not just her reputation but also her life.
I did need to keep my focus on the clever intricacies of the relationships and levels of con artistry at play in the storyline, but this was not a hardship as I loved the story so much and couldn't wait to get back to reading it. A full five stars and I'd love another adventure with Quinn Le Blanc.

Alex Hay’s The Queen of Fives is an exhilarating blend of Victorian intrigue and con artistry, described as Bridgerton meets The Sting. The novel follows Quinn Le Blanc, a cunning con woman navigating the glitz and deception of 1898 London. Her ambitious plot involves infiltrating high society under the guise of an heiress to ensnare the wealthy Duke of Kendal in marriage—and ultimately steal his fortune.

Hay’s storytelling is fast-paced and layered with twists, as Quinn faces challenges not just from the Duke’s family but also from her own growing complications with the target. The plot is crafted with tension and wit, offering surprising revelations that keep readers engaged until the final page. The richly drawn Victorian setting adds to the novel’s charm, with vibrant descriptions of high society and its underbelly.

While the book is largely praised for its creativity and entertainment value, its complexity might require careful attention to follow the intricacies of Quinn’s schemes. Nevertheless, The Queen of Fives is a thrilling, smartly written tale of deception and ambition.