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.

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.

A joy. A tight plot, interesting characters and a real sense of time and place. I devoured this, loved the twists and turns, the dark corners, the high stakes, deceptions and daring. Pure escapism, deliciously written and a good ending.

What a twisty, breathtaking read! The story was incredibly well-plotted, like a brilliantly choreographed dance; I had no idea who to trust or how the events were going to end. It was refreshing to read a book that was so thoroughly unpredictable. The characters, setting and historical detail were all excellent and I was rooting for Quinn from the start even though she was an unconventional heroine. I’m looking forward to seeing what Alex Hay does next!

Alex Hay has done it again! If possible, I liked this even more than The Housekeepers. What a genius - I can't wait to read what he writes next!