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!

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.

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.

A book that is entertaining, intriguing and fascinating like Quinn, the FMC. A schema to seduce and bring into marriage a wealthy duke. A game of deception that bring Quinn into a world where everyone wears a mask, deception and lies are a sort of way of living.
Like any good historical romance there a game that can be seduction, deception or something else.
You can read this book as a historical romance, a historical fiction that delivers a dark and vivid image of Victorian aristocracy, and of London underworld.
It’s a page turner and a book you want to read again to discover new sides and layers.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine