By 
Heather Webb, the Author of Queens of London has written a captivating and intriguing novel. The genres for this book are Historical Fiction, Crime, British Literature, and Fiction. The timeline is set around 1925 in London, after World War One, when women gangs committed crimes to live in a better way. “Diamond Annie” is lead of a women’s gang and is called “Queen of the Forty Elephants”. The well organized women steal from fancy department stores and then have “fences” sell the merchandise. At the same time, Officer Lilian Wyles, is assigned to to capture the leader and women, as well as any orphans she sees. Lilian is not taken seriously in a man’s world and often the other male officers don’t show her the respect she should receive.She is determined to change that. Dorothy is the best saleswoman in a high class department store, and the other women and her male boss have the impression, she is not bright, because of her attractiveness and friendly nature. Dorothy is extremely creative and draws pictures of dresses and accessories, but when she shows them to her Boss and others, they ignore her talents. Hira is a young Indian girl who runs away from an abusive and manipulative Uncle. Hira knows the best of everything, and has been tutored. Unfortunately she now lives on the streets.
I love how Heather Webb vividly describes the setting, plot, and the dramatic and colorful characters . All of the female characters show courage fighting for their goals in a man’s world, and society. There is looting, stealing, rioting, threats, danger, secrets, betrayals,bribery and suspense. I appreciate how Heather Webb brings attention of abuse, discrimination, inequality of class, prejudice, poverty, and entitlement. I loved everything about this well written book and highly recommend this to other readers.
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