The Queen of Fives

A Novel

by Alex Hay

On Sale: 01/21/2025

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The Queen of Fives

A Novel

by Alex Hay

On Sale: 01/21/2025

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Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

Nothing is quite as it seems in Victorian high society in this clever novel set against the most magnificent wedding of the season, as a mysterious heiress sets her sights on London's most illustrious family

A confidence scheme, when properly executed, will follow five movements in close and inviolable order:

I. The Mark II. The Intrusion. III. The Ballyhoo. IV. The Knot. V. All In.

There may be many counter-strikes along the way, for such is the nature of the game; it contains so many sides, so many endless possibilities...

1898. Quinn le Blanc, London’s most talented con woman, has five days to pull off her most ambitious plot yet: trap a highly eligible duke into marriage and lift a fortune from the richest family in England.

Masquerading as the season’s most enviable debutante, Quinn puts on a brilliant act that earns her entrance into the grand drawing rooms and lavish balls of high society—and propels her straight into the inner circle of her target: the charismatic Kendals. Among those she must convince are the handsome bachelor heir, the rebellious younger sister, and the esteemed duchess eager to see her son married.

But the deeper she forges into their world, the more Quinn finds herself tangled in a complicated web of love, lies, and loyalty. The Kendals all have secrets of their own, and she may not be the only one playing a game of high deception...

Critical Praise

“A thrilling and multi-layered story of trickery and deception, truth and lies, poverty and riches, that is sheer delight from start to finish. Alex Hay has created a searing anti-heroine in a world painted with all the sumptuous color and brooding darkness of the late 1800s. Absolutely enthralling!”
—Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal

“Rich in delicious detail and enticing prose, while terrifically fast-paced, Alex Hay’s The Queen of Fives has stolen my heart! All the stars to this brilliant follow-up to The Housekeepers. Put simply, I am in awe of Alex’s talent.”
—Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

“Alex Hay has plotted another stylish and masterful scheme. The Queen of Fives is a ripper of a historical thriller: high stakes, high society and high drama, with a gleaming cast of characters and a game that keeps you guessing till the last. Hay’s writing is a sheer joy, brimming with delightful Victorian detail. This is a must-read. Five stars for The Queen of Fives!”
—Kate Foster, author of The Maiden

“Audacious, cunning, quick-witted—this is a jewel of a book from the seriously talented Alex Hay. I was rooting for the Queen of Fives from the very first line.”
—Louise Candlish, author of The Other Passenger

“A period piece, a full-throttle thriller, and a masterclass in characterization: Historical fiction doesn’t get more exciting than this.”
—Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said

“Bridgerton meets The Sting in this effervescent offering from Hay…. Hay has conceived of a wholly original take on Victorian London and populated it with a gallery of colorful underworld types. The plotting will have readers on the edges of their seats as one twist after another sets the stage for a series of jaw-dropping revelations. This literary confection is a delectable treat.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This is a rollicking adventure through upper-crust, historical British society, with deceit, double-crossing, and twisty intrigue that will keeps readers guessing through the explosive final act.”
—Booklist -