The Queen of Fives

a gripping historical mystery with a thrilling twist

Alex Hay

$24.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Headline Review
14 October 2025

Historical mysteries

'Imagine Bridgerton crossed with Hustle (only 10 times better!)' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

'Scoundrously entertaining, I loved everything about it' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

'One major plot twist had me actually shouting at the book' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

'Fast-paced, witty and fun' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

'Be prepared to read fully into the night' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

Nothing is quite as it seems in Victorian high society, in the twisty and original new novel from the author of THE HOUSEKEEPERS...

'Sheer delight from start to finish' Janice Hallett

'Hay keeps the pages turning and the reader guessing' The Times

'As fiendishly clever as its characters' Jennie Godfrey

They whisper her name in every corner of town. The lady with a hundred faces, a thousand lives.

Five moves, five days - for such are the rules of her game.

1898. Quinn Le Blanc, London's most talented con woman, has five days to pull off the seemingly impossible: trick an eligible duke into marriage and lift a fortune from the richest family in England.

Masquerading as a wealthy debutante, Quinn is the jewel of the season. Her brilliant act opens doors to the grand drawing rooms and lavish balls of high society - and propels her into the inner circle of her target: the corrupt, charismatic Kendals.

But as she spins in and out of their world, Quinn becomes tangled in a dangerous web of love, lies and loyalty. The Kendal family all have secrets of their own, and she may not be the only one playing a game of high deception...

---

'A dangerous game... delivered with fabulous aplomb' Daily Mail

'Audacious, cunning, quick-witted' Louise Candlish

'A period piece, a full-throttle thriller and a masterclass in characterisation - historical fiction doesn't get more exciting than this' Erin Kelly

'A fabulous mix of Victorian skullduggery and high society, full of twists that keep you turning the pages' Katy Watson

Praise for THE HOUSEKEEPERS:

'The perfect holiday read' Guardian

'Punch-the-air good' Kiran Millwood Hargrave

'Delightfully mischievous' The Times

'Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith' Erin Kelly

'Impressive' Sunday Times

'Kept me hooked 'til the last page' Jennifer Saint

By: Alex Hay
Imprint: Headline Review
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm,
ISBN: 9781035414338
ISBN 10: 1035414333
Pages: 416
Publication Date: 14 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Alex Hay grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff and has been writing as long as he can remember. He studied History at the University of York, and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector, and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Write Your Novel course. His debut novel The Housekeepers won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022 and was published to great critical acclaim. Alex lives with his husband in South East London

Reviews for The Queen of Fives: a gripping historical mystery with a thrilling twist

There are mysteries piled upon enigmas in this rollicking tale...Hay keeps the pages turning and the reader guessing... great fun * The Times * 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 The Queen of Fives is as fiendishly clever as its characters, an atmospheric novel with real heart and depth -- Jennie Godfrey A dangerous game... delivered with fabulous aplomb * Daily Mail * 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 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... sheer joy, brimming with delightful Victorian detail. This is a must read. Five stars for the Queen of Fives! -- Kate Foster A period piece, a full-throttle thriller and a masterclass in characterisation - historical fiction doesn't get more exciting than this -- Erin Kelly