Queen of Fives – Hay Alex (2025)

Nothing is quite as it seems in Victorian high society in this twisty and original novel from the author of The Housekeepers. They whisper her name in every corner of town: the lady with a hundred faces and a thousand lives. Five moves, five days—for such are the rules of her game. In 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 take a fortune from the richest family in England. Masquerading as a wealthy debutante, Quinn becomes the jewel of the season. Her brilliant performance opens the doors to grand drawing rooms and lavish balls, taking her into the inner circle of her target, the corrupt and charismatic Kendals. But as she moves in and out of their world, Quinn becomes entangled in a dangerous web of love, lies and loyalty. The Kendal family has secrets of its own, and Quinn may not be the only one playing a game of high deception. A period piece, full-throttle thriller and masterclass in characterisation, this novel combines Victorian skulduggery and high society with twists, high stakes and a cast of characters who keep everyone guessing.