THE FORTY ELEPHANTS

Based on the true story of a gang of female shoplifters in 1920s London, this audiobook fictionalizes the criminal success of gang leader Alice Diamond, who rose from poverty to power and luxury. Hannah Curtis portrays Alice's bold audacity in a slightly gritty London accent and provides colorful characterizations of members of her gang. Curtis does well in depicting the tension and violence inherent in the dealings the women had with the men of rival gangs. The storytelling is crisp and clear, but the well-written action would have been better served by a faster pace. When Alice becomes determined to take over the illustrious Forty Elephants gang, she risks not only her family's reputation, but also the lives of the women in her circle. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2022]