Ari Reviews: The Forty Elephants – Erin Bledsoe

Based on a true story, The Forty Elephants takes the reader into the dark underworld of 1920’s London and the all girl gang called the “Forty Elephants” whom the main character Alice Diamond becomes part of. In the beginning of the book we meet Alice who is struggling to support her family, survive the world of crime & violence, and keep her family’s legacy in running the “Mint” neighborhood where they live in London. When Alice’s father ends up in jail and also learns her brother has gotten himself in a bad situation causing him to owe debt to the McDonald family who is a powerful gang that has strong connections throughout London. Alice is pressured to save her family and keep the Mint thriving at all costs until her father returns from jail. When Alice reconnects with an old friend named Maggie from her past , she learns that Maggie has been running with a group of women called “The Forty Elephants” which is run by Mary Carr who is a well known thief in the city along with the McDonald family . Maggie informs Alice that Mary is interested in her becoming part of the group. Alice would have to pass a series of tests as well as follow protocols that Mary has set for each of the women to follow in order to prove her worth to them. Alice decides to go against her father’s rules and philosophy in never joining a gang to pursue Mary’s offer in joining them. Alice takes this opportunity in order to help her family from harm and assist her brother in paying his debt even if it means going against her father’s advice. Alice comes into the world of luxury and all the things she never had in her life in the Mint. However, even though Alice is robbing the finest department stores in London and obtaining the riches and lifestyle she never had before, there will be a price to pay. Alice encounters a conflict that could risk losing all she loves, her hard work to protect her family’s neighborhood, and who she is as an individual prior to joining The Forty Elephants. Will Alice keep her family legacy alive and protected? Will Alice lose herself to the new life she chose with the cost she ends up discovering it is all not what it seems to be? You will need to read more to see what happens to Alice and solve the answers to these questions. I enjoyed reading this historical fiction book because it had a great plot full of action and mystery to it. I loved that it was set in the 1920s which is one of my favorite time periods. The book also showed the glamor and underworld of crime during this time period as well. It was a very fast read and each chapter got more intense with the plot as you read on and it made you want to keep on reading more to see what would happen to Alice and all the choices and situations she encountered throughout the book. This is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction, crime stories, stories set in the 1920’s, and mystery books.