Marie

Benedict

Bestselling Historical Novelist

Literary Archeologist

Travels from: Pittsburgh, PA

“Marie is an energetic, engaging speaker who draws readers into history through fascinating real-life characters.” — Medina Library

Marie Benedict is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eight works of historical fiction. A lawyer with more than ten years’ experience at the country’s premiere law firms, she found her calling in unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. Her mission is to excavate from the past the most important, complex and fascinating women of history and bring them into the light of present-day where we can finally perceive the breadth of their contributions as well as the insights they bring to modern day issues.

She is the author of The Only Woman in the Room, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, Carnegie’s Maid, The Other Einstein, Lady Clementine, Agent 355, Her Hidden Genius, The Mitford Affair, Daughter of Egypt and, with Victoria Christopher Murray, the Instant New York Times Bestseller and Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Personal Librarian, The First Ladies and A Pair of Aces. They have been translated into over thirty languages, and her books are often not only Indie Next and Library Reads picks but chosen by national books clubs such a Good Morning America, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Costco.

Marie’s upcoming book, The Witch of Wall Street (March 2027), is the story of the richest woman of the Gilded Age, the brilliant and controversial Hetty Green.

Marie's Featured Titles

The Witch of Wall Street: A Novel of the Gilded Age

St. Martin’s Press |

March 2, 2027

Biographical Historical Fiction

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict comes the story of the richest woman of the Gilded Age, the brilliant and controversial Hetty Green.

The Gilded Age, New York City. Hetty Robinson is not your average young woman. Born into a successful whaling family, her father, Black Hawk Robinson, imbued her with a keen business sense and a drive to succeed from childhood. When it comes time for her to enter society and find a suitable husband, she shocks the social world by rejecting her suitors and deciding to work with her father instead. With Hetty’s brilliance and unique investment strategy, their wealth grows.

Hetty’s heart is eventually captured by the handsome and rich Edward Green, whose ambition matches her own. But after she is betrayed by her husband and her family, causing her to lose almost everything she’s worked for, she comes to believe that happiness will only come from financial success. She strengthens her resolve to make her own fortune and pioneers value investing, beating the giants of Wall Street at their own game, including robber barons like Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and Collis Huntington. Her bitter competitors vilify her as a heartless shrew, pushing the newspapers to dub her “The Witch of Wall Street,” a ruthless woman who will stop at nothing in search of the next dollar.

But while Hetty is determined to win, she is also honest and fair and compassionate, even secretly bailing out New York City more than once. In The Witch of Wall Street, Marie Benedict presents an achingly human portrait of the misunderstood Hetty Green, the richest woman of the Gilded Age―self-made, at that―and a genius.

Fiction, Historical Fiction, History & Biography

A Pair of Aces

Berkley |

June 23, 2026

Biographical Historical Fiction

A gripping novel about two trailblazing women on opposite sides of the law—a prosecutor and a madam—who team up to bring down notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano in 1930s New York, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the million-copy bestseller The Personal Librarian.

Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the mob through its hand in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone.

Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all.

Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.

Feminism, Fiction, Historical Fiction, History & Biography, Mystery & Thriller

Daughter of Egypt: A Novel

St. Martin’s Press |

March 24, 2026

Historical Fiction

Known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense” (People), New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict, returns with a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharoah―rewriting both of their legacies forever.

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert―daughter of Lord Carnarvon―whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary―and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy―or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

The Secrets of Lovelace Academy

Aladdin |

April 22, 2025

Children’s/Middle Grade

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and Courtney Sheinmel comes a historical adventure about a young girl plucked from a London orphanage to begin attending a boarding school with more secrets than she could imagine—perfect for fans of Enola Holmes.

Lainey Philipps has lived at the Sycamore Home for Orphaned Children since she was three years old. Now nearly a teenager, her life is hard, and she doesn’t expect it to get better—until a chance encounter during an open house changes everything when Lainey meets a woman who invites her to attend the prestigious Lovelace Academy.

Fitting in amongst the many privileged students within the ivy-covered walls of Lovelace Academy presents challenges unlike the ones Lainey has faced in the past. Her life of drudgery has hardly prepared her for the aristocratic airs and cutthroat academic ambition of the other girls. Terrified she’ll be cast out of the academy, Lainey grabs at her chance to prove herself by traveling to Switzerland to meet a female scientist crafting a groundbreaking theory.

Determined to prove her capability and reach her destination, Lainey must rely on her own wit—as well as a mysterious boy who has yet to prove himself as friend or foe. But the real test is what awaits her in Switzerland, at the home of Mileva Maric, wife of Albert Einstein.

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade

The Queens of Crime: A Novel

St. Martin’s Press |

February 11, 2025

Historical Fiction

The New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie returns with a thrilling story of Christie’s legendary rival Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a murder, and the power of friendship among women.

London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment.

May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there is an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden.

Inspired by a true story in Sayers’ own life, New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict brings to life the lengths to which five talented women writers will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters as they unpuzzle a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels.

Gender & Sexuality, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Agent 355: A Novella

Open Road Media |

January 16, 2024

Military Romance

A fictional portrayal of a real-life Revolutionary spy and her daring deeds, from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room.

Agent 355 is a result of author Marie Benedict’s quest to bring history’s most fascinating and courageous women to life for contemporary readers. Known to history only by her alias, this mysterious female spy, able to move freely and unobtrusively in loyalist circles, became a member of George Washington’s New York–based Culper Ring. This thrilling novella depicts who Marie Benedict thinks Agent 355 could have been, though her true identity remains unknown.

During the sweltering summer of 1779, eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Morris attends the social events of the British-occupied city, but the forced merriment holds no charm for her. She finds herself in the company of enemy soldiers, who think nothing of discussing matters of government and war in front of mere women. This invisibility becomes Elizabeth’s greatest asset as she offers her services to Robert Townsend, a Continental sympathizer. Her bravery will bring down one of the most notorious traitors in American history and ultimately seal her fate as a woman willing to sacrifice everything for love and country.

Bestseller, Historical Fiction, Military & War, Romance & Romantasy

The Mitford Affair

Sourcebooks Landmark |

January 17, 2023

Novel

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict comes an explosive novel of history’s most notorious sisters, one of whom will have to choose: her country or her family?

Between the World Wars, the six Mitford sisters — each more beautiful, brilliant, and eccentric than the next — dominate the English political, literary, and social scenes. Though they’ve weathered scandals before, the family falls into disarray when Diana divorces her wealthy husband to marry a fascist leader and Unity follows her sister’s lead all the way to Munich, inciting rumors that she’s become Hitler’s mistress.

As the Nazis rise in power, novelist Nancy Mitford grows suspicious of her sisters’ constant visits to Germany and the high-ranking fascist company they keep. When she overhears alarming conversations and uncovers disquieting documents, Nancy must make excruciating choices as Great Britain goes to war with Germany.

Probing the torrid political climate in the lead-up to World War II and the ways that seemingly sensible people can be sucked into radical action, The Mitford Affair follows Nancy’s valiant efforts to stop the Nazis from taking over Great Britain, and the complicated choices she must make between the personal and the political.

Bestseller, Book Club & Library Favorites, Fiction, Historical Fiction

Her Hidden Genius

Sourcebooks Landmark |

January 25, 2022

Novel

“Brings to life Franklin’s grit and spirit…an important contribution to the historical record.” —The Washington Post

The new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie!

She changed the world with her discovery. Three men took the credit.

Rosalind Franklin has always been an outsider—brilliant, but different. Whether working at the laboratory she adored in Paris or toiling at a university in London, she feels closest to the science, those unchanging laws of physics and chemistry that guide her experiments. When she is assigned to work on DNA, she believes she can unearth its secrets.

Rosalind knows if she just takes one more X-ray picture—one more after thousands—she can unlock the building blocks of life. Never again will she have to listen to her colleagues complain about her, especially Maurice Wilkins who’d rather conspire about genetics with James Watson and Francis Crick than work alongside her.

Then it finally happens—the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what unfolds next, Rosalind could have never predicted.

Marie Benedict’s powerful new novel shines a light on a woman who sacrificed her life to discover the nature of our very DNA, a woman whose world-changing contributions were hidden by the men around her but whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind.

Bestseller, Book Club & Library Favorites, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir & Personal Journeys

The Personal Librarian

Berkley |

June 29, 2021

Novel

The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick!

Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post!

“Historical fiction at its best!”*

A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

Bestseller, BIPOC Representation, Black Voices, Book Club & Library Favorites, Community Reads, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Fiction, Historical Fiction

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie

Sourcebooks Landmark |

December 29, 2020

Novel

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

“A stunning story… The ending is ingenious, and it’s possible that Benedict has brought to life the most plausible explanation for why Christie disappeared for 11 days in 1926.”—The Washington Post

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room returns with a thrilling reconstruction of one of the most notorious events in literary history: Agatha Christie’s mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926.

In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the car—strange for a frigid night. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away.

The puzzle of those missing eleven days has persisted. With her trademark historical fiction exploration into the shadows of the past, acclaimed author Marie Benedict brings us into the world of Agatha Christie, imagining why such a brilliant woman would find herself at the center of such murky historical mysteries.

What is real, and what is mystery? What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators?

Agatha Christie novels have withstood the test of time, due in no small part to Christie’s masterful storytelling and clever mind that may never be matched, but Agatha Christie’s untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all.

Fans of The Secrets We Kept, The Lions of Fifth Avenue, and The Alice Network will enjoy this riveting saga of literary history, suspense, and love gone wrong.

Bestseller, Book Club & Library Favorites, Community Reads, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

The Daughter of Egypt

Writing DAUGHTER OF EGYPT has been the culmination of a lifelong fascination with ancient Egypt and the early era of archaeology. On one level, the book explores a mystery that’s haunted me for years: why was the mighty Pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of a very few women to fill the role, systematically and ruthlessly erased from history after her death? On another level, the novel focuses on the quest to solve this mystery by a forgotten woman, the young British aristocrat Lady Evelyn Herbert of Highclere Castle who enters the world of colonial Egypt determined to unearth Hatshepsut’s tomb and her secrets along with it, only to find herself at the epicenter of the biggest archeological discovery ever — the tomb of Tutankamun. As I fulfilled my dream of unraveling these historical puzzles and give voice to the voiceless, I not only got to share these two important, compelling tales with readers but also explore the complicated questions around ownership of ancient artifacts — an increasingly crucial issue that I’ve been contemplating for decades . . . and one more way the past reverberates into the present.

Women and the Sciences: Inventions, Attributions, and Marginalization

The Depiction of Women Across Time and Its Impacts on Current Gender Perceptions

The Contributions of Historical Women to Our Modern World

When I select a historical woman to focus upon for my novels, I purposely choose women who’ve made significant contributions to our world, those to whom we are beholden but unaware. This talk delves into the many women about which I’ve written — who’ve worked in fields ranging from the sciences to politics to literature to the arts to history itself — and explores the manner in which they’ve helped fashion modern society.

Writing Women Back into History: Creating Narratives for the Past and Today

Why is it so important to Write Women Back into History? Women have been contributing to our world and leaving a vast legacy forever. But faulty assumptions about women’s capabilities, stemming in part from the conscripted roles into which they’d been historically slotted, has caused many to think more narrowly about the manner in which the past has been shaped. Unless we begin to view historical women through a broader, more inclusive lens — and rewrite them and their contributions back into the narrative — we will continue to view the past more restrictively than it likely was, and we risk carrying those perspectives over into the present. This talk explores the way in which my novels provide a fresh lens for readers to see these women and hopefully inspire them to use that lens on the past as well as the present and future . . . . seeing the women where they’ve been all along, hiding in plain sight.

Reclaiming Women’s Voices: Historical and Modern

Big Library Read – June 2017

National Writers Series: Marie Benedict

B&N Book Club: Marie Benedict’s THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM

Reader Meet Writer: Marie Benedict

“Marie Benedict was absolutely brilliant! An impassioned speaker with grace and insight, she carefully weaved together historical research, personal experiences, and storytelling into her presentation, connecting with our audience on a multitude of levels. Attendees left feeling heard and inspired. We are deeply grateful for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and patience throughout an incredibly busy evening celebrating literature.” — La Porte County Public Library, 2026

“The attendees at our event loved having Marie! She has excellent speaking skills, and she is masterful at keeping the audience engaged with her talk that includes interesting facts as well as personal comments and touches of humor. Everyone loved how she included many of her books, mentioning how she picked the female subjects for each and how she did the research. Ahead of time, her name attracted a sellout crowd, and no one was disappointed. She gets an A+ from us!” — Historical Book Club of North Carolina, 2024

“Marie/Heather was absolutely wonderful. She was on time, friendly, and so so kind. She is an eloquent and compelling speaker, and is excellent at audience engagement. She stayed to sign books and was very friendly and patient/conversational with her fans. Heather/Marie is not only a brilliant author but a very real and authentic person, and the Evans City Public Library was delighted to have the opportunity to host her—she also reduced her normal fee, which is a just a credit to her generosity and kindness.” — Evans City Public Library, 2024

“Marie Benedict is a must-have speaker for your event. She is warm, friendly, engaging and even funny as she shares the inspiration behind her well-loved historical fiction novels and the hidden histories of influential women. Our audience said she was their favorite author to hear speak to date – and we’ve had a great lineup of previous speakers (David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Louise Penny, for example). Book clubs were excited to meet with Marie, buy more books to share, and add more books to their discussion lists. The only other comment I heard was that community members are hopeful she will be inspired by the research started in the Lycoming County Women’s History Project and feature one of those women in a future book.” — James V. Brown Library, 2023

“We could not have been more thrilled with Marie Benedict and her book Her Hidden Genius. The author is so personable and so passionate about her mission to share the lives of so many women whose stories are hiding in the shadows. She is good-humored, answered questions with grace and signed books with enthusiasm. She was a delight.” — Lake Forest Library 2022

“Marie Benedict was AWESOME. THANK YOU so very much. I would love to see a TV series on Belle Greener.” — Bristol Public Library, 2022

“Our event with Heather was a success in every way – fascinating presentation, engaged audience, and an easygoing and friendly speaker. I would work with Heather again in a heartbeat!” — Fairfax Library, 2021

“Marie is an energetic, engaging speaker who draws readers into history through fascinating real-life characters. She is kind, easy-going, and a delight to work with. Her obvious love for the hidden women of history comes through in every conversation. We hope to host Marie live and in-person someday!” — Medina Library, 2020

“We absolutely loved hosting Marie for our virtual community reads program! She is a phenomenal speaker and lights up the (Zoom) room with her enthusiasm, kindness, and extensive knowledge. She showed a great multimedia presentation that added a whole other dimension to our conversation, and then was patient enough to answer almost an hour of questions and comments during the Q&A session. She answered each question so thoughtfully. Even though it was through a virtual platform, she was still able to connect so well to the audience. We have received many positive comments from attendees, saying how Marie was “engaging and truly down to earth” and “such a delight”. We couldn’t agree more! We are so thankful to have had Marie speak with our community.” — Ocean City Reads, 2020

“Heather was a delight to host. It felt like she was a part of the library as soon as she walked through the doors, offering to help with set up or anything else we would need. Her talk gave me goosebumps as she discussed her research in writing all of her books. Having the opportunity to host such a great author was like winning the lottery!” — Peters Township Library, 2019

Authors of The Personal Librarian talk about their new novel, the Good Morning America Book Club Pick

NPR interview/podcast, July 21, 2021

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Reese’s Book Club Pick June 2026
New York Times Bestseller
Bookmarked – Target Book Club
Indie Next List
Barnes & Noble Book Club
Library Reads Selection
USA Today Bestseller