Bridgerton's Bessie Carter has landed her next role.
The actor, who plays Prudence Featherington on the hit Netflix series, is set to narrate the audiobook of Marie Benedict’s upcoming novel The Queens of Crime (via People).
Set in 1930s London, The Queens of Crime follows five of the greatest women crime writers as they "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".
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Led by the Dorothy L Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime.
The official synopsis continues: "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."
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The Queens of Crime is due out in print and audiobook formats on February 11, 2025.
"I am a profound admirer of Marie Benedict’s writing. She has an exceptional talent in seamlessly weaving together the narratives of real historical figures into the fabric of her stories," Carter said in a statement. "It’s been a privilege to help encapsulate the legacy and wit of The Queens of Crime and narrate a timeless story about these legendary women."
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Carter will next appear onscreen in upcoming period drama Outrageous, written and created by Sarah Williams from Mary Lovell's biography The Mitford Girls.
The new U and U&Drama series will follow "the story of six aristocratic sisters who refused to play by the rules, their often-scandalous lives making headlines around the world".
Carter has been cast as Nancy Mitford and will star alongside The Control Room’s Joanna Vanderham as Diana Mitford, The Jetty’s Shannon Watson as Unity Mitford, Casualty’s Zoe Brough as Jessica Mitford, Stonehouse’s Orla Hill as Deborah Mitford and The Hunger Games’ Isobel Jesper Jones as Pamela Mitford.
The Queens of Crime releases on February 11, 2025. Outrageous will premiere on U and U&Drama next year.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
