Marie Benedict Books In Order + Printable List
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If you love historical fiction that brings remarkable women from the past into the spotlight, Marie Benedict is an author you’ll want on your reading list.
Her novels explore the lives of real women whose stories have often been overshadowed, overlooked, or left out of the history books altogether. From Albert Einstein’s first wife to Winston Churchill’s wife, Clementine, Benedict blends historical research with fiction to imagine the lives behind the familiar names and events.
Below, you’ll find all of Marie Benedict’s books in order, including her collaborations with Victoria Christopher Murray. I’ve also included where I think you should start, what to read next, and a printable list you can use to keep track of the books.
Key Takeaways: Marie Benedict Books In Order
New and Upcoming Marie Benedict Books
- The Witch of Wall Street – March 2, 2027
- A Pair of Aces – 2026
Where Should You Start With Marie Benedict?
Since Marie Benedict’s novels are standalones, you can start with whichever story interests you most. But if you’re new to her books, these three are especially good places to begin:
Start Here If You Want the Quintessential Marie Benedict
The Personal Librarian – Belle da Costa Greene is exactly the kind of overlooked historical woman Benedict is known for bringing to the forefront. This is probably my overall starting recommendation.
Start Here If You Want To Begin At the Beginning
The Other Einstein – This was Benedict’s first novel and introduces the theme that would become central to her work: looking behind a famous man to explore the woman whose story history largely overlooked.
Start Here If You Love WWII Historical Fiction
The Only Woman in the Room – Hedy Lamarr gives us the combination of a fascinating real woman, wartime history, Hollywood, and invention.
Marie Benedict Books In Order
Marie Benedict’s novels are all standalones, so you can read them in any order you choose. The list below puts her books in publication order, beginning with The Other Einstein, and includes her novels co-written with Victoria Christopher Murray.
If you prefer to follow an author’s work from the beginning, simply start at the top and work your way down.
Standalone Novels
- The Other Einstein – 2016
- Carnegie’s Maid – 2018
- The Only Woman in the Room – 2019
- Lady Clementine – 2020
- The Mystery of Mrs. Christie – 2020
- The Personal Librarian (with Victoria Christopher Murray) – 2021
- Her Hidden Genius – 2022
- The Mitford Affair – 2023
- The First Ladies (with Victoria Christopher Murray) – 2023
- The Queens of Crime – 2025
- Daughter of Egypt – 2026
- A Pair of Aces (with Victoria Christopher Murray) – 2026
- The Witch of Wall Street – March 2, 2027
The Other Einstein – 2016
Mileva “Mitza” Marić is a brilliant physicist studying in Zurich when she meets fellow student Albert Einstein. Benedict imagines the ambitions, sacrifices, and possible scientific contributions of the woman whose story would ultimately be overshadowed by her famous husband.
Carnegie’s Maid – 2018
Irish immigrant Clara Kelley assumes another woman’s identity to become a lady’s maid in the wealthy Carnegie household. As she earns Andrew Carnegie’s trust, her intelligence and ideas may help influence his transformation from ruthless industrialist to renowned philanthropist.
The Only Woman in the Room – 2019
Before Hedy Lamarr became a glamorous Hollywood star, she escaped an oppressive marriage in Nazi-controlled Europe and carried valuable knowledge with her to America. Benedict explores the brilliant inventor behind the famous face and the technology she developed to aid the Allied war effort.
Lady Clementine – 2020
Clementine Churchill was far more than the wife of Winston Churchill. This novel explores the intelligent, ambitious woman who became her husband’s trusted partner and adviser as they navigated political upheaval and two world wars.
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie – 2020
When Agatha Christie disappeared for eleven days in 1926, she left behind a mystery worthy of one of her own novels. Benedict imagines what may have happened during those missing days while exploring Christie’s troubled marriage and the secrets surrounding her disappearance.
The Personal Librarian – 2021
Belle da Costa Greene becomes one of the most influential figures in New York’s art and literary world as J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian. But her extraordinary career depends upon keeping a life-changing secret: Belle is a Black woman passing as white.
Her Hidden Genius – 2022
Scientist Rosalind Franklin’s groundbreaking research helps reveal the structure of DNA, but recognition for the discovery goes largely to male colleagues. Benedict brings Franklin’s intelligence, determination, and overlooked contribution to one of science’s greatest discoveries into the spotlight.
The Mitford Affair – 2023
The glamorous and unconventional Mitford sisters find themselves divided by politics as fascism spreads across Europe in the years leading up to World War II. When Diana and Unity become dangerously close to powerful Nazi leaders, their sister Nancy must decide where her loyalties lie.
The First Ladies – 2023
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune form an unlikely but powerful friendship. Together, the two women challenge racial injustice and help lay groundwork for the modern civil rights movement.
The Queens of Crime – 2025
Dorothy L. Sayers joins forces with Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy to prove that female mystery writers deserve respect. Their plan takes an unexpected turn when the five writers use their considerable talents to investigate a real murder.
Daughter of Egypt – 2026
Lady Evelyn Herbert joins the search that leads to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb while pursuing another mystery: the legacy of the nearly forgotten female pharaoh Hatshepsut. Benedict intertwines the stories of two women separated by thousands of years who refuse to accept the roles their worlds prescribe for them.
A Pair of Aces – 2026
In 1930s New York, Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, Eunice Carter, forms an unlikely alliance with notorious madam Polly Adler. The two women use their very different positions and skills in an effort to bring down powerful mob boss Lucky Luciano.
The Witch of Wall Street – March 2, 2027
Hetty Green defies the expectations placed on women of the Gilded Age to build a financial empire of her own, outmaneuvering some of Wall Street’s most powerful men. Benedict reimagines the woman behind the notorious “Witch of Wall Street” nickname and explores how one of America’s wealthiest self-made women became so misunderstood by history.
Novellas & Anthologies
- Agent 355 – 2020
- Smoke Signal (with Kate Quinn & on Audible only) – 2021
Middle Grade Books
- The Secrets of Lovelace Academy (with Courtney Scheinmel) – 2025
Marie Benedict Books In Order – Printable List
Want an easy way to keep track of your Marie Benedict reading? Download or print this complete Marie Benedict book list and check off each title as you read.
What To Read Next
If you enjoy Marie Benedict’s blend of historical fiction, remarkable women, and stories inspired by real people and events, there are plenty of other authors and books to explore next.
- Kate Quinn Books In Order – Try Kate Quinn if you enjoy historical fiction featuring courageous women whose roles in history haven’t always received the attention they deserve. The Diamond Eye is an especially good choice if you like fiction based on a fascinating real woman.
- Fiona Davis Books In Order – Fiona Davis combines women’s stories with richly drawn historical settings, often centered around famous New York City landmarks. The Stolen Queen is a great choice if Marie Benedict’s Daughter of Egypt has you in the mood for more Egypt-inspired historical fiction.
- 11 Best WWII Historical Fiction Books – If The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, or The Mitford Affair left you wanting more wartime stories, you’ll find plenty of ideas on this list.
- Kristin Hannah Books In Order – For more character-driven historical fiction about women facing extraordinary circumstances, explore Kristin Hannah’s books, including The Nightingale and The Women.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marie Benedict Books
Do you need to read Marie Benedict books in order?
No. Marie Benedict’s novels are standalones, so you can read them in any order. Reading them in publication order can be fun if you want to follow her work from the beginning, but you won’t miss anything by choosing the historical figure or time period that interests you most.
What was Marie Benedict’s first book?
Marie Benedict’s first historical fiction novel was The Other Einstein, published in 2016. It tells the story of Mileva “Mitza” Marić, Albert Einstein’s first wife, and imagines the role this talented physicist and mathematician may have played in his life and work.
Which Marie Benedict book should I read first?
If you’re new to Marie Benedict, The Personal Librarian, co-written with Victoria Christopher Murray, is an excellent place to start. It tells the remarkable story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who became a powerful figure in the art and literary world while passing as a white woman.
Which Marie Benedict books did she write with Victoria Christopher Murray?
Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray have co-written three historical novels: The Personal Librarian, The First Ladies, and A Pair of Aces. Their collaborations focus on remarkable real women whose accomplishments and stories deserve greater recognition.
Are Marie Benedict’s books based on true stories?
Yes. Marie Benedict’s historical fiction is inspired by real people and events, particularly women whose contributions have been overlooked or overshadowed in traditional historical accounts. The novels are fiction, however, so Benedict uses imagination to fill gaps in the historical record and bring her subjects’ stories to life.
Conclusion
Marie Benedict has built a fascinating collection of historical fiction around women whose stories deserve a closer look. Whether she’s writing about a scientist, First Lady, Hollywood star, librarian, or one of history’s most successful financiers, her novels invite us to look beyond the familiar version of history and consider the women who helped shape it.
Since her books are standalones, there’s no wrong place to begin. Choose the woman or historical period that intrigues you most – or start with The Personal Librarian, my pick for a great introduction to Marie Benedict’s work.
And don’t forget to grab the printable Marie Benedict book list above so you can keep track as you read your way through her novels.
