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Mob Queen
✳Performed by an Audie Award–winning narrator, this “gripping” tale (Marie Benedict) is inspired by real events: Follow Virginia Hill as she escapes a violent past, infiltrates Chicago’s Mob, and enters Bugsy Siegel’s dangerous orbit. Along the way, she’ll find that power always comes with a price…
⭐“This is historical fiction at its most electrifying!” (Amanda Skenandore).
Set in the 1930s, Mob Queen follows one woman’s rapid rise through the Mafia as she searches for the truth about what happened to her friend and navigates a perilous relationship with the infamous Bugsy Siegel.
All Virginia Hill wanted was a better life.
She escaped her abusive father and dreary, small-town Georgia existence by marrying a man who took her to Chicago. But the realities of the Depression—and her husband’s volatile temper—soon destroyed Virginia’s fragile idea of happiness. With the help of a new friend, Madeline, she finds the courage to stand up to her husband—only to end up divorced and destitute.
Down but not out, Virginia joins Madeline working as a waitress in one of the Mob’s favorite hangouts, a restaurant smack-dab in the middle of the World’s Fair. But when Madeline disappears after getting involved with the wrong Mafia man, Virginia vows to find her friend no matter what. But to do that, she’ll have to follow Madeline into the heart of the Chicago Mob....
As Virginia climbs the ranks and unravels the mystery of what happened to her friend, working for the Mafia proves both seductive and deadly. What started as a desperate attempt to find Madeline brings power she never imagined a poor girl from Georgia would ever have. It turns out a woman can be a mobster, but she’ll have to give up her heart to do it.
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Published June 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
February 3, 2025
Who was Virginia Hill? What made her become part of Chicago Mob?
This story explores briefly Virginia’s childhood and her abusive marriage at very young age, giving an understanding what might have led her to become one of the mobsters.
Set in 1930s Chicago, Virginia’s path to the Mob starts with her search for her missing friend who disappeared in New York. But when you deal with a mafia, once you’re in, there is no way out. In order to be sent to New York, Virginia has to prove that she can be trusted. She is put at racetracks and told on which horse to bet money.
At the racetrack, she meets charismatic Ben (Bugsy Siegel), and that’s when things take a turn, and she feels her trust is being tested.
Her path also crosses with Velma Capone who taches Virginia how to rise in popularity and reputation as Virginia is told to create a new persona.
Virginia goes from racetracks to money laundering and along the way discovering mafia’s involvement in things she didn’t expect. The freedom she sought seems to be closing on her as she learns more about mafia’s involvement.
As she searches for her friend, she discovers that those who she thought she could trust turn opposite. It seems that the sides constantly switch who she can trust. Her relationship with Ben is pretty complex and volatile.
As the story begins, it reveals backstories of both women. The backstories are short but they give enough depth to understand the subject and get attached to the characters. The progressing story has much longer descriptions which at times slow the pace. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read, at times, making you cringe due to the reality of mafia’s work.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story explores briefly Virginia’s childhood and her abusive marriage at very young age, giving an understanding what might have led her to become one of the mobsters.
Set in 1930s Chicago, Virginia’s path to the Mob starts with her search for her missing friend who disappeared in New York. But when you deal with a mafia, once you’re in, there is no way out. In order to be sent to New York, Virginia has to prove that she can be trusted. She is put at racetracks and told on which horse to bet money.
At the racetrack, she meets charismatic Ben (Bugsy Siegel), and that’s when things take a turn, and she feels her trust is being tested.
Her path also crosses with Velma Capone who taches Virginia how to rise in popularity and reputation as Virginia is told to create a new persona.
Virginia goes from racetracks to money laundering and along the way discovering mafia’s involvement in things she didn’t expect. The freedom she sought seems to be closing on her as she learns more about mafia’s involvement.
As she searches for her friend, she discovers that those who she thought she could trust turn opposite. It seems that the sides constantly switch who she can trust. Her relationship with Ben is pretty complex and volatile.
As the story begins, it reveals backstories of both women. The backstories are short but they give enough depth to understand the subject and get attached to the characters. The progressing story has much longer descriptions which at times slow the pace. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read, at times, making you cringe due to the reality of mafia’s work.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2025
#ad much love for my finished copy @blackstonepublishing & @bibliolifestyle #partner
& @blackstoneaudio ?! #partner for the ALC
Mob Queen 👑 (we need a pretty tiara emoji)
"’My husband and all those men in that special room you were in today…they [the other women] had no choice, and I have no choice, and you have no choice. We all play a part to survive. We're all in cages. Your body belongs to them. The sooner you understand that the easier your life is going to be…And when you feel like you've had enough, just know that it could be worse,’” (144).
Fiercely feminist and totally refreshing.
It’s 1933 - Chicago’s World Fair - and while the mob might control the city, it’s the women who shine here. They’re not here to be walked over, silenced, or dismissed. These women handle their own.
Virginia and Madeline are best friends just trying to make it through life in a city ruled by power and secrets. But when Madeline vanishes some say she probably ran off with a man, escaping this place. But Virginia knows better - her friend would have written. Something is wrong.
Fresh out of an abusive marriage, Virginia’s done being powerless. She’s determined to uncover the truth - even if it means getting in with the mob. Joey Ep is her way in, but he’s keeping a secret of his own. One dangerous enough to get him killed.
To find Madeline, Virginia knows she’ll have to outsmart the mob. Be sharper. Tougher. Better than the men who run it.
I loved this book. The women in this story are filled with spirit. They leap right off the page, demanding to be seen. These characters wormed their way right into my black heart. They’re fierce, fiery, and fabulous. I couldn’t recommend this book more.
Virginia might be one of my favorite characters ever. She’s got wit, grit, and a mouth on her - always holding her own and throwing it right back at the men around her. And listen - I’m not usually one for romance, but I didn’t mind it here. Enemies to lovers to enemies again? Maybe.
It’s compulsive, unputdownable, packed with nonstop action and biting humor. A must read.
Memorable:
✓ Drinking game: shots till you puke or polish off the bottle
✓ Wife’s revenge at the racetrack 😂👏🏻👏🏻
✓ “F*** your wife for you” ☠️👏🏻👏🏻 — Virginia’s comebacks are lethal and I’m here for it.
🎧 I also listened to the audiobook while reading and - no surprise - Brittney Pressley slayed it. She always does. Honestly, I’ve bought audiobooks just because she narrated them. Sometimes I throw one on just to fall asleep to her voice. No shame. One of my all-time faves.
& @blackstoneaudio ?! #partner for the ALC
Mob Queen 👑 (we need a pretty tiara emoji)
"’My husband and all those men in that special room you were in today…they [the other women] had no choice, and I have no choice, and you have no choice. We all play a part to survive. We're all in cages. Your body belongs to them. The sooner you understand that the easier your life is going to be…And when you feel like you've had enough, just know that it could be worse,’” (144).
Fiercely feminist and totally refreshing.
It’s 1933 - Chicago’s World Fair - and while the mob might control the city, it’s the women who shine here. They’re not here to be walked over, silenced, or dismissed. These women handle their own.
Virginia and Madeline are best friends just trying to make it through life in a city ruled by power and secrets. But when Madeline vanishes some say she probably ran off with a man, escaping this place. But Virginia knows better - her friend would have written. Something is wrong.
Fresh out of an abusive marriage, Virginia’s done being powerless. She’s determined to uncover the truth - even if it means getting in with the mob. Joey Ep is her way in, but he’s keeping a secret of his own. One dangerous enough to get him killed.
To find Madeline, Virginia knows she’ll have to outsmart the mob. Be sharper. Tougher. Better than the men who run it.
I loved this book. The women in this story are filled with spirit. They leap right off the page, demanding to be seen. These characters wormed their way right into my black heart. They’re fierce, fiery, and fabulous. I couldn’t recommend this book more.
Virginia might be one of my favorite characters ever. She’s got wit, grit, and a mouth on her - always holding her own and throwing it right back at the men around her. And listen - I’m not usually one for romance, but I didn’t mind it here. Enemies to lovers to enemies again? Maybe.
It’s compulsive, unputdownable, packed with nonstop action and biting humor. A must read.
Memorable:
✓ Drinking game: shots till you puke or polish off the bottle
✓ Wife’s revenge at the racetrack 😂👏🏻👏🏻
✓ “F*** your wife for you” ☠️👏🏻👏🏻 — Virginia’s comebacks are lethal and I’m here for it.
🎧 I also listened to the audiobook while reading and - no surprise - Brittney Pressley slayed it. She always does. Honestly, I’ve bought audiobooks just because she narrated them. Sometimes I throw one on just to fall asleep to her voice. No shame. One of my all-time faves.
December 20, 2024
I love a good 1930s set book. Make it about the mob and I'm instantly hooked. But this one was about a woman climbing the ranks and as the title suggests, becomes the mob queen. This was very well written and the time period was done accurately. I loved reading about a woman rather than a man working his way up in the 1930s mob scene. This is one of my top 10 ARCs of the year!
July 5, 2025
This was an intriguing, fascinating, irresistible historical fiction about the mob in the 1930s. Absolutely loved the main character, Virginia Hill. She was fierce, determined, and headstrong. This novel was well written, and I highly recommend it!
Thank you, #Netgalley and #Blackstoneaudio, for this ARC
Thank you, #Netgalley and #Blackstoneaudio, for this ARC
November 11, 2025
Book club questions!
Facts: The life of Virginia Hill, a real-life figure who rose through the ranks of the mafia in the 1930s. It is a blend of fact and fiction, with the novel taking real historical events and filling in the emotional and personal details, including her relationship with mobsters like Bugsy Siegel.
How does Virginia's background of poverty and abuse shape her decision-making? Would you have made the same choices? Is she motivated by finding her friend, angry against men, or to have her own power?
If you were in her situation, do you think you would have made the same choices? What would you have done differently?
Virginia's transformation is dramatic. What key moments define her evolution?
Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can't come back from?
In the male-dominated world of the Mafia, Virginia’s rise is both extraordinary and dangerous. How does she use her gender to her advantage—and when does it become a liability?
What does Mob Queen say about the price of power? Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can’t come back from?
We get an intimate look at the 1930s Chicago mob scene and how women are undervalued and underestimated at every turn. But then walks in Virginia Hill who uses it to her advantage and turns the mafia world upside-down. Is any of it true?
Facts: The life of Virginia Hill, a real-life figure who rose through the ranks of the mafia in the 1930s. It is a blend of fact and fiction, with the novel taking real historical events and filling in the emotional and personal details, including her relationship with mobsters like Bugsy Siegel.
How does Virginia's background of poverty and abuse shape her decision-making? Would you have made the same choices? Is she motivated by finding her friend, angry against men, or to have her own power?
If you were in her situation, do you think you would have made the same choices? What would you have done differently?
Virginia's transformation is dramatic. What key moments define her evolution?
Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can't come back from?
In the male-dominated world of the Mafia, Virginia’s rise is both extraordinary and dangerous. How does she use her gender to her advantage—and when does it become a liability?
What does Mob Queen say about the price of power? Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can’t come back from?
We get an intimate look at the 1930s Chicago mob scene and how women are undervalued and underestimated at every turn. But then walks in Virginia Hill who uses it to her advantage and turns the mafia world upside-down. Is any of it true?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
Virigina Hill is a pretty well-known name in the mob world, but this is the fictionalized version of the story of her life. She was known for being Bugsy Siegel's girlfriend (see the great movie Bugsy), but she was powerful in her own right, and one of the few women with respect and privilege in the Mob in the 1930-40's.
In this fast-paced fiction book, Virigina joins the mob to find out what happened to her best friend. She stands up for herself and uses her cunning, looks, and ambition to rise in the ranks. Along the way, she is rewarded but also faces many personal setbacks.
I really liked this book, and it made me want to go back and watch all the mob movies I loved as a young adult. I really liked this from a woman's- the book is pretty gritty with murder and some sex scenes, so I would not necessarily give it to a teen with a cation. I found it really interesting and kept me engaged and I felt like it gave me a good idea of what it was like to be a woman in the mob at that time.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.
In this fast-paced fiction book, Virigina joins the mob to find out what happened to her best friend. She stands up for herself and uses her cunning, looks, and ambition to rise in the ranks. Along the way, she is rewarded but also faces many personal setbacks.
I really liked this book, and it made me want to go back and watch all the mob movies I loved as a young adult. I really liked this from a woman's- the book is pretty gritty with murder and some sex scenes, so I would not necessarily give it to a teen with a cation. I found it really interesting and kept me engaged and I felt like it gave me a good idea of what it was like to be a woman in the mob at that time.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.
January 19, 2025
I was so excited to receive this ARC two years after reading the authors debut, The Forty Elephants (a 5 star read for me). I really enjoyed this, but I do look forward to reading it again once it’s published. Since this was an unedited ARC, it read quite choppily but that obviously says nothing about the quality of the book so I do intend to re-read it once it’s finalized and may possibly update my review then.
All in all, I really liked this. I did find the beginning a bit slow, but I think TFE read slow as well and I still absolutely loved it. The one thing I didn’t care for this time around, however, is that I felt it had some transitional/pacing issues. It would be so slow and then something big would happen but would be rushed and glazed over, I’d find myself disappointed and wanting more. And maybe that was just the author trying to keep it as factual as she could with what little information she had on the title character. I get that, but it left me disappointed nonetheless. For example, something big and dark would happen, like a murder or a sexual encounter, and it would just be a sentence or so saying oh bam this happened. Then cut to black and the next sentence would be completely unrelated and several months later. Because of that, several times throughout, I found myself confused about what was actually going on.
Again, I don’t believe that speaks to the quality of the content of the book… And it’s not to say that made me not enjoy it either. I simply just wanted MORE. Whereas the first half read slow, the second half felt really rushed… and had some of the darker stuff had more depth and detail, I think it would’ve made me more invested in the story and characters.
With all that being said, I still loved this book. I loved learning about Virginia Hill. I love the way this author writes (her dialogue is just some of the best I’ve seen. I find her writing so easy to read and her characters are always relatable. They NEVER feel cheesy or fake). And I can’t wait to re-read this when it’s all finished up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All in all, I really liked this. I did find the beginning a bit slow, but I think TFE read slow as well and I still absolutely loved it. The one thing I didn’t care for this time around, however, is that I felt it had some transitional/pacing issues. It would be so slow and then something big would happen but would be rushed and glazed over, I’d find myself disappointed and wanting more. And maybe that was just the author trying to keep it as factual as she could with what little information she had on the title character. I get that, but it left me disappointed nonetheless. For example, something big and dark would happen, like a murder or a sexual encounter, and it would just be a sentence or so saying oh bam this happened. Then cut to black and the next sentence would be completely unrelated and several months later. Because of that, several times throughout, I found myself confused about what was actually going on.
Again, I don’t believe that speaks to the quality of the content of the book… And it’s not to say that made me not enjoy it either. I simply just wanted MORE. Whereas the first half read slow, the second half felt really rushed… and had some of the darker stuff had more depth and detail, I think it would’ve made me more invested in the story and characters.
With all that being said, I still loved this book. I loved learning about Virginia Hill. I love the way this author writes (her dialogue is just some of the best I’ve seen. I find her writing so easy to read and her characters are always relatable. They NEVER feel cheesy or fake). And I can’t wait to re-read this when it’s all finished up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 28, 2025
I had no idea who Virginia Hill was but did know vaguely about Bugsy Siegel… this book enlightened me to both these people and the years of the Mob. As one might expect it was filled with violence. Regular and domestic violence and was quite crude at times. I enjoyed learning about about these characters and this time period but wouldn’t qualify this as a “Must READ”
July 30, 2025
I'm not sure what fascinates me so much about the mob, but give me any historical fiction about a female badass from that time, and I am in!
March 10, 2025
This one is a tough one to rate. The description alone is interesting enough to pull you in, and the story did but only sometimes. I felt more could have been done with life within the Mob. Anytime a bar night out or meetings occurred, I felt what you wanted to happen vs what happened negatively impacted this story. Often times things were rushed and many conversations were happening with little action. I would have loved some more involved mobster antics. Especially what went on in Mexico! She was there for years and we got nothing about it. As fast as we learned she went to Mexico, she was already getting out of there.. as a reader I needed more. More shiesty deals, more mob violence, and more greed.
I don’t think the characters relationships were written well. Everything that happened, did with little build up, making it hard for me to believe in their relationships. Didn’t love or hate this one, but I am happy I read it. I enjoyed the historic value of someone I didn’t already know about. I will definitely be researching more about Virginia Hill now.
**Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.**
I don’t think the characters relationships were written well. Everything that happened, did with little build up, making it hard for me to believe in their relationships. Didn’t love or hate this one, but I am happy I read it. I enjoyed the historic value of someone I didn’t already know about. I will definitely be researching more about Virginia Hill now.
**Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
Mob Queen is The Sopranos: Vogue Edition, and Virginia Hill is the reason you can’t put it down. She’s smart, ruthless, and magnetic in a way.
The writing doesn’t flinch. It’s brutal, glamorous, and full of the messy, ugly truths about ambition, love, and survival. We’re thrown into the underbelly from page one with disappearances, betrayals, bullets, and champagne. You feel the weight of dysfunctional relationships and how early attachments warp the way people trust, betray, and fight for power.
I knew nothing about her before. How is that even possible? The fact that she was real makes her audacity even more “get it, girl.” She carved her place in a world that should have eaten her alive -diamonds, bullets, and all.
Four stars because it’s stylish, vicious, addictive, and gloriously human.
Final grade: B+, the Queen always rules
*Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for an advanced ecopy of this book in exchange for Amy always honest reviews.
The writing doesn’t flinch. It’s brutal, glamorous, and full of the messy, ugly truths about ambition, love, and survival. We’re thrown into the underbelly from page one with disappearances, betrayals, bullets, and champagne. You feel the weight of dysfunctional relationships and how early attachments warp the way people trust, betray, and fight for power.
I knew nothing about her before. How is that even possible? The fact that she was real makes her audacity even more “get it, girl.” She carved her place in a world that should have eaten her alive -diamonds, bullets, and all.
Four stars because it’s stylish, vicious, addictive, and gloriously human.
Final grade: B+, the Queen always rules
*Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for an advanced ecopy of this book in exchange for Amy always honest reviews.
April 16, 2025
Was I expecting a historical fiction based on some fact? Honestly no but I really enjoyed this. Most books that rely on fact come off as disjected and somewhat painful to read but this one actually flowed.
This story follows the tale of Virginia Hill and how she came to be the girlfriend of Bugsy Seigel. Know to be as Ben. I greatly enjoyed how the author took fact and made it colorful while also working in some fiction to make the story come alive.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
This story follows the tale of Virginia Hill and how she came to be the girlfriend of Bugsy Seigel. Know to be as Ben. I greatly enjoyed how the author took fact and made it colorful while also working in some fiction to make the story come alive.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
September 3, 2025
Mob Queen is a gripping dive into 1930s mob life, and as a lover of historical fiction—especially anything with a gritty, Prohibition-era edge—this one hit the mark. Virginia Hill, the so-called queen of the mob, is a fascinating figure, and watching her climb the ranks kept me hooked from start to finish. The plot is tight, the suspense is steady, and the storytelling never lets up. A solid 4-star read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys strong female leads and a well-paced, atmospheric narrative.
October 12, 2025
Virginia Hill never imagined she’d end up working for the Mob in Chicago when she moved from Georgia. She has to find her friend though & working for the Outfit is the only way to figure out what has happened to her. Virginia gains power & respect & it just keeps building. What a good book! It always kept me interested & waiting to see how things were going to turn out. I couldn’t imagine having to make some of the decisions she made or do some of things she did. Virginia proved her loyalty to her friend to say the least, but really so much more.
November 25, 2025
Virginia’s journey from a woman suffering in a difficult marriage to becoming an absolute mob queen is both fascinating and compelling. It’s a story of survival, ambition, and resilience. There were only a few places where the story seemed to drag a bit.
July 6, 2025
Good read from a lesser known perspective.
January 20, 2026
Why no authors note on what was true and what wasn’t? Unless that was just not part of the audio.
July 9, 2025
2.5 stars or so
Just ... meh. We read this for book club and were all a bit disappointed. It wasn't horrible, but I wouldn't recommend it either.
Just ... meh. We read this for book club and were all a bit disappointed. It wasn't horrible, but I wouldn't recommend it either.
October 27, 2025
Great listen! Really enjoyed this book but it all fed the mob aesthetic I was obsessed with as a child so I could be super biased 🤭
July 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️’s Loved it!
July 28, 2025
Dark, pacey, and gritty!
Mob Queen is a graphic, engrossing thriller that takes you back to the 1930s and into the life of Virginia Hill as she immerses herself in the calculated and disturbing criminal underworld of manipulation, immorality, depravity, and violence in an attempt to find her missing friend.
The prose is crisp and precise. The characters are hot-tempered, callous, and impulsive. And the plot is a fast-paced, riveting tale full of twists, turns, action, intrigue, power, corruption, extortion, duplicity, terror, and murder.
Overall, Mob Queen is a sinister, edgy, chilling tale by Bledsoe that highlights just how easily the line between right and wrong can become extremely blurry, especially for those with nefarious tendencies.
Mob Queen is a graphic, engrossing thriller that takes you back to the 1930s and into the life of Virginia Hill as she immerses herself in the calculated and disturbing criminal underworld of manipulation, immorality, depravity, and violence in an attempt to find her missing friend.
The prose is crisp and precise. The characters are hot-tempered, callous, and impulsive. And the plot is a fast-paced, riveting tale full of twists, turns, action, intrigue, power, corruption, extortion, duplicity, terror, and murder.
Overall, Mob Queen is a sinister, edgy, chilling tale by Bledsoe that highlights just how easily the line between right and wrong can become extremely blurry, especially for those with nefarious tendencies.
August 24, 2025
received this one from NetGalley and it is not a genre I usually pick up. The story of Virginia Hill’s rise through the Mafia in 1930s Chicago was interesting and well researched, but it did not fully pull me in. I appreciated the historical detail and the mix of real figures like Bugsy Siegel, but overall it was more outside my taste than a book I would normally choose.
June 13, 2025
Virginia Hill wasn’t looking for the mob-just a way out. Spanning the 1930s to the 1950s, Mob Queen tells the story of a woman who survives what she was born into and what she walked into… and refuses to be broken by either.
Born in Georgia, she leaves behind a violent home life and enters into a marriage she believes will offer a way out. Instead, she ends up in Chicago, facing new hardships and broken promises. Left with nothing, she begins to rebuild-with the help of a new friend and an unexpected connection to the city’s criminal underworld.
When her friend disappears under suspicious circumstances, she’s drawn deeper into a world where danger is constant and trust is scarce. Moving through the same circles as figures like Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, she learns to navigate the Mafia’s ruthless inner workings with sharp instincts and fierce resolve.
Virginia Hill refuses to be broken-a powerful portrait of perseverance in a world built to keep her down, and the strength it takes to rise in spite of it.
The author includes an excerpt from Virginia Hill’s biography featured in The Mob Museum’s online archive. If you get the chance and you’re curious to learn more, I recommend visiting the site or the Mob Museum in Las Vegas-it’s a fascinating place.
4/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Born in Georgia, she leaves behind a violent home life and enters into a marriage she believes will offer a way out. Instead, she ends up in Chicago, facing new hardships and broken promises. Left with nothing, she begins to rebuild-with the help of a new friend and an unexpected connection to the city’s criminal underworld.
When her friend disappears under suspicious circumstances, she’s drawn deeper into a world where danger is constant and trust is scarce. Moving through the same circles as figures like Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, she learns to navigate the Mafia’s ruthless inner workings with sharp instincts and fierce resolve.
Virginia Hill refuses to be broken-a powerful portrait of perseverance in a world built to keep her down, and the strength it takes to rise in spite of it.
The author includes an excerpt from Virginia Hill’s biography featured in The Mob Museum’s online archive. If you get the chance and you’re curious to learn more, I recommend visiting the site or the Mob Museum in Las Vegas-it’s a fascinating place.
4/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Going in I didn’t know that this book was about a real person, and I won’t soon forget Virginia Hill.
Highly recommend this one. Mob life and toxic relationships, it had the feel of an elevated dark romance. I liked Virginia and Ben’s doomed and toxic relationship.
I loved how recklessly determined Virginia was to overcome her circumstances but unfortunately still having to wade through the mess of being a tool for the mob.
The only downside was the pacing. It would be slow the majority of the time and then when the action and tension would rise it would end quickly or be skimmed over. So I wished it was a little darker on that aspect. It would have made the story fuller and have that grit that I was expecting.
Overall in spite of the pacing issues, an engaging story following a strong woman trying to make her mark and elevate her circumstances while dealing with the mob. Recommend.
**Thanks to Blackstone Publishing & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Going in I didn’t know that this book was about a real person, and I won’t soon forget Virginia Hill.
Highly recommend this one. Mob life and toxic relationships, it had the feel of an elevated dark romance. I liked Virginia and Ben’s doomed and toxic relationship.
I loved how recklessly determined Virginia was to overcome her circumstances but unfortunately still having to wade through the mess of being a tool for the mob.
The only downside was the pacing. It would be slow the majority of the time and then when the action and tension would rise it would end quickly or be skimmed over. So I wished it was a little darker on that aspect. It would have made the story fuller and have that grit that I was expecting.
Overall in spite of the pacing issues, an engaging story following a strong woman trying to make her mark and elevate her circumstances while dealing with the mob. Recommend.
**Thanks to Blackstone Publishing & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**
January 1, 2025
MobQueen #NetGalley
She called him Ben.
History knows him by his more notorious name, Bugsy Siegel.
If this was the 2020s, you’d say he stealthily slid into her DMs.
In this authors’s telling, they encountered each other at the race track. By then, Virginia Hill lived quite the life as she balanced her job at a Mob frequented restaurant with her side job at a Mob funded brothel. She still managed to remain on the outskirts of the Mob.
Then it all changed. Armed with determination and courage, her quest to locate a long lost friend tangled her further into the Mob’s.
Her quest threads this into a compelling read. Her relationship with Bugsy is both complex and violent.
Yes, her story is shaped by men’s actions and desires. But with this historical novel she leaves her stiellto footprint in American history.
Imagined dialogue and action scenes were excellent.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She called him Ben.
History knows him by his more notorious name, Bugsy Siegel.
If this was the 2020s, you’d say he stealthily slid into her DMs.
In this authors’s telling, they encountered each other at the race track. By then, Virginia Hill lived quite the life as she balanced her job at a Mob frequented restaurant with her side job at a Mob funded brothel. She still managed to remain on the outskirts of the Mob.
Then it all changed. Armed with determination and courage, her quest to locate a long lost friend tangled her further into the Mob’s.
Her quest threads this into a compelling read. Her relationship with Bugsy is both complex and violent.
Yes, her story is shaped by men’s actions and desires. But with this historical novel she leaves her stiellto footprint in American history.
Imagined dialogue and action scenes were excellent.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2025
I thought this book was very well written! The story was captivating and kept my attention from the very beginning. I had read previous books about Virginia Hill and Bugsy Siegel and found that the author kept a remarkable balance between fact and fiction. The book had very compelling characters that at times you loved to hate. Was Virginia a good person or a bad person? Did she become a Mob Queen because she wanted to rise through the ranks and get rich? or was she simply doing it to find her long lost best friend?
This was an exciting, enthralling book by an author who is an excellent storyteller. Definitely one of the best I've read all year!
This was an exciting, enthralling book by an author who is an excellent storyteller. Definitely one of the best I've read all year!
July 1, 2025
Mob Queen by Erin Bledsoe is a mix between La Bella Mafia and The Goodfellas.
Its starts in 1930’s spanning Chicago, New York, Los Angeles Mexico…….living life around the Mafia, Gangsters and the Mob. Inspired by the true story of Virginia Hill.
All that Virginia wants in life is to be happy and have a good life. She grew up with an abusive father in Georgia, marries her husband and moves to Chicago working with her friend Madeline as waitresses in a restaurant that many gangsters ate and discussed the mafia affairs and their next hit jobs. Unbeknownst that one day Virginia will be one of them.
Suddenly there is a down turn in business and the depression affects everyone. Virginia’s husband becomes aggressive towards her and they divorce each other. Madeline then goes missing in New York and Virginia is upset about it all, her mission is to try to find her friend and realises that she will have to join the Mafia before she can solve the mystery of Madeline’s disappearance.
Along comes Ben aka Bugsy Siegel at the racetrack, where Virginia has been told which race and horses to bet money on. She doesn’t know who she can trust…..but does the Mob trust Virginia?
Velma Capone is the next person that Virginia meets she learns from Velma how to play the mob at their own game. Here Virginia becomes involved in money laundering and discovering more than she can imagine.
Will Virginia find her friend Madeline before it’s too late?
Will the happy life Virginia has been seeking come to an end along with the game she has been playing with the Mob?
Will Virginia be a victim or a survivor of the Mob?
A different and interesting perspective on life as a gangsters of the time. Strong women can be one of them if they can prove themselves. Some women were forced to be part of the gangster world, some married into it and others made their choice to be part of it. Either way once you an involved with the Mafia there is no way out.
A 4 stars out of 5 for me as the book was a slow burn at first…..then hooked you in deeper as the story went on. So glad I was given the opportunity to read this book and thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this advanced copy for my review.
Its starts in 1930’s spanning Chicago, New York, Los Angeles Mexico…….living life around the Mafia, Gangsters and the Mob. Inspired by the true story of Virginia Hill.
All that Virginia wants in life is to be happy and have a good life. She grew up with an abusive father in Georgia, marries her husband and moves to Chicago working with her friend Madeline as waitresses in a restaurant that many gangsters ate and discussed the mafia affairs and their next hit jobs. Unbeknownst that one day Virginia will be one of them.
Suddenly there is a down turn in business and the depression affects everyone. Virginia’s husband becomes aggressive towards her and they divorce each other. Madeline then goes missing in New York and Virginia is upset about it all, her mission is to try to find her friend and realises that she will have to join the Mafia before she can solve the mystery of Madeline’s disappearance.
Along comes Ben aka Bugsy Siegel at the racetrack, where Virginia has been told which race and horses to bet money on. She doesn’t know who she can trust…..but does the Mob trust Virginia?
Velma Capone is the next person that Virginia meets she learns from Velma how to play the mob at their own game. Here Virginia becomes involved in money laundering and discovering more than she can imagine.
Will Virginia find her friend Madeline before it’s too late?
Will the happy life Virginia has been seeking come to an end along with the game she has been playing with the Mob?
Will Virginia be a victim or a survivor of the Mob?
A different and interesting perspective on life as a gangsters of the time. Strong women can be one of them if they can prove themselves. Some women were forced to be part of the gangster world, some married into it and others made their choice to be part of it. Either way once you an involved with the Mafia there is no way out.
A 4 stars out of 5 for me as the book was a slow burn at first…..then hooked you in deeper as the story went on. So glad I was given the opportunity to read this book and thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this advanced copy for my review.
August 14, 2025
Title: Mob Queen
Author: Erin Bledsoe
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Length: Approximately 12 hours and 3 minutes
Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for the review copy of physical book copy of Mob Queen by Erin Bledsoe. Thank-you to NetGalley for the audiobook and e-book review copies.
Are you addicted to a particular genre, or you read all sort of genres? I read all sorts of genre, but historical fiction is my addiction.
Virginia Hill is struggling to make ends meet in 1930s Chicago. She has recently divorced her husband and is looking for her missing friend, Madeline. Madeline disappeared into the Mafia. Virginia is recruited into the Mafia but has her own secret mission to find Madeline. As she climbs the ranks, she finds the type of power she never realized she wanted.
My thoughts on this novel:
• I loved how the intriguing man she met at the beginning of the novel, Ben, turned out to be Bugsy Siegel. I had heard the name Bugsy Siegel before, but I didn’t know anything about him.
• The reality of what the mafia actually did (horrific murders, kidnapping girls from the country into prostitution, etc.) was hard for Virginia to deal with.
• Brittany Pressley was a great audiobook narrator. She was Virginia to me.
• Virgina was very sassy and had great comebacks.
• Now I want to watch the movie Bugsy. Virginia Hill is known for being Bugsy’s girlfriend, but she had a fascinating history of her own.
• There was intense chemistry between Virginia and Ben. They seemed to go from desire to hate to desire to hate throughout their entire relationship.
• A brief author’s note about the real Virginia Hill was interesting.
• The book had a nice epilogue.
Overall, Mob Queen by Erin Bledsoe was a fascinating look at one powerful woman as she made her way in the man’s world of the mob.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2025...
Author: Erin Bledsoe
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Length: Approximately 12 hours and 3 minutes
Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for the review copy of physical book copy of Mob Queen by Erin Bledsoe. Thank-you to NetGalley for the audiobook and e-book review copies.
Are you addicted to a particular genre, or you read all sort of genres? I read all sorts of genre, but historical fiction is my addiction.
Virginia Hill is struggling to make ends meet in 1930s Chicago. She has recently divorced her husband and is looking for her missing friend, Madeline. Madeline disappeared into the Mafia. Virginia is recruited into the Mafia but has her own secret mission to find Madeline. As she climbs the ranks, she finds the type of power she never realized she wanted.
My thoughts on this novel:
• I loved how the intriguing man she met at the beginning of the novel, Ben, turned out to be Bugsy Siegel. I had heard the name Bugsy Siegel before, but I didn’t know anything about him.
• The reality of what the mafia actually did (horrific murders, kidnapping girls from the country into prostitution, etc.) was hard for Virginia to deal with.
• Brittany Pressley was a great audiobook narrator. She was Virginia to me.
• Virgina was very sassy and had great comebacks.
• Now I want to watch the movie Bugsy. Virginia Hill is known for being Bugsy’s girlfriend, but she had a fascinating history of her own.
• There was intense chemistry between Virginia and Ben. They seemed to go from desire to hate to desire to hate throughout their entire relationship.
• A brief author’s note about the real Virginia Hill was interesting.
• The book had a nice epilogue.
Overall, Mob Queen by Erin Bledsoe was a fascinating look at one powerful woman as she made her way in the man’s world of the mob.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2025...
May 11, 2025
Who says women can't be mobsters? 💁♀️ Dive into the thrilling world of *Mob Queen*, where Virginia Hill—a tenacious gal from Georgia—shimmies her way up the bloody ranks of the Chicago Mafia. This isn’t just a story; it’s an exhilarating ride filled with grit, glamour, and a sprinkle of danger.
Picture this: a recently divorced waitress at a mob hangout, living in a brothel, and battling the remnants of an abusive past—all while on a mission to find her missing best friend, Madeline. Virginia doesn’t just tiptoe through the lion’s den; she charges in with a fierce determination that’s as intoxicating as a well-aged whiskey.
The book beautifully captures the chaotic blend of mob life and toxic relationships, feeling like a dark romance that’s both elevated and gritty. Virginia’s relationship with Ben is a rollercoaster of passion and peril, showcasing her relentless spirit while highlighting the messiness of being entwined with the mob. You can’t help but root for her, even as she navigates the treacherous waters of loyalty and betrayal.
What’s more? I had no idea that Virginia Hill was a real person until I flipped the pages. She’s a character that lingers in your mind long after you’ve closed the book—loyal to a fault, relatable, and defying the odds in a world that’s ready to paint her as the villain. But guess what? This isn’t their story; it’s Virginia’s, and she’s not about to let anyone steal her spotlight.
*Mob Queen* is a masterclass in pacing. I was hooked from start to finish—no dull moments here, which is quite the achievement for historical fiction! Erin Bledsoe has crafted a delightful concoction of fact and fiction, making Virginia’s tale both fascinating and heartbreakingly real. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and prepare to be swept away by Virginia's unforgettable journey! 🥂✨
Picture this: a recently divorced waitress at a mob hangout, living in a brothel, and battling the remnants of an abusive past—all while on a mission to find her missing best friend, Madeline. Virginia doesn’t just tiptoe through the lion’s den; she charges in with a fierce determination that’s as intoxicating as a well-aged whiskey.
The book beautifully captures the chaotic blend of mob life and toxic relationships, feeling like a dark romance that’s both elevated and gritty. Virginia’s relationship with Ben is a rollercoaster of passion and peril, showcasing her relentless spirit while highlighting the messiness of being entwined with the mob. You can’t help but root for her, even as she navigates the treacherous waters of loyalty and betrayal.
What’s more? I had no idea that Virginia Hill was a real person until I flipped the pages. She’s a character that lingers in your mind long after you’ve closed the book—loyal to a fault, relatable, and defying the odds in a world that’s ready to paint her as the villain. But guess what? This isn’t their story; it’s Virginia’s, and she’s not about to let anyone steal her spotlight.
*Mob Queen* is a masterclass in pacing. I was hooked from start to finish—no dull moments here, which is quite the achievement for historical fiction! Erin Bledsoe has crafted a delightful concoction of fact and fiction, making Virginia’s tale both fascinating and heartbreakingly real. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and prepare to be swept away by Virginia's unforgettable journey! 🥂✨
April 19, 2025
How do you describe Virginia Hill? Seductive, desperate, brave, angry....a bad ass good time girl.
Erin Bledsoe's "Mob Queen" introduces us to a country girl running for an abusive father and laterly husband. Divorced and destitute she earns her money in a cafe frequented by Chicago mobsters. Her friend Madeline joined this shadey world....and disappeared! Would the same happen to Virginia as she sets out on a mission to find Madeline? Or is she made of sterner stuff?
Making a start laundering money at the race track, then promoted to a courier of expensive items, she worked her way into the inner workings of the Chicago mob. Along the way she saw and participated in horrific acts of violence. She was sent to New York to keep tabs on Luciano family capo Joe Adonis, which she did by becoming his lover. She told people that she was a Southern-belle society girl who had gone through four rich husbands, all divorced or dead, and that she had received $1 million each from their estates. Virginia was a master of disguise and would fully emmerse herself in any vice to fit in.
Living a whirlwind of deceit, drink, drugs and sex. Virginia was more than just window dressing in a hyper violent male dominated world. She was relied on for her ability to keep secrets and contracted to all Chicago, New York and LA branches of the mafia as they tried to play each other for power and payback.
Central to this book is the toxic on and off relationship with Ben "Bugsy" Siegel, with his steely blue eyes and ability to heartlessly commit murder and cleanup after.
I very much enjoyed this fascinating dramatisation of Virginia's mob life....where she was undoubtedly Queen and a member of the mob in her won right.
Thanks to NetGalley, Erin Bledsoe and Blackstone Publishing for my copy.
Erin Bledsoe's "Mob Queen" introduces us to a country girl running for an abusive father and laterly husband. Divorced and destitute she earns her money in a cafe frequented by Chicago mobsters. Her friend Madeline joined this shadey world....and disappeared! Would the same happen to Virginia as she sets out on a mission to find Madeline? Or is she made of sterner stuff?
Making a start laundering money at the race track, then promoted to a courier of expensive items, she worked her way into the inner workings of the Chicago mob. Along the way she saw and participated in horrific acts of violence. She was sent to New York to keep tabs on Luciano family capo Joe Adonis, which she did by becoming his lover. She told people that she was a Southern-belle society girl who had gone through four rich husbands, all divorced or dead, and that she had received $1 million each from their estates. Virginia was a master of disguise and would fully emmerse herself in any vice to fit in.
Living a whirlwind of deceit, drink, drugs and sex. Virginia was more than just window dressing in a hyper violent male dominated world. She was relied on for her ability to keep secrets and contracted to all Chicago, New York and LA branches of the mafia as they tried to play each other for power and payback.
Central to this book is the toxic on and off relationship with Ben "Bugsy" Siegel, with his steely blue eyes and ability to heartlessly commit murder and cleanup after.
I very much enjoyed this fascinating dramatisation of Virginia's mob life....where she was undoubtedly Queen and a member of the mob in her won right.
Thanks to NetGalley, Erin Bledsoe and Blackstone Publishing for my copy.
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