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Billie King
A blisteringly fast, fresh, funny and hugely entertaining novel of mothers, daughters and one gutsy wild colonial girl who gets caught up in Australia's last female bushranger's quest for revenge. Think Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife meets Trent Dalton.
1918: Australia's last bushranger, Dulcie James, holds up Anna King's falling-down farmhouse. There's a scrawny unloved infant on the floor, Anna seems more furious than frightened, and it's the bushranger who's left shaken. And the next day, Anna disappears.
Twelve years later, Anna's daughter, Billie King, is a girl ready to explode. With a missing mother, the rent in arrears and her alcoholic father's gambling debts to cover, she has no time for school. But when child services threaten to remove Billie from her father, she must decide between continuing her search for her missing mother and keeping what's left of her family together. If she fails to hold onto her father, she'll be taken away and placed in a children's home, but if she doesn't find her missing mother, who will?
'This blazing novel had me gripped from first page to last. Wildly original, utterly tender, fiercely feminist and astoundingly good storytelling, I inhaled it.' Tess Woods, The Venice Hotel
'If Quentin Tarantino had set Kill Bill in the 1930's Aussie bush with a gun-slinging 12 year old, it would be something like Shannon Kelly White's debut novel, Billie King. This fast-paced, funny and brazen debut novel kicks ass. An irrepressible story about determination, friendship and of being a woman. May we all have some of the spirit and tenacity of Billie King.' Kerryn Mayne, Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder
'An extraordinary debut - an utterly unique take on a fascinating era, bursting with fierce, funny characters that will break your heart and put it right back together again. I loved every single word of this brilliant story!' Kelly Rimmer, The Midnight Estate
'Fierce, furious, and Billie King is destined to become an iconic character in Australian fiction. This breathtaking tale of three courageous women had me enthralled from the very first line right through to its thrilling conclusion. A powerful debut from Shannon Kelly-White.' Lisa Ireland, The Studio Girls
Reader reviews:
'Billie King belongs with Cloud Street and Boy Swallows Universe as an Australian classic. I feel privileged to have read it' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'You are going to want to read this book. An exceptional debut novel' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'To use an Aussie colloquialism - this is a ripper of a debut novel! It has everything a reader could want - the human element, triumph over adversity, strong female characters, spirit - courage - endurance - all set in post-WWI Australia. One of my top reads for the year!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'You are going to want to read this book. An exceptional debut novel' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Stirring! Heartbreaking! Fair dinkum! Beautiful! I've run out of adjectives; it's a bit hard to think, smiling through my tears' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'One of the most incredible stories I have read in many years' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Hooly dooly what a ride that was! I was hooked from the first page. About 50 pages in I knew this was going to be one of my favourite reads of 2026. Loved, loved, loved!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1918: Australia's last bushranger, Dulcie James, holds up Anna King's falling-down farmhouse. There's a scrawny unloved infant on the floor, Anna seems more furious than frightened, and it's the bushranger who's left shaken. And the next day, Anna disappears.
Twelve years later, Anna's daughter, Billie King, is a girl ready to explode. With a missing mother, the rent in arrears and her alcoholic father's gambling debts to cover, she has no time for school. But when child services threaten to remove Billie from her father, she must decide between continuing her search for her missing mother and keeping what's left of her family together. If she fails to hold onto her father, she'll be taken away and placed in a children's home, but if she doesn't find her missing mother, who will?
'This blazing novel had me gripped from first page to last. Wildly original, utterly tender, fiercely feminist and astoundingly good storytelling, I inhaled it.' Tess Woods, The Venice Hotel
'If Quentin Tarantino had set Kill Bill in the 1930's Aussie bush with a gun-slinging 12 year old, it would be something like Shannon Kelly White's debut novel, Billie King. This fast-paced, funny and brazen debut novel kicks ass. An irrepressible story about determination, friendship and of being a woman. May we all have some of the spirit and tenacity of Billie King.' Kerryn Mayne, Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder
'An extraordinary debut - an utterly unique take on a fascinating era, bursting with fierce, funny characters that will break your heart and put it right back together again. I loved every single word of this brilliant story!' Kelly Rimmer, The Midnight Estate
'Fierce, furious, and Billie King is destined to become an iconic character in Australian fiction. This breathtaking tale of three courageous women had me enthralled from the very first line right through to its thrilling conclusion. A powerful debut from Shannon Kelly-White.' Lisa Ireland, The Studio Girls
Reader reviews:
'Billie King belongs with Cloud Street and Boy Swallows Universe as an Australian classic. I feel privileged to have read it' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'You are going to want to read this book. An exceptional debut novel' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'To use an Aussie colloquialism - this is a ripper of a debut novel! It has everything a reader could want - the human element, triumph over adversity, strong female characters, spirit - courage - endurance - all set in post-WWI Australia. One of my top reads for the year!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'You are going to want to read this book. An exceptional debut novel' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Stirring! Heartbreaking! Fair dinkum! Beautiful! I've run out of adjectives; it's a bit hard to think, smiling through my tears' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'One of the most incredible stories I have read in many years' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Hooly dooly what a ride that was! I was hooked from the first page. About 50 pages in I knew this was going to be one of my favourite reads of 2026. Loved, loved, loved!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- GenresHistorical FictionCrime
Audible Audio
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Shannon Kelly-White
1 book13 followersThe internet has plenty to answer for, and Shannon’s writing career is one of them.
Many moons ago, during maternity leave, she created Shannon’s Kitchen—a slightly unhinged corner of the internet that developed something of a cult following. Part food, part storytelling, part “did she really just say that?”, it laid the foundation for four non-fiction books and three Gourmand Awards, including Best Writing.
But fiction was always the dream.
Inspired by freedom, spirit, and women who push back, Shannon finally pulled her finger out and got on with it.
Her debut novel, Billie King, will be published by HarperCollins on 30 June 2026, with a second novel already in the works for 2028.
Shannon Kelly White is a writer, mum, nurse and doodle-joke enthusiast. She lives in Torquay, Australia
Many moons ago, during maternity leave, she created Shannon’s Kitchen—a slightly unhinged corner of the internet that developed something of a cult following. Part food, part storytelling, part “did she really just say that?”, it laid the foundation for four non-fiction books and three Gourmand Awards, including Best Writing.
But fiction was always the dream.
Inspired by freedom, spirit, and women who push back, Shannon finally pulled her finger out and got on with it.
Her debut novel, Billie King, will be published by HarperCollins on 30 June 2026, with a second novel already in the works for 2028.
Shannon Kelly White is a writer, mum, nurse and doodle-joke enthusiast. She lives in Torquay, Australia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 25, 2026
‘That town, that farmhouse, that baby. That final loose end. It needed to be tied up.’
Set in rural Australia in the early nineteenth century, Billie King is a story of women shaped by hardship, survival, and long-buried secrets.
Dulcie James is a bushranger with a bounty on her head, but she wasn't born a criminal. Circumstances fuelled a desire for revenge and a determination to hurt others just as she had been. But when she attempts to rob Anna, things unfold differently. Anna doesn't cower or beg; she is so worn down by life that she no longer fears what might happen to her. The presence of Anna's baby daughter, Billie, also gives Dulcie pause. Instead of carrying out the robbery, she leaves, having forged an unlikely connection with Anna. Before long though, both women have vanished from Billie's life, leaving her never having known them or their history.
Twelve years later, Billie is determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance, while Dulcie returns to the town she thought she had left behind forever.
The novel paints a vivid picture of life in small-town rural Australia, where survival is a daily struggle and choices are rarely straightforward – especially for women. The harshness of that world is reflected in the crude language and distinctly Australian lingo throughout. While the mystery surrounding Anna's disappearance kept me reading, I never felt fully invested in the story or its characters. The premise is compelling, and I always enjoy stories centred on strong women, but the execution didn't quite live up to its potential for me.
That said, this is a debut novel, and there was more than enough here to make me interested in seeing what Shannon Kelly White writes next.
‘There was no earning in this world, there was only luck. Good and bad luck’.
Set in rural Australia in the early nineteenth century, Billie King is a story of women shaped by hardship, survival, and long-buried secrets.
Dulcie James is a bushranger with a bounty on her head, but she wasn't born a criminal. Circumstances fuelled a desire for revenge and a determination to hurt others just as she had been. But when she attempts to rob Anna, things unfold differently. Anna doesn't cower or beg; she is so worn down by life that she no longer fears what might happen to her. The presence of Anna's baby daughter, Billie, also gives Dulcie pause. Instead of carrying out the robbery, she leaves, having forged an unlikely connection with Anna. Before long though, both women have vanished from Billie's life, leaving her never having known them or their history.
Twelve years later, Billie is determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance, while Dulcie returns to the town she thought she had left behind forever.
The novel paints a vivid picture of life in small-town rural Australia, where survival is a daily struggle and choices are rarely straightforward – especially for women. The harshness of that world is reflected in the crude language and distinctly Australian lingo throughout. While the mystery surrounding Anna's disappearance kept me reading, I never felt fully invested in the story or its characters. The premise is compelling, and I always enjoy stories centred on strong women, but the execution didn't quite live up to its potential for me.
That said, this is a debut novel, and there was more than enough here to make me interested in seeing what Shannon Kelly White writes next.
‘There was no earning in this world, there was only luck. Good and bad luck’.
July 13, 2026
It’s 1930, and 12-year-old Billie King doesn’t have much going for her. Her mum disappeared when she was a baby, her dad is a drunk who can barely look after himself, and she’s always getting into trouble at school (when she actually goes). Everyone in her small outback town thinks she’s dirty, naughty, and destined for nothing. But Billie is clever, resilient, and full of courage. When she meets the legendary bushranger Dulcie James and uncovers long-buried secrets, her life might just change forever.
I absolutely loved this book.
The characters were the standout for me, especially the strong, determined women who refused to let life define them. Billie was such an easy character to root for, and I loved watching the relationships develop, even between people who had only known each other a short time.
I also really enjoyed the three different narratives. Each voice felt completely distinct: Dulcie's was articulate and measured, Billie's captured the perspective of a young girl perfectly, and Anna's diary entries were rougher around the edges, full of Aussie slang and personality.
The small outback town setting in post-World War I Australia was wonderfully atmospheric and easy to picture. The story was well paced, with plenty of adventure, mystery, and gradually revealed secrets that kept me turning the pages. There were a few twists along the way, and I thought the ending was fantastic.
A wonderful Australian historical mystery with heart, unforgettable characters, and a touch of adventure. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Australian historical fiction with a strong female cast.
I absolutely loved this book.
The characters were the standout for me, especially the strong, determined women who refused to let life define them. Billie was such an easy character to root for, and I loved watching the relationships develop, even between people who had only known each other a short time.
I also really enjoyed the three different narratives. Each voice felt completely distinct: Dulcie's was articulate and measured, Billie's captured the perspective of a young girl perfectly, and Anna's diary entries were rougher around the edges, full of Aussie slang and personality.
The small outback town setting in post-World War I Australia was wonderfully atmospheric and easy to picture. The story was well paced, with plenty of adventure, mystery, and gradually revealed secrets that kept me turning the pages. There were a few twists along the way, and I thought the ending was fantastic.
A wonderful Australian historical mystery with heart, unforgettable characters, and a touch of adventure. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Australian historical fiction with a strong female cast.
April 19, 2026
This is a story about the indomitable spirit of women who refuse to be broken in. And, simply put, this is one of the most incredible stories I have read in many years. I felt transported back to my childhood growing up in rural Australia, the sights, the sounds, the smell, the language, the people. I don’t know that this book will be for everyone, but Christ this book feels like it was written for me.
This is historical Australian fiction, set in an old rural town called Orilong in the years after the First World War. Billie King, the titular character, is a spirited twelve year old girl who can’t help but find trouble wherever she goes. Dulcie James the Lady Bushranger is tired of all the hard things life has thrown at her, but she is returning to Orilong with one loose end left to tie up. There is a connection between Billie and Dulcie, and we learn about this in flashbacks through the old diary of Billie’s Mum, Anna, who has her own story of finding the strength to continue despite immense hardship.
The story rotates through three viewpoints - Billie and Dulcie in 1930, and Anna in 1918 - painting a picture of life in Australia a century ago. The first thing you will notice is the Australian slang and way of speaking and it is wonderful. This not simply adding some swear words to character dialogue, it is baked into the very DNA of this book to the point where it’s a character in its own right. Billie, Dulcie, Anna and the whole of Orilong are brought to life so vividly that I found myself getting distracted by my own memories and flashbacks.
The story itself? It is very dark, very confronting, deals with some very heavy content such as sexual assualt, PTSD, suicidal ideation, poverty, child abuse (formerly known as schoolhouse discipline), and more. Not only is the content dark, but that bloody author Shannon Kelly-White can’t help but to pile on the misery for our characters. And this is what makes Billie King shine (the book and the woman). Billie King is a beacon of determination, showing incredible strength and courage, brightened further by her compassion and values. You only need to read through boxing sequence, especially the scene with the kangaroo, to see why Billie King is a light so strong that she burns away the darkness. As the darkness burns away the threads of the story start to intertwine, secrets are revealed, motives are confirmed, and the conclusion hits like a ton of bricks!
I want to finish this review with two quotes from the book. If you want to know what type of book Billie King is, what type of characters Billie, Dulcie and Anna are, and why you should absolutely be moving this book to the top of your list, these two quotes should be all you need.
“Everyone seemed so damn keen on killing spirit. In horses. In her. Maybe life would be a hell of a lot easier if she’d just give hers up, but she couldn’t.”
“That’s what blokes don’t grasp about us women. How tough we are. Men, they dig a hole for us, she said. They tell us to fit ourselves in it, to lie down. So we do. They watch us, thinking we’ve given up but Lord knows we’re just resting, gathering ourselves and our thoughts and then we get back up. We do. Again and again, we climb out of that hole and have another swing.”
This is historical Australian fiction, set in an old rural town called Orilong in the years after the First World War. Billie King, the titular character, is a spirited twelve year old girl who can’t help but find trouble wherever she goes. Dulcie James the Lady Bushranger is tired of all the hard things life has thrown at her, but she is returning to Orilong with one loose end left to tie up. There is a connection between Billie and Dulcie, and we learn about this in flashbacks through the old diary of Billie’s Mum, Anna, who has her own story of finding the strength to continue despite immense hardship.
The story rotates through three viewpoints - Billie and Dulcie in 1930, and Anna in 1918 - painting a picture of life in Australia a century ago. The first thing you will notice is the Australian slang and way of speaking and it is wonderful. This not simply adding some swear words to character dialogue, it is baked into the very DNA of this book to the point where it’s a character in its own right. Billie, Dulcie, Anna and the whole of Orilong are brought to life so vividly that I found myself getting distracted by my own memories and flashbacks.
The story itself? It is very dark, very confronting, deals with some very heavy content such as sexual assualt, PTSD, suicidal ideation, poverty, child abuse (formerly known as schoolhouse discipline), and more. Not only is the content dark, but that bloody author Shannon Kelly-White can’t help but to pile on the misery for our characters. And this is what makes Billie King shine (the book and the woman). Billie King is a beacon of determination, showing incredible strength and courage, brightened further by her compassion and values. You only need to read through boxing sequence, especially the scene with the kangaroo, to see why Billie King is a light so strong that she burns away the darkness. As the darkness burns away the threads of the story start to intertwine, secrets are revealed, motives are confirmed, and the conclusion hits like a ton of bricks!
I want to finish this review with two quotes from the book. If you want to know what type of book Billie King is, what type of characters Billie, Dulcie and Anna are, and why you should absolutely be moving this book to the top of your list, these two quotes should be all you need.
“Everyone seemed so damn keen on killing spirit. In horses. In her. Maybe life would be a hell of a lot easier if she’d just give hers up, but she couldn’t.”
“That’s what blokes don’t grasp about us women. How tough we are. Men, they dig a hole for us, she said. They tell us to fit ourselves in it, to lie down. So we do. They watch us, thinking we’ve given up but Lord knows we’re just resting, gathering ourselves and our thoughts and then we get back up. We do. Again and again, we climb out of that hole and have another swing.”
July 1, 2026
Big thanks to Shannon for gifting us a copy to read and review.
There’s a new voice in town….
So prepare yourselves to be wowed.
Shannon Kelly-White is the latest to release a historical colonial fiction adventure read.
Billie King is an action packed, spellbinding, emotional, humorous and down right entertaining novel.
Welcome to the country town of Orilong where gossip, drama, danger and community are leading the way.
It’s 1930 and young Billie King is discovering life and the burden is high.
Her mother is missing, her father is an alcoholic and gambling is his forte, she hates school and the nuns are on her back.
But thirteen year old Billie has an encounter with The Lady Bushranger, Dulcie James.
In 1918, Dulcie arrives at the property of Anna King.
Ready to rob it all, the experience between the two is more fury than scared and the next day Anna disappeared.
Now Billie must fight for what she believes is right whatever it takes…..
This story is inspiring, bold and the power of three protagonists is strong.
I adore our female leading ladies, their stories collide and their voices are dominant.
The tagline on the front “Wild girls don’t go quietly…..” is a perfect description of how this tale rides and goes.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but what I do know now is the plot, characters, history and setting is exceptional.
This is a must read for everyone and another favourite book of the year.
There’s a new voice in town….
So prepare yourselves to be wowed.
Shannon Kelly-White is the latest to release a historical colonial fiction adventure read.
Billie King is an action packed, spellbinding, emotional, humorous and down right entertaining novel.
Welcome to the country town of Orilong where gossip, drama, danger and community are leading the way.
It’s 1930 and young Billie King is discovering life and the burden is high.
Her mother is missing, her father is an alcoholic and gambling is his forte, she hates school and the nuns are on her back.
But thirteen year old Billie has an encounter with The Lady Bushranger, Dulcie James.
In 1918, Dulcie arrives at the property of Anna King.
Ready to rob it all, the experience between the two is more fury than scared and the next day Anna disappeared.
Now Billie must fight for what she believes is right whatever it takes…..
This story is inspiring, bold and the power of three protagonists is strong.
I adore our female leading ladies, their stories collide and their voices are dominant.
The tagline on the front “Wild girls don’t go quietly…..” is a perfect description of how this tale rides and goes.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but what I do know now is the plot, characters, history and setting is exceptional.
This is a must read for everyone and another favourite book of the year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Billie King* by Shannon Kelly-White is an absolutely electrifying debut that grabs hold from the very first page and never lets go. Fierce, funny, heartbreaking, and wildly Australian, this novel feels like a storm rolling through the outback, brutal and beautiful all at once. It is one of those rare books that manages to be both deeply emotional and relentlessly entertaining, balancing grit, humour, and tenderness with remarkable confidence.
Set across rural Australia in the early twentieth century, the story begins with the unforgettable arrival of bushranger Dulcie James at the crumbling farmhouse of Anna King. From that moment onward, the novel pulses with tension and energy. Twelve years later, Anna’s daughter Billie has grown into one of the most memorable protagonists I have read in a long time. Angry, resilient, sharp-tongued, and endlessly determined, Billie feels completely alive on the page. She is only twelve, yet the weight of the world already sits on her shoulders as she struggles to survive poverty, her father’s alcoholism, and the constant threat of being taken away by child services.
What makes Billie such an incredible character is that beneath all her toughness is a desperate longing for love, stability, and answers about her missing mother. Kelly-White writes her with so much compassion and authenticity that every victory feels triumphant and every setback genuinely painful. Billie is fierce in a way that never feels forced or performative. She survives because she has no other choice.
The Australian setting is rendered brilliantly throughout the novel. The dusty landscapes, rundown farmhouses, pubs, small towns, and unforgiving bush all feel vivid and immersive. As an Australian reader, the dialogue, humour, and atmosphere felt incredibly authentic. The novel captures both the harshness and strange beauty of rural Australia perfectly, right down to the dry wit running through even the darkest moments.
The pacing is phenomenal. The story moves with the momentum of a thriller while still giving emotional moments room to breathe. There are scenes that feel cinematic in the best possible way, full of danger, tension, and chaos, but the quieter moments between characters are just as powerful. The relationships between the women in particular are extraordinary. This is such a deeply feminist novel, not in a heavy-handed way, but through its fierce focus on survival, resilience, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters.
Kelly-White’s writing style is another standout. The prose is sharp, energetic, and often very funny, even during painful scenes. The humour never undercuts the emotional depth though. Instead, it makes the heartbreak hit even harder because the characters feel so real and human.
What surprised me most was how emotionally invested I became in every part of Billie’s journey. Beneath the action and humour is a genuinely moving story about abandonment, identity, poverty, and the desperate need to belong somewhere. The novel handles these themes with incredible heart.
The only reason this is not a full five stars is that a handful of side characters could have been explored a little more deeply, particularly later in the story when events move very quickly toward the conclusion. Still, the emotional payoff is so satisfying that it barely lessened my enjoyment.
Overall, *Billie King* is an outstanding debut, fierce, emotional, funny, and unforgettable. Shannon Kelly-White has created a heroine who feels destined to become iconic in Australian fiction, and the novel itself feels both classic and completely fresh at the same time.
An absolutely phenomenal 4.75-star read that deserves to be read as widely as possible.
Set across rural Australia in the early twentieth century, the story begins with the unforgettable arrival of bushranger Dulcie James at the crumbling farmhouse of Anna King. From that moment onward, the novel pulses with tension and energy. Twelve years later, Anna’s daughter Billie has grown into one of the most memorable protagonists I have read in a long time. Angry, resilient, sharp-tongued, and endlessly determined, Billie feels completely alive on the page. She is only twelve, yet the weight of the world already sits on her shoulders as she struggles to survive poverty, her father’s alcoholism, and the constant threat of being taken away by child services.
What makes Billie such an incredible character is that beneath all her toughness is a desperate longing for love, stability, and answers about her missing mother. Kelly-White writes her with so much compassion and authenticity that every victory feels triumphant and every setback genuinely painful. Billie is fierce in a way that never feels forced or performative. She survives because she has no other choice.
The Australian setting is rendered brilliantly throughout the novel. The dusty landscapes, rundown farmhouses, pubs, small towns, and unforgiving bush all feel vivid and immersive. As an Australian reader, the dialogue, humour, and atmosphere felt incredibly authentic. The novel captures both the harshness and strange beauty of rural Australia perfectly, right down to the dry wit running through even the darkest moments.
The pacing is phenomenal. The story moves with the momentum of a thriller while still giving emotional moments room to breathe. There are scenes that feel cinematic in the best possible way, full of danger, tension, and chaos, but the quieter moments between characters are just as powerful. The relationships between the women in particular are extraordinary. This is such a deeply feminist novel, not in a heavy-handed way, but through its fierce focus on survival, resilience, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters.
Kelly-White’s writing style is another standout. The prose is sharp, energetic, and often very funny, even during painful scenes. The humour never undercuts the emotional depth though. Instead, it makes the heartbreak hit even harder because the characters feel so real and human.
What surprised me most was how emotionally invested I became in every part of Billie’s journey. Beneath the action and humour is a genuinely moving story about abandonment, identity, poverty, and the desperate need to belong somewhere. The novel handles these themes with incredible heart.
The only reason this is not a full five stars is that a handful of side characters could have been explored a little more deeply, particularly later in the story when events move very quickly toward the conclusion. Still, the emotional payoff is so satisfying that it barely lessened my enjoyment.
Overall, *Billie King* is an outstanding debut, fierce, emotional, funny, and unforgettable. Shannon Kelly-White has created a heroine who feels destined to become iconic in Australian fiction, and the novel itself feels both classic and completely fresh at the same time.
An absolutely phenomenal 4.75-star read that deserves to be read as widely as possible.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“The kid didn't only have mercy. She had spirit too. Though many had done their best to flog the heart right out of Billie King, there it was. Bright and fierce.”
If a one word review felt good enough for this book I’d just say PHENOMENAL, but I don’t think that would be doing Shannon Kelly-White’s ‘Billie King’ justice.
From the very beginning it was a hit for me. This is the epitome of authentic, wild, hilarious, tragic yet totally transformative Australian fiction. An absolutely trilling tale of three courageous, passionate, bad ass, fierce woman.
Witty and razor sharp, ‘Billie King’ is filled with characters with heart, gusto and deep emotional complexity. At its heart it is a story of mothers, daughters, the strength of female friendships, the resilience of women and a full throttle question for revenge.
Shannon has taken a wildly interesting era of Australian history and written a remarkable, revealing and tenacious story that will resonate with the wild girls of our generation, those before us and those still to come.
I was in tears for way too much of this story, it truly packs a big emotional punch. One I’ll think about for a long time. 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️
Some Highlights —
“I've got me. I've finally got Mum's story. And I've got faith. Not faith in God. Faith in me. There's goodness in me, whether anyone else sees it or not.”
“After Dulcie's lifetime of living among darkness and drudgery and doomed souls, in that moment, something shifted inside her. Something opened. Curled through her. Dulcie realised with a sick sort of dread that it was hope she was feeling, it was erupting through her like a shoot through the earth's crust. Hope that things could get better, that life could grow fairer, that she was no longer entirely alone.”
“Keeping her eyes on the mountains ahead, Billie felt like a brumby who'd slipped out of the lasso, destined to stay unbroken, galloping home to the bush, to her mob.
To where she belonged. Free.”
“It didn't matter who a woman was, they all suffered. They were all trapped in one way or another. Some cages were just prettier than others.”
“Women's tears mean nothing to the man; in fact, I reckon they water him.
I should've known that by now.
A humiliated man is a dark, dark thing.”
If a one word review felt good enough for this book I’d just say PHENOMENAL, but I don’t think that would be doing Shannon Kelly-White’s ‘Billie King’ justice.
From the very beginning it was a hit for me. This is the epitome of authentic, wild, hilarious, tragic yet totally transformative Australian fiction. An absolutely trilling tale of three courageous, passionate, bad ass, fierce woman.
Witty and razor sharp, ‘Billie King’ is filled with characters with heart, gusto and deep emotional complexity. At its heart it is a story of mothers, daughters, the strength of female friendships, the resilience of women and a full throttle question for revenge.
Shannon has taken a wildly interesting era of Australian history and written a remarkable, revealing and tenacious story that will resonate with the wild girls of our generation, those before us and those still to come.
I was in tears for way too much of this story, it truly packs a big emotional punch. One I’ll think about for a long time. 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️
Some Highlights —
“I've got me. I've finally got Mum's story. And I've got faith. Not faith in God. Faith in me. There's goodness in me, whether anyone else sees it or not.”
“After Dulcie's lifetime of living among darkness and drudgery and doomed souls, in that moment, something shifted inside her. Something opened. Curled through her. Dulcie realised with a sick sort of dread that it was hope she was feeling, it was erupting through her like a shoot through the earth's crust. Hope that things could get better, that life could grow fairer, that she was no longer entirely alone.”
“Keeping her eyes on the mountains ahead, Billie felt like a brumby who'd slipped out of the lasso, destined to stay unbroken, galloping home to the bush, to her mob.
To where she belonged. Free.”
“It didn't matter who a woman was, they all suffered. They were all trapped in one way or another. Some cages were just prettier than others.”
“Women's tears mean nothing to the man; in fact, I reckon they water him.
I should've known that by now.
A humiliated man is a dark, dark thing.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐
Grateful for the ARC from NetGalley, and getting to experience this piece of Australian fiction - and it's VERY Australian. Filled with metaphors and similes referencing Australian flora and fauna, the language and writing is so full of imagery, you feel immersed in the post-WWI Rural Australian landscape.
I honestly didn't know where this story would take me, and I was initially worried at the pacing and tone of the story, but this didn't last long as the story found its wings about 40% in.
Our FMC, Billie King, hasn't had a fortunate upbringing; with an alcoholic father, no mother, and being an outcast in her rural community due to their socio-economic standing, a lesser girl would wither. Yet somehow, Billie finds strength and compassion for those she loves.
Then we meet Dulcie James, the Lady Bushranger, and it seems inevitable her path will cross with Billie's. Both represent women who refuse to be bound by society's expectation of women. Both Billie and Dulcie's POVs are written in the 3rd person so we can observe the hardships and oppression they face.
And we learn of Billie's mum, Anna, through her diary entries. These diaries give us flashback POV from before and just after Billie's birth. We can see she is suffering with post partum depression, although in the 1910's, it's just believed she's in a fog and is unsupported and outcast by the community whilst her husband is away serving in the army.
The story develops well beyond a simple journey of self-discovery and friendship, and provides us with answers to the mystery presented throughout the book. It spotlights strong female characters who refuse to be oppressed. It places a lens over socio-economic and power disparity, and concludes by leaving us with hope.
Read this book if you like strong female characters and multiple POVs in the 3rd person, along with nonlinear timelines.
You may struggle with this book of you don't enjoy 1st person narrative style, overly descriptive prose (with A LOT of Australian flare), or themes of oppression/ inequality.
Trigger warnings: there is alcohol abuse, corporal punishment at school, sexual assualt and discussions of PPD and child loss.
Grateful for the ARC from NetGalley, and getting to experience this piece of Australian fiction - and it's VERY Australian. Filled with metaphors and similes referencing Australian flora and fauna, the language and writing is so full of imagery, you feel immersed in the post-WWI Rural Australian landscape.
I honestly didn't know where this story would take me, and I was initially worried at the pacing and tone of the story, but this didn't last long as the story found its wings about 40% in.
Our FMC, Billie King, hasn't had a fortunate upbringing; with an alcoholic father, no mother, and being an outcast in her rural community due to their socio-economic standing, a lesser girl would wither. Yet somehow, Billie finds strength and compassion for those she loves.
Then we meet Dulcie James, the Lady Bushranger, and it seems inevitable her path will cross with Billie's. Both represent women who refuse to be bound by society's expectation of women. Both Billie and Dulcie's POVs are written in the 3rd person so we can observe the hardships and oppression they face.
And we learn of Billie's mum, Anna, through her diary entries. These diaries give us flashback POV from before and just after Billie's birth. We can see she is suffering with post partum depression, although in the 1910's, it's just believed she's in a fog and is unsupported and outcast by the community whilst her husband is away serving in the army.
The story develops well beyond a simple journey of self-discovery and friendship, and provides us with answers to the mystery presented throughout the book. It spotlights strong female characters who refuse to be oppressed. It places a lens over socio-economic and power disparity, and concludes by leaving us with hope.
Read this book if you like strong female characters and multiple POVs in the 3rd person, along with nonlinear timelines.
You may struggle with this book of you don't enjoy 1st person narrative style, overly descriptive prose (with A LOT of Australian flare), or themes of oppression/ inequality.
Trigger warnings: there is alcohol abuse, corporal punishment at school, sexual assualt and discussions of PPD and child loss.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Billie King is the first novel by Australian author, Shannon Kelly-White. It’s December 1930 in the little Australian country town of Orilong, and twelve-year-old Billie King has encountered Dulcie James, aka The Lady Bushranger, three times. The first, unremembered, when she was just a few months old; the second, days before, in a very dark cave with shots being fired; the third, now, as Billie stands surrounded by the town priest, the man she had believed to be her father, and their landlord.
Dulcie facilitates her escape on her beloved golden palomino, Goose and, although Billie is wary, accompanies this strange woman on her own mount up the Spur. Billie may be very smart, but her poor attendance at school (boring!) and her other exploits, aimed at keeping the landlord off their backs, incur the wrath of Sister Claire and Father Sean. And now, some woman in a fancy car is threatening to put her in a Children’s Home!
Billie’s mother, Anna disappeared when she was a baby, and no one will tell her what happened. She figures that if she could earn enough money (she has a plan for that) to keep the landlord at bay, she could search for Anna. If her mother came back, her dad might stop drinking and gambling, and they could be one happy family.
Dulcie, wanted for four murders and countless armed robberies, has a price on her head. Why does she want to help Billie? Can she be trusted?
Before matters are resolved, a boxing match goes awry, Billie learns to shoot a rifle, shocking secrets are revealed when various men are confronted, diary entries hold important clues, there’s a dramatic shoot out, an act of arson intend to take lives, and a nail-biting rescue.
Kelly-White says in her notes that she was aiming for a lively tale. This very entertaining piece of historical fiction certainly achieves that, along with plenty of humour and a good dose of emotion. Recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
Dulcie facilitates her escape on her beloved golden palomino, Goose and, although Billie is wary, accompanies this strange woman on her own mount up the Spur. Billie may be very smart, but her poor attendance at school (boring!) and her other exploits, aimed at keeping the landlord off their backs, incur the wrath of Sister Claire and Father Sean. And now, some woman in a fancy car is threatening to put her in a Children’s Home!
Billie’s mother, Anna disappeared when she was a baby, and no one will tell her what happened. She figures that if she could earn enough money (she has a plan for that) to keep the landlord at bay, she could search for Anna. If her mother came back, her dad might stop drinking and gambling, and they could be one happy family.
Dulcie, wanted for four murders and countless armed robberies, has a price on her head. Why does she want to help Billie? Can she be trusted?
Before matters are resolved, a boxing match goes awry, Billie learns to shoot a rifle, shocking secrets are revealed when various men are confronted, diary entries hold important clues, there’s a dramatic shoot out, an act of arson intend to take lives, and a nail-biting rescue.
Kelly-White says in her notes that she was aiming for a lively tale. This very entertaining piece of historical fiction certainly achieves that, along with plenty of humour and a good dose of emotion. Recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Don’t let the 1930s fool you, this isn’t your typical historical fiction. This is a punchy character-driven story that grabbed me and didn’t let go. Billie has an impossible problem, she has to try to find her missing mother and hold what’s left of her family together, all while navigating Dulcie's (Australia's last female bushranger) quest for revenge. Set in Australia's beautiful high country, a harsh place for anyone, let alone isolated women, it's a courageous story about never giving in.
The writing has a lyrical, almost musical quality I rarely get from a book. But it’s indie rock, not classical. Shannon Kelly-White can pin a thing down in a handful of words, sharp and unexpected, without ever falling into the literary-fiction fluff trap. It’s a real voice.
It gets properly dark, but it never wallows and it never gives up. It made me cry and somehow left me feeling good about people and the world. It’s a book about refusing to let a bad hand break you. The female rage in it is real, but it’s earned. How could you not be furious at what these women have to do just to survive?
The characters are flawed and brilliant in that Abercrombie way, light and dark in the same person, all of us a beautiful mess of contradictions. Billie and Dulcie are a duo for the ages. I’d put them up there with Ellie and Joe from The Last of Us. The animals are real characters too, with their own personalities, given the love and respect any animal lover will understand and appreciate.
Every chapter ends on a little hook that keeps you turning pages way past your bedtime.
It hits everything I want from a book, which is rare, and it’s earned a permanent spot on my favourites shelf next to Dungeon Crawler Carl, Best Served Cold and Project Hail Mary. I’ll remember this one for a long time. I loved it.
The writing has a lyrical, almost musical quality I rarely get from a book. But it’s indie rock, not classical. Shannon Kelly-White can pin a thing down in a handful of words, sharp and unexpected, without ever falling into the literary-fiction fluff trap. It’s a real voice.
It gets properly dark, but it never wallows and it never gives up. It made me cry and somehow left me feeling good about people and the world. It’s a book about refusing to let a bad hand break you. The female rage in it is real, but it’s earned. How could you not be furious at what these women have to do just to survive?
The characters are flawed and brilliant in that Abercrombie way, light and dark in the same person, all of us a beautiful mess of contradictions. Billie and Dulcie are a duo for the ages. I’d put them up there with Ellie and Joe from The Last of Us. The animals are real characters too, with their own personalities, given the love and respect any animal lover will understand and appreciate.
Every chapter ends on a little hook that keeps you turning pages way past your bedtime.
It hits everything I want from a book, which is rare, and it’s earned a permanent spot on my favourites shelf next to Dungeon Crawler Carl, Best Served Cold and Project Hail Mary. I’ll remember this one for a long time. I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book, Billie King was such a firecracker. I absolutely loved it and would love to see another one.
A story about Billie, a young girl who has not had a great start in life, no mother, a father who is a drunk and she meets up with Dulcie, a female bushranger. Such a great Aussie story taking place in the bush. Loved the language and how the characters spoke, so typically Australian!
When I first started reading it I thought it would be about Billie and her tough little life. But it became much much more than that. Billie is trying to find her mother who disappeared and not having much luck. Because Billie does not back down when challenged she faced a lot of abuse from the nuns at school who think she is not behaving as a girl should. I found myself always in Billie’s corner hoping she would escape the brutality and poor life she had. As her Dad had no money, Billie took to stealing what she could to keep the loan shark at bay and was always looking for a way to get money to help. The connection she has with her horse was so beautiful, probably the best thing in her life.
Then Billie meets Dulcie who looks out for her, and she is not sure why. In the few days they were together they developed a great friendship.
About three quarters the way through the story took a different twist and turn. I did not see that coming at all, never even thought of this as an option but absolutely loved it. I won’t spoil it for others.
This is one of my favourite books I have read and I will grab the paperback when released to keep on my bookshelf. There are not many books I have kept after reading but this will be one of those.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins publishers and Shannon Kelly-White for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Wish I could give it 10 stars I loved it that much.
A story about Billie, a young girl who has not had a great start in life, no mother, a father who is a drunk and she meets up with Dulcie, a female bushranger. Such a great Aussie story taking place in the bush. Loved the language and how the characters spoke, so typically Australian!
When I first started reading it I thought it would be about Billie and her tough little life. But it became much much more than that. Billie is trying to find her mother who disappeared and not having much luck. Because Billie does not back down when challenged she faced a lot of abuse from the nuns at school who think she is not behaving as a girl should. I found myself always in Billie’s corner hoping she would escape the brutality and poor life she had. As her Dad had no money, Billie took to stealing what she could to keep the loan shark at bay and was always looking for a way to get money to help. The connection she has with her horse was so beautiful, probably the best thing in her life.
Then Billie meets Dulcie who looks out for her, and she is not sure why. In the few days they were together they developed a great friendship.
About three quarters the way through the story took a different twist and turn. I did not see that coming at all, never even thought of this as an option but absolutely loved it. I won’t spoil it for others.
This is one of my favourite books I have read and I will grab the paperback when released to keep on my bookshelf. There are not many books I have kept after reading but this will be one of those.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins publishers and Shannon Kelly-White for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Wish I could give it 10 stars I loved it that much.
June 24, 2026
Billie King is exactly the kind of book I want Australian publishing to back.
Not because it’s neat or polished. It isn’t. The people in this novel are carrying trauma, grief, poverty, bad decisions and enough stubbornness to level a small town. They are rough around the edges, deeply flawed and often frustrating. I loved them anyway.
At the centre is Billie herself, a girl with more grit than any child should ever need. Around her are women refusing to stay in the boxes society has built for them. Shannon Kelly-White writes these characters with so much affection that even their worst moments feel human rather than manufactured.
What surprised me most was how funny this book is. There is plenty of darkness here. Poverty, violence, loss and injustice sit beneath almost every page. Yet the humour feels distinctly Australian. Dry, sharp and often arriving exactly when it’s needed most.
And then there’s the setting.
As an Aussie reader, I could feel this book in my bones. The landscape isn’t just scenery. It’s dust, heat, isolation, resilience and community all tangled together. The language, the people and the rhythms of country life felt authentic in a way that can’t be faked.
Underneath the bushrangers, mysteries and family secrets is a fiercely feminist story about women surviving systems designed to wear them down. Not perfect women. Not inspirational women. Just women who keep getting back up.
This book has dirt under its fingernails and a huge heart. I finished it feeling grateful that stories this unapologetically Australian are still being written.
That, for me, was its real magic
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
Not because it’s neat or polished. It isn’t. The people in this novel are carrying trauma, grief, poverty, bad decisions and enough stubbornness to level a small town. They are rough around the edges, deeply flawed and often frustrating. I loved them anyway.
At the centre is Billie herself, a girl with more grit than any child should ever need. Around her are women refusing to stay in the boxes society has built for them. Shannon Kelly-White writes these characters with so much affection that even their worst moments feel human rather than manufactured.
What surprised me most was how funny this book is. There is plenty of darkness here. Poverty, violence, loss and injustice sit beneath almost every page. Yet the humour feels distinctly Australian. Dry, sharp and often arriving exactly when it’s needed most.
And then there’s the setting.
As an Aussie reader, I could feel this book in my bones. The landscape isn’t just scenery. It’s dust, heat, isolation, resilience and community all tangled together. The language, the people and the rhythms of country life felt authentic in a way that can’t be faked.
Underneath the bushrangers, mysteries and family secrets is a fiercely feminist story about women surviving systems designed to wear them down. Not perfect women. Not inspirational women. Just women who keep getting back up.
This book has dirt under its fingernails and a huge heart. I finished it feeling grateful that stories this unapologetically Australian are still being written.
That, for me, was its real magic
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I should have learned my lesson last time, but requesting ARCs without a 'Send to Kindle' option just isn't for me. Reading this on the NetGalley Shelf app wasn't the best experience and it affected my ability to fully immerse myself in the story and enjoy it as much as I could have.
Told across dual timelines in 1918 and 1930, we follow Dulcie James, the infamous 'Lady Bushranger' wanted for a spate of crimes. One day in 1918, she breaks into Anna King's house while baby Billie is there, and just days later Anna disappears, never to be seen again. Fast forward to 1930 and Billie is now 12 years old, struggling to conform to society's expectations while her father tries to control her behaviour. Desperate for answers about her mother's disappearance, Billie unexpectedly crosses paths with Dulcie in a cave on a hill, setting them both on a path they won't be able to come back from.
I found the story interesting and loved the quintessentially Australian language. Reading about a place I'd lived near also made it easy to picture the landscape, which added a lovely sense of nostalgia. Unfortunately, I found myself losing concentration and getting distracted throughout, which made it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I flew through the final 25% though, and found the ending engaging, surprising and not at all what I was expecting. It definitely elevated the overall experience, but I can't help wondering if I would have connected with the book more if I'd been reading it on a different device.
Thank you Harper Collins Australia for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.5⭐️
Told across dual timelines in 1918 and 1930, we follow Dulcie James, the infamous 'Lady Bushranger' wanted for a spate of crimes. One day in 1918, she breaks into Anna King's house while baby Billie is there, and just days later Anna disappears, never to be seen again. Fast forward to 1930 and Billie is now 12 years old, struggling to conform to society's expectations while her father tries to control her behaviour. Desperate for answers about her mother's disappearance, Billie unexpectedly crosses paths with Dulcie in a cave on a hill, setting them both on a path they won't be able to come back from.
I found the story interesting and loved the quintessentially Australian language. Reading about a place I'd lived near also made it easy to picture the landscape, which added a lovely sense of nostalgia. Unfortunately, I found myself losing concentration and getting distracted throughout, which made it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I flew through the final 25% though, and found the ending engaging, surprising and not at all what I was expecting. It definitely elevated the overall experience, but I can't help wondering if I would have connected with the book more if I'd been reading it on a different device.
Thank you Harper Collins Australia for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.5⭐️
June 30, 2026
Stirring! Heartbreaking! Fair dinkum! Beautiful! I’ve run out of adjectives; it’s a bit hard to think, smiling through my tears. My parents were children of Depression-era Australia, and if they were still around today I think they would say Shannon Kelly-White has nailed it.
Heroes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and there are some true heroes in this story. Billie King lives with her broken down, alcoholic father, Ken. She knows Ken loves her but he is unable to provide adequately for her, and she goes to school wearing ragged clothes which makes her an object of derision for the kids at school. As well, she is beaten by the judgmental, sadistic Sister Claire; so school isn’t where Billie wants to be. Billie has a burning need to find her mother, Anna, who disappeared when Billie was a baby.
This is the story of Billie’s search for Anna. The story is written in the Australian vernacular which it makes it even more poignant, somehow. There are some shining, beautiful souls out there in the bush, from the lady bushranger to the carnival boxer. I was taken back to my childhood when we were given a half day off to go to the Brookvale show; the scary drumbeat, the skinny young fellas in their robes standing up on the platform, inviting the punters to come up and have a go at knocking one of them out.
Shannon Kelly-White writes about animals with the kind of sensitivity which would have made the late Jilly Cooper proud. Billie King belongs with Cloud Street and Boy Swallows Universe as an Australian classic. I feel privileged to have read it; I congratulate Shannon Kelly-White and I thank NetGalley for giving me this opportunity.
Heroes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and there are some true heroes in this story. Billie King lives with her broken down, alcoholic father, Ken. She knows Ken loves her but he is unable to provide adequately for her, and she goes to school wearing ragged clothes which makes her an object of derision for the kids at school. As well, she is beaten by the judgmental, sadistic Sister Claire; so school isn’t where Billie wants to be. Billie has a burning need to find her mother, Anna, who disappeared when Billie was a baby.
This is the story of Billie’s search for Anna. The story is written in the Australian vernacular which it makes it even more poignant, somehow. There are some shining, beautiful souls out there in the bush, from the lady bushranger to the carnival boxer. I was taken back to my childhood when we were given a half day off to go to the Brookvale show; the scary drumbeat, the skinny young fellas in their robes standing up on the platform, inviting the punters to come up and have a go at knocking one of them out.
Shannon Kelly-White writes about animals with the kind of sensitivity which would have made the late Jilly Cooper proud. Billie King belongs with Cloud Street and Boy Swallows Universe as an Australian classic. I feel privileged to have read it; I congratulate Shannon Kelly-White and I thank NetGalley for giving me this opportunity.
Read
July 13, 2026Thank you Harpercollins Australia for the gifted copy of Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White. This review can also be found on my bookstagram.
This Australian debut novel is a standout to me. Because it's entertaining and engaging what is exactly, what I was hoping it would be based on the synopsis and cover.
If you are after a read that puts womens voices and stories at this front this is the read for you, as the three leading characters are all engaging and interesting leading ladies.
It also has to be said this book is not historically accurate and has had creative liberties used, however Shannon explains her reasoning behind her choices in her authors note. For me personally as much as I love historically accurate fiction, I did still throughly enjoy this book.
As for me I think the most compelling aspect of this book is it's characters, particularly the ladies as none of them were the sort who give in when push comes to shove. This was a fantastic element amongst the overarching narrative and character development. Especially as it was a narrative that also featured heavy topics and events, including PTSD, abuse, and sexual assault.
I also love how overall Shannon's writing style was so easy to engage with, for me this was probably the real highlight of the book. Particularly as she was able to create a balance between humour, humanity, trauma and pain. Yet she did this in a way that made this a entertaining read.
Overall if your after a different kind of historical fiction read, that will draw you in with it's fierce characters and engaging narrative. I recommend adding Billie King to your TBR and or shelves.
This Australian debut novel is a standout to me. Because it's entertaining and engaging what is exactly, what I was hoping it would be based on the synopsis and cover.
If you are after a read that puts womens voices and stories at this front this is the read for you, as the three leading characters are all engaging and interesting leading ladies.
It also has to be said this book is not historically accurate and has had creative liberties used, however Shannon explains her reasoning behind her choices in her authors note. For me personally as much as I love historically accurate fiction, I did still throughly enjoy this book.
As for me I think the most compelling aspect of this book is it's characters, particularly the ladies as none of them were the sort who give in when push comes to shove. This was a fantastic element amongst the overarching narrative and character development. Especially as it was a narrative that also featured heavy topics and events, including PTSD, abuse, and sexual assault.
I also love how overall Shannon's writing style was so easy to engage with, for me this was probably the real highlight of the book. Particularly as she was able to create a balance between humour, humanity, trauma and pain. Yet she did this in a way that made this a entertaining read.
Overall if your after a different kind of historical fiction read, that will draw you in with it's fierce characters and engaging narrative. I recommend adding Billie King to your TBR and or shelves.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Billie King is a captivating Australian historical fiction novel that grabbed my attention from the very first chapter. Set against the harsh beauty of the Australian bush in the years following World War I, the story follows twelve-year-old Billie King, a courageous and determined young girl facing challenges far beyond her years.
The mystery begins in 1918 when Australia’s last female bushranger, Dulcie James, arrives at the King family farmhouse. After a strange encounter with Billie’s mother, Anna, the bushranger suddenly flees, and the next day Anna vanishes without a trace. Twelve years later, Billie is still searching for answers while struggling to hold her family together.
What makes this novel so compelling is all three women and the combined resilience, resourcefulness, and fierce loyalty to each other in beautifully different ways; each woman’s woven story to uncover the truth creates an emotional and suspenseful journey.
The novel expertly blends mystery, adventure, and heartbreak. The vivid Australian setting feels alive, while the strong feminist themes shine through Billie’s refusal to accept the limitations placed on girls and women of the era.
The extraordinary dramatic conclusion is poignant and powerful; the story of Dulcie, Anna and Billie is fast-paced and action-packed, yet never loses sight of its emotional core right to the final page.
Shannon Kelly-White’s incredible debut novel is officially out in Australia 30th June, run - don’t walk for this one!
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
The mystery begins in 1918 when Australia’s last female bushranger, Dulcie James, arrives at the King family farmhouse. After a strange encounter with Billie’s mother, Anna, the bushranger suddenly flees, and the next day Anna vanishes without a trace. Twelve years later, Billie is still searching for answers while struggling to hold her family together.
What makes this novel so compelling is all three women and the combined resilience, resourcefulness, and fierce loyalty to each other in beautifully different ways; each woman’s woven story to uncover the truth creates an emotional and suspenseful journey.
The novel expertly blends mystery, adventure, and heartbreak. The vivid Australian setting feels alive, while the strong feminist themes shine through Billie’s refusal to accept the limitations placed on girls and women of the era.
The extraordinary dramatic conclusion is poignant and powerful; the story of Dulcie, Anna and Billie is fast-paced and action-packed, yet never loses sight of its emotional core right to the final page.
Shannon Kelly-White’s incredible debut novel is officially out in Australia 30th June, run - don’t walk for this one!
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
July 10, 2026
Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White
I requested this book because it was getting a lot of pre-launch hype on Bookstagram. It's a female-centred story, set in Australia and by a debut author; all things I love, but it's set in the very early 1900s, which isn't an era I normally read.
The story is told from two points of view: Billie's and Dulcie James's (AKA the Lady Bushranger), and there are also flashback scenes told via the diary of Anna King (Billie's Mum). Dulcie first crosses paths with Anna and Billie when she holds up their run-down farmhouse. Billie is a scrawny, unloved infant on the floor; Anna seems more furious than frightened, and Dulcie is left shaken. The next day, Anna disappears. Twelve years later, child services threaten to remove Billie from her alcoholic father, and Billie is skipping school to search for her missing mother.
This book tackles some heavy themes, including poverty and alcoholism, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation. But these topics are handled sensitively and through the determination, resilience and strength of the main characters.
If you liked Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss or The Butterfly Women by Madeleine Cleary, both set in a similar time frame in Australian history and written with a fast-moving storytelling style, with fierce women at the forefront.
Thumbs up 👍
No multitasking for the one.
#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf @harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #BillieKing #NetGalley @shannon.kelly.white
I requested this book because it was getting a lot of pre-launch hype on Bookstagram. It's a female-centred story, set in Australia and by a debut author; all things I love, but it's set in the very early 1900s, which isn't an era I normally read.
The story is told from two points of view: Billie's and Dulcie James's (AKA the Lady Bushranger), and there are also flashback scenes told via the diary of Anna King (Billie's Mum). Dulcie first crosses paths with Anna and Billie when she holds up their run-down farmhouse. Billie is a scrawny, unloved infant on the floor; Anna seems more furious than frightened, and Dulcie is left shaken. The next day, Anna disappears. Twelve years later, child services threaten to remove Billie from her alcoholic father, and Billie is skipping school to search for her missing mother.
This book tackles some heavy themes, including poverty and alcoholism, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation. But these topics are handled sensitively and through the determination, resilience and strength of the main characters.
If you liked Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss or The Butterfly Women by Madeleine Cleary, both set in a similar time frame in Australian history and written with a fast-moving storytelling style, with fierce women at the forefront.
Thumbs up 👍
No multitasking for the one.
#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf @harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #BillieKing #NetGalley @shannon.kelly.white
July 12, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Fierce Female Bushrangers, True Blue, Unforgettable Story
full review ⬇️
I'll start with a confession... I'm really not a historical fiction gal.
But Billie King isn't your typical historical fiction. It's a bushranger story with a brilliant twist and from the first few chapters I knew this was going to be something special.
With my paperback pile threatening to topple over, I decided to listen to this one on audio instead and it was one of the best reading decisions I've made all year. The narrator absolutely brought these characters to life, making the humour, emotion and Aussie dialogue jump off the page.
Speaking of the dialogue... the Australian lingo throughout is an absolute cracker. It is full of the BEST descriptions I’ve ever read and gives the whole story so much heart.
The characters completely stole the show for me. I finished this book and genuinely missed spending time with Billie, Dulcie and Anna - what a girl power trio!
Cherry on top is also the cover of this book. Easily one of my favourites on the bookshelf.
For a debut novel, this is such a confident and memorable story that has completely put Shannon Kelly-White on my auto buy author list and I'll be first in line for whatever she writes next.
Do yourself a favour and pick this one up if you’re a lover of unforgettable characters, Australian stories, immersive audiobooks or historical fiction that feels fresh and adventurous rather than traditional (don't let the genre put you off).
Vibe check: Fierce Female Bushrangers, True Blue, Unforgettable Story
full review ⬇️
I'll start with a confession... I'm really not a historical fiction gal.
But Billie King isn't your typical historical fiction. It's a bushranger story with a brilliant twist and from the first few chapters I knew this was going to be something special.
With my paperback pile threatening to topple over, I decided to listen to this one on audio instead and it was one of the best reading decisions I've made all year. The narrator absolutely brought these characters to life, making the humour, emotion and Aussie dialogue jump off the page.
Speaking of the dialogue... the Australian lingo throughout is an absolute cracker. It is full of the BEST descriptions I’ve ever read and gives the whole story so much heart.
The characters completely stole the show for me. I finished this book and genuinely missed spending time with Billie, Dulcie and Anna - what a girl power trio!
Cherry on top is also the cover of this book. Easily one of my favourites on the bookshelf.
For a debut novel, this is such a confident and memorable story that has completely put Shannon Kelly-White on my auto buy author list and I'll be first in line for whatever she writes next.
Do yourself a favour and pick this one up if you’re a lover of unforgettable characters, Australian stories, immersive audiobooks or historical fiction that feels fresh and adventurous rather than traditional (don't let the genre put you off).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfolding across two timelines during the early 20th century in rural Australia, Shannon Kelly-White’s rollicking historical debut, Billie King, centres around three extraordinary characters: twelve-year-old Billie, lady bushranger Dulcie James, and Billie’s missing mother, Anna King.
Billie was just a few months old in 1918 when Dulcie first met Anna, confronting the young mother at gunpoint in her Orilong farmhouse and demanding a meal. Anna, exhausted and despairing, dared Dulcie to shoot her, and an unlikely friendship was born.
Twelve-year-old Billie has no real memory of the mother who vanished when she was only a baby, but she has never stopped searching for her. Left in the care of her father, whose war injury, gambling, and alcoholism keep them trapped in poverty, Billie is smart and fierce, refusing to be cowed by her circumstances. She has a plan to keep Child Welfare, and the nuns, at bay, and nothing is going to stop her.
Having finally come to the end of the search that triggered her life as an outlaw, Dulcie returns to Orilong in 1930 to “tie up loose ends” before laying down her guns for good. There she finds Anna’s daughter, still searching for her mother, and perhaps an opportunity to redeem a promise left unfulfilled.
Billie King is a story about revenge and hope, tenacity and courage; about a lost mother and her daughter, and a mother and her lost son.
Billie’s and Dulcie’s perspectives alternate with entries from Anna’s diary, which is in Dulcie’s possession. Kelly-White’s main characters are larger than life and yet desperately ordinary. They have experienced hardship, violence, and trauma, most often at the hands of men, but retain a remarkable resilience of spirit. Billie is glorious—bright, determined, and daring. Dulcie is single-minded and stoic, but not without compassion. Anna is fiery, pitiable, and a little reckless. They are survivors who arouse compassion and understanding as they struggle to make their way in a world that is not built for women.
The story progresses at a strong pace, with the mystery of Anna’s disappearance, Billie’s shenanigans, and Dulcie’s unknown intentions maintaining the tension. Eventually, the narratives merge to expose several shocking secrets and force an explosive confrontation that caught me unawares.
The setting is vividly described, recreating the “sense of wildness, vastness, freedom and danger found in [Australia’s] landscape and history” that the author hoped to evoke. Similarly, the vernacular, though not strictly historically accurate, firmly grounds the novel in rural Australia. In her Author’s Note, Kelly-White explains that this choice was intended “to give the story liveliness, immediacy, and a modern heartbeat”, and I think she achieved exactly that.
Vibrant, funny, and fierce, Billie King is written with heart and humour, and I recommend it without hesitation.
Billie was just a few months old in 1918 when Dulcie first met Anna, confronting the young mother at gunpoint in her Orilong farmhouse and demanding a meal. Anna, exhausted and despairing, dared Dulcie to shoot her, and an unlikely friendship was born.
Twelve-year-old Billie has no real memory of the mother who vanished when she was only a baby, but she has never stopped searching for her. Left in the care of her father, whose war injury, gambling, and alcoholism keep them trapped in poverty, Billie is smart and fierce, refusing to be cowed by her circumstances. She has a plan to keep Child Welfare, and the nuns, at bay, and nothing is going to stop her.
Having finally come to the end of the search that triggered her life as an outlaw, Dulcie returns to Orilong in 1930 to “tie up loose ends” before laying down her guns for good. There she finds Anna’s daughter, still searching for her mother, and perhaps an opportunity to redeem a promise left unfulfilled.
Billie King is a story about revenge and hope, tenacity and courage; about a lost mother and her daughter, and a mother and her lost son.
Billie’s and Dulcie’s perspectives alternate with entries from Anna’s diary, which is in Dulcie’s possession. Kelly-White’s main characters are larger than life and yet desperately ordinary. They have experienced hardship, violence, and trauma, most often at the hands of men, but retain a remarkable resilience of spirit. Billie is glorious—bright, determined, and daring. Dulcie is single-minded and stoic, but not without compassion. Anna is fiery, pitiable, and a little reckless. They are survivors who arouse compassion and understanding as they struggle to make their way in a world that is not built for women.
The story progresses at a strong pace, with the mystery of Anna’s disappearance, Billie’s shenanigans, and Dulcie’s unknown intentions maintaining the tension. Eventually, the narratives merge to expose several shocking secrets and force an explosive confrontation that caught me unawares.
The setting is vividly described, recreating the “sense of wildness, vastness, freedom and danger found in [Australia’s] landscape and history” that the author hoped to evoke. Similarly, the vernacular, though not strictly historically accurate, firmly grounds the novel in rural Australia. In her Author’s Note, Kelly-White explains that this choice was intended “to give the story liveliness, immediacy, and a modern heartbeat”, and I think she achieved exactly that.
Vibrant, funny, and fierce, Billie King is written with heart and humour, and I recommend it without hesitation.
July 9, 2026
If I had to describe Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White in one word, it would be ungovernable.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia, but after struggling to read it in the NetGalley app, I switched to the audiobook on Spotify—and I'm so glad I did. The narration brought the characters and the distinctly Australian voice to life in a way that completely immersed me in the story.
This is a gritty, heartfelt historical novel about resilience, survival, and women who refuse to be broken by the world around them. Billie is the kind of protagonist you can't help but root for—fierce, stubborn, compassionate, and determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance. Alongside her is Dulcie James, the infamous Lady Bushranger, whose story adds another layer of heart, mystery, and grit.
The Australian setting felt incredibly authentic, from the landscape to the language. It reminded me of why I loved The History of the Kelly Gang years ago, yet this has a voice that's entirely its own—raw, funny, lyrical, and so unmistakably Australian.
A compelling debut filled with memorable women, family secrets, and plenty of heart.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia, but after struggling to read it in the NetGalley app, I switched to the audiobook on Spotify—and I'm so glad I did. The narration brought the characters and the distinctly Australian voice to life in a way that completely immersed me in the story.
This is a gritty, heartfelt historical novel about resilience, survival, and women who refuse to be broken by the world around them. Billie is the kind of protagonist you can't help but root for—fierce, stubborn, compassionate, and determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance. Alongside her is Dulcie James, the infamous Lady Bushranger, whose story adds another layer of heart, mystery, and grit.
The Australian setting felt incredibly authentic, from the landscape to the language. It reminded me of why I loved The History of the Kelly Gang years ago, yet this has a voice that's entirely its own—raw, funny, lyrical, and so unmistakably Australian.
A compelling debut filled with memorable women, family secrets, and plenty of heart.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Far out, this tale of the toughest twelve-year-old Aussie girl was friggin something else. The pacing swayed between the sweet slow burn of a mystery you dread getting answered and the crack-fast flash of a bushranger’s bullet finding home.
Miss Billie King — you can hardly fault a single thought she shares. She’s been given the rough end of the pineapple since entering the harsh world she inhabits. Lucky for us, we ride alongside her as she hides from no-good buggers, searches for answers about why her life is so rotten, and stumbles on secrets big enough to knock her Stetson off.
It has so much heart, you might sook just a little.
Thoroughly engaging, fresh, and empowering for young people wanting to be taken seriously, and for women who know they are worth more than the roles society asks of them, this is a novel I will read again. Beautifully written, even if our young Miss Billie truly has a whole lot of French she can’t give a frig about wanting a pardon for.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for this ARC.
Miss Billie King — you can hardly fault a single thought she shares. She’s been given the rough end of the pineapple since entering the harsh world she inhabits. Lucky for us, we ride alongside her as she hides from no-good buggers, searches for answers about why her life is so rotten, and stumbles on secrets big enough to knock her Stetson off.
It has so much heart, you might sook just a little.
Thoroughly engaging, fresh, and empowering for young people wanting to be taken seriously, and for women who know they are worth more than the roles society asks of them, this is a novel I will read again. Beautifully written, even if our young Miss Billie truly has a whole lot of French she can’t give a frig about wanting a pardon for.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the Advanced Readers Copy.
A fast-paced, thrilling read that gripped you from start to finish. A well-written, funny, historical fiction piece set in Australia, a few years post-World War I, and to my surprise and delight filled with Australian slang and colloquialisms. It felt like an overall realistic and charming read.
The story is told from the perspective of ageing Dulcie James the Lady Bushranger and 12-year-old Billie King in 1930 and from journal entries of Anna, Billie’s mum back in 1918. There are some heavy themes throughout the book, however this is real a tale of strength and determination and of women not allowing themselves to be broken, in a world that was designed for this to happen.
Their stories intertwine as Dulcie returns to tie up loose ends, Billie seeks to stay out of child services’ reach and remain with her alcoholic father whilst trying to work out what happened to her mother and the audience is drawn into the connections, the motives and the grippingly unexpected conclusion.
A must read!
A fast-paced, thrilling read that gripped you from start to finish. A well-written, funny, historical fiction piece set in Australia, a few years post-World War I, and to my surprise and delight filled with Australian slang and colloquialisms. It felt like an overall realistic and charming read.
The story is told from the perspective of ageing Dulcie James the Lady Bushranger and 12-year-old Billie King in 1930 and from journal entries of Anna, Billie’s mum back in 1918. There are some heavy themes throughout the book, however this is real a tale of strength and determination and of women not allowing themselves to be broken, in a world that was designed for this to happen.
Their stories intertwine as Dulcie returns to tie up loose ends, Billie seeks to stay out of child services’ reach and remain with her alcoholic father whilst trying to work out what happened to her mother and the audience is drawn into the connections, the motives and the grippingly unexpected conclusion.
A must read!
June 30, 2026
Billie King
by Shannon Kelly-White
Following another dual-timeline story set in my home of Australia, Billie King offered me yet another chance to learn something new about our history from a talented author. While the book switches between 1918 and 1930—a style that can sometimes be a challenge for me to follow—the sheer strength of the characters kept me grounded in this vivid portrayal of early twentieth-century rural life.
The story introduces us to Dulcie James, a notorious bushranger with a bounty on her head, whose path crosses with Anna King in 1918. Twelve years later, we follow Anna's daughter, Billie, as she navigates a world of hardship and long-buried secrets in a desperate attempt to keep what's left of her family together. Shannon Kelly-White has painted a gritty and atmospheric picture of small-town Australia, where survival is a daily struggle, and the choices available to women are rarely straightforward. It is an emotionally resonant and truly inspiring debut that highlights the grit and determination of women often left out of history.
by Shannon Kelly-White
Following another dual-timeline story set in my home of Australia, Billie King offered me yet another chance to learn something new about our history from a talented author. While the book switches between 1918 and 1930—a style that can sometimes be a challenge for me to follow—the sheer strength of the characters kept me grounded in this vivid portrayal of early twentieth-century rural life.
The story introduces us to Dulcie James, a notorious bushranger with a bounty on her head, whose path crosses with Anna King in 1918. Twelve years later, we follow Anna's daughter, Billie, as she navigates a world of hardship and long-buried secrets in a desperate attempt to keep what's left of her family together. Shannon Kelly-White has painted a gritty and atmospheric picture of small-town Australia, where survival is a daily struggle, and the choices available to women are rarely straightforward. It is an emotionally resonant and truly inspiring debut that highlights the grit and determination of women often left out of history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is such a truly Australian novel. There are so many colloquialisms in it, which I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed because it seemed so right for the cast of characters. I’m not sure anyone who’s not Australian would understand some of it though.
The book tells the tale of Billie King, a young girl growing up in outback Australia around 100 years ago. Billie really doesn’t fit in with the other kids at school and is forever in trouble, either at school, or for non attendance. When it seems she is going to be removed from the only home she’s known, Billie takes off, intent on finding out what happened to her mother, who left when Billie was just a baby. She finds Dulcie, known as the Lady Bushranger, and we see how their stories entwine.
This is a fun book, with a focus on strong women. It’s a great read, but touches on a number of difficult themes.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
The book tells the tale of Billie King, a young girl growing up in outback Australia around 100 years ago. Billie really doesn’t fit in with the other kids at school and is forever in trouble, either at school, or for non attendance. When it seems she is going to be removed from the only home she’s known, Billie takes off, intent on finding out what happened to her mother, who left when Billie was just a baby. She finds Dulcie, known as the Lady Bushranger, and we see how their stories entwine.
This is a fun book, with a focus on strong women. It’s a great read, but touches on a number of difficult themes.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
June 7, 2026
Billie King is an incredible historical fiction novel set in post WWI Australia with strong character development, gripping plot and a vivid setting that had me fully immersed. It is the story of 12 year old Billie King and the Lady Bushranger Dulcie James on a quest to find out what happened to her Mum who went missing when Billie was a baby. This novel covers many difficult topics but is written with a style that is filled with female strength, the very best and worst of human behaviour and hope. There is a lot of colloquial Aussie language which, while appropriate to the time and place, maybe confusing to some unfamiliar with it but it really enhances the reading experience. I would highly recommend this fabulous debut full of adventure, mystery, humour, heartache and strong, fierce female characters. A rare book that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and characters that will stay with you.
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for access to an ARC.
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for access to an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a rip roaring read. I felt the author captured that small town feeling, and the Catholic school treatment well. Set in the 1930s, we meet Billie who is doing it tough, her Mum is absent and her father a drunk but also suffering from the war. Constantly broke, 12 year old Billie scrapes by, and by goodness, she is feisty. Then we meet Dulcie, a bush ranger, who has done her own business of righting wrongs. Plus there are the diary entries from Anna, Billie’s Mum. This all comes to a wonderful climax when Dulcie and Billie set out to find out once and for all what happened to Anna, the secrets that came out and the ending was an absolute corker. I enjoyed reading the different points of view from three women who were dealt a poor hand of cards, and enjoyed the originality of the story line. Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this book with me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To use an Aussie colloquialism - this is a ripper of a debut novel!
The story is told from the point of view of three women - Dulcie, Anna & Billie - as their stories are told and finally converge. This has everything a reader could want - the human element, triumph over adversity, strong female characters, spirit - courage - endurance - all set in post WWI Australia.
I read this in one sitting - the gut wrenching action played out across the pages, drawing me ever deeper into the narrative, until I was so invested in both characters and story, I could see no way but forward till the final pages played their last ace.
If you have read Leah Purcell's :The Drover's Wife" or even watched the film, you will adore this.
One of my top reads for the year!
The story is told from the point of view of three women - Dulcie, Anna & Billie - as their stories are told and finally converge. This has everything a reader could want - the human element, triumph over adversity, strong female characters, spirit - courage - endurance - all set in post WWI Australia.
I read this in one sitting - the gut wrenching action played out across the pages, drawing me ever deeper into the narrative, until I was so invested in both characters and story, I could see no way but forward till the final pages played their last ace.
If you have read Leah Purcell's :The Drover's Wife" or even watched the film, you will adore this.
One of my top reads for the year!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An historic Aussie tale, Billie King (2026) by Shannon Kelly-White has a dual storyline. It begins in 1918 when Dulcie Jones, the Lady Bushranger, confronts a woman and her child in an isolated farmhouse. Demanding food and drink, Dulcie surprises herself by connecting with Anna and her child. The narrative then switches back and forth to 1930, where a young teenage girl, Billie, runs away after authorities try to take her into institutional care. An entertaining tale of two women and the lengths they will go to stand up for themselves. It's an enjoyable adventure tale about two women who are inextricably intertwined, making for a three star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, wow wow! What an incredible time this book was, I simply could not put it down. I loved the outback setting and the premise that just draws you in. Billie is such an endearing and loveable character to follow as she uncovers the mystery of what happened to her mother. All three perspectives - Billie, the diary flashback chapters of her mother Anna, and Dulcie aka Lady Bushranger were all equally strong and engaging. This story was fast paced, while still making you care for the 3 leads and their different experiences as women during this time period.
I have nothing but praise to give this book.
I have nothing but praise to give this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I could not put this book down…such a great read with excellent characters and rollicking good fun.
Mothers, daughters and sons- the connections that bind and keep the world spinning. 12 year old Billie is desperate to find her mum, missing since she was a bub. She takes care of her not so sober Dad and scraps and fights her way through life. Enter…Dulcie James the ‘Lady Bushranger. The pair fight, steal and force their way to the truth.
This kid will continue to live on in your heart long after you close the pages of the book. Her spirit, hope and dedication to those she loves is so so strong and inspiring.
Thanks to Harper Collins for my advanced reading copy
Mothers, daughters and sons- the connections that bind and keep the world spinning. 12 year old Billie is desperate to find her mum, missing since she was a bub. She takes care of her not so sober Dad and scraps and fights her way through life. Enter…Dulcie James the ‘Lady Bushranger. The pair fight, steal and force their way to the truth.
This kid will continue to live on in your heart long after you close the pages of the book. Her spirit, hope and dedication to those she loves is so so strong and inspiring.
Thanks to Harper Collins for my advanced reading copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What do a lady bushranger, a young girl, and a missing mother have in common?
Honestly, not much but I couldn’t think of a great line to open this review 😅
Anyway, Billie King is EX-CELL-ENT. Yes the capitals were required. I went into this intrigued by the blurb and once I started I was hooked.
Billie has an awful life, her mother is missing, father is a drunk, and she is at risk of being sent to live with the nuns. Whereas Dulcie, the lady bushranger is ready for it all to end, her path of revenge is nearly complete. The only thing they have in common is trying to figure out what happened to Anna.
For Billie, if she can just find her mum, then things might be okay.
The way this is written, the language, the tone really makes you feel the 1930s where the majority of it is set. The dusty, small country town. The struggles of those on the outskirts of both town and the law.
And then we have the characters, Billie and Dulcie, you really feel for them. Everything that has led up to the three days covered in this book, it makes you root for them, you want them to thrive.
I will say, there were a few parts in the book the made it feel longer than it really is, but they pass and you’re back in the action. And truly, the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
Honestly, not much but I couldn’t think of a great line to open this review 😅
Anyway, Billie King is EX-CELL-ENT. Yes the capitals were required. I went into this intrigued by the blurb and once I started I was hooked.
Billie has an awful life, her mother is missing, father is a drunk, and she is at risk of being sent to live with the nuns. Whereas Dulcie, the lady bushranger is ready for it all to end, her path of revenge is nearly complete. The only thing they have in common is trying to figure out what happened to Anna.
For Billie, if she can just find her mum, then things might be okay.
The way this is written, the language, the tone really makes you feel the 1930s where the majority of it is set. The dusty, small country town. The struggles of those on the outskirts of both town and the law.
And then we have the characters, Billie and Dulcie, you really feel for them. Everything that has led up to the three days covered in this book, it makes you root for them, you want them to thrive.
I will say, there were a few parts in the book the made it feel longer than it really is, but they pass and you’re back in the action. And truly, the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
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