Mob Queen

Virginia Hill fought for herself and the women she loved. She wasn’t afraid to clock her abusive father upside his head as he hit her mother. She walked into the lion’s den and associated with dangerous gangsters in the hopes of finding her friend Madeleine. Her search for answers about Madeleine’s whereabouts led her to Chicago Outfit bookkeeper Joe Epstein.

Joey Ep confronted Virginia on her motives and soon offered her an opportunity to work for the underworld as a money launderer. Her talent and ability to blend in with the boys led to more respect and more jobs. Virginia kept her mind on Madeleine, but she would soon find herself preoccupied with the ubiquitous presence of the dashing but menacing Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. He appeared a well-meaning stranger but would become her paramour and tormentor until his violent demise in 1947.

Mob Queen is a brilliant sophomore release from author Erin Bledsoe. Her portrayal of the legendary and scrutinized Hill brings depth and complexity to this tragic figure. In Mob Queen, Virginia Hill shows her mettle in battling back against the violence and gaslighting of predatory men. This is a must read for 2025 and an author to look out for.