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Mob Queen
Set in the 1930s, Mob Queen follows one woman's rapid rise through the Mafia as she searches for the truth about what happened to her friend and navigates a perilous relationship with the infamous Bugsy Siegel.
All Virginia Hill wanted was a better life.
She escaped her abusive father and dreary, small-town Georgia existence by marrying a man who took her to Chicago. But the realities of the Depression--and her husband's volatile temper--soon destroyed Virginia's fragile idea of happiness. With the help of a new friend, Madeline, she finds the courage to stand up to her husband--only to end up divorced and destitute.
Down but not out, Virginia joins Madeline working as a waitress in one of the Mob's favorite hangouts, a restaurant smack-dab in the middle of the World's Fair. But when Madeline disappears after getting involved with the wrong Mafia man, Virginia vows to find her friend no matter what. But to do that, she'll have to follow Madeline into the heart of the Chicago Mob . . .
As Virginia climbs the ranks and unravels the mystery of what happened to her friend, working for the Mafia proves both seductive and deadly. What started as a desperate attempt to find Madeline brings power she never imagined a poor girl from Georgia would ever have. It turns out a woman can be a mobster, but she'll have to give up her heart to do it.
These discussion questions were provided by the publisher, Blackstone.
Book club questions for Mob Queen by Erin Bledsoe
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Virginia’s transformation is dramatic—what key moments define her evolution from desperate waitress to formidable mob figure? Did you root for her, fear her, or both?
In the male-dominated world of the Mafia, Virginia’s rise is both extraordinary and dangerous. How does she use her gender to her advantage—and when does it become a liability?
What does Mob Queen say about the price of power? Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can’t come back from?
How does Madeline’s disappearance serve as a catalyst for Virginia’s decisions? Do you believe Virginia's initial motivations remain intact as she climbs the ranks?
Virginia's relationship with Bugsy is layered with passion, manipulation, and risk. How does their dynamic shape her path—and what do you think she truly wanted from him?
What makes the world of the Mafia so seductive to Virginia? Was it just about survival, or did she find empowerment in that life?
How much did you know about the real Virginia Hill before reading the novel? Did Mob Queen change your perception of historical women associated with organized crime?
Erin Bledsoe doesn’t shy away from depicting brutality—especially when it comes to mob justice. How does the book balance realism with empathy? Were there scenes you found particularly hard or powerful?
In a world where no one can be fully trusted, how does Virginia decide who to align with? Were there betrayals that surprised you?
By the end of the novel, do you think Virginia got what she wanted—or did she lose more than she gained?
Who would you cast as Virginia Hill and Bugsy Siegel in a film adaptation of Mob Queen? Why?
If you were in Virginia’s shoes—facing poverty, abuse, and loss—do you think you would’ve made the same choices? What would you have done differently?
How does Virginia Hill compare to other complex women in historical fiction you’ve read? Does she fit into the “antiheroine” mold, or defy it?
Virginia’s transformation is dramatic—what key moments define her evolution from desperate waitress to formidable mob figure? Did you root for her, fear her, or both?
In the male-dominated world of the Mafia, Virginia’s rise is both extraordinary and dangerous. How does she use her gender to her advantage—and when does it become a liability?
What does Mob Queen say about the price of power? Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can’t come back from?
How does Madeline’s disappearance serve as a catalyst for Virginia’s decisions? Do you believe Virginia's initial motivations remain intact as she climbs the ranks?
Virginia's relationship with Bugsy is layered with passion, manipulation, and risk. How does their dynamic shape her path—and what do you think she truly wanted from him?
What makes the world of the Mafia so seductive to Virginia? Was it just about survival, or did she find empowerment in that life?
How much did you know about the real Virginia Hill before reading the novel? Did Mob Queen change your perception of historical women associated with organized crime?
Erin Bledsoe doesn’t shy away from depicting brutality—especially when it comes to mob justice. How does the book balance realism with empathy? Were there scenes you found particularly hard or powerful?
In a world where no one can be fully trusted, how does Virginia decide who to align with? Were there betrayals that surprised you?
By the end of the novel, do you think Virginia got what she wanted—or did she lose more than she gained?
Who would you cast as Virginia Hill and Bugsy Siegel in a film adaptation of Mob Queen? Why?
If you were in Virginia’s shoes—facing poverty, abuse, and loss—do you think you would’ve made the same choices? What would you have done differently?
How does Virginia Hill compare to other complex women in historical fiction you’ve read? Does she fit into the “antiheroine” mold, or defy it?
Virginia’s transformation is dramatic—what key moments define her evolution from desperate waitress to formidable mob figure? Did you root for her, fear her, or both?
In the male-dominated world of the Mafia, Virginia’s rise is both extraordinary and dangerous. How does she use her gender to her advantage—and when does it become a liability?
What does Mob Queen say about the price of power? Do you think Virginia ever crosses a moral line she can’t come back from?
How does Madeline’s disappearance serve as a catalyst for Virginia’s decisions? Do you believe Virginia's initial motivations remain intact as she climbs the ranks?
Virginia's relationship with Bugsy is layered with passion, manipulation, and risk. How does their dynamic shape her path—and what do you think she truly wanted from him?
What makes the world of the Mafia so seductive to Virginia? Was it just about survival, or did she find empowerment in that life?
How much did you know about the real Virginia Hill before reading the novel? Did Mob Queen change your perception of historical women associated with organized crime?
Erin Bledsoe doesn’t shy away from depicting brutality—especially when it comes to mob justice. How does the book balance realism with empathy? Were there scenes you found particularly hard or powerful?
In a world where no one can be fully trusted, how does Virginia decide who to align with? Were there betrayals that surprised you?
By the end of the novel, do you think Virginia got what she wanted—or did she lose more than she gained?
Who would you cast as Virginia Hill and Bugsy Siegel in a film adaptation of Mob Queen? Why?
If you were in Virginia’s shoes—facing poverty, abuse, and loss—do you think you would’ve made the same choices? What would you have done differently?
How does Virginia Hill compare to other complex women in historical fiction you’ve read? Does she fit into the “antiheroine” mold, or defy it?
Mob Queen Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the Mob Queen discussion questions