Billie King by Shannon Kelly-White

With the three key characters being female, this may appear to be a book targeted at that market. However, this is an absolutely riveting read that delivers top-shelf storytelling and needs to be enjoyed by all and sundry, especially us blokes!

The tale of notorious female bushranger Dulcie James introduces us to a tough, resilient and at times brutal protagonist shaped by her past, but who also has a heart. Her interaction with Anna King and her daughter Billie is the start of a fascinating and complex relationship. At its core, the story is about a bushranger, a whore and a bastard child. It’s about women and children struggling in a world dominated by hard men.

Set in post-World War One in the stark landscape of the Australian outback, we first meet Dulcie as she targets Anna’s home for her next robbery. However, this does not unfold as planned, as Anna’s belligerent response and meeting her scrawny, unloved baby daughter Billie set off a string of consequences that launch the story and send us on a quest to find out what really happened to Anna.

The tale is full of intrigue, violence and an unforeseen friendship as we see Billie grow up, looked after by her drunken father, who has gambling debts they are unable to cover. The threat of Billie being sent away forces her to escape the household and fend for herself. A chance meeting with the female bushranger changes her plans as they realise they are both in search of what happened to the same person.

This is a superb read with plenty of action, intrigue and mystery.

Reviewer: Chris Casey

Harper Collins