I think this would have been a very interesting story, unfortunately for me I could not get into it and found I kept daydreaming through it and wasn't following along. The narrator delivered a competent but not particularly engaging performance, which may have contributed to my difficulty staying focused. The narrative felt repetitive and jumped around chronologically in a way that was hard to follow. The writing seemed more focused on outlining events rather than developing a cohesive story, which may reflect the limited historical information available about Belle Starr herself. While other reviewers have noted historical inaccuracies, I didn't get far enough into the book to verify those claims. It's possible that westerns simply aren't the genre for me, despite my initial interest in Belle Starr's story.

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I love learning about impressive females in history, thus this detailed accounting of the life and death of the Queen of the Wild West, Belle Starr sounded like a fascinating read!

Overall, the information I gleamed from this was relatively interesting, but the amount of detail into the lineage and minutia of surrounding figures in her story, made it hard to fully immerse yourself in the law of Belle Starr.

The writing of this history feels very firsthand and somewhat of a retelling when it is not the authors personal retelling. The vibe was off for your standard history.

The narration provide provided by George Newbern was enthusiastic. Newbern captured the interest and dedication to the subject that the author put forth in their writing.

Overall, I didn’t find this history to be that engaging to myself, and I wish there was more focus on Belle Starr the person instead of all the acts leading up to her final demise.

➤ 𝚂𝚈𝙽𝙾𝙿𝚂𝙸𝚂

Queen of All Mayhem is a gripping, blood-soaked biography of Belle Starr—an outlaw who lived hard, fought harder, and died violently in the lawless shadowlands of the American West. Unlike the glamorized legends of Calamity Jane or Annie Oakley, Starr’s criminal résumé was the real deal: leading horse thieves, robbing with outlaws, and marrying into Cherokee royalty. Dane Huckelbridge digs deep into her life, peeling back myth to show a woman shaped by war, loss, and rebellion. It’s a story of grit, trauma, and the kind of raw defiance that made Starr both feared and unforgettable. If you want the West without the whitewash, this is it.

➤ 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂

Queen of All Mayhem tackles the life of Belle Starr, the so-called most dangerous woman of the Wild West, with solid research and an honest admission of just how murky her story really is. Dane Huckelbridge does an admirable job separating myth from fact, presenting conflicting accounts and outright tall tales without losing the reader. The historical context, Civil War trauma, Reconstruction politics, and the cutthroat chaos of the frontier, adds depth and makes the book more than just a biography. That said, the book often feels like it’s chasing shadows. Starr’s life, for all its intrigue, may be too tangled in legend and hearsay for a clean nonfiction narrative, and the endless possibilities can wear thin by the end. While Huckelbridge never overpromises, and his writing is strong, the gaps in hard fact are noticeable, and the modern commentary at times feels more performative than necessary. Still, this is a well-executed, thought-provoking look at a rare female outlaw who defied expectations, even if she remains partly a mystery. Take it for what it is, and you’ll come away entertained and a bit more informed about the real Wild West.

This was a very interesting book that I mostly liked. Belle Starr was an interesting [but deeeeeeeply flawed] character with a wild life and learning about her was VERY eye-opening [learning about the women, good AND bad, of the 'wild west' has been an absolutely fascinating experience for me] and I was constantly amazed at all that Belle did and accomplished [good AND bad].

My main issue with this book was the repetition - that got old quickly and the book could have been a bit more palatable and less annoying [I lost count to how many times I said "DID WE NOT just read this?" during this read] if it had had better editing and was perhaps 30-40 pages shorter.

Overall, I would still recommend this book because Belle and her life IS fascinating and it was a pretty cool read that people who are interested in this time frame would really enjoy.

George Newbern is one of my absolute favorite narrators and he was a real joy to listen to as he read this fascinating book and I highly recommend this audiobook because of his fantastic narration. He is never to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dane Huckelbridge, George Newbern - Narrator, William Marrow, and HarperAudio Adult/HarperAudio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

For some reason I was approved for this audiobook, I don't recall requesting it, as I had already received a physical copy from Shelf Awareness. Please see the review below.

Firstly, I would like to thank the people at Shelf Awareness and the people at William Morrow Press for this ARC.

This book is one that is pretty far from the spectrum of books I typically read, but something about the allure of a woman outlaw in the Wild West just seemed too much fun to pass up. That being said…

Cutting the review tension…the things I didn’t like about the book:

1. For a book focused on Belle Starr, she appeared almost as a background character in her own story. Nearly half of the book focuses on historical incidents of American and Native American history.
2. While this book does include the sources at the back, the index is not included. (I know that this is an ARC so obviously they’ll fill that in prior to publication. It’s concerning that it’s not already there and this book publishes in the rapid near future.)
3. There are countless examples throughout the book where terms/names aren’t defined. For someone who doesn’t read this genre regularly, this would have been extremely helpful.
4. Still some last minute edits to do, but again, ARC understood, rapid release in very near future.
5. Timeline bounced all over at times it felt like, a timeline of dates referenced would be a great addition to the final copy released for future publication.

Now for the good stuff:

At first, I was a little hesitant to read this because of the pov. However, the author’s implicated lineage made it more of a push to do so. Is he related to Belle Starr or not? Well, the majority of the book the reader questions, “Is he ever going to answer it?” And he does, at the end. I am agreeable into the way he chose to address this.

Additionally, I struggled at first with his writing style. It appeared as if it was reading like a traditional man would tell the story of a woman and then mansplain why she wasn’t a force to be reckoned with. Much to my surprise, I appreciated the way he wrote this story. He would give you all the options with all the facts he could. This left little room for speculation (at least on the facts he could prove). For the incidents where there has been no historically authentic artifacts to prove/disprove Huckelbridge clearly lays out all the possibilities, and just as one starts to rebut it, he explains furthermore the pros/cons of each situation.
Honestly this inspires the reader to do further research on the interesting stories/legends/facts on his pages. Personally, I enjoyed learning about things that I don’t recall being taught in history class. No doubt, probably due to the literal white-washing of history. (Specifically the Comanche’s brutality, again this is something I think would have benefited from the source/index referencing er fact checking. But I liked his statement (pg 151 & 153) that is worded more professionally than I have chosen to do so.) Also, “Boggy Bayou” Texas’ red light district.

My question is why has the author chosen to not mention the Black Indians, as he narrates a handful of Native American tribal history, particularly since he mentions the Cherokee owning slaves, Louisiana, and Andrew Jackson. I would encourage him to read up on the Mardi Gras Indians (located in New Orleans) and their ancestral routes that were aided by the Native Americans in those areas, and presumably by other Native tribes as well.

However, if this book featured very little actually about Belle Starr and more about history of the Wild West as a whole. Why choose the title, but not really focus on her?
While, I gave the book a 3 ⭐️ review, I chose to do so because of the amount of information and knowledge I gained from it, putting aside the title/focus of the book, which is confusing me still?!

Absolutely excellent telling of the true story of Belle Starr. This is a true victory in historical books in that it was enthralling! The plot moved along like fast ride in the country, I appreciated the thoroughness of the research. The real weapon here was Mr. Huckelbridges timeless ability to tell the story.

Truly compelling in a way that made you want to meet Belle Starr.

Absolutely wild! I can’t believe I had never heard of Belle and I intend to deep dive into her entire life some more!

This was such a well done, DETAILED, account of her life. We get an entire backdrop opening that really sets the stage of the times, the views and struggles and enemies and Allie’s of her time before even entering into her personal story.

And when we do-WOW! Riches to dirty riches! To know she was somewhat of a socialite turned rebel had me wondering, what in the Patty Hearst!? But to go on and really be likened to a mob boss. Incredible.

The last gunshot of this story even held me in pause and I think my favorite element is all of the nods to possible lore that surrounded her. You’re left feeling like you foverheard all the juicy gossip at the saloon until you see this and that with your own eyes!

Very well written history of a legend of the Wild West. The author paints a very colorful picture of the life of Belle Starr. Lots of great information detailing her and those around her. Thank you NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy. #NetGalley

Queen of All Mayhem is an engaging and well-told look at the life of a totally kickass woman, Belle Starr. The narrator did a great job keeping things lively, and while the story slowed down at times—especially in parts not directly about Belle—it all added important context that helped explain her choices and personality. I really enjoyed how the author tackled the rumors and legends surrounding Belle, offering thoughtful theories about what might be fact or fiction. It struck a great balance between history and storytelling, and I’m glad I took the time to read it. Definitely worth it for anyone curious about the woman behind the legend.

Queen of All Mayhem is a biography of Belle Starr, a remarkable woman from the Old West. She defied the standards of her own day for womanly conduct, but doesn’t comfortably fit within modern standards either. She was a mother, but became an outlaw, and eventually the leader of an outlaw gang. Belle Starr married a Cherokee man, yet was a supporter of the Confederacy during the Civil War. And her untimely murder is shrouded in mystery to this day.

The author, Dane Huckelbridge, uses conjecture mixed with the historical facts we know about Belle Starr to give this nonfiction book a literary feel.. Due to lack of sources for parts of Starr’s life, and many unreliable early sources, Huckelbridge is forced to use quite a bit of conjecture. But the reader still gets a fairly full, and reliable picture of Belle Starr, told in an engaging manner.

Thanks to Harper Audio through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the audio version of this book. The narrator, George Newbern, did an excellent job! Nonfiction narrators tend to have a rather lifeless delivery, but Newbern’s narration has real personality.

I honestly don’t Know where to start.
So first of all some background on myself, I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and have spent the majority of my academic life studying Bleeding Kansas. If I’m not studying Bleeding Kansas I’m studying Native American History or women in history that have been overlooked.
I went into this book quite excited for it, one of my favorite types of historical books to read is ones about women who have been overlooked when it comes to history or stories told. I gave this book a solid chance, I let multiple things go in the beginning, just little things that were slightly off about Bleeding Kansas as for I have an in depth knowledge on the topic and know that not everyone is going to and the point of this book is not Bleeding Kansas it’s supposed to be Belle Starr. Chapter 4 is where I solidly draw the line however.

The Negatives
- for a nonfiction book to so blatantly have so many historical inaccuracies is crazy
-The author is all over the place with the timeline, if you are writing a book about one's life and you have decided to follow her life chronologically don’t go off on tangents that take place in 1529
- This is a book about “The Blood-Soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr, the Most Dangerous Woman in the West”, I disagree. This is actually a book about the broad history of the time Belle Starr was alive, with off branches of other times in history that the author has decided to input for one reason or another
- The amount of contradictions are mind boggling
- let's not make excuses for colonizers
-Let’s not downplay colonization
-let’s not imply or say that colonization is destined
- of course every history book is going to have some of it’s authors biases, that's just human nature, however this book has SO many of the authors opinions
-his opinions about a bunch of things that felt very unnecessary, like why go off on a tangent about the Incas if not just to implant the opinions of the author
- Um no the Cherokee Tribe’s organization of itself is NOT comparable to medieval europe, there are in fact way more differences than similarities
-While we are on this topic, why compare Native way of life to whites way of life at all in this way??? Its yucky
- There was A LOT of use of white terminology when referring to Native way of life and the Native people in not okay to me ways


I can not say if the book narrows in and focuses more on Belle Starr after chapter 4, but I do know it very much feels like in the first four chapters that the book did not feel like it was a biography of Belle Star.
The down playing of colonization, and use of inaccurate terms and historical accuracies got to me too much by the end of chapter 4 and I had to put the book down. I normally would not review a book I did not finish but I felt as if I needed to review this book. I knew that I would feel okay reviewing it as long as I clearly stated that I did not finish it, state where I stopped and why I did, and stay within the information I have from those first 4 chapters.
I would say that a positive was some of what I did learn about Belle, but after the historical inaccuracies I encountered I felt a need to fact check the information that stuck in my brain. So I did such, and while yes I am glad I know more about Belle Starr and what I did learn about her is a positive of the book I feel like a historical nonfiction book should not make me feel a need to fact check information in it.
I thought the narrator did a good job with narration and keeping me in the book, and keeping me fully paying attention to the information that was being read.

Queen of All Mayhem was so interesting and great on audio. I love learning about history that is lesser known. I'd read more from this author.

3.5 Stars
Vibes: Bio of Belle Starr, famous female outlaw. Colorful western lore + family + culture + mystery.
Pros: Western lore rides again! I love the mystery thread of a Tall Tale.
Cons: Glorifies a criminal BUT that was a sign of the times so it doesn't bother me.
Thoughts: If you can get past the acceptance of criminal activities, this is a fun story. The research sounds like it was top-notch and well done. I love the thread of mystery that we get from tall tales that allows an imagination to wonder. This book also makes you miss the times that not everything was documented on a phone/computer/etc.

What a fun and interesting narrative on the life of Belle Star! I enjoyed the conversational tone, the details of her life and lore, and the contextual history.

Queen of All Mayhem: The Blood-Soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr, the Most Dangerous Woman in the West is a thoroughly researched, intellectually engaging biography of Belle Starr, one of the most notorious women of the Old West. Dane Huckelbridge masterfully places her life within the broader historical context of the American frontier, giving readers a deeper understanding of the times she lived in—post-Civil War turmoil, territorial lawlessness, and the shifting dynamics of gender and power.

This isn’t a dramatized Western—it’s a serious and thoughtful account that gives Belle Starr her due as both an outlaw and a product of her environment. The sections detailing the wider history do occasionally slow the pacing, but they add valuable context for readers interested in the era.

George Newbern’s narration enhances the audiobook, delivering the story with clarity and subtle character that suits the material well. This is a book for readers and listeners who already have an interest in American history, the Old West, or biographies of strong, unconventional women. If you're drawn to stories of frontier justice and defiant lives lived outside the bounds of expectation, this one’s for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advance listening copy.

Growing up Belle Starr was a household name for me, since our family lore says we are a related (not verified), just like the author. This is a fascinating exploration of the early life of Belle Starr, and the events that created an agent of mayhem, namely significant personal loss. Starr was a woman born out of time, and she would not be made to suffer the injustices of her sex. A known horse thief, a murderer, a daughter, mother, and wife, Belle's life is a fascinating contradiction of a woman trying to make her own way at a time when society had a narrow path for women.

Well researched, and a well-told story, this is a great read for anyone interested in Western history, feminism, or both.

Myra Maybelle Shirley, also known as Belle Star, was shot and killed on February 3, 1889. At the time of her death, she was just 40 years old and one of the most dangerous women in the American West. She led a gang of horse thieves and married one of the most dangerous outlaws. She also married a direct descendent of the greatest female warrior in Cherokee history. This is the story of her life.

Why Kirsten likes it
As always, I adore Huckelbridge’s writing style as I learned about one of the most notorious bandits I’ve never heard of! Belle’s story is made to be memorialized in a movie because if I didn’t know this was a nonfiction book, I never would have believed half the things that she did! #gifted by HarperAudio

This is a such an interesting book of speculative nonfiction. I love that it's about Belle Starr, but also about the people, history, and cultures surrounding her.

This book was well-written and well researched. Any author writing a non-fiction book about a historical woman is going to have issues because women just weren’t deemed worthy of documenting and there is a little factual evidence to provide.

While it is important to list the context of the times so that you can understand what may have caused Belle to act as she did, in this book felt more that Belle was a secondary character. It was more of a general Wild West, Native Americans, Civil War history type book rather than Belle Starr story. The title was misleading. The I was disappointed because I was expecting to learn more about Belle and I learned far more about her brother and husbands. The author did stick to facts rather than rumors about her deeds. Not a bad book, but not what I was expecting.

George Newbern had a good voice and this was easy to listen to.

Thank you to the author, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for the Advanced
Listener Copy (ALC) copy of this audiobook and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Queen of All Mayhem: The Blood-Soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr, the Most Dangerous Woman in the West by Dane Huckelbridge (book cover in image) is the story of Belle Starr (born Myra Maybelle Shirley) one of the most dangerous women in the Midwest. Covering her early life, and how circumstances in her life led her to a life of crime in pursuit of gaining her own agency, we learn that she may not have made it into the historical cannon, if she her death had not reported to the NYT by a local reporter.

I had the good fortune of being able to read and listen to the audiobook at the same time. While the narration by George Newbern was excellent, this still felt like an academic historical text and may limit the audience for this amazing account of Hucklebridge’s attempt to sort out the facts from the lore. I strongly recommend this book for those who are interested in learning about the women of the American west.

Thank you, William Morrow and Harper Audio Adult | Harper Audio, for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: May 13 2025

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