A True Story of Love and Revenge in the Chambals

Having lived the era of the dreadful dacoits, the stories from beehad, and the news headlines of 70s and 80s, Massacre Queens was bound to have piqued my interest. But if you love gritty, unputdownable true crime writing, you need to check out the latest one from Ashwini Bhatnagar. This book completely strips away the romanticised myths of India’s outlaw badlands to expose the brutal, blood-soaked reality of the Chambal ravines. Instead of just focusing on the globally famous Phoolan Devi, it dives deep into her ferocious, explosive rivalry with her lesser-known but equally deadly adversary, Kusma Nain. It is a fascinating, fast-paced look at how trauma, systemic abuse, and raw vengeance transformed teenage brides into some of the most feared gang leaders in history—highly recommend if you want a true-crime read that keeps you hooked from page one! The women, for sure, walk away with the booty in this thriller.