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The Murderess
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.
It’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd.
The search for, and eventual apprehension of, the Trunk Murderess quickly becomes a headline-making sensation. Even the Phoenix murder house is a sideshow attraction. The one question on everyone’s How could a twenty-six-year-old reverend’s daughter and doctor’s wife—petite, pretty, well educated, and poised—commit such a heinous act on two people she’d called “my dearest friends in the world”? Everyone has their theories and judgments, but no one knows the whole truth.
What unfolds in this gripping work of true-crime fiction is a collision of jealousy, drug addiction, insanity, rage, and inescapable choices. At its heart, a condemned and tragic mystery woman whose trial—and its shocking twists—will make history.
It’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd.
The search for, and eventual apprehension of, the Trunk Murderess quickly becomes a headline-making sensation. Even the Phoenix murder house is a sideshow attraction. The one question on everyone’s How could a twenty-six-year-old reverend’s daughter and doctor’s wife—petite, pretty, well educated, and poised—commit such a heinous act on two people she’d called “my dearest friends in the world”? Everyone has their theories and judgments, but no one knows the whole truth.
What unfolds in this gripping work of true-crime fiction is a collision of jealousy, drug addiction, insanity, rage, and inescapable choices. At its heart, a condemned and tragic mystery woman whose trial—and its shocking twists—will make history.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2024
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9242 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Notaro
23 books2,268 followersLaurie Notaro is a New York Times best-selling American writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
September 12, 2024
'This was more than death, more than a torn body, more than a corpse. This was horror'.
On an October afternoon in 1931, as passengers disembarked from the Phoenix to LA train, two large trunks were offloaded. As they were set down, brown liquid oozed and a stench pervaded. Ruth Judd, the owner of the luggage, was asked to open them, however, she claimed to not have the keys and scurried off. In her absence, the police force open the trunks, suspecting smuggled deer meat. To their horror, they find two dismembered, decomposing bodies. But Ruth is already on the run.
Based on the true story of Winnie Ruth Judd and the 'Trunk Murders', this book is a bit dark and disturbing. It effectively reads in three parts: the grisly discovery and manhunt, the past leading up to the murders, and then back to what happened after the manhunt. As with the real-life case, no one conclusively seems to know how a young, petite woman murdered her two closest friends and subsequently carted them across the country. Notaro does a great job digging into Judd's personality and trying to convey Judd's mental health and vulnerability in the lead up to the murders. The story will definitely leave you pondering on what was and what may have been.
'People are hateful, spiteful things, and can be so cruel without a single regret'.
On an October afternoon in 1931, as passengers disembarked from the Phoenix to LA train, two large trunks were offloaded. As they were set down, brown liquid oozed and a stench pervaded. Ruth Judd, the owner of the luggage, was asked to open them, however, she claimed to not have the keys and scurried off. In her absence, the police force open the trunks, suspecting smuggled deer meat. To their horror, they find two dismembered, decomposing bodies. But Ruth is already on the run.
Based on the true story of Winnie Ruth Judd and the 'Trunk Murders', this book is a bit dark and disturbing. It effectively reads in three parts: the grisly discovery and manhunt, the past leading up to the murders, and then back to what happened after the manhunt. As with the real-life case, no one conclusively seems to know how a young, petite woman murdered her two closest friends and subsequently carted them across the country. Notaro does a great job digging into Judd's personality and trying to convey Judd's mental health and vulnerability in the lead up to the murders. The story will definitely leave you pondering on what was and what may have been.
'People are hateful, spiteful things, and can be so cruel without a single regret'.
October 15, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
Book Tagline: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.
It was a slow start but I am so glad I stuck with this real-life story set in the United States during the Depression-era. Narrated by multiple characters, Laurie Notaro gives readers a glimpse into the circumstances that led Winnie Ruth Judd to commit such brutal murders. I believe the author's background in writing nonfiction adds to a historical fiction that is more thorough in presenting the backstory of several major players, including the victims. What surprised me the most was how much empathy the author was able to bring out in me. Given the subject matter, I wasn't expecting to feel sympathy for a woman who declared simply "I was justified."
Highly recommended for historical fiction and true crime fans.
#TheMurderess #NetGalley
Publication Date 08/10/24
Goodreads Review 14/10/24
Book Tagline: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.
It was a slow start but I am so glad I stuck with this real-life story set in the United States during the Depression-era. Narrated by multiple characters, Laurie Notaro gives readers a glimpse into the circumstances that led Winnie Ruth Judd to commit such brutal murders. I believe the author's background in writing nonfiction adds to a historical fiction that is more thorough in presenting the backstory of several major players, including the victims. What surprised me the most was how much empathy the author was able to bring out in me. Given the subject matter, I wasn't expecting to feel sympathy for a woman who declared simply "I was justified."
Highly recommended for historical fiction and true crime fans.
#TheMurderess #NetGalley
Publication Date 08/10/24
Goodreads Review 14/10/24
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November 1, 2024I have to say, this book left me feeling pretty conflicted. On one hand, it’s a gripping read with an unreliable narrator that keeps you second-guessing everything. The story does a fantastic job of making you feel paranoid right alongside the characters, but on the other hand, I’m not sure if I actually enjoyed the experience or just felt frustrated.
The plot is packed with mystery and moments that make you question everything—is Ruth telling the truth, or is she just lost in her mind? Did she really have a son, or is she imagining things? And the whole deal with her husband is another puzzle that keeps you guessing. While some of these questions sort themselves out, the ending still feels hazy, and I’m not sure I ever got the satisfying resolution I was hoping for
Reading this was both easy and dense, if that makes sense lol, the writing flows, but it’s also heavy with layers of uncertainty, making it hard to figure out what’s true. The different narrative styles add to that complexity. Some sections are short and sharp, almost like journal entries, while others are more flowery and introspective, especially when we see things through Ruth’s eyes. The shift to Anne and Sammy’s perspective was jarring, and I still don’t know if I liked that or just found it confusing
Honestly, I can’t decide if this book was brilliant in how it messes with your head or just too much to really enjoy. It’s a chaotic, twisty read that does keep you thinking, but I’m still torn about how I feel. Maybe that’s a good thing, or maybe it’s not. Either way, it left an impression, and that’s got to count for something, right?
Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of this book
The plot is packed with mystery and moments that make you question everything—is Ruth telling the truth, or is she just lost in her mind? Did she really have a son, or is she imagining things? And the whole deal with her husband is another puzzle that keeps you guessing. While some of these questions sort themselves out, the ending still feels hazy, and I’m not sure I ever got the satisfying resolution I was hoping for
Reading this was both easy and dense, if that makes sense lol, the writing flows, but it’s also heavy with layers of uncertainty, making it hard to figure out what’s true. The different narrative styles add to that complexity. Some sections are short and sharp, almost like journal entries, while others are more flowery and introspective, especially when we see things through Ruth’s eyes. The shift to Anne and Sammy’s perspective was jarring, and I still don’t know if I liked that or just found it confusing
Honestly, I can’t decide if this book was brilliant in how it messes with your head or just too much to really enjoy. It’s a chaotic, twisty read that does keep you thinking, but I’m still torn about how I feel. Maybe that’s a good thing, or maybe it’s not. Either way, it left an impression, and that’s got to count for something, right?
Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of this book
July 7, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 8, 2024.
This really, really interesting book , and certainly not what one would expect from the very funny Notaro, but she does a wonderful job with the true story of Winnie Ruth Judd, a twenty-six year old doctor’s wife and minster’s daughter who travel’s from Phoenix to Los Angeles in 1931. One of her trunks is dripping a suspicious substance and after some tense negotiations the police are eventually called and they find the dead bodies of Hedvig Samuelson, 23, who was stabbed, shot and then dismembered and Anne LeRoi, 27, who had been shot in the head.
The search was on for Judd and “she was already guilty, no matter what the truth, she was guilty. The public had already deemed it so.”
This story, based on the true crime is fascinating and really well done. I was captivated throughout, and highly recommend.
This really, really interesting book , and certainly not what one would expect from the very funny Notaro, but she does a wonderful job with the true story of Winnie Ruth Judd, a twenty-six year old doctor’s wife and minster’s daughter who travel’s from Phoenix to Los Angeles in 1931. One of her trunks is dripping a suspicious substance and after some tense negotiations the police are eventually called and they find the dead bodies of Hedvig Samuelson, 23, who was stabbed, shot and then dismembered and Anne LeRoi, 27, who had been shot in the head.
The search was on for Judd and “she was already guilty, no matter what the truth, she was guilty. The public had already deemed it so.”
This story, based on the true crime is fascinating and really well done. I was captivated throughout, and highly recommend.
September 10, 2024
Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐
TRIGGER(S): MURDER, MENTAL HEALTH, HUMAN DISMEMBERMENT, DRUG ADDICTION, ABORTION, INFIDELITY
POV: Multiple, Third Person (Part I), Singular, First Person (Part II & IV), Singular, Third Person (Part III), Open Third Person/Singular, First Person (Part V)
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Safeish (see trigger warnings)
Release Date: October 8, 2024
🚨 🚨 THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THE TRUE CRIME CASE OF WINNIE RUTH JUDD! 🚨🚨
I had previously heard about Winnie Ruth Judd's (26) case. The woman who allegedly murdered two of her friends, Agnes Anne LeRoi (27/32 sources vary) and Hedvig “Sammy” Samuelson (24), in the early 1930s. 1931, to be precise. It’s a story I’ve always been interested in. So, I was obviously excited when I found this book was based on her crime or what is suspected to be her crime. This fictional account of what happened on that fateful day between Ruth Judd and her two friends does not disappoint.
It was fun to see Laurie Notaro take us into the minds of Ruth, her husband (Dr. William Judd), brother (Burton McKinnell), lover (Jack Halloran), Anne LeRoi, the two detectives working the case, and others on the days following the murders. It makes you wonder what Ruth was up to when she was on the run and how her family and acquaintances were affected by her actions.
Winnie Ruth Judd on trial (1932)
You can tell that Notaro did thorough research on the case in order to weave factual aspects into her fictional tale. Such as the murders themselves, Ruth’s injury to her hands, the trunks she took on the train to Los Angeles with her, her relationship with Jack Halloran, her friendship with the murder victims, and the shotty police work during the murder investigation. This story is a truly wonderful mix of true crime and historical fiction.
The writing is fluid and easy to follow. It’s descriptive without being dense and bogged down by unnecessary sentences. A few times, I felt like I was with the characters, watching the events unfold right next to them. Things slow down a bit in the middle, and it can seem like it might be a bit hard to get through. But don’t let that deter you, since the information given during that time is important to the plot of the story. And don’t worry, because the story picks up with vengeance once again as things work towards its conclusion.
The trunks LeRoi and Samuelson's bodies were found in (1931)
The author had a way of making you feel sorry for Judd as we dive into her struggles with mental illness. The murders committed by Ruth Judd will always fascinate me since I personally believe it’s a tale of a person who just...snapped.
I don’t think we will ever truly know what happened on that fateful day in the little bungalow on 2929 North Second Street in Phoenix, Arizona. I don’t think we will ever truly find out if Judd is the actual perpetrator. Even though she admitted to killing her two friends in self-defense, It very well could have been Jack “Happy” Halloran (who was indicted by a grand jury in 1932 and exonerated in 1933) whose affections the women were allegedly fighting over. Or perhaps a fifth unknown person was present during the party. Judd simply could’ve assisted in covering up the murders.
2929 North Second Street (1931)
In 2014, a letter Judd wrote to her attorney, H.G. Richardson, on April 6, 1933, confessing to the murders of LeRoi and Samuelson was discovered, seemingly settling the debate over her guilt once and for all. But we all know how confessions, whether they are written or verbal, can be unreliable.
Whatever the truth may be, thanks to subpar police work, mishandling of evidence, and the media, which treated the whole thing like a circus sideshow, WRJ was already deemed guilty by the public, which became enthralled with her before she was ever brought to trial.
This book gives us something to use to fill in the blanks. Even if it only fictional ones.
Judd’s two victims lost their lives at the ages of twenty-four and twenty-seven/thirty-two but Judd herself lived to the ripe old age of ninety-three. Which is a subtle reminder that sometimes life just isn’t fair.
Winnie Ruth Judd, AKA the Trunk Murderess, might not be as well-known as other killers (Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, etc.), but she will always be infamous in her own right.
Agnes Anne LeRoi (Left) and Hedvig "Sammy" Samuelson (Right) (Year unknown)
As a true crime junkie, I could ramble on and on about this case all day. But for the sake of all you readers, I will end this review here.
If you weren’t interested in researching this case before, you definitely will be after finishing this book.
Fun Fact: Winnie Ruth Judd died in her sleep on October 23, 1998, sixty-seven years to the day from her surrender to the LAPD in 1931.
If you look online, you can find her obituary under the name Marian Lane in the New York Times.
TLDR: IF YOU LOVE TRUE CRIME AND DON’T MIND A FICTIONAL TWIST ON THINGS, CHECK OUT THIS BOOK!
I would like to thank Little A and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐
TRIGGER(S): MURDER, MENTAL HEALTH, HUMAN DISMEMBERMENT, DRUG ADDICTION, ABORTION, INFIDELITY
POV: Multiple, Third Person (Part I), Singular, First Person (Part II & IV), Singular, Third Person (Part III), Open Third Person/Singular, First Person (Part V)
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Safeish (see trigger warnings)
Release Date: October 8, 2024
🚨 🚨 THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THE TRUE CRIME CASE OF WINNIE RUTH JUDD! 🚨🚨
“She was already guilty; no matter what the truth, she was guilty. The public had already deemed it so.”
I had previously heard about Winnie Ruth Judd's (26) case. The woman who allegedly murdered two of her friends, Agnes Anne LeRoi (27/32 sources vary) and Hedvig “Sammy” Samuelson (24), in the early 1930s. 1931, to be precise. It’s a story I’ve always been interested in. So, I was obviously excited when I found this book was based on her crime or what is suspected to be her crime. This fictional account of what happened on that fateful day between Ruth Judd and her two friends does not disappoint.
It was fun to see Laurie Notaro take us into the minds of Ruth, her husband (Dr. William Judd), brother (Burton McKinnell), lover (Jack Halloran), Anne LeRoi, the two detectives working the case, and others on the days following the murders. It makes you wonder what Ruth was up to when she was on the run and how her family and acquaintances were affected by her actions.
Winnie Ruth Judd on trial (1932)
You can tell that Notaro did thorough research on the case in order to weave factual aspects into her fictional tale. Such as the murders themselves, Ruth’s injury to her hands, the trunks she took on the train to Los Angeles with her, her relationship with Jack Halloran, her friendship with the murder victims, and the shotty police work during the murder investigation. This story is a truly wonderful mix of true crime and historical fiction.
The writing is fluid and easy to follow. It’s descriptive without being dense and bogged down by unnecessary sentences. A few times, I felt like I was with the characters, watching the events unfold right next to them. Things slow down a bit in the middle, and it can seem like it might be a bit hard to get through. But don’t let that deter you, since the information given during that time is important to the plot of the story. And don’t worry, because the story picks up with vengeance once again as things work towards its conclusion.
The trunks LeRoi and Samuelson's bodies were found in (1931)
The author had a way of making you feel sorry for Judd as we dive into her struggles with mental illness. The murders committed by Ruth Judd will always fascinate me since I personally believe it’s a tale of a person who just...snapped.
I don’t think we will ever truly know what happened on that fateful day in the little bungalow on 2929 North Second Street in Phoenix, Arizona. I don’t think we will ever truly find out if Judd is the actual perpetrator. Even though she admitted to killing her two friends in self-defense, It very well could have been Jack “Happy” Halloran (who was indicted by a grand jury in 1932 and exonerated in 1933) whose affections the women were allegedly fighting over. Or perhaps a fifth unknown person was present during the party. Judd simply could’ve assisted in covering up the murders.
2929 North Second Street (1931)
“Before the police could finish their search, he hammered a sign into the front yard announcing a tour of the murder house.”
In 2014, a letter Judd wrote to her attorney, H.G. Richardson, on April 6, 1933, confessing to the murders of LeRoi and Samuelson was discovered, seemingly settling the debate over her guilt once and for all. But we all know how confessions, whether they are written or verbal, can be unreliable.
Whatever the truth may be, thanks to subpar police work, mishandling of evidence, and the media, which treated the whole thing like a circus sideshow, WRJ was already deemed guilty by the public, which became enthralled with her before she was ever brought to trial.
This book gives us something to use to fill in the blanks. Even if it only fictional ones.
Judd’s two victims lost their lives at the ages of twenty-four and twenty-seven/thirty-two but Judd herself lived to the ripe old age of ninety-three. Which is a subtle reminder that sometimes life just isn’t fair.
Winnie Ruth Judd, AKA the Trunk Murderess, might not be as well-known as other killers (Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, etc.), but she will always be infamous in her own right.
Agnes Anne LeRoi (Left) and Hedvig "Sammy" Samuelson (Right) (Year unknown)
As a true crime junkie, I could ramble on and on about this case all day. But for the sake of all you readers, I will end this review here.
If you weren’t interested in researching this case before, you definitely will be after finishing this book.
Fun Fact: Winnie Ruth Judd died in her sleep on October 23, 1998, sixty-seven years to the day from her surrender to the LAPD in 1931.
If you look online, you can find her obituary under the name Marian Lane in the New York Times.
“The trial was never going to be anything but a farce; the public demanded it.”
TLDR: IF YOU LOVE TRUE CRIME AND DON’T MIND A FICTIONAL TWIST ON THINGS, CHECK OUT THIS BOOK!
I would like to thank Little A and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
July 23, 2024
This was a well written fiction book, this one is written from the perspective of an unreliable narrator and there is some skeptical information and some that is of concern as you are not sure who to trust to get the true story.
Is Ruthie being truthful? is she schizophrenic? Did she indeed have a son? Is she making everything up? What is the deal with her husband?
There are more questions than answers in the book that eventually sort themselves out or at least the best that you can.
This was an easy read but a little dense at times mainly because there was a lot going on and you aren't sure which narrator to trust.
Is Ruthie being truthful? is she schizophrenic? Did she indeed have a son? Is she making everything up? What is the deal with her husband?
There are more questions than answers in the book that eventually sort themselves out or at least the best that you can.
This was an easy read but a little dense at times mainly because there was a lot going on and you aren't sure which narrator to trust.
April 18, 2025
Based on a true crime, this book starts off well and then deteriorates as the author recounts the back stories of first the murderess, then the murdered girls. Some of the chapters were disjointed, the narrative was fragmented or jumped scenes and POV without warning.
By the middle, I lost interest in the story of the slowly unraveling murderess, her drunken, drug-addicted doctor husband, and the characters themselves.
It seems as though the author lost track of the plot, which was capturing those who dismembered the bodies found in the trunks.
Thanks to Sharon Virts book club for recommending this one. I'd give it a miss.
By the middle, I lost interest in the story of the slowly unraveling murderess, her drunken, drug-addicted doctor husband, and the characters themselves.
It seems as though the author lost track of the plot, which was capturing those who dismembered the bodies found in the trunks.
Thanks to Sharon Virts book club for recommending this one. I'd give it a miss.
March 17, 2025
This narrative telling of Winnie Ruth Judd was incredible. I was so invested in the story, and the uneasy tone made me want to figure out what was going on. As someone who is interested in true crime I was surprised to learn this was based on actual events...I'm slacking, how can I not know about this.
October 1, 2024
This is quite the departure from the Laurie Notaro that I know and adore. If you're looking for Notaro wit, this isn't it. If you're looking for an interesting fictional account of what might have happened with a real-life murderess, you'll hit the jackpot here.
I wasn't familiar with the story and I'm not sure how much fact is embedded in the narrative, but this was impressive and, of course, well written. Notaro paints the life of a very flawed woman and what could have led to her crimes.
I did find it slowing a bit near the middle, bogged down in detail. But, overall, this was superb.
I wasn't familiar with the story and I'm not sure how much fact is embedded in the narrative, but this was impressive and, of course, well written. Notaro paints the life of a very flawed woman and what could have led to her crimes.
I did find it slowing a bit near the middle, bogged down in detail. But, overall, this was superb.
February 11, 2025
Really good, but also wtf. Also, I feel like we all deserve more information about Ruth.
September 20, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Little A for a complimentary copy of this novel!
The Murderess is a true crime fiction novel about Winnie Ruth Judd. The story begins in October of 1931. Winnie Judd is traveling to Los Angeles. She arrives in LA via train from Phoenix. As she tries to pick up her two pieces of luggage from the porters, a terrible smell emanates from them. The porter asks her to open them, but she states they are medical books belonging to her husband and she doesn’t have the keys. So, she tells the porter she’ll return with them. Time passes, the smell worsens, a rust-colored puddle has formed under the luggage. Police are called in and when the luggage is pried open, a scene so terrible and horrifying is revealed!!! It is unfathomable!!! What unfolds in the novel is the story of Ruth and what led to the deaths of her two friends, Sammy and Anne. Their deaths are most gruesome!
Laurie Notaro does a great job portraying Winnie Judd, the Trunk Murderess! She unfolds each chapter bit by bit and takes the reader along the story of the true events that led Winnie Judd to cruelly murder her two friends. 4 Stars
AVAILABLE October 8, 2024
The Murderess is a true crime fiction novel about Winnie Ruth Judd. The story begins in October of 1931. Winnie Judd is traveling to Los Angeles. She arrives in LA via train from Phoenix. As she tries to pick up her two pieces of luggage from the porters, a terrible smell emanates from them. The porter asks her to open them, but she states they are medical books belonging to her husband and she doesn’t have the keys. So, she tells the porter she’ll return with them. Time passes, the smell worsens, a rust-colored puddle has formed under the luggage. Police are called in and when the luggage is pried open, a scene so terrible and horrifying is revealed!!! It is unfathomable!!! What unfolds in the novel is the story of Ruth and what led to the deaths of her two friends, Sammy and Anne. Their deaths are most gruesome!
Laurie Notaro does a great job portraying Winnie Judd, the Trunk Murderess! She unfolds each chapter bit by bit and takes the reader along the story of the true events that led Winnie Judd to cruelly murder her two friends. 4 Stars
AVAILABLE October 8, 2024
January 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book as a whole! It was really interesting to jump from different timelines and perspectives to really get a full picture of the murders of Anne LeRoi and Sammy Samuelson. We started at the train station in California where Mrs. Judd's luggage has a weird liquid dripping out of the sides to her disappearing in the crowd and finding her way to her brother for help with her little situation after what is discovered in her luggage: the two dead, cut-up bodies of her best friends!
Even more interesting is that, while historical fiction, is also a true story and all of these women and the main male characters were real people and this was a real murder. It's evident from the beginning that Mrs. Judd has some issues with her mental state but in 1931, if you exhibited abnormal personality traits or had emotional issues or whatever it may be regardless, you were almost always automatically deemed insane and many women were subject to this and sent to sanatoriums. This whole book was a giant whirlwind but it was so unbelievably good and interesting and I definitely recommend it!
Even more interesting is that, while historical fiction, is also a true story and all of these women and the main male characters were real people and this was a real murder. It's evident from the beginning that Mrs. Judd has some issues with her mental state but in 1931, if you exhibited abnormal personality traits or had emotional issues or whatever it may be regardless, you were almost always automatically deemed insane and many women were subject to this and sent to sanatoriums. This whole book was a giant whirlwind but it was so unbelievably good and interesting and I definitely recommend it!
October 3, 2025
I started this book a little blind - I didn't know of the original crime - so I found the start a bit confusing. I found Ruth an odd main character. In the beginning, she seems so unsettled and incoherent, that I was surprised when we went so far back.
I found the start of the days with her husband long and slowed the story down. I found her marriage so sad and I didn't blame her for being confused and unhappy. I didn't realize Arizona was such a hot spot for settling with tuberculosis and I found that part of the story interesting. I was also shocked by just how much time she spent away from her husband and how normal everyone seemed to treat it.
When we finally got to everyone going off the rails, I was pretty hooked and I found the conclusion interesting and only a little confusing. Which story is correct? I think the found documents may be the closest we'll ever know.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I found the start of the days with her husband long and slowed the story down. I found her marriage so sad and I didn't blame her for being confused and unhappy. I didn't realize Arizona was such a hot spot for settling with tuberculosis and I found that part of the story interesting. I was also shocked by just how much time she spent away from her husband and how normal everyone seemed to treat it.
When we finally got to everyone going off the rails, I was pretty hooked and I found the conclusion interesting and only a little confusing. Which story is correct? I think the found documents may be the closest we'll ever know.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 19, 2024
My first 5 star read of 2024! The writing captivated me from the very start and took me on a wild, interesting ride back to the 1930s from the perspective of a crazed murderess and those around her.
While the pace did slow down in the middle part, overall I thought it painted a very realistic picture of the background and how the little things in Judd’s life slowly built up to something dark and sinister. And just when I thought things were coming to an end, the last 10% blew me away.
Thank you to the author for sharing such an interesting piece of true crime history, and to NetGalley for an eARC copy.
While the pace did slow down in the middle part, overall I thought it painted a very realistic picture of the background and how the little things in Judd’s life slowly built up to something dark and sinister. And just when I thought things were coming to an end, the last 10% blew me away.
Thank you to the author for sharing such an interesting piece of true crime history, and to NetGalley for an eARC copy.
May 28, 2024
This book is the perfect mix of pulpy true crime and historical fiction. I could read a hundred more just like it.
This book is both well researched and capable of eliciting strong emotions. You find yourself empathizing with…you know…The Murderess. I didn’t expect for her longing and desperation to draw me in after reading about these truly disgusting crimes. There are many layers to this story and some questions that seemingly can never be answered.
(This book needs a strong trigger warning for frank discussion of mutilated and decomposing corpses.)
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book is both well researched and capable of eliciting strong emotions. You find yourself empathizing with…you know…The Murderess. I didn’t expect for her longing and desperation to draw me in after reading about these truly disgusting crimes. There are many layers to this story and some questions that seemingly can never be answered.
(This book needs a strong trigger warning for frank discussion of mutilated and decomposing corpses.)
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 11, 2025
3.5. An interesting true crime story I knew nothing about. But this didn't keep me up at night turning pages.
August 29, 2024
3.5 stars
I have read Laurie Notaro’s nonfiction, but THE MURDERESS is her first fiction novel that I’ve read. Even then, it’s based on a true story, so her journalistic roots show through here.
In her 20s, Winnie Ruth Judd killed her two female friends Anne and Sammy. In this novel, Notaro starts when Ruth is caught at the train station with trunks that are leaking blood and smell noxious. Then the reader learns of her past, when she marries Doctor Judd, who is a narcotics addict, and he tragically gets rid of her newborn baby.
The narrative then pivots to Anne and Sammy, who met in Juneau, Alaska. When Sammy is diagnosed with tuberculosis, the doctor orders them to go to warmer weather, like Arizona, for her to get better. They move there, and soon Ruth is folded into their social circle. Ruth and her husband have been living separately, and Ruth takes up with Jack Halloran. On one pivotal night, Ruth shoots and kills Anne and Sammy. The last part of the novel is her trial with her lawyer being funded by William Randolph Hearst of all people (the trial will make good news!), narrowly averting execution by hanging, and her being put in a state psychiatric hospital, her “escapes,” and her later life.
The topic is interesting, and I hadn’t heard of Winnie Ruth Judd before. So I learned a lot, particularly the intersectionality of past trauma, alcohol/drugs, and mental health contributing to a psychotic break. There was the text of Ruth’s actual writing in the notes section of the book, and I could see how coming up with a coherent story from that, newspaper articles, and any court records that could be found from over 90 years ago would be a challenge for any author.
Each part of this book has a different perspective and writing tone. Some are more journalistic with very clear writing and short sentences. Some, particularly those from Ruth’s perspective, have a bit more prose to them. Surprisingly, I actually liked Anne and Sammy’s part, even though it took me a bit to figure out what was going on there because it was an abrupt shift.
While I liked each part individually, I question how cohesive the narrative is as a novel. Some parts I could tell that the author spent her time honing, but others felt a bit slapdash. I did enjoy this one even though it won’t rise to the top of the year status.
Publishes October 8, 2024
I have read Laurie Notaro’s nonfiction, but THE MURDERESS is her first fiction novel that I’ve read. Even then, it’s based on a true story, so her journalistic roots show through here.
In her 20s, Winnie Ruth Judd killed her two female friends Anne and Sammy. In this novel, Notaro starts when Ruth is caught at the train station with trunks that are leaking blood and smell noxious. Then the reader learns of her past, when she marries Doctor Judd, who is a narcotics addict, and he tragically gets rid of her newborn baby.
The narrative then pivots to Anne and Sammy, who met in Juneau, Alaska. When Sammy is diagnosed with tuberculosis, the doctor orders them to go to warmer weather, like Arizona, for her to get better. They move there, and soon Ruth is folded into their social circle. Ruth and her husband have been living separately, and Ruth takes up with Jack Halloran. On one pivotal night, Ruth shoots and kills Anne and Sammy. The last part of the novel is her trial with her lawyer being funded by William Randolph Hearst of all people (the trial will make good news!), narrowly averting execution by hanging, and her being put in a state psychiatric hospital, her “escapes,” and her later life.
The topic is interesting, and I hadn’t heard of Winnie Ruth Judd before. So I learned a lot, particularly the intersectionality of past trauma, alcohol/drugs, and mental health contributing to a psychotic break. There was the text of Ruth’s actual writing in the notes section of the book, and I could see how coming up with a coherent story from that, newspaper articles, and any court records that could be found from over 90 years ago would be a challenge for any author.
Each part of this book has a different perspective and writing tone. Some are more journalistic with very clear writing and short sentences. Some, particularly those from Ruth’s perspective, have a bit more prose to them. Surprisingly, I actually liked Anne and Sammy’s part, even though it took me a bit to figure out what was going on there because it was an abrupt shift.
While I liked each part individually, I question how cohesive the narrative is as a novel. Some parts I could tell that the author spent her time honing, but others felt a bit slapdash. I did enjoy this one even though it won’t rise to the top of the year status.
Publishes October 8, 2024
July 20, 2024
Having been something of an ID: Investigation Discovery addict a few years ago, there is a lot in Laurie Notaro's novel THE MURDERESS that seemed familiar so it's probably safe to assume that the 1931 case of Winnie Ruth Judd, aka The Trunk Murderess, was featured on one or more episodes of something (probably 'Deadly Women,' let's be honest) at some point.
But I didn't remember enough to make reading Notaro's novel a dull chore.
Quite the opposite. It was a thrilling ride through a 'ripped from headlines' case. I think what made it different than one might expect, different than what would have been shown on some true crime show or podcast, is that Notaro gives the perspective almost wholly to Ruth herself. And she does that without giving the murderess any sort of attempted redemption arc. Ruth apparently was and is portrayed by Notaro as a deeply troubled young woman against whom everything seems to work. And she almost certainly did murder her two best friends, just not for the reasons that played better in the headlines.
It's an expansive story, giving background on Ruth and following her all the way through her death at age 93. There are occasionally looks at the story through the eyes of her husband (the entire relationship with her husband, whom she called only Doctor, was incredibly creepy -- and a brief look through Wikipedia says that was reality) and her seeming lover (creepy in a more normal sort of 'rich man takes a mistress who happens to be mentally ill and manipulates & drugs her all the more' sort of way). It's a tragic story, both because two women were murdered and because Winnie Ruth Judd never stood a chance.
The only flaws are that the plots is choppy in places, in turns drawn out and too quick, but that might have been entirely necessary given the subject matter the plot was set upon.
THE MURDERESS will be available for purchase this fall.
--------
I received a copy of THE MURDERESS through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest & original review. All thoughts are my own.
But I didn't remember enough to make reading Notaro's novel a dull chore.
Quite the opposite. It was a thrilling ride through a 'ripped from headlines' case. I think what made it different than one might expect, different than what would have been shown on some true crime show or podcast, is that Notaro gives the perspective almost wholly to Ruth herself. And she does that without giving the murderess any sort of attempted redemption arc. Ruth apparently was and is portrayed by Notaro as a deeply troubled young woman against whom everything seems to work. And she almost certainly did murder her two best friends, just not for the reasons that played better in the headlines.
It's an expansive story, giving background on Ruth and following her all the way through her death at age 93. There are occasionally looks at the story through the eyes of her husband (the entire relationship with her husband, whom she called only Doctor, was incredibly creepy -- and a brief look through Wikipedia says that was reality) and her seeming lover (creepy in a more normal sort of 'rich man takes a mistress who happens to be mentally ill and manipulates & drugs her all the more' sort of way). It's a tragic story, both because two women were murdered and because Winnie Ruth Judd never stood a chance.
The only flaws are that the plots is choppy in places, in turns drawn out and too quick, but that might have been entirely necessary given the subject matter the plot was set upon.
THE MURDERESS will be available for purchase this fall.
--------
I received a copy of THE MURDERESS through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest & original review. All thoughts are my own.
October 12, 2024
True Crime fiction is a genre that is not often on my radar, but the premise of Laurie Notaro's "The Murderess" intrigued me, and thus, I offer this review in exchange for an advanced copy. This novel was published on October 8, 2024.
As I began this reading journey, I did find myself having interest in the years following the Great Depression that it depicted in detail, as well as the struggles that women in that time period had to overcome to live authentic, independent lives on their own terms. But note that I did not mention a focus on what should have been the central appeal. That being the sensational, horrific double murder committed by a woman of much mystery.
As presented, Winnie Ruth Judd, the titular murderess, is at once seemingly high-strung, flighty, and histrionic while also being calculated and self-aware. Often, she is portrayed as mysterious, lost, and misunderstood. Quite late in the narrative is she presented as seriously mentally ill. Over arching this small woman who, for a time, had a hefty impact on people around her, is a whole cast of characters with questionable and primarily unresolved motives that may (or may not!) have had an influence. From sensational beginning to lackluster end, the reader gains very little insight into this headline grabbing murderous event.
As I began this reading journey, I did find myself having interest in the years following the Great Depression that it depicted in detail, as well as the struggles that women in that time period had to overcome to live authentic, independent lives on their own terms. But note that I did not mention a focus on what should have been the central appeal. That being the sensational, horrific double murder committed by a woman of much mystery.
As presented, Winnie Ruth Judd, the titular murderess, is at once seemingly high-strung, flighty, and histrionic while also being calculated and self-aware. Often, she is portrayed as mysterious, lost, and misunderstood. Quite late in the narrative is she presented as seriously mentally ill. Over arching this small woman who, for a time, had a hefty impact on people around her, is a whole cast of characters with questionable and primarily unresolved motives that may (or may not!) have had an influence. From sensational beginning to lackluster end, the reader gains very little insight into this headline grabbing murderous event.
September 27, 2024
5 ☆
-
If annotating an entire book were a person, it would be this book! This entire book could have been annotated! It was that good. It started with a bang and ended with an even bigger bang! I highly recommend this book. Ruth was literally delusional and crazy, but I enjoyed her the entire time! I wonder, does that make me delusional and crazy as well? Oh well, it’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd. Now, let the story begin.
The audiobook was good; the narrator did a good job telling the story. She was easy to listen to and understand.
-
Thank you, Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook, and Little A for the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.
-
If annotating an entire book were a person, it would be this book! This entire book could have been annotated! It was that good. It started with a bang and ended with an even bigger bang! I highly recommend this book. Ruth was literally delusional and crazy, but I enjoyed her the entire time! I wonder, does that make me delusional and crazy as well? Oh well, it’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd. Now, let the story begin.
The audiobook was good; the narrator did a good job telling the story. She was easy to listen to and understand.
-
Thank you, Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook, and Little A for the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2025
A fascinating true crime retelling set in the 1930s, with a focus on the slow burn psychological unraveling of a woman pushed to her limit. Good choice if you’re a fan of historical true crime that focuses on the why as well as the who (reminded me of something that would be featured on the Buried Bones podcast).
Energy: Escalating. Puzzling. Intriguing.
🐺 Growls: The font choice for the letter at the end was so hard to read!
🐕 Howls: The middle part about the MC’s life story lost me a bit. It started to feel repetitive and overly idealized, like really trying to make her sympathetic and sad.
🐩 Tail Wags: Interesting story. Watching everything that unfolded leading up to murder. Easy to follow the setting and social norms of the time. Using third person for historical recounting and first person for the more speculative moments.
Scene: 🇺🇸🇲🇽 Los Angeles, California, USA and near Sinaba, Mexico.
Perspectives (multiple): A doctor’s wife living alone and later accused of a crime. Their love interest. The roommates, one of whom is bedridden with tuberculosis.
Timeline: Linear + Flashbacks. Mainly 1923-1931. ☀️ Hot summer.
Narrative: Invisible in the room, being told a story (mix of first person and third person objective).
Fuel: Murderous motivations mystery, what happened to cause all this? What’s the history of Ruth’s life? Why did she do this? Did she do it alone? What were the dynamics between her and her friends? What will happen to her?
Cred: Realistic
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Curtain panels. Trunk. Fetor. Cresote bush. Desert heat. Roast chicken. Packard convertible.
• Breezy, detached, direct writing style
• Compromised, sympathetic, troubled, and unreliable characters
• Historical mystery-thriller
• Howdunit + whydunit
• Age gap marriage, toxic relationship spirals
• Madness, desperation, the monster within
• Female friendships and betrayal
• Based on a true story female killers and legal suspense
• Psychological unraveling
• Conflict, illness, connection, motherhood, virtue, and consequence
Content Heads-Up: Abortion (forced/misled). Alcohol (parties, self-medicating). Animal cruelty, death (kittens; drowned off page). Blood. Dismemberment. Drugs. Financial insecurity (Depression era). Gaslighting (relationship). Gun violence. Injury, infection. Lesbophobia (societal, systemic). Loss of baby (taken). Loss of spouse. Mental illness (schizophrenia). Mental instability (‘hysteria’, catatonic). Misogyny, patriarchy. Murder. Outing (threatened). Physical health (tuberculosis, pneumonia, syphilis). Potential false accusations (rape, kidnapping). Sexual assault (groping). Substance abuse (narcotics). War (recall, Mexican Revolution; injury, gas, PTSD, theft of animals, loss of home).
Rep: American. Norwegian heritage. Cis. Hetero. Lesbian. Pale, freckled, white, opaline skin tones. Living with tuberculosis.
📚 Format: Kindle Unlimited
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Energy: Escalating. Puzzling. Intriguing.
🐺 Growls: The font choice for the letter at the end was so hard to read!
🐕 Howls: The middle part about the MC’s life story lost me a bit. It started to feel repetitive and overly idealized, like really trying to make her sympathetic and sad.
🐩 Tail Wags: Interesting story. Watching everything that unfolded leading up to murder. Easy to follow the setting and social norms of the time. Using third person for historical recounting and first person for the more speculative moments.
Scene: 🇺🇸🇲🇽 Los Angeles, California, USA and near Sinaba, Mexico.
Perspectives (multiple): A doctor’s wife living alone and later accused of a crime. Their love interest. The roommates, one of whom is bedridden with tuberculosis.
Timeline: Linear + Flashbacks. Mainly 1923-1931. ☀️ Hot summer.
Narrative: Invisible in the room, being told a story (mix of first person and third person objective).
Fuel: Murderous motivations mystery, what happened to cause all this? What’s the history of Ruth’s life? Why did she do this? Did she do it alone? What were the dynamics between her and her friends? What will happen to her?
Cred: Realistic
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Curtain panels. Trunk. Fetor. Cresote bush. Desert heat. Roast chicken. Packard convertible.
• Breezy, detached, direct writing style
• Compromised, sympathetic, troubled, and unreliable characters
• Historical mystery-thriller
• Howdunit + whydunit
• Age gap marriage, toxic relationship spirals
• Madness, desperation, the monster within
• Female friendships and betrayal
• Based on a true story female killers and legal suspense
• Psychological unraveling
• Conflict, illness, connection, motherhood, virtue, and consequence
Content Heads-Up: Abortion (forced/misled). Alcohol (parties, self-medicating). Animal cruelty, death (kittens; drowned off page). Blood. Dismemberment. Drugs. Financial insecurity (Depression era). Gaslighting (relationship). Gun violence. Injury, infection. Lesbophobia (societal, systemic). Loss of baby (taken). Loss of spouse. Mental illness (schizophrenia). Mental instability (‘hysteria’, catatonic). Misogyny, patriarchy. Murder. Outing (threatened). Physical health (tuberculosis, pneumonia, syphilis). Potential false accusations (rape, kidnapping). Sexual assault (groping). Substance abuse (narcotics). War (recall, Mexican Revolution; injury, gas, PTSD, theft of animals, loss of home).
Rep: American. Norwegian heritage. Cis. Hetero. Lesbian. Pale, freckled, white, opaline skin tones. Living with tuberculosis.
📚 Format: Kindle Unlimited
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
January 1, 2025
In The Murderess, Laurie Notaro’s historical fiction take on a horrifying murder, the author skillfully evokes a sense of time and place. The book begins in the 1920s and continues into the Great Depression, and we get a sense of how difficult life could be, even before 1929, including for ordinary working people. The times are part of the story, economically and socially.
The Murderess paints a backstory of the people involved fitting them into the times they were living. What makes The Murderess intriguing is the way Notaro portrays Winnie Ruth Judd (known as Ruth). The headlines of the day painted Judd as a cold blooded murderer. Notaro makes her a complex and even sympathetic figure.
Laurie Notaro also effectively develops the characters of Ruth’s husband and the victims, weaving all these elements into a gripping story. If you like true crime, this is a compelling story. If you like historical fiction, too, you’ll find this book hard to put down.
The Murderess paints a backstory of the people involved fitting them into the times they were living. What makes The Murderess intriguing is the way Notaro portrays Winnie Ruth Judd (known as Ruth). The headlines of the day painted Judd as a cold blooded murderer. Notaro makes her a complex and even sympathetic figure.
Laurie Notaro also effectively develops the characters of Ruth’s husband and the victims, weaving all these elements into a gripping story. If you like true crime, this is a compelling story. If you like historical fiction, too, you’ll find this book hard to put down.
July 22, 2025
I absolutely love Laurie Notaro and the way she writes. She brings the characters to life with such ease. This was another fictionalized true crime story that just pulled me in and made me want to read more about the case. I had never heard of Ruth Judd before but now, she lives rent free in my head.
The Murderess is about Winnie Ruth Judd who murdered her 2 best friends while in a haze. She was undiagnosed schizophrenic and had a hard time separating reality from what was going on in her head.
The story follows her on her attempt at covering what she had done and the downfall she faced once caught. It's an amazingly well told story and I need more from Laurie Notaro.
The Murderess is about Winnie Ruth Judd who murdered her 2 best friends while in a haze. She was undiagnosed schizophrenic and had a hard time separating reality from what was going on in her head.
The story follows her on her attempt at covering what she had done and the downfall she faced once caught. It's an amazingly well told story and I need more from Laurie Notaro.
June 6, 2025
2.5
Fascinating story I had never heard of before but I'll probably try to find something non-fiction to get a better grasp on the story.
The writing didn't really flow naturally, it's difficult to take a true story and make it into a compelling novel.
The parts about the girls meeting were very slow and boring, same with Jack Halloran.
After the initial discovery of the bodies and the situation with her pregnancies, the most interesting parts were the trial and her escapes but they were so rushed it made them dull.
Fascinating story I had never heard of before but I'll probably try to find something non-fiction to get a better grasp on the story.
The writing didn't really flow naturally, it's difficult to take a true story and make it into a compelling novel.
The parts about the girls meeting were very slow and boring, same with Jack Halloran.
After the initial discovery of the bodies and the situation with her pregnancies, the most interesting parts were the trial and her escapes but they were so rushed it made them dull.
December 14, 2025
I just finished the true crime book, The Murderess and am definitely conflicted on how to review it.
It’s a story of the “trunk murders” in 1931 Phoenix, Arizona.
This book is at times easy to read and other times I found myself having to go back and reread because I had no idea what is going on.
Is Ruth crazy? Is she imagining things? Is she the victim or the murderess?
What’s with her husband and her lover?
The writing is good but I’m still left unsure of how to feel. Do I recommend it? Probably not.
It’s a story of the “trunk murders” in 1931 Phoenix, Arizona.
This book is at times easy to read and other times I found myself having to go back and reread because I had no idea what is going on.
Is Ruth crazy? Is she imagining things? Is she the victim or the murderess?
What’s with her husband and her lover?
The writing is good but I’m still left unsure of how to feel. Do I recommend it? Probably not.
November 29, 2024
I made a post on my Facebook page asking for suggestions for an audio book and this author suggested her own book. Usually her books are numerous and always make me feel like someone else understands my life. This one is a book about a real woman who kills two of her friends and is found with them in a storage trunk that she is trying to transport. Then you are let into her back story and right at the end the truth comes out. This book made me do my own research on the people in the story. Great listen.
August 31, 2025
I have been enthralled with this story for the entire 30+ years I’ve lived in Phoenix. I enjoyed the flesh this narrative put on the bones. But I wanted more. If it’s fiction, tell us what happened! I feel like the “incident”, motive and aftermath were left mysterious. Also, Ruth’s character seemed inconsistent, like she was mostly sane in Phoenix, holding a job, cooking, taking night classes. Compared to the rest of the book. Anyway, good book, based on a lot of original source material. Recommend if you want in on some saucy true crime.
Read
May 28, 2024True crime about a woman (schizophrenic) ho murders two friends
November 13, 2024
I made it to page 157 and just couldn't read any further. So, add this one to the DNF pile. I've read other books by Notaro and enjoyed them, and the premise of this one sounded so promising, but for me, it didn't pan out. Giving up, moving on...
November 23, 2024
This was good, not great. The story is captivating but gets a little murky until the last 100 pages. Stick with it if you can….
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