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The Women Are Not Fine: The Dark History of a Poisonous Sisterhood
'Compelling' TELEGRAPH
'Such a compelling account of a small but significant dark corner of history... Profound, angry, and tender all at once' VIRGINIA FEITO, author of MRS MARCH
'An insightful, empathetic and well-researched account of a deeply fascinating and macabre true story' KATE MOORE, author of THE RADIUM GIRLS
'Fascinating and very compelling' ZOE VENDITOZZI, co-author of HOW TO KILL A WITCH
'A moving story of desperation, violence and survival' HELEN LEWIS, author of DIFFICULT WOMEN
The women of Nagyrév are desperate.
They're abused by their husbands.
They are feeding their newborns to livestock.
At the turn of the 20th century, in the village of Nagyrév, Hungary, midwife Zsuzsanna Fazekas was more than a caretaker - she was a confidante. She helped poor women give birth; she assisted them with abortions; and she listened. Their stories were the husbands who drank, who beat them, who made their lives unbearable.
In response, Auntie Zsuzsi asked one "Why bother with them?"
Her solution was arsenic. Soon, women began slipping this concoction, made by dissolving flypaper in water, into their husbands' porridge, stews, and brandy. And over the next twenty years, the quiet village became the epicenter of one of the deadliest poisoning epidemics of the 20th century - according to some estimates, up to 300 people in the region were murdered.
Why did they do it? How did these murders spin out of control? How did these women get away with their crimes for two decades?
In The Women Are Not Fine , journalist Hope Reese pieces together archival newspapers, court documents, police records, and the vital work of historians, sociologists, and psychologists, diving deep into the truth behind this extraordinary event. Her findings serve as a stark when women in a community are pushed to the brink, the consequences reverberate through history.
The Women Are Not Fine is more than a true crime story. It's a timely, haunting exploration of what happens when women's suffering goes unanswered.
More praise for The Women Are Not
'A meticulously researched and sensitively rendered portrait of a community of women' ERIN KEANE, author of Notes on the Myths That Made Me
'Hope Reese has sleuthed out a riveting, remarkable true story that raises questions like the best dystopian fiction' PEGGY ORENSTEIN, author of Girls & Sex
'A feat of investigative reporting . . . This book proves that our past is present' ELIZABETH FLOCK, author of The Furies
'Enthralling . . . A fascinating read' STEPHANIE COONTZ, author of Marriage, a History
'Hugely well-researched - an intriguing (and thoughtful) antidote to stereotypes about gendered violence.' GINA RIPPON, author of The Gendered Brain
'Such a compelling account of a small but significant dark corner of history... Profound, angry, and tender all at once' VIRGINIA FEITO, author of MRS MARCH
'An insightful, empathetic and well-researched account of a deeply fascinating and macabre true story' KATE MOORE, author of THE RADIUM GIRLS
'Fascinating and very compelling' ZOE VENDITOZZI, co-author of HOW TO KILL A WITCH
'A moving story of desperation, violence and survival' HELEN LEWIS, author of DIFFICULT WOMEN
The women of Nagyrév are desperate.
They're abused by their husbands.
They are feeding their newborns to livestock.
At the turn of the 20th century, in the village of Nagyrév, Hungary, midwife Zsuzsanna Fazekas was more than a caretaker - she was a confidante. She helped poor women give birth; she assisted them with abortions; and she listened. Their stories were the husbands who drank, who beat them, who made their lives unbearable.
In response, Auntie Zsuzsi asked one "Why bother with them?"
Her solution was arsenic. Soon, women began slipping this concoction, made by dissolving flypaper in water, into their husbands' porridge, stews, and brandy. And over the next twenty years, the quiet village became the epicenter of one of the deadliest poisoning epidemics of the 20th century - according to some estimates, up to 300 people in the region were murdered.
Why did they do it? How did these murders spin out of control? How did these women get away with their crimes for two decades?
In The Women Are Not Fine , journalist Hope Reese pieces together archival newspapers, court documents, police records, and the vital work of historians, sociologists, and psychologists, diving deep into the truth behind this extraordinary event. Her findings serve as a stark when women in a community are pushed to the brink, the consequences reverberate through history.
The Women Are Not Fine is more than a true crime story. It's a timely, haunting exploration of what happens when women's suffering goes unanswered.
More praise for The Women Are Not
'A meticulously researched and sensitively rendered portrait of a community of women' ERIN KEANE, author of Notes on the Myths That Made Me
'Hope Reese has sleuthed out a riveting, remarkable true story that raises questions like the best dystopian fiction' PEGGY ORENSTEIN, author of Girls & Sex
'A feat of investigative reporting . . . This book proves that our past is present' ELIZABETH FLOCK, author of The Furies
'Enthralling . . . A fascinating read' STEPHANIE COONTZ, author of Marriage, a History
'Hugely well-researched - an intriguing (and thoughtful) antidote to stereotypes about gendered violence.' GINA RIPPON, author of The Gendered Brain
Audible Audio
First published July 10, 2025
About the author
Hope Reese
2 books29 followersHope is the author of "The Women Are Not Fine." She writes for The New York Times and dozens of other publications — on everything from culture to feminism to technology. And Hope is a featured author in the Verso Books collection, Where Freedom Starts: Sex Power Violence #MeToo: A Verso Report.
Previously, Hope was a staff writer at TechRepublic (CBS Interactive). She taught journalism at Indiana University, Southeast. Hope earned her Master’s in Journalism from Harvard Extension School while working for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard.
Previously, Hope was a staff writer at TechRepublic (CBS Interactive). She taught journalism at Indiana University, Southeast. Hope earned her Master’s in Journalism from Harvard Extension School while working for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
October 7, 2025
Interesting concept, poor execution. I was excited to read about my country, but this book did not live up to my expectations.
There is no distinctive style or literary prowess displayed. I noted several repetitions (the word ‘display’ is used three times in a single paragraph), grammatically dubious and unnecessarily drawn-out sentences, an overuse of adjectives and em-dashes, meaning it all reads like a mediocre essay. So many useless details are included—I don’t really need to know the exact proportions of a shed to follow the story.
I also found some choices to be of bad taste. Dedicating an entire chapter to the way these women were executed and explaining all of it in graphic detail? Girl. In the context of the story—but also in general—that is extremely inappropriate.
It would have been nice to keep the Hungarian naming conventions (known as the Eastern name order, in which the last name comes first) not only because it’s more pleasing to the ear, but also because I don’t like americanising names. The role of patriarchy as the core structure facilitating these murders could also have been explored; I was waiting for the topic to be brought up, but it never was. Another disappointment.
There is no distinctive style or literary prowess displayed. I noted several repetitions (the word ‘display’ is used three times in a single paragraph), grammatically dubious and unnecessarily drawn-out sentences, an overuse of adjectives and em-dashes, meaning it all reads like a mediocre essay. So many useless details are included—I don’t really need to know the exact proportions of a shed to follow the story.
I also found some choices to be of bad taste. Dedicating an entire chapter to the way these women were executed and explaining all of it in graphic detail? Girl. In the context of the story—but also in general—that is extremely inappropriate.
It would have been nice to keep the Hungarian naming conventions (known as the Eastern name order, in which the last name comes first) not only because it’s more pleasing to the ear, but also because I don’t like americanising names. The role of patriarchy as the core structure facilitating these murders could also have been explored; I was waiting for the topic to be brought up, but it never was. Another disappointment.
November 9, 2025
sose irtam meg emailt ironak, ezutan a konyv utan azonnal megtettem. Zsenialis sztori, nem ertem miert most talalkozom vele eloszor, a Meregkeveroket meg is kertem karacsonyra gyorsban. Kurva jol leirta a torteneseket, empatikus a karaktereivel, kepes rendszerben gondolkodni, leirja az akkor uralkodo nezeteket, normakat, 10/10 munka, nyomas elolvasni!!!
amugy meg slay queens
amugy meg slay queens
September 18, 2025
Well researched and fascinating account of women in a small Hungarian village who took part in mass incidents of fatal poisonings. Many victims were alleged domestic abusers. I appreciated the author’s reminders throughout the book identifying the people mentioned previously. Highly recommend as a fantastic non fiction read.
Read
July 29, 2026deeply engrossing despite the horrific subject matter. i’m not even the least bit offended that this book showed up in the ‘recommended for you’ section of my spotify. i clicked play because i liked the cover and i don’t regret it one bit. that said, i think some parts would have benefitted from deeper analysis and more personal insight, rather than just being a simple rehashing of the facts.
December 27, 2025
Ending 2025 with a banger! This was fascinating af
June 30, 2026
Learnt something new! 3.5 ⭐️
May 15, 2026
Well written, the first part feels like an oral story, and there’s a good contextualisation at the end
July 23, 2026
Not a fun read, but interesting nonetheless. I appreciate the trouble that the author went through to find almost non existing records of this in a language that is not hers, and shedding light on a very difficult time in history for so many women that didn’t have better opportunities or rights at all. Not to dismiss men’s PTSD post war, but we know men can be abusive even when not going through trauma themselves.
July 25, 2025
Meticulously researched and documented. Thoughtful and well-written. Does not sensationalize, seeks to understand. Connects the murders of a hundred years past with current patterns of violence. I couldn’t put it down.
September 18, 2026
2.5 stars rounded down
If you know anything about Eastern European rural peasant life in late 19th/early 20th century, or about domestic violence, this book is a dry rehash of well trodden territory. I’m sure for a certain audience it has merit and is insightful. But I am not them.
Even then, it’s repetitive, and reads like an essay that’s still in the phase where you take disparate factual paragraphs and fudge them together - before it’s been reworked into a cohesive and engaging narrative.
If you know anything about Eastern European rural peasant life in late 19th/early 20th century, or about domestic violence, this book is a dry rehash of well trodden territory. I’m sure for a certain audience it has merit and is insightful. But I am not them.
Even then, it’s repetitive, and reads like an essay that’s still in the phase where you take disparate factual paragraphs and fudge them together - before it’s been reworked into a cohesive and engaging narrative.
January 29, 2026
This is certainly something to think about. Not the poisoning people part 😅, but how oppression always has to find an outlet ( in this case a murderous one). Sigh
September 8, 2026
Impressive to turn what should be a fascinating account of historical mass poisoning by women in a Hungarian village that is largely unheard of- into what is possibly the most boring text I’ve read this year outside of academic reading.
This was badly written, and engagement with credible sources was half-hearted. Part of the problem with accounts of this nature is that widespread illiteracy and the dismissal of women’s experiences makes identifying what is a credible source nearly impossible- and whilst this is acknowledged by the author, they fail to use this to ground any deeper analysis. There is little to no engagement with material cited and as a result this reads as a dry, disjointed listing of the women accused and how they were punished for it for much of the book.
I don’t think it needed a history of domestic violence tacked on to the end. It felt very much like the author was trying to reach a word count. Not quite sure it merited being a full book but perhaps in the hands of a more experienced historian it would read differently.
This was badly written, and engagement with credible sources was half-hearted. Part of the problem with accounts of this nature is that widespread illiteracy and the dismissal of women’s experiences makes identifying what is a credible source nearly impossible- and whilst this is acknowledged by the author, they fail to use this to ground any deeper analysis. There is little to no engagement with material cited and as a result this reads as a dry, disjointed listing of the women accused and how they were punished for it for much of the book.
I don’t think it needed a history of domestic violence tacked on to the end. It felt very much like the author was trying to reach a word count. Not quite sure it merited being a full book but perhaps in the hands of a more experienced historian it would read differently.
June 28, 2026
Such a fascinating and detailed read that I could not put it down. Girlhood ✨ with a touch of poison 💀
November 2, 2025
Pretty interesting story about a topic I would’ve never heard about otherwise. Women can kill too people…. JK but, definitely it was very intriguing to hear about why the women did it, why they chose poison specifically, and how women turn to each other for support. Why even bother with him?
July 23, 2025
Hands down my favourite non-fiction read of the year.
When women in 20th-century Nagyrév, Hungary, suffered in silence, how did they communicate their pain? There were no phones, no TV, no radios, only neighbours. They survived through huddles and hives—tight-knit, uniquely female social networks.
What these women ultimately did to reclaim control over their lives and stop the abuse was extraordinary.
Hope Reese is a remarkably talented writer and journalist. Her storytelling is meticulous and deeply researched, yet balanced. She not only captured the women’s suffering, but also explored the strain and pain the men endured during this time.
Two of the most powerful lessons I took from this book:
1) The effects of war ripple far beyond the frontlines, seeping into every home and community. We should promote peace and co-existence at every opportunity.
2) When women commit violent crimes, society often responds more harshly than it does with men. Tabloids dehumanise them, calling them monsters, witches, psychopaths, “bad apples”—as if they’re no longer fully human. This narrative conveniently shifts the focus away from the societal conditions that allowed these crimes to occur in the first place.
This book is a gripping, eye-opening exploration of history, gender and survival. Seriously recommend!
When women in 20th-century Nagyrév, Hungary, suffered in silence, how did they communicate their pain? There were no phones, no TV, no radios, only neighbours. They survived through huddles and hives—tight-knit, uniquely female social networks.
What these women ultimately did to reclaim control over their lives and stop the abuse was extraordinary.
Hope Reese is a remarkably talented writer and journalist. Her storytelling is meticulous and deeply researched, yet balanced. She not only captured the women’s suffering, but also explored the strain and pain the men endured during this time.
Two of the most powerful lessons I took from this book:
1) The effects of war ripple far beyond the frontlines, seeping into every home and community. We should promote peace and co-existence at every opportunity.
2) When women commit violent crimes, society often responds more harshly than it does with men. Tabloids dehumanise them, calling them monsters, witches, psychopaths, “bad apples”—as if they’re no longer fully human. This narrative conveniently shifts the focus away from the societal conditions that allowed these crimes to occur in the first place.
This book is a gripping, eye-opening exploration of history, gender and survival. Seriously recommend!
May 20, 2026
The Women Are Not Fine is a book that not only informed me of the history of women in Nagyrév, Hungary, but shifted the way I look at womanhood, trauma, and privilege.
Yes, I expected a nonfiction read that would inform me of the history of women in Nagyrév but it also sparked some realizations in me. The stories of the women in Nagyrév who were trapped in cycles of poverty, abuse, war trauma, and impossible societal expectations made me realize how much privilege and freedom I have now.
These women were not only carrying their own suffering, but also the psychological (and sometimes physical) trauma their husbands brought home for war. They lived in a world where women had little autonomy over their own lives, bodies, and futures, and where survival mattered more than morality. Hope Reese also shed light on domestic abuse during today's time and how it can drive women to kill. It also made me realize how strong and powerful women are when faced with dire conditions.
The writing was gripping and had me fully engaged the entire time. I read quite a bit of nonfiction, and honestly, I often find myself zoning out or needing breaks because the pacing can feel slow. The writing was immersive and accessible without losing the emotional weight of the tough subject matter.
It reads almost like literary true crime blended with social history and feminist commentary, while still remaining compassionate toward the women at the center of it.
All in all, this book was a heartbreaking and haunting read.
Yes, I expected a nonfiction read that would inform me of the history of women in Nagyrév but it also sparked some realizations in me. The stories of the women in Nagyrév who were trapped in cycles of poverty, abuse, war trauma, and impossible societal expectations made me realize how much privilege and freedom I have now.
These women were not only carrying their own suffering, but also the psychological (and sometimes physical) trauma their husbands brought home for war. They lived in a world where women had little autonomy over their own lives, bodies, and futures, and where survival mattered more than morality. Hope Reese also shed light on domestic abuse during today's time and how it can drive women to kill. It also made me realize how strong and powerful women are when faced with dire conditions.
The writing was gripping and had me fully engaged the entire time. I read quite a bit of nonfiction, and honestly, I often find myself zoning out or needing breaks because the pacing can feel slow. The writing was immersive and accessible without losing the emotional weight of the tough subject matter.
It reads almost like literary true crime blended with social history and feminist commentary, while still remaining compassionate toward the women at the center of it.
All in all, this book was a heartbreaking and haunting read.
February 9, 2026
I came across this book by chance and was immediately intrigued by this part of history. What caused a group of women from a small village in Hungary to poison their husbands?
Non-fiction books are often a tough cookie. But I consider this one a medium-tough cookie. There were a lot of numbers and facts, but the story didn't drown in them.
I read a few reviews which talked about the book being insensitive or sharing too many details about what happened to the men and the women. I don't really know how to feel about this, because it is, after all, a non-fiction book about an event in history that is... pretty dark. I didn't feel like the author sensationalised or romanticised things, and that's the most important thing. A factual and truthful story is the most important in my eyes.
What interested me the most were the paragraphs that spoke about the difference between men and women. There's been quite a lot of research about how and why men and women kill. They actually found an explanation in our genetics. And, they also looked at chimpanzees. Our genetics match for about 96%, and they found similar behaviours and results. Intriguing! It is quite confronting to read about the reasons behind killing their romantic partner. Men often kill because they feel humiliated by their partner. Women often kill because they feel the need to survive. That's awful...
So, an intriguing read! I learnt something new.
Non-fiction books are often a tough cookie. But I consider this one a medium-tough cookie. There were a lot of numbers and facts, but the story didn't drown in them.
I read a few reviews which talked about the book being insensitive or sharing too many details about what happened to the men and the women. I don't really know how to feel about this, because it is, after all, a non-fiction book about an event in history that is... pretty dark. I didn't feel like the author sensationalised or romanticised things, and that's the most important thing. A factual and truthful story is the most important in my eyes.
What interested me the most were the paragraphs that spoke about the difference between men and women. There's been quite a lot of research about how and why men and women kill. They actually found an explanation in our genetics. And, they also looked at chimpanzees. Our genetics match for about 96%, and they found similar behaviours and results. Intriguing! It is quite confronting to read about the reasons behind killing their romantic partner. Men often kill because they feel humiliated by their partner. Women often kill because they feel the need to survive. That's awful...
So, an intriguing read! I learnt something new.
Read
May 20, 2026This was a really interesting true story. The book explores the events in the Hungarian village of Nagyrév, where women secretly poisoned their abusive or “bad” husbands over many years. What they called the ‘flypaper method’ involved women buying flypaper from the general store, soaking it in water to extract the arsenic, and adding it to drinks and food.
At the centre of it all was a midwife known as “Auntie Zsuzsi,” who acted as a kind of ringleader and helped many of the women carry out these poisonings.
It’s estimated that around 300 men were murdered, making it one of the greatest female-led poisoning scandals in modern history. I found it so fascinating because I had never heard of this case before. As brutal as it was, (and I probably shouldn’t feel this way) I could understand why these women came together to help each other while facing abuse, beatings, and sometimes seeing their children suffer too. Even more tragically, many of the women who were later taken to trial ended up taking their own lives, and it was quite upsetting reading about some being condemned to short-drop hangings. That was hard to read about.
I found the book balanced historical detail with the human side of what happened and why perfectly. I very rarely read non-fiction but I really enjoyed learning about these women and would recommend to anyone who likes true crime or historical cases.
At the centre of it all was a midwife known as “Auntie Zsuzsi,” who acted as a kind of ringleader and helped many of the women carry out these poisonings.
It’s estimated that around 300 men were murdered, making it one of the greatest female-led poisoning scandals in modern history. I found it so fascinating because I had never heard of this case before. As brutal as it was, (and I probably shouldn’t feel this way) I could understand why these women came together to help each other while facing abuse, beatings, and sometimes seeing their children suffer too. Even more tragically, many of the women who were later taken to trial ended up taking their own lives, and it was quite upsetting reading about some being condemned to short-drop hangings. That was hard to read about.
I found the book balanced historical detail with the human side of what happened and why perfectly. I very rarely read non-fiction but I really enjoyed learning about these women and would recommend to anyone who likes true crime or historical cases.
Read
May 13, 2026‘Wives are not seen as equal, autonomous human beings; they were considered subordinate.’
Sabrina Dax PR very kindly sent me a copy of The Women Are Not Fine by Hope Reese and below is my honest review.
This is different to my usual reads but 2026 is my year of branching out!
This book is an account of women in a Hungarian village who were involved in mass poisonings. It delves into the circumstances of why these poisonings took place and it gets dark quickly.
I think this was well written and in my opinion it sounds well researched. There were some shocking statistics that really had me on edge and really made me think.
Overall, it’s a fascinating non-fiction read!
If you have any content triggers, I advise you to read any trigger warnings beforehand.
Thank you again Sabrina and Hope for the copy!
Sabrina Dax PR very kindly sent me a copy of The Women Are Not Fine by Hope Reese and below is my honest review.
This is different to my usual reads but 2026 is my year of branching out!
This book is an account of women in a Hungarian village who were involved in mass poisonings. It delves into the circumstances of why these poisonings took place and it gets dark quickly.
I think this was well written and in my opinion it sounds well researched. There were some shocking statistics that really had me on edge and really made me think.
Overall, it’s a fascinating non-fiction read!
If you have any content triggers, I advise you to read any trigger warnings beforehand.
Thank you again Sabrina and Hope for the copy!
June 17, 2026
This is a dark and fascinating non-fiction read about a group of women who have poisoned a large number of people in early 20th century Hungary.
The book takes us through how and why these women murdered their family members (mostly men), and gives context to their motivations, living situation and status in the community.
Towards the end there is a deeper dive into the violence and what research tells us about motivation and prevalence of violence of women vs. men and how it’s carried out. There are also some views from descendants of families where poisonings have happened.
It’s a very informative and intriguing read. It’s quite short but packed full of information and was well balanced and portrayed, and very well researched. I found it a fascinating read and would highly recommend!
The book takes us through how and why these women murdered their family members (mostly men), and gives context to their motivations, living situation and status in the community.
Towards the end there is a deeper dive into the violence and what research tells us about motivation and prevalence of violence of women vs. men and how it’s carried out. There are also some views from descendants of families where poisonings have happened.
It’s a very informative and intriguing read. It’s quite short but packed full of information and was well balanced and portrayed, and very well researched. I found it a fascinating read and would highly recommend!
September 20, 2026
Loved the topic and the stories of each woman that had to resort to this to survive. But the analysis made by the author felt very lacking and sometimes tone deaf. There was this question again and again throughout the book “what made the women do this?” And after pages of described domestic violence and trauma… I think its very obvious.
I wish there was a more feminist approach to the book and wish it criticised the role of the patriarchy in all of this.
Also the quote at the begging the chapter “The Victims” felt very off.
“They killed me, they sent me into my grave, they whom I loved most.” - Kis Ujság … yeah sure they did love the women they abused..
I wish there was a more feminist approach to the book and wish it criticised the role of the patriarchy in all of this.
Also the quote at the begging the chapter “The Victims” felt very off.
“They killed me, they sent me into my grave, they whom I loved most.” - Kis Ujság … yeah sure they did love the women they abused..
June 20, 2026
A good introduction into a topic I knew nothing about. This book did a deep dive into what actually happened in Nagyrév in the early 20th century. For lack of a better word women were fed up with the abuse from their husbands and turned to poison as their answer. The author broke down the key players involved and how the village as a collective got involved in trying to get rid of their husbands. Very eye opening and interesting to see how there was such a big influence and wave of poisonings not just in Nagyrév but across Hungary as a whole.
Also interesting to learn how little documentation there was about domestic abuse and how it was not taken seriously.
Also interesting to learn how little documentation there was about domestic abuse and how it was not taken seriously.
September 13, 2026
this was a chapter of history that i didn’t know about until i discovered this book, coloured by domestic abuse, violence and misogyny. reese details why the women of this village killed, their everyday lives and the court documents. reese tells the story of women who were pushed to the limit and did what they could to escape their husbands even if that meant poisoning them as a last resort. an incredible investigation and an important chapter on intimate partner homicide.
December 17, 2025
soo interesting! I love these types of books
January 10, 2026
"The women were not fine, but they were also not alone."
July 13, 2026
Really interesting story. Well written and insightful.
February 18, 2026
maybe more of a 3.5 really
such an interesting idea and fascinating series of events but so blandly and badly written it is annoying to me that someone else didn’t write it first
such an interesting idea and fascinating series of events but so blandly and badly written it is annoying to me that someone else didn’t write it first
July 19, 2026
lets bring back poisoning men actually
July 30, 2026
The Woman were not fine but they were also not alone
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews