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The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster
Not yet published
Expected 17 Feb 26From the author of the national bestseller The Dark Queens, an incandescent work of true crime and feminist history about the woman alleged to be the world's most prolific female serial killer.
There have long been whispers, coming from the castle; from the village square; from the dark woods. The great lady-a countess, from one of Europe's oldest families-is a vicious killer. Some even say she bathes in the blood of her victims. When the king's men force their way into her manor house, she has blood on her hands, caught in the act of murdering yet another of her maids. She is walled up in a tower and never seen again, except in the uppermost barred window, where she broods over the countryside, cursing all those who dared speak up against her.
Told and retold in many languages, the legend of the Blood Countess has consumed cultural imaginations around the world. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim- of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess's downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness-a world where nothing is ever as it seems. In this exhilarating narrative, Puhak renders a vivid portrait of history's most dangerous woman and her tumultuous time, revealing just how far we will go to destroy a woman in power.
There have long been whispers, coming from the castle; from the village square; from the dark woods. The great lady-a countess, from one of Europe's oldest families-is a vicious killer. Some even say she bathes in the blood of her victims. When the king's men force their way into her manor house, she has blood on her hands, caught in the act of murdering yet another of her maids. She is walled up in a tower and never seen again, except in the uppermost barred window, where she broods over the countryside, cursing all those who dared speak up against her.
Told and retold in many languages, the legend of the Blood Countess has consumed cultural imaginations around the world. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim- of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess's downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness-a world where nothing is ever as it seems. In this exhilarating narrative, Puhak renders a vivid portrait of history's most dangerous woman and her tumultuous time, revealing just how far we will go to destroy a woman in power.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026
5318 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 29, 2025
I came for the most prolific female serial killer of all time, but I stayed for the lessons in Hungarian politics. The main takeaway being that if you were a woman with land, someone was probably going to take it from you one way or another.
If you hop over to Wikipedia and search on female serial killers, the queen (to be factually correct, she was a countess) of them all is Elizabeth Báthory. She holds the (turns out rather dubious) "honor" of being the murderer of somewhere around 600 young girls. She reportedly enjoyed torturing them and bathing in their blood to stay young. I am being a bit flippant with the subject here because, well, none of it was real. Author Shelley Puhak tells us right off the bat in her fantastic The Blood Countess.
I thoroughly enjoyed Puhak's previous non-fiction work, The Dark Queens, (as well as her award winning poetry but that's beside the point) and The Blood Countess proves this was no fluke. This is the type of book where you can feel the sheer amount of work that went into gathering the information, getting it right, and then presenting it in a way that a reader won't get lost like they are in the forests of Transylvania. There are many vital characters, constant backstabbing, and of course religious strife that seems to never end. Through it all, Puhak shows us just how the legend of Báthory spun out of control and what the real truth probably is. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing.)
If you hop over to Wikipedia and search on female serial killers, the queen (to be factually correct, she was a countess) of them all is Elizabeth Báthory. She holds the (turns out rather dubious) "honor" of being the murderer of somewhere around 600 young girls. She reportedly enjoyed torturing them and bathing in their blood to stay young. I am being a bit flippant with the subject here because, well, none of it was real. Author Shelley Puhak tells us right off the bat in her fantastic The Blood Countess.
I thoroughly enjoyed Puhak's previous non-fiction work, The Dark Queens, (as well as her award winning poetry but that's beside the point) and The Blood Countess proves this was no fluke. This is the type of book where you can feel the sheer amount of work that went into gathering the information, getting it right, and then presenting it in a way that a reader won't get lost like they are in the forests of Transylvania. There are many vital characters, constant backstabbing, and of course religious strife that seems to never end. Through it all, Puhak shows us just how the legend of Báthory spun out of control and what the real truth probably is. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing.)
October 9, 2025
The embellishment’s of Bathory’s story are now a horror story in the back of your mind. Inspiration for vampira and the extent to which one is willing to go to keep power. This narrative presents a case that poses she may be innocent of some or all her crimes. Shelley Puhak dives into the archives and history to understand the context of Bathory. A straightforward read that analyzes the archives of Bathory and her time period.
History is monumental to understanding Bathory. She presents the case documents, the history, and excerpts of Bathory’s life to present a different case that the public has not too often seen. This is a great way to think about and how women were portrayed and who was writing about them. I do not believe she (Bathory) was innocent, but this writing presents a compelling case to really question history through the research of the archives. This is a solid three due to the limiting information available despite the extensive research. And at times the writing feels a bit dry.
Read more recommendations, arc impressions, and more at
https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
History is monumental to understanding Bathory. She presents the case documents, the history, and excerpts of Bathory’s life to present a different case that the public has not too often seen. This is a great way to think about and how women were portrayed and who was writing about them. I do not believe she (Bathory) was innocent, but this writing presents a compelling case to really question history through the research of the archives. This is a solid three due to the limiting information available despite the extensive research. And at times the writing feels a bit dry.
Read more recommendations, arc impressions, and more at
https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
November 6, 2025
The history of a Hungarian murderer I never knew I needed 4 stars
This is the story of Elizabeth Bathory who many consider a serial killer with one of the highest victim counts ever.
A lot of history.
In order to properly tell the tale you have to have a grasp of Hungarian history. It was good that the author was fully up to the task as the book doesn't drag as a lot of history laden books do.
Be prepared to think!
The thing I love about a good true crime book is when facts are told without leading you by the hand to a conclusion. This was a textbook example of that kind of book
Recommendation
I would recommend this to true crime fans willing to dig in and learn a little history.
This is the story of Elizabeth Bathory who many consider a serial killer with one of the highest victim counts ever.
A lot of history.
In order to properly tell the tale you have to have a grasp of Hungarian history. It was good that the author was fully up to the task as the book doesn't drag as a lot of history laden books do.
Be prepared to think!
The thing I love about a good true crime book is when facts are told without leading you by the hand to a conclusion. This was a textbook example of that kind of book
Recommendation
I would recommend this to true crime fans willing to dig in and learn a little history.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Blood Countess.
I was in high school when I learned about Elizabeth Bathory and her psychotic desire for virginal blood in order to stay youthful and beautiful.
I also watched the terrible movie featuring Julie Delpy and Daniel Bruhl several years ago.
What a stinker!
The Blood Countess is the result of the author's deep dive into research to unravel the myths surrounding this historical figure, who has long been painted as a notorious serial killer.
The biography seeks to provide a nuanced view, challenging the baseless accusations that have tainted her legacy over the years.
I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't disappointed by the blurb.
There aren't many prolific female serial killers and I sort of grew up with the distorted stories of the Blood Countess.
I was in awe of her in a way.
Then, the author effectively dismantles numerous fabrications that have contributed to the countess's dark reputation, making compelling arguments based on historical evidence.
Not surprisingly, due to the intense ever-changing political climate, the machinations of men in power and those who were jealous of the countess' popularity and her influence in her community and her status for positive social change, Elizabeth Bathory's reputation was forever smeared for centuries.
She was cancelled before the term was even coined.
What I was hoping to read, but didn't get, was the absence of the countess' upbringing and family background.
Understanding her early life is crucial to grasping the complexities of her character and motivations.
While the author highlights Elizabeth's strength and power, there is little exploration of the experiences that shaped her into the formidable woman she became.
This lack of depth distracts from the overall narrative and fails to make her real.
The Blood Countess is important in putting to rest the myths surrounding this powerful woman.
I just wish there was more context regarding her background.
A deeper exploration of her formative years would have provided readers with a more comprehensive understanding of her character and legacy.
Sadly, I doubt this book would sway the opinions of people who choose to believe the lies and untruths of a strong, intelligent woman whose reputation will continue to carry the taint of a smear campaign perpetuated by a patriarchal society.
I was in high school when I learned about Elizabeth Bathory and her psychotic desire for virginal blood in order to stay youthful and beautiful.
I also watched the terrible movie featuring Julie Delpy and Daniel Bruhl several years ago.
What a stinker!
The Blood Countess is the result of the author's deep dive into research to unravel the myths surrounding this historical figure, who has long been painted as a notorious serial killer.
The biography seeks to provide a nuanced view, challenging the baseless accusations that have tainted her legacy over the years.
I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't disappointed by the blurb.
There aren't many prolific female serial killers and I sort of grew up with the distorted stories of the Blood Countess.
I was in awe of her in a way.
Then, the author effectively dismantles numerous fabrications that have contributed to the countess's dark reputation, making compelling arguments based on historical evidence.
Not surprisingly, due to the intense ever-changing political climate, the machinations of men in power and those who were jealous of the countess' popularity and her influence in her community and her status for positive social change, Elizabeth Bathory's reputation was forever smeared for centuries.
She was cancelled before the term was even coined.
What I was hoping to read, but didn't get, was the absence of the countess' upbringing and family background.
Understanding her early life is crucial to grasping the complexities of her character and motivations.
While the author highlights Elizabeth's strength and power, there is little exploration of the experiences that shaped her into the formidable woman she became.
This lack of depth distracts from the overall narrative and fails to make her real.
The Blood Countess is important in putting to rest the myths surrounding this powerful woman.
I just wish there was more context regarding her background.
A deeper exploration of her formative years would have provided readers with a more comprehensive understanding of her character and legacy.
Sadly, I doubt this book would sway the opinions of people who choose to believe the lies and untruths of a strong, intelligent woman whose reputation will continue to carry the taint of a smear campaign perpetuated by a patriarchal society.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Are you KIDDING ME!! After Shelley Puhak’s previous book, THE DARK QUEENS, made me feral about Fredegund and Brunhild, I’m now ready to go to WAR to fight against the bad reputation Elizabeth Bathory STILL HAS when she DIDN’T DO WHAT SHE WAS ACCUSED OF DOING!!
In fact!! Elizabeth had women healers on staff to provide MEDICAL HELP to young girls on site, and these interventions were misunderstood by some as TORTURE, which made the terribly men who hated her for being a WOMAN of INFLUENCE, decide to FRAME HER as a SERIAL KILLER.
10/10 an amazing book that will make you FURIOUS about how this woman is remembered
In fact!! Elizabeth had women healers on staff to provide MEDICAL HELP to young girls on site, and these interventions were misunderstood by some as TORTURE, which made the terribly men who hated her for being a WOMAN of INFLUENCE, decide to FRAME HER as a SERIAL KILLER.
10/10 an amazing book that will make you FURIOUS about how this woman is remembered
Review of advance copy
This book was so disorganized. I understand the point the author wanted to make but I think she can lose a reader with the voluminous information of Hungarian history, Nadasdy family history, Thurzo family history, and the Bathory family history. It is understandable that all of it is linked but the disorganization of the information can bore the reader before getting to the interesting bits that involve Elizabeth Bathory. It was a hard read to get through I wish it was more succinct and got to the point the author was trying make.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Was Elizabeth Bathory the world's most prolific serial killer, or was she framed? The best way I can describe this book is Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five meets Eric Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts meets a good Tudor history. I ended up completely immersed in early 17th century Hungary and Transylvania. If you want gothic/slasher true crime, this book is not it. If you like historical mysteries, slow-burn solid detective work, and dissecting events like moral panics or the Salem witch trials, you will probably enjoy this book too.
Thank you for the ARC.
Thank you for the ARC.
December 2, 2025
Detailed and engaging.
ffbc
February 10, 2026Cannot wait to read this bc Shelley Puhak is the GOAT writing mentor and my all time favorite writer. Notre Dame women !!!!!!
February 9, 2026
A captivating biography of a woman whose reputation has been misunderstood since the beginning. Puhak’s strong writing and dedication to accuracy make this a satisfying read.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I read an ARC of this book, and as a woman of Hungarian (specifically, Székely) ancestry, I was so excited to do so. I believe it was the research for this book I had heard murmurings of years prior, when I once came across an article debating the validity of the claims laid against Báthory for centuries during a late-night scroll of Hungarian legends. I cannot say at this moment how much more I really learned about Elizabeth Báthory herself, but this book certainly taught me more about the people, politics, and religious tumult surrounding the accusations that this woman with a voice and power was a heartless, cold-blooded killer. She has always interested me so much, and I loved learning about her religious tolerance, belief in justice, protection of other women, healthcare practices during her era, and the events leading up to and concurrent with her being forcibly held in one of her castles until her death. I would honestly like more, please.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews