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The Midwife’s Remedy
Inspired by shocking true events, "The Midwife’s Remedy" is a haunting exploration of desperation, courage, and the deadly lengths one woman will go to protect those who cannot protect themselves...
Some cures are more deadly than the disease…
In the quiet Hungarian village of Nagyrev, hidden among fields of barley and whispered secrets, something sinister is brewing.
When war sweeps the men away, the women of Nagyrev discover a dangerous freedom they've never known—only to see it threatened when the men return, bitter and broken. As bruises blossom again behind closed doors, the village midwife, Zsuzsanna, decides she has seen enough. She offers the women something their husbands never escape.
But freedom comes at a price.
One by one, husbands and fathers begin to die, their deaths quiet, mysterious, and untraceable. At first, it's justice. Then it's mercy. But soon, it becomes something darker.
In Nagyrev, monsters wear familiar faces—and the truth may be more chilling than fiction.
Some cures are more deadly than the disease…
In the quiet Hungarian village of Nagyrev, hidden among fields of barley and whispered secrets, something sinister is brewing.
When war sweeps the men away, the women of Nagyrev discover a dangerous freedom they've never known—only to see it threatened when the men return, bitter and broken. As bruises blossom again behind closed doors, the village midwife, Zsuzsanna, decides she has seen enough. She offers the women something their husbands never escape.
But freedom comes at a price.
One by one, husbands and fathers begin to die, their deaths quiet, mysterious, and untraceable. At first, it's justice. Then it's mercy. But soon, it becomes something darker.
In Nagyrev, monsters wear familiar faces—and the truth may be more chilling than fiction.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2025
278 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 9, 2025
This was a well-researched take on the Angel Makers of Nagyrév, a true-crime story of mass arsenic poisoning in early 1900s Hungary. I appreciated how closely it sticks to the real events, even down to using real names and the actual method used to extract the arsenic. It’s clear that the author put a lot of effort into keeping things historically accurate, while trying to put their own spin on the fictional aspects.
It's an interesting story, made even more fascinating when you know it's based on real events. It's easy to read, with short, titled chapters. The major strength is in its themes of feminism, power, justice, and in making you question the moral gray area between a justified need for survival and cold-blooded murder.
My main issue was that the plot didn’t really move much. This story happens over the course of several years, but it was the same events played out over and over again, chapter after chapter. There is repetition not only in the writing itself, but in the words used, as several phrases are used multiple times. It feels like the author was playing it safe in trying to provide accuracy, but held back on her own creativity. You could read the Wikipedia page and get a very similar experience to reading this book.
That being said, I still think this is worth a go if these themes interest you and you're drawn to true-crime and historical fiction. I received a free copy of this book, but this review reflects my honest opinion.
It's an interesting story, made even more fascinating when you know it's based on real events. It's easy to read, with short, titled chapters. The major strength is in its themes of feminism, power, justice, and in making you question the moral gray area between a justified need for survival and cold-blooded murder.
My main issue was that the plot didn’t really move much. This story happens over the course of several years, but it was the same events played out over and over again, chapter after chapter. There is repetition not only in the writing itself, but in the words used, as several phrases are used multiple times. It feels like the author was playing it safe in trying to provide accuracy, but held back on her own creativity. You could read the Wikipedia page and get a very similar experience to reading this book.
That being said, I still think this is worth a go if these themes interest you and you're drawn to true-crime and historical fiction. I received a free copy of this book, but this review reflects my honest opinion.
August 13, 2025
With better editing this might have been a good book, but there are too many issues. These are not big spoilers, just my comments.
Eszter is given to the village’s midwife as an apprentice and she never sees her mother or father again? Nope, not even at Christmas. Not even when the women she is given to goes to prison. They are never mentioned again.
The midwife Zsuzsanna says. “I have seen a child born blue and gasping take its first breath and live to be an old man…” Unless she’s 100 or immortal that would be impossible.
In this small village near a forest in the first decade of the 1900’s the author writes, “not everyone could afford a Christmas tree”. I am certain that they didn’t buy or sell Christmas trees in Hungary in the early 1900’s directly after WWI ended.
At Christmas time they made baked apples and sliced fresh apples for drying. I’m sure that unless canned/jarred, that fruit was not available in the winter.
It’s such a small village that there is only one well for water, but Eszter doesn’t seem to know hardly any of the women/girls in it, even though she grew up there. She does seem to know most of the men.
Also, certain women go to the well for water every morning, which leads me to believe that there is no running water, but in the latter half of the book, Eszter pours poison down a drain. Researching has shown that it is unlikely that there was running water in a small village in Hungary until the late 1900’s.
Many passages are repeated almost word for word in different chapters. It caused me to look at the page numbers to make sure that I hadn’t lost my place. At one point, I wondered if I’d read the book before, but I hadn’t.
Virtually, every male character who has reached manhood drinks and is violent toward women.
Eszter is always able to locate the home of the departed husbands hastily, always able to eavesdrop at homes or churches without detection.
Page 208. “I lay there for a long time after than, until the first light of dawn seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls.” Page 209 She dresses slowly, goes outside, then is suddenly drifting back to sleep. Page 210, she is dreaming and on 211 the first light of dawn is seeping through the cracks in the wall again. What happened to the day in between? I believe this was all supposed to be the same night.
There is continued discussion about how the women do not grieve. It is presented as if it’s a new realization every chapter or so.
Many things are described the same over and over again. The smell of blood is acrid and metallic. The wind is always rattling the shutters. The room is always smelling of sweat and fear, etc.
Great idea, just not executed well in my opinion
Eszter is given to the village’s midwife as an apprentice and she never sees her mother or father again? Nope, not even at Christmas. Not even when the women she is given to goes to prison. They are never mentioned again.
The midwife Zsuzsanna says. “I have seen a child born blue and gasping take its first breath and live to be an old man…” Unless she’s 100 or immortal that would be impossible.
In this small village near a forest in the first decade of the 1900’s the author writes, “not everyone could afford a Christmas tree”. I am certain that they didn’t buy or sell Christmas trees in Hungary in the early 1900’s directly after WWI ended.
At Christmas time they made baked apples and sliced fresh apples for drying. I’m sure that unless canned/jarred, that fruit was not available in the winter.
It’s such a small village that there is only one well for water, but Eszter doesn’t seem to know hardly any of the women/girls in it, even though she grew up there. She does seem to know most of the men.
Also, certain women go to the well for water every morning, which leads me to believe that there is no running water, but in the latter half of the book, Eszter pours poison down a drain. Researching has shown that it is unlikely that there was running water in a small village in Hungary until the late 1900’s.
Many passages are repeated almost word for word in different chapters. It caused me to look at the page numbers to make sure that I hadn’t lost my place. At one point, I wondered if I’d read the book before, but I hadn’t.
Virtually, every male character who has reached manhood drinks and is violent toward women.
Eszter is always able to locate the home of the departed husbands hastily, always able to eavesdrop at homes or churches without detection.
Page 208. “I lay there for a long time after than, until the first light of dawn seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls.” Page 209 She dresses slowly, goes outside, then is suddenly drifting back to sleep. Page 210, she is dreaming and on 211 the first light of dawn is seeping through the cracks in the wall again. What happened to the day in between? I believe this was all supposed to be the same night.
There is continued discussion about how the women do not grieve. It is presented as if it’s a new realization every chapter or so.
Many things are described the same over and over again. The smell of blood is acrid and metallic. The wind is always rattling the shutters. The room is always smelling of sweat and fear, etc.
Great idea, just not executed well in my opinion
June 25, 2025
"They will write books about us. They will use words like unnatural, vile, inhuman. They will remember our names not as wives or daughters or healers, but as poisoners. But they will not remember the men who made us this way. They never do."
The Midwife's Remedy documents a real crime in a small Hungarian village in the early 20th century. It was difficult for me to pass moral judgment on the women who poisoned their husbands. They were physically abused and worn down from having too many children, too close together. Desperation and hopelessness are a lethal combination. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more frequently.
I enjoyed this quick read, but it did get a bit repetitive at times. I'd be interested in reading more from this author.
The Midwife's Remedy documents a real crime in a small Hungarian village in the early 20th century. It was difficult for me to pass moral judgment on the women who poisoned their husbands. They were physically abused and worn down from having too many children, too close together. Desperation and hopelessness are a lethal combination. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more frequently.
I enjoyed this quick read, but it did get a bit repetitive at times. I'd be interested in reading more from this author.
July 3, 2025
What an interesting story. The way that a group of women in the early 20th century in a small village took the bad treatment by their husbands into their own hands. I was remined of the last season of The Handmaids Tale. The way that the story is told in the first person really helps the reader to get into the mind of both of the main characters and to feel both horror and empathy for them and all of the women. I liked that we also hear of a good man and the turmoil of trying to determine who is good and who is bad and deserves to die. I read this over 3 nights as it was so compelling, and I just wanted to keep finding out what happened next.
November 7, 2025
WOW.........
I have never read a book like this in all my years ......I should of shed tears for all the men that died, but all I could shed a tear for, was for the woman behind it all.......how brave they were, stupid yes, but brave none the less. I've been those women in my three marriages and always imagined it to happen to mine BUT of course I never could do anything like that. This book is a must read for men that abuse their wives and for the women that suffer it.
I have never read a book like this in all my years ......I should of shed tears for all the men that died, but all I could shed a tear for, was for the woman behind it all.......how brave they were, stupid yes, but brave none the less. I've been those women in my three marriages and always imagined it to happen to mine BUT of course I never could do anything like that. This book is a must read for men that abuse their wives and for the women that suffer it.
December 27, 2025
The midwife's Remedy
What a story which is based on a true story in Hungary. Unfortunately I would think there have been other villages in other countries where the woman took this action
Near the end I don't know if there was author fatigue as there were sentences duplicated further on (next few pages) after the original
What a story which is based on a true story in Hungary. Unfortunately I would think there have been other villages in other countries where the woman took this action
Near the end I don't know if there was author fatigue as there were sentences duplicated further on (next few pages) after the original
June 19, 2025
Very good. You are presented with the outcome at the beginning of the book. But it is in the journey of the characters leading to that ending that captures your interest. A little depressing. Based on a true life story.
June 30, 2025
This book was dark, shocking, sad and quite heavy, i read several years ago about the midwife in Hungary early in the last century. So i was intrigued to read this book of fiction based on the true story. . It is very thought provoking .
September 23, 2025
Es un libro impactante, bien construido. Según parece basado en hechos reales a principios del siglo XX en un pueblecito húngaro.
La comadrona se libra de su marido maltratador y después de los demás abusones, como una forma de proteger a las mujeres.
Da para un debate ético.
La comadrona se libra de su marido maltratador y después de los demás abusones, como una forma de proteger a las mujeres.
Da para un debate ético.
June 26, 2025
A different type of book
I really enjoyed this book. It is about a midwife that takes her position to the next level making arsenic for wives with abusive husbands.
I really enjoyed this book. It is about a midwife that takes her position to the next level making arsenic for wives with abusive husbands.
July 6, 2025
Based on fact. There was a midwife in a Hungarian village that gave poison to abused wives, who then poisoned their abusive husbands. The midwife and the abused wives called it freedom, but after a while it became naked power.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
Very, very dark, disturbing, and grim.
December 16, 2025
Compelling
Kind of a slow start but very intriguing. Part mystery, part historical fiction and part women's literature!
Give it a try. Well worth it!
Kind of a slow start but very intriguing. Part mystery, part historical fiction and part women's literature!
Give it a try. Well worth it!
December 28, 2025
Excellent
Excellent book. Well written and interesting. I believe it is based on true stories about the women of the village. I recommend this book.
Excellent book. Well written and interesting. I believe it is based on true stories about the women of the village. I recommend this book.
July 10, 2025
An absolute eye opener of a true story, set in Hungary in the early 1900s and how a group of women took it about themselves to end the lives of the men , sons and brothers in a small village. and how they nearly got away with their murders.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews