Ordinary Wife: The true story of America’s forgotten serial killer

by Gregg Olsen, Morgan Olsen

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen and his daughter Morgan Olsen, the gripping true-crime story of America’s Lady Bluebeard—a seemingly ordinary wife accused of poisoning husband after husband, who very nearly got away with all of it.

On a hot August afternoon in 1920 at Blue Lakes Ranch in Idaho, a new bride set out three saucers of flypaper on the boarding house porch. By nightfall, her husband was on the floor of their canvas tent, clutching his stomach in agony. Within days he was dead.

Lyda Trueblood was everything a wife should beautiful, charming, an excellent cook. Men fell for her easily. They also died easily around her too—poisoned by arsenic. One husband, then another, then two more. Her brother-in-law. And, then there was her two-year-old daughter—whose death no one could ever fully explain.

Six deaths in five years, and a 1921 trial that made Lyda Trueblood a national sensation. But what turned a Missouri farmer’s daughter into a methodical killer—and how did she elude justice for so long?

Drawing on court transcripts, prison records, and Lyda’s own unflinching statements, the Olsens go beyond the lurid headlines to reveal the woman herself—calculating, charismatic, and chilling to the last.

Acclaim for Gregg

“Novelist and true crime author Olsen (The Amish Wife) paints a heartbreaking portrait of a woman haunted by her narrow escape from a serial killer... As in Olsen’s previous works of nonfiction, there’s plenty of rigorous research on display, but it’s his empathetic consideration of what happens to high-profile victims after news cameras stop rolling that sets this apart... It’s moving stuff.” Publishers Weekly

“An unflinching look at the aftermath of unimaginable trauma and a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for strength and healing.” Oprah Daily

“Prolific true-crime author Olsen offers another exemplary narrative of unimaginable trauma that packs an emotional punch.” Booklist

“Olsen will scare you and you’ll love every minute of it.” Lee Child

“Wickedly clever! A finely crafted, genuinely twisted tale of one mother’s capacity for murder and one daughter’s search for the truth.” Lisa Gardner

“Out of the Woods is Olsen’s most important work... I’m grateful to Olsen for his patience, compassion, and talent. He’s gone into a dark, inhumane place to offer us a powerful story that should have influence well beyond the arena of true crime.” Dr. Katherine Ramsland, award-winning author of The Serial Killer’s Apprentice and Confession of a Serial Killer

“Vivid, powerful, action-packed... a terrific, tense thriller that grips the reader.” Midwest Book Review

“Tight plotting, nerve-wracking suspense, and a wonderful climax make this debut a winner.” Crimespree magazine

“Out of the A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home, is a heartbreaking tale... Olsen take readers through the aftermath of what it actually means to have survived the unimaginable... An honest story at what it means to be a survivor. A story of trauma and survival that will send true crime devotees through a roller coaster of emotions and leave them shocked to their core.” Associated Press

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Throughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.

In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.

The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.

Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).

Reviews

[Kat]

Did you know that flypaper used in the early 1900’s contained enough arsenic to kill a man? Lyda Trueblood, an Idaho housewife, figured it out. In fact, she made sure her first four husbands took out life insurance policies with her as the beneficiary before they “mysteriously” died after falling ill with severe stomach distress, as did a brother-in-law and her own two-year-old daughter.

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction these days, but when I was offered Gregg Olsen and his daughter Morgan Olsen’s newest book, Ordinary Wife, I was intrigued by the story of this woman who seemed to kill without conscience, yet had no shortage of men willing to take her latest dead husband’s place.

I read my fair share of thrillers, but honestly this was riveting stuff, not because it was action packed or terribly suspenseful, but because this was a glimpse into an actual human’s mind that seemed to exist without empathy or regard for anyone outside herself. We’re numb to stories of men who commit these types of crimes, but our natural inclination is to think women aren’t capable of such callousness, and this book sets that myth straight. The historical details of Lyda's crimes and her subsequent trial with all the many witness testimonies kept me glued to the pages!

I found it interesting that so many mentions were made of how attractive and alluring Lyda was to men. I Googled photos of her and found her to look quite plain by today’s standards, but it was a different time. Apparently, she was quite soft-spoken and charming which might’ve added to her appeal. It was fascinating to read about how people were drawn to her.

If you want a break from fiction and you want to see how the law caught up with "Lady Bluebeard", one of America’s first female serial killers, this really is an excellent, compelling read! I haven’t read Olsen’s work before, but I’ll be looking for his other books now.

★★★★

Thanks to Notorious Press, NetGalley and authors Gregg and Morgan Olsen for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out on October 27, 2026

[Kassandra]

Thank you to Storm Publishing/Notorious Press for the advance ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen tells the true-crime story of Lyda Trueblood, a woman who seemed to have an extraordinary run of bad luck, or something much more sinister was happening. Multiple husbands died from the same painful stomach ailments, and Lyda had life insurance policies on each of them. Six deaths in five years.

I had never heard of “Flypaper Lyda” before reading this book, and I found her story fascinating. The meticulous research really stood out, and I especially enjoyed the inclusion of court transcripts. They made me feel as though I were sitting in the courtroom and witnessing the trial firsthand.

Informative, detailed, and compelling, Ordinary Wife offers a fascinating look at a woman who captivated the nation in the early 1920s. If you enjoy historical true crime and stories about infamous cases that have been largely forgotten, this is one to pick up.

[tiff]

Thank you, Storm Publishing | Notorious Press, for sending me this ARC.

Pub Date Oct 27 2026

[Micronova]

Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen; Morgan Olsen
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 stars


Six deaths in five years. Multiple husbands. A brother in law. Even a two year old daughter whose death left some serious questions behind. Arsenic. Flypaper. A huge murder trial in the 1920s. I mean, come on. This has everything that should have kept my nosy true crime loving self completely invested. And yet… this was slow. I hate to say boring because the actual story of Lyda Trueblood is definitely not boring. But the book? It got dangerously close a few times.

The Olsens really dig into Lyda’s life, her marriages, the people around her, and the rather alarming number of people who had the misfortune of dying in her general vicinity. There’s a LOT of historical detail here. Court records, prison records, family history, relationships, all of it. I can appreciate the amount of research that went into this but sometimes I felt buried under it. I kept waiting for that what in the arsenic laced hell is this woman doing?! feeling to kick in and stay there. It would show up occasionally, wave at me and disappear again.

Lyda herself was easily the most interesting part for me. Beautiful, charming, men apparently falling all over themselves for her and then having a really unfortunate habit of dying. Excuse me, Lyda. That is quite the dating history. 😂 I just wanted to be more fascinated by the whole thing than I was. With SIX deaths surrounding one woman in five years, I expected to have a much harder time putting this book down. Instead I struggled to pick it back up.

Three stars. I usually love Gregg Olsen’s true crime but this one just didn’t hit the same. Too slow, a little too buried in the details, and somehow not as gripping as six suspicious deaths involving arsenic absolutely should be. Don’t worry though. I’m a loyal little shit. I’ll still keep reading his work. Apparently one arsenic wielding widow isn’t enough to break up this relationship.


Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing | Notorious Press for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Expected publication date: October 27, 2026

[Krystelle (based on the novel by Stephen King)]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I haven’t read true crime in a while, and when this one came up on NetGalley, my interest was piqued. To have an incredibly prolific serial killer who was barely known about centred in a new book about her crimes is always fascinating. I did find it was a little off the mark, but I did appreciate the effort that went into such an extensive investigation, and the spirit of the thing.

First off, the good. Lyda was definitely a compelling woman, and her crimes were both reprehensible and fascinating. To be able to get away with killing so many husbands and managing to not get picked up is a testament to an era before we could collate data across state and county lines. It’s always so interesting to me that there are so many loose threads in deaths from that era that we will never be able to tie up.

I did find that the summary of her legal journey was quite well done too. How she managed to do what she did (spoiler dodging here) was really quite fascinating, and it made for compelling reading.

I do think this book fell apart a little in some places, however. I was less than impressed at the summary of the murders themselves, and I wanted more details about the effects of arsenic, the extraction process, and just more about the how rather than the why. There were definitely segments that dragged a little because they were lacking in the kind of colour that makes for compulsive crime writing.

That said, this was still an interesting read, and well worth the time for any true crime buffs seeking a story that’s just a touch different.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm)]

In the true-crime narrative of America’s Lady Bluebeard, Lyda Trueblood is depicted as an ordinary woman who poisoned multiple husbands and other family members over a span of five years, resulting in six deaths. The story begins in 1920 at Blue Lakes Ranch, where her new husband died after she set out flypaper laced with poison. Lyda, described as beautiful and charming, captivated men yet left a trail of poison behind, ultimately leading to her sensational trial in 1921. Utilizing court documents and her own words, the Olsens explore her transformation into a calculated killer and the ways she evaded justice.

If you find yourself knee-deep in the true crime rabbit hole, hunting for someone to serve you the whole enchilada: the good, the bad, and the absolutely bonkers, then buckle up! This author is going to take you on the ride of your life.

The story is presented in four parts, packed with insights gleaned from witness statements, extensive research, and psychological analysis. We don’t often hear about female serial killers from the good old Wild West, but there were a few, including one who has been long forgotten. Known by various names, this story follows a woman whose life was marked by a string of unfortunate husbands and one child. We dive into Lyda’s relationships, her ambitions, and ultimately, her imprisonment. She traveled across the U.S., frequently altering her appearance and names in attempts to start anew. Hearing firsthand how easy or difficult her life and deceptions were, especially during her court appearances, adds depth to the narrative.

Back in those days, the first forensic lab was in Paris, but it soon started to make its way to the U.S. When chemists began testing organs for arsenic poisoning, they discovered that even hair could tell a story. This marked the beginning of everything and made for a fascinating read from the researcher’s perspective regarding Lyda’s life.

The authors did an excellent job keeping me invested in the story, prompting me to jump online for further research. Lyda was a charismatic woman who latched onto her husbands, never letting go until the life insurance benefits were in her favor. There were so many red flags, but times were different then, and presenting evidence often felt like a “he said, she said” scenario. For example, when she was accused of buying a specific quantity of flypaper, she denied it, but the clerk verified both the amount and the price. For a long while, it seemed like Lyda might escape the consequences of her actions, but that wasn’t the case.

Once she was captured, I thought that would be the end of the story, but we later learn about her time in prison, her escape, and eventual release. Lyda was back on the road, living the life she always wanted. The authors also made sure to discuss the impact of her actions on her family name and her sister, who supported Lyda after her release. The sheer number of names she was buried under was excessive, yet her sister ensured she rested with lesser-known aliases. She wanted her sister to find peace alongside her daughter, two husbands, and parents. Lyda’s personal story began in 1892 and concluded in 1958, but she was buried under the cover of night so that no one would be the wiser. Her life had a profound negative impact on her family, definitely not something to take pride in.

I read a book by this author earlier this year and really enjoyed his writing style; it made it easy for me to get lost in the unfolding story. When I was asked to review his new book, I jumped at the chance, and receiving a physical copy was a nice bonus! If you're a true crime junkie looking to learn about America's first documented female serial killer, then this chilling story is for you. Evil can often exist closer than you think, disguised as a kind woman or mother. This suspenseful, moderately paced narrative kept me captivated until the end. I devoured this story and realized I don’t read enough true crime, as both books I’ve read by this author perfectly align with my tastes and curiosity about long-forgotten tales.

On a personal note, this story resonates with me even more because I’m a woman and a wife constantly moving around the U.S. as we're a military family. I'm always intrigued to learn more. The last book I read was about the first transgender serial killer in Washington state, and I recently moved from Washington to Texas, where this individual is serving their sentence in a women’s prison. When I lived in Massachusetts, I explored the witch trials, as I lived near the homestead of an accused famous witch. I can't make this up! My life is interesting, and so are the stories Gregg Olsen writes. I even signed up for Kindle Unlimited to dive deeper into his work.

I could go on about this book for a long time, but it’s up to you whether you choose to read this one or any of his other works. I truly hope you do, as the chapters are short and hard to put down. You'll be tempted to do some amateur sleuthing online because you’ll undoubtedly want to learn more. If you decide to give true crime a shot, keep this author in mind. And now that I think about it, most of my book besties are women, so let’s hope you don't try any tips mentioned in this book! I’d hate for you to end up as Gregg Olsen’s next subject and have your story immortalized in print! Ha!

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for reaching out and for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CrabbyPatty]

Lyda Trueblood Dooley McHaffle Lewis Meyer Southard Whitlock, like Henry VIII, was married six times, and with the same results - four dead husbands (plus her daughter and a brother-in-law) and two lucky survivors. But unlike Henry VIII with his dynastic plans and political intrigue, with Lyda it all came down to money - life insurance money.

Beginning when she was 20, lively Lyda married a series of men who were very much charmed by her, until they fell mysteriously ill and most died shortly thereafter in excruciating pain. This being around WWI, news did not travel fast or far and Lyda was able to continue her poisoning ways over an eight-year period, supporting herself with the proceeds of the life insurance policies she strongly encouraged each husband to get.

Roughly the first 1/3 of Ordinary Wife details Lyda's family, marriages and murders, followed by her trial and the aftermath. While the book is around 260 pages, it feels much longer as the authors diligently detail information, so much data, with little interpretation. For example, fleshing out the process of using arsenic to kill - why flypaper used arsenic to kill flies, how one was able to extract the arsenic, the effects of arsenic and how it wreaks havoc on the human body, notable symptoms, dosage needed, how it can be detected, etc. - would have given the story more depth.

Lyda's personality and possible motivation is only very lightly investigated and while those details were probably very meager, it would have been interesting to learn more about the early 1910-1920s setting and what women's lives were like at the time, what her family life was like, etc. In addition, her prison days are lacking a framework of rich detail and indeed there were a bunch of amazing and unlikely events that occurred that definitely needed more attention.

Overall, the story has good bones, but it needs to be fleshed out to give a more complete, more compelling story. 3 stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher, Storm Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Mamawattto4 Melissa]

Thank you Notorious Press and NetGalley for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars

As a true crime fan, I really enjoyed Ordinary Wife. I was already familiar with Lyda Trueblood’s story, but Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen did a great job digging much deeper into the case and bringing all the details together in a way that kept me interested from beginning to end.

The authors paint a chilling picture of a woman who appeared to be an ordinary, devoted wife while leaving a trail of suspicious deaths behind her. The courtroom details, historical context, and firsthand records made the story feel even more unsettling. Even knowing the outcome, I found myself completely invested in how everything unfolded.

If you enjoy well researched historical true crime that goes beyond the headlines, this is definitely worth picking up. It was an engaging and fascinating read that gave me a much deeper understanding of a case I thought I already knew.

[Janet Devine]

DNF — 50%

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t quite the right fit for me. I found myself feeling a little too removed from the story, as though I were being told what was happening rather than experiencing it alongside the characters. The story moves along step by step, but I was hoping for a bit more immersion in the action and characters’ emotions.

I think this may simply come down to personal reading preference, as I tend to connect best with stories that pull me directly into the moment. I gave it about halfway before deciding to DNF, but I appreciate the opportunity to read it.

[Tiffany Schulz]

ARC review
As a true crime aficionado I have not heard much about Lyda or “flypaper Lyda” the modern Typhoid Mary This book is fascinating in watching a woman of means not so slowly make her way through multiple husbands, professing her innocence in a time of budding forensics.
The story is an easy read, not muddled up with facts or long winded stories, but gets the job done with good back info, public opinion and scrutiny as well as personal accounts from those close to the case and people involved.
I enjoyed feeling like perhaps I still don’t have even half of the entire story, and wishing Lyda had cashed in somehow on telling her tale in the end. Overall great true crime tale of one of the female serial killers you probably didn’t know existed.

[Rachel]

I really tried to like this book. It is clearly well researched but it is so boring. I just skimmed the last 60% of the book. There was so much repetition of the stories early on and no character really kept me interested. I would recommend another book by the author over this one.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Becca]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This one was a clunky read, the writing was pretty awkward and at times confusing. There was far too many names to keep track of and it muddied up the book for me. It’s evident a lot of research went into this, but it seemed to be over done. This is obviously true crime and details are necessary, but some parts were excessively explained and others lacked information. I hadn’t ever heard of Lyda so it was interesting to read her story. I’d read more from this author, but I think this one needs some more editing before the final copy.

[Meg Pearson]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Ordinary Wife before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I love discovering a true-crime story that makes me wonder, how have I never heard of this woman before? Ordinary Wife introduced me to Lyda Trueblood, a woman whose extraordinary life sounds almost too outrageous to be true—and yet, it is.

Lyda Elizabeth Trueblood lived under a seemingly endless succession of names as she moved through marriages, relationships and different parts of the country. Around her, husbands and family members kept dying from mysterious illnesses, often with life insurance policies naming Lyda as the beneficiary. The eventual discovery that arsenic from poisoned flypaper may have played a role turns what could have been written off as a series of tragic coincidences into something much more sinister.

What I found particularly fascinating was the question of just how much we can actually prove. There were multiple deaths surrounding Lyda, but the evidence did not neatly fit into the kind of case we might expect today. Did she kill all of the people suspected? Did she kill some but not others? And how much of what we believe about Lyda comes from evidence versus the sensational press coverage of the time? The Olsens do a good job allowing the reader to sit with that uncertainty and make up their own mind.

I also really enjoyed the historical perspective. The investigation and trial provide a fascinating look at how very differently murder cases were handled in the early twentieth century. The inclusion of contemporary newspaper reports, testimony and court records helped bring the era to life and made the story feel remarkably immediate.

And Lyda herself? Absolutely fascinating. There is something incredibly chilling about how composed she remained throughout everything. She admitted very little, maintained her innocence and seemed remarkably capable of reinventing herself whenever circumstances demanded it. The sheer number of names, marriages, deaths and twists in her life occasionally made me feel as though I was reading fiction rather than a true story.

The book is thoroughly researched and detailed, although there were moments when the amount of information and repetition slowed the pace for me. Still, the story itself is so bizarre and compelling that I remained invested in finding out what happened next.

Ordinary Wife is an intriguing, atmospheric look at a largely forgotten case and a woman who may have been far more dangerous than her ordinary-wife persona suggested.

If you enjoy historical true crime, female criminals, forgotten cases and stories that make you repeatedly say “wait…WHAT?”, this is definitely one to pick up.

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

[Angel **Book Junkie**]

Thank you to NetGalley, Gregg & Morgan Olsen, and Storm Publishing | Notorious Press for a copy of Ordinary Wife in exchange for an honest review.

WOAH. I went into Ordinary Wife thinking I was getting a story about a woman accused of some pretty horrific crimes, and instead I got completely sucked into the rabbit hole that is Lyda.

This woman is FASCINATING.

And Gregg and Morgan Olsen did something I really appreciated: they didn't shove a giant flashing sign in my face telling me what I was supposed to believe. Instead, they gave me the information and left me sitting here like, “Okay… BUT DID SHE DO IT?!”

Was Lyda simply a product of unfortunate circumstances?
Did she actually murder these men?
How did all these men end up dead?
What really happened to Lorraine?
And seriously… FLYPAPER?! 😂

I found myself questioning EVERYTHING. Did flypaper in the early 1900s really contain enough arsenic to kill someone? Did she put it in their drinks? Did these men not notice something tasted weird? HOW DID SHE GET SO MANY MEN UNDER HER SPELL?!

And then there was the escape. 👀

That entire situation had me thinking, Oh, this woman could wrap ANYONE around her finger. Whether you believe she was guilty or not, Lyda was clearly a woman who knew how to manipulate the people around her.

What surprised me most is how completely engulfed I became in this story. I haven't read a nonfiction book in a while that left me with THIS many questions swirling around in my head. Even after finishing, I'm still sitting here wondering what the hell actually happened.

And here's the thing: Am I convinced Lyda committed these crimes? Nope. If I were sitting on a jury, I honestly don't know that I could convict her based on what I read. There is just enough uncertainty that I would have a very hard time saying, beyond a reasonable doubt, “Yep, she did it.”

That uncertainty is exactly what made this book so damn compelling.

My one reason for dropping a star is that I really wanted more about Lyda's relationship with Lorraine and, ultimately, what truly happened to her. That part left me wanting answers that I didn't quite feel I got.

But honestly? I'm still thinking about this woman, these deaths, and all the unanswered questions. And anytime a nonfiction book has me Googling things in my head and interrogating the evidence like I'm preparing for trial, I'm going to call that a win.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

Final Verdict:

A fascinating true-crime story about a woman I STILL can't decide was a calculated killer or simply a woman caught in a bizarre series of circumstances. Gregg and Morgan Olsen had me questioning everything, and I'm not sure I've reached a conclusion even after closing the book.

Lyda, girl… WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?! 😳

[Sarah]

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ 3.5 Stars

I usually don’t rate nonfiction, but since I received Ordinary Wife as an ARC, I decided to make an exception.

I LOVE reading true crime, especially when it’s written by Gregg Olsen, so I was really excited to dive into this one. I had never heard of Lyda Trueblood before reading Ordinary Wife, and I found her story both fascinating and deeply disturbing. Lyda was truly diabolical, and it’s honestly scary to think that people like her have existed—and still exist—in our world.

The story follows Lyda Trueblood, a seemingly beautiful, charming, and domestic wife who had no trouble attracting men. The problem? Those men had a frightening tendency to die shortly after marrying her, poisoned with arsenic. Over the course of five years, six people—including husbands, a brother-in-law, and even her two-year-old daughter—died under suspicious circumstances.

I really enjoyed learning about Lyda and the details surrounding her crimes. The book does a good job going beyond the headlines and exploring who Lyda was and what may have driven her to become the person she was. I especially appreciated the use of court transcripts, prison records, and Lyda’s own statements, which helped bring her story to life.

That being said, I did find the book to be repetitive at times, and that made it difficult for me to stay fully invested in the story. It felt like it took me longer to finish than it should have, and I think the pacing could have been tighter.

One thing I STILL cannot understand is how Lyda managed to convince so many men to marry her, especially when several men had already died shortly after marrying her. How did no one put the pieces together sooner?! She must have been an incredibly charming sociopath because the fact that she continued to attract husbands despite the growing number of deaths surrounding her is absolutely wild.

Overall, Ordinary Wife was an interesting and chilling true crime story about a woman I knew nothing about before picking up this book. While the repetition and pacing kept me from loving it, I’m still glad I read it and got to learn about one of the lesser-known female killers in true crime history.

If you enjoy true crime, historical crimes, and books about women who are much more sinister than they initially appear, this is definitely one to check out.

[Kim Blanchette]

Ordinary Wife — Gregg Olsen & Morgan Olsen
Thank you to Storm Publishing / Notorious Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Ordinary Wife in exchange for my honest review.

🦇🦇🦇🦇
4/5 — SOLIDLY BITTEN
I went into Ordinary Wife expecting a good historical true-crime read.
What I did not expect was to finish it sitting there thinking:
…okay, but DID SHE ACTUALLY DO IT?!

This book tells the true story of Lyda Trueblood, aka “Lady Bluebeard,” a woman surrounded by an absolutely staggering number of suspicious deaths in the early 1900s. Husbands died. Family members died. Arsenic entered the picture. Life-insurance policies were involved. And eventually, Lyda found herself at the center of a sensational murder trial.

The Olsens kept me genuinely invested in finding out what would happen next. But what surprised me most was Lyda herself.
Somewhere along the way, I went from “Ma'am…your husbands keep dying. We need to talk.” to actually becoming fascinated by her—and, against all expectations, even feeling incredibly sad for her by the end.

And that's where this book really got me.
Because I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
Yes, there were insurance policies.
Yes, there were an alarming number of deaths surrounding this woman.
Yes, the circumstances were suspicious as hell.
But reading the evidence, testimony and details of the case left me questioning exactly what could truly be proven versus what people believed happened.
And apparently Lyda has now taken up permanent residence in my brain because I'm still sitting here going:
“BUT DID SHE?!?”
That's what made Ordinary Wife such an interesting read for me. It didn't just give me a century-old true-crime case and send me on my way—it made me think about the woman behind the infamous “Lady Bluebeard” name and left me wanting to dig even deeper.
If you love historical true crime, suspicious deaths, courtroom drama, arsenic, questionable life-insurance policies and cases that leave you arguing with yourself after the last page, put this one on your radar.

📖 Ordinary Wife
✍️ Gregg Olsen & Morgan Olsen
📅 October 27, 2026
🏚️ Storm Publishing | Notorious Press
🦇 Batty Rating: 4/5 — Solidly Bitten

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Julia Clark]

3.25 stars rounded down

Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen tells the true story of Lyda Trueblood, a seemingly ordinary woman who was accused of poisoning multiple people close to her. The book follows the events surrounding the deaths and Lyda’s eventual trial, while also exploring the media attention surrounding the case and the question of what could have motivated a woman who appeared, on the surface, to be a charming and conventional wife. Because much of the evidence against Lyda was circumstantial, it leaves room for readers to consider the evidence and reach their own conclusions.

I found the story itself genuinely fascinating, and it was clear that a significant amount of research went into the book. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the media sensationalism surrounding Lyda and the way the authors explored her reputation as one of the first widely known female killers of this kind.

Unfortunately, I struggled quite a bit with the writing and structure. The book frequently revisits the same events from different angles, which became repetitive and sometimes made it difficult to keep track of the timeline and characters. There were also parts where the wording was confusing enough that I had to reread it to figure it out or simply move on with the gist of what was being said. Given the fast pace nature of the writing, this was obvious when it happened and interrupted the flow of the story. Some sentences also felt awkward and incomplete and occasionally pulled me out of the story. Despite these issues, the subject matter kept me reading, and I would be interested in reading more about Lyda Trueblood or other books covering this case.

Overall, I found the story and research much stronger than the execution, but I still appreciated the opportunity to learn about such a fascinating and disturbing case.

This is my second book by the author, and while I preferred the first one I read, I enjoyed this enough to know I’ll be picking up more of his work.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Page Escapes by J]

There is something especially unsettling about true crime when the person at the centre of it looks completely… ordinary. And Ordinary Wife takes that idea and runs with it.

Lyda Trueblood’s story is the kind of case where you keep thinking, surely someone must have noticed something was wrong. Husband after husband dies, arsenic keeps appearing in the story, insurance money is involved, and yet Lyda manages to maintain the image of a charming, capable wife for far longer than seems possible.

What I appreciated most was that the Olsens don’t simply turn Lyda into a cartoon villain. They dig into the woman behind the sensational headlines and try to understand how she operated, what motivated her and how she managed to manipulate the people around her.

The research is clearly one of the book’s strongest elements. Court records, prison records and Lyda’s own statements give the narrative a documentary quality, while still keeping it surprisingly readable.

The setting also adds a lot. The early-20th-century Idaho backdrop feels worlds away from modern true crime, and the social expectations surrounding women, marriage and respectability make Lyda’s ability to hide in plain sight even more fascinating.

The pacing is generally strong, although this is definitely more investigative true crime than a thriller that races from twist to twist. The real-life facts provide enough twists on their own.

And the plot? Well… you couldn’t make this up. Flypaper, arsenic, suspicious husbands, insurance policies, a sensational trial and even a prison escape. At some point I had to remind myself that I was reading nonfiction. 😂

What stayed with me most was the contrast between the title and the reality. Ordinary Wife sounds almost harmless, but Lyda’s story is anything but.

Fascinating, unsettling and a great reminder that sometimes the most disturbing true-crime stories begin with someone who looks completely unremarkable.

[Leanne]

The Ordinary Wife is a gripping, meticulously researched true‑crime narrative that pulls back the curtain on one of America’s most chilling historical cases. Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen bring Lyda Trueblood—America’s so‑called Lady Bluebeard—into sharp, unsettling focus, crafting a story that is as compulsively readable as it is haunting.

The book opens with a deceptively simple domestic scene: a new bride, a porch, three saucers of flypaper. By nightfall, her husband is dying. It’s a moment that sets the tone for the entire narrative—ordinary life edged with quiet menace. The Olsens excel at capturing this tension, showing how Lyda’s beauty, charm, and homemaking skills masked a pattern of calculated, methodical killing.

What makes this account stand out is its depth. Rather than leaning solely on sensational headlines, the authors draw from court transcripts, prison records, and Lyda’s own statements to build a portrait that is both chilling and strangely intimate. The deaths—husbands, a brother‑in‑law, even her young daughter—are presented with clarity and restraint, allowing the horror to speak for itself without ever feeling exploitative.

The historical setting is vivid, from rural Missouri roots to the stark Idaho landscapes where her crimes came to light. The Olsens also explore the broader social context: how a woman like Lyda could slip through the cracks of early‑20th‑century justice, and how charm, grief, and gender expectations shaped the narrative around her.

True‑crime readers who appreciate thorough research, atmospheric storytelling, and a focus on the psychology behind the crimes will find The Ordinary Wife utterly absorbing. It’s a chilling reminder that sometimes the most dangerous people are the ones who appear perfectly ordinary.

With thanks to Gregg Olsen, Morgan Olsen, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Pucay Reads]

Ordinary Wife is the second non-fiction true crime book by Gregg Olsen that I’ve read, and I was fortunate enough to receive an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) via NetGalley. Co-authored with his daughter, Morgan Olsen, this book tells the chilling true story of Lyda Trueblood—a woman who poisoned her husbands to collect their life insurance payouts between 1915 and 1932. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Lyda denied her crimes to the very end, keeping her true motives, thoughts, and psychological state shrouded in mystery. This leaves readers with an intricate, complex portrait of a truly twisted mind.
​What stands out most is the meticulous research behind the narrative. Gregg and Morgan collected extensive historical data to build a strong, immersive atmosphere. Even though these events happened over a century ago, the storytelling made me feel as if I were right there—witnessing how a wife could dare to poison her husbands and her daughter, Lorraine, escape from prison, and somehow marry a sixth husband while still on the run. Lyda’s uncanny ability to charm men into taking out life insurance policies with her as the sole beneficiary is both bewildering and deeply fascinating.
​The documentary style of this book completely blew me away. By weaving together raw facts, court transcripts, news coverage, and interviews with journalists and onlookers of the time, the authors create a narrative that is both authoritative and remarkably easy to follow. The chaos and tension of the era are palpable, keeping you constantly guessing what Lyda’s next move would be.
​I highly recommend Ordinary Wife to readers looking for a thrilling, atmospheric non-fiction read that packs all the twists and tension of a psychological thriller.
​

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Cherie]

I was looking forward to reading the new true crime book from Gregg Olsen and his daughter, Morgan. I have learned so much from his other books, difficult as they were to read.

Lyda Trueblood was, by all accounts, a normal housewife in the early 20th century. Behind the scenes, however, Lyda was a calculated serial killer, taking the lives of five husbands and her brother-in-law by arsenic poisoning, then collecting thousands of dollars in life insurance payouts. Ordinary Wife tells the detailed story of Lyda's crimes, trial, and incarceration.

Let me first say that this book was extremely well researched. The level of detail was impressive. I loved all the reprinted newspaper articles from the time of the trial and incarceration. During that time, in small town Idaho, this was the biggest story, and the authors must have spent weeks pouring through archives. But I think that was one of the problems I had with the book. The authors got so detailed, it quickly got mired down. There were so many supporting characters in the book, it was so easy to lose the momentum of the story. As an example, the authors gave the names and crimes of every female prisoner who was jailed with Lyda. Readers learned the names of every warden during her incarceration, as well as the names of the warden's wives. Because of that, the book just seemed to drag in places. I found myself skimming the last 100 pages or so.

I did enjoy this book. I had heard of "Lady Bluebeard" before, and this gave a fascinating look into her crimes. I just didn't think it was the author's best work. 3.5 ⭐s rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. It's scheduled to be published on October 27, 2026.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader)]

Anna Elizabeth Trueblood, known to her family as Lyda, led a life that spanned Missouri, Idaho, Montana, California, Hawaii, Colorado, Kansas, and Utah. Wherever she went, she often adopted a new name, especially when seeking work or forging new relationships. Over the years, Lyda's surnames changed to Dooley, McHaffie, Lewis, Meyer, Southard, Whitlock, and Shaw. The sheer number of names hints at her remarkable ability to charm men, always staying one step ahead and orchestrating circumstances that would later inspire infamous press nicknames—Lady Bluebeard, Woman Bluebeard, 20th Century Borgia, The Black Widow, and Flypaper Lyda. In the end, her sister Blanche ensured her tombstone simply read Anna E. Shaw, with birth and death dates, marking the beginning and end of a truly chilling—and notorious—life.

This book is gripping, intriguing, and utterly suspenseful—qualities one might expect from a mystery or thriller. Yet, this is not fiction. It is the true account of Idaho's first female serial killer, a woman whose life is as shocking as any novel. How do you approach such a dark story and justify awarding it five stars? The answer lies in the authors' meticulous research and writing. They pull readers into Lyda's complex life, tracing her movements across the country, following law enforcement's pursuit of justice for her victims, and capturing the media frenzy that followed her. Even after the trial, Lyda's story refuses to end, leaving you captivated long after the verdict is read.

Book Club Questions are available at the end of the book.

Thank you Gregg Olsen, Morgan Olsen, Notorious Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

[Marialyce]

3.5 stars

My my Lyda! you are a legend......not a good one but still a legend.

So did you ever hear of this notorious lady? I know I haven't until now wherein Greg and Morgan Olsen in their book Ordinary Wife reveal a woman purported to have murdered four husbands and a young daughter.

It seemed her weapon of choice was fly paper which went soaked in water, could result in an arsenic laced by product. While Lyda seemed to accumulate a ton of fly paper husband one and his brother passed away mysteriously, her daughter from drinking tainted water while husband number one died from ptomaine poisoning, and her brother in law died of typhoid fever. Hmmm! But no one seemed the wiser.

Husband number two died of influenza, while husband number three died of gastroenteritis. Husband number four died of typhoid fever....and so the reign of Lyda terror seemed to end. Or so it was thought until a relative of husband one, a chemist, enlisted the help of another chemist and low and behold, they discovered the men were murdered through the use of arsenic.

Our sweet lovely beautiful Lyda seems to have been a murderer. She could and did charm the men and her motive was the ever eternal one money! (Who knew ?). She made the men purchase insurance policies where she of course was the beneficiary.

It all comes to a halt but will Lyda ever get her just desserts? After all, she was just unlucky in love!

The cast of men..... Robert Dooley (March 17, 1912 – October 12, 1915)
William G. McHaffle (June 1917-October 1, 1918)
Harlen C. Lewis (March 1919-July 1919)
Edward F. Meyer (August 1920-September 7, 1920)
Paul V. Southard (?, divorced)
Harry Whitlock (March 1932-?, divorced)
Hal Shaw (possibly divorced)

[Chloe]

Thank you so much for my ARC of Ordinary Wife!

I am from outside the US and had never heard of Lyda before and this book had me so interested in her and her story! Lyda was a woman shrouded in mystery and followed by a trail of destruction that captured the imagination of all Americans, from her small town to the big cities.

I found the first 40% of this book didn’t quite capture all of my attention like I wanted it to. Lyda’s childhood and her time with her husbands read more like a list of facts with some bias sprinkled in. There were a lot of single sentence paragraphs and some that were one after the other which really interrupted the flow of the book. It needed a narrative to really bring this story to life and for us to get to know Lyda and her husbands better. I oftentimes felt as though I was reading a list of events and it felt choppy as opposed to really getting to know this forgotten killer and her ill-fated husbands like i wanted to.

Once Lyda is captured we start to get a lot more meat on the bones of this book. It comes to life and we start to feel as though we are sitting in the courtroom with the reporters and spectators, hearing the evidence and testimonies of what Lyda has done. This book does a great job of building the atmosphere of the courtroom, the trial and Lyda’s prison escapades.

I think there is great potential in this book, but unfortunately it felt like something was missing for me. I also wish the newspaper excerpts stood out a bit more. A slightly different appearance in text size, font, or italics would make it a lot easier to differentiate while reading.

[Sierra]

Lyda Trueblood, one of America's most chilling and forgotten serial killers. It opens on a hot August day in 1920 at Blue Lakes Ranch, Idaho, where Lyda sets out saucers of flypaper on the porch of the boarding house she and her new husband are running. By nightfall he's writhing on the floor of their tent in agony, and within days he's dead. From there the book unravels how a woman everyone described as beautiful, charming, and an excellent cook ended up burying husband after husband, a brother-in-law, and even her own two year old daughter, all poisoned with arsenic, over the course of five years before the law finally caught up to her in 1921.

What got me is how well researched this is. The Olsens pull directly from court transcripts, prison records, and Lyda's own statements, I found myself googling other things from that time period, like typhoid, just because the level of period detail pulled me in that deep. It's also just a genuinely juicy story, a woman getting away with murder after murder in an era when nobody thought women were capable of that kind of violence. The writing is what really sells it though. I had to remind myself more than once that this actually happened, because it reads with the pacing and tension of a novel instead of a dry nonfiction account.

If you're into true crime, especially the historical kind, this is an easy recommend. It's the rare nonfiction book that reads like fiction without sacrificing the facts, and Lyda Trueblood is a genuinely unsettling case study in how someone hides in plain sight.

[twistedchapter13 | Stacy]

📚 ARC Review 📚
Thank you to the author, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reader copy! It was a pleasure to read this before release, and as always, my review reflects my honest opinion.
This book focuses on Lyda Trueblood, a real-life serial killer who was suspected of poisoning six people. It draws on court documents, prison records, and statements from Lyda and others involved in the case.
I found the story to be an interesting look into the life and crimes of a woman who, on the surface, seemed completely ordinary. The true-crime and historical details surrounding Lyda and her case were the most fascinating parts for me. I especially enjoyed learning about how serial killers were investigated, prosecuted, and ultimately caught in the early 1900s.
That being said, the pacing was slow in certain spots, and there were moments when I found myself losing interest. With a story based on historical records and a real-life case, some sections naturally felt a little more drawn out than others.
Overall, this was an interesting read that introduced me to a case I wasn't previously familiar with. While the pacing wasn't always consistent, I enjoyed learning more about Lyda's crimes and the criminal justice system of the time.
If you enjoy true crime, historical crime, and lesser-known serial killer cases, this would be a great book to add to your TBR. 🩸📚

[Lindsey Wilson]

I found Ordinary Wife incredibly intriguing from beginning to end. One of the things that impressed me most was the amount of detail Gregg Olsen was able to uncover about a case this old. The research that went into reconstructing the people, events, and investigation really brought the story to life.

What stuck with me most, though, was Lyda’s almost nonchalant attitude toward everything. There was something especially chilling about the way she seemed to discuss and react to such horrific events so casually. At times, it was hard to wrap my head around.

I was also shocked by the outcome of the trial—particularly that Lyda escaped a first-degree murder conviction because one juror simply could not bring himself to vote for a verdict that could result in a woman being hanged. It was such a striking reminder of how differently gender, crime, and punishment were viewed at the time. Different times, for sure.

Overall, Ordinary Wife was a fascinating and unsettling true-crime read. Olsen’s extensive research made a decades-old case feel vivid and surprisingly immediate. If you enjoy historical true crime and cases that leave you thinking about them long after you finish, this one is definitely worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer]

I had never heard of Lyda Trueblood before picking up Ordinary Wife, and this was one of those true crime stories where I kept thinking, how have I never heard about this woman before?!

Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen did a great job telling her story. There is a lot of information, names, dates, and history packed into this book, but I found it easy to follow and never felt completely overwhelmed by all the details. I especially enjoyed learning about how crimes were investigated and trials were handled in the early 1900s. So much of it is completely different from what we know today.

And Lyda herself...what a woman to read about. Husband after husband dying around her, arsenic, life insurance policies, multiple identities, a murder trial—and somehow the story just keeps getting crazier. There were definitely moments where it felt more like I was reading a thriller than something that actually happened.

I also appreciated that the story didn't feel overly sensationalized. There was clearly a huge amount of research that went into this, and the facts were interesting enough without needing anything extra added for shock value.

Dark, fascinating, and honestly pretty unbelievable at times. This is exactly the kind of true crime that keeps me reading because I need to know what happens next.

4.5 rounded to 5

[M.S. Hawthorn]

Rounded up to 5 from 4.5

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author(s)

How had I never heard of this case?!

As someone who consumes a lot of true crime, I’m always particularly impressed when a book introduces me to a case I genuinely knew nothing about, and Ordinary Wife did exactly that. The story of Lyda Trueblood is absolutely astonishing, and the further I read, the more baffled I became that her name isn’t far more widely known.

This is a thoroughly researched and detailed account of a woman whose seemingly ordinary life concealed an extraordinary trail of suspicious deaths. I particularly appreciated the depth of the research and the way the book provides the historical and personal context surrounding the case rather than simply focusing on its most sensational elements.

There are so many twists and increasingly unbelievable developments that, had this been fiction, I might have accused the authors of taking things too far. Knowing that these events actually happened makes the story all the more fascinating.

Detailed, compelling and genuinely surprising, this was exactly the kind of true crime I love: a case I hadn't encountered before, explored with enough depth to leave me wondering how on earth it had escaped my attention for so long.

[Denice Langley]

Gregg Olsen is a prolific author who has written some of the best books I have read. He writes true crime and fiction/thrillers equally well. ORDINARY WIFE is the true story of Lyda Trueblood, a serial killer who poisoned four of her seven husbands and maybe her two-year-old daughter. Trueblood committed her crimes in the 1920s and 1930s, before the internet streaming tools or podcasts could make her name known. As her victim list grew, she would leave puzzled families and friends wondering how she could get away with it and why. She would eventually be arrested, stand trial, and be convicted of the murder of her fourth husband. The story of her life is too strange to be believed, but Gregg Olsen includes newspaper articles and sworn statements from those who knew her, including her Mother and Father.

I've read many of Gregg Olsen's books and found them all, fiction or nonfiction, excellent reads. His skillful writing pulls the reader into the story as he investigates and documents the unbelievable events. This book is co-written with his daughter. Reading any of his books guarantees you'll have plenty to talk about at the next gathering of friends and family. Then you'll have to share your copy. 5 easy stars.