Lady Killers: 100 Tales of Passion, Revenge and Despair

by Joyce Robins

This collection tells the ghoulish stories of more than 75 female killers, primarily from the UK, the USA, Europe and Australia, and concentrating on 19th and 20th-century cases. Victims include husbands, lovers, children, parents and employers; motives love, gain and revenge and weapons guns, axes and poison (known as the woman's weapon). Amongst these macabre and horrifying stories are the exploits of Lydia Sherman (the Borgia of Connecticut), Ruth Ellis, Charlotte Corday and Belle Gunness. There is also a clutch of notorious non-proven cases including those of Lizzie Borden, Madeleine Smith and Constance Kent.

Genres: True Crime

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting look at 100 tales of lady murderers. Some were really interesting and others seemed to blend into each other as they were too similar. I also found upon googling some of the women in this book that due to the book being made in 1993 some of the information such as where they are now is factually inaccurate. Overall an average read but a good opportunity to find some killers I did not know about

[Laura Seaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought it was interesting how different punishments were dealt to each woman. Would recommend

[Heloise Jacobs · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only nice thing about this book is the cover and the big red words saying : LADY KILLERS. I read it on the bus to work every morning and nobody messed with me. Don't bother with this book if you are interested in why women kill.

[Funkykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like it soo far.but make you think twice before insulting or fight with anyone
by the way I'm a woman be careful... hahahaha just joking

[Paulina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew beforehand that this book wasn't going to be very good, somewhat akin to the documentary series 'Snapped', which is this sensational account of women killing, with absolutely no journalistic integrity but really fun to watch with someone else and a bottle of wine. A kind of penny dreadful for the contemporary viewer.

This was kind of the same but I didn't, sadly, end up enjoying it as much. So much pulp-y goodness, but it was all too rushed and it lacked any self-awareness that would redeem it.