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Mania and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong: Inside the Mind of a Female Serial Killer
Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, as one judge described her, was “a coldly calculated criminal recidivist and serial killer.” She had experienced a lifetime of murder, mayhem, and mental illness. She killed two boyfriends, including one whose body was stuffed in a freezer. And she was convicted in one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s strangest cases: the Pizza Bomber case, in which a pizza deliveryman died when a bomb locked to his neck exploded after he robbed a bank in 2003 near Erie, Pennsylvania, Diehl-Armstrong’s hometown.
Diehl-Armstrong’s life unfolded in an enthralling portrait; a fascinating interplay between mental illness and the law. As a female serial killer, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was in a rare category. In the early 1970s, she was a high-achieving graduate student pursuing a career in education but suffered from bipolar disorder. Before her death, she was sentenced to serve life plus thirty years in federal prison.
In Mania and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Jerry Clark and Ed Palattella examine female serial killers by focusing on the fascinating and tragic life of one woman. This book also explores mental illness and forensic psychology and provides a history of how American jurisprudence has grappled with such complex and controversial issues as the insanity defense and mental competency to stand trial. The authors’ account shows why Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was unlike any other criminal – man or woman – in American history. Accounts of Diehl-Armstrong’s travails – her difficult childhood, her murder trials, her hoarding – are interpolated with chapters about mental disorders and the law.
Diehl-Armstrong’s life unfolded in an enthralling portrait; a fascinating interplay between mental illness and the law. As a female serial killer, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was in a rare category. In the early 1970s, she was a high-achieving graduate student pursuing a career in education but suffered from bipolar disorder. Before her death, she was sentenced to serve life plus thirty years in federal prison.
In Mania and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Jerry Clark and Ed Palattella examine female serial killers by focusing on the fascinating and tragic life of one woman. This book also explores mental illness and forensic psychology and provides a history of how American jurisprudence has grappled with such complex and controversial issues as the insanity defense and mental competency to stand trial. The authors’ account shows why Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was unlike any other criminal – man or woman – in American history. Accounts of Diehl-Armstrong’s travails – her difficult childhood, her murder trials, her hoarding – are interpolated with chapters about mental disorders and the law.
284 pages, Hardcover
Published September 22, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 21, 2020
A tad terrifying
She and I have the same diagnosis: ultra-rapid, dual-cycling bipolar. But I can’t see myself ever doing the things she did, on or off my meds. I think that’s a valid nuture argument.
She and I have the same diagnosis: ultra-rapid, dual-cycling bipolar. But I can’t see myself ever doing the things she did, on or off my meds. I think that’s a valid nuture argument.
May 7, 2018
Like many people I have a mild fascination with serial killers, so I figured from the title of this book that it would be an engaging portrait of Diehl-Armstrong's life, the factors that led her to become homicidal, that sort of thing.
Instead, it was mostly disjointed quote snippets pieced together like refrigerator poetry in between dry court notations and dessicated fact recitation. I managed about two-thirds of the book before giving up, because I couldn't keep any of the involved people straight and had no more an insight into the mind of this serial killer than I had when I'd begun it.
Although? If you're looking for a plodding history of the entirety of Western psychiatry as well as many, many, MANY detailed breakdowns of the DSM from I to V, then this book will be your jam.
Instead, it was mostly disjointed quote snippets pieced together like refrigerator poetry in between dry court notations and dessicated fact recitation. I managed about two-thirds of the book before giving up, because I couldn't keep any of the involved people straight and had no more an insight into the mind of this serial killer than I had when I'd begun it.
Although? If you're looking for a plodding history of the entirety of Western psychiatry as well as many, many, MANY detailed breakdowns of the DSM from I to V, then this book will be your jam.
January 14, 2019
Goes off on unnecessary and odd tangents. I imagine most people pick this up to read about the Pizza Bomber case. It barely touches it.
December 18, 2017
This was tough. Brian Wells, one 0f Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong's victims, was a regular fixture in the lives of many families in my suburb outside of Erie, as he was our local pizza delivery man. The myth and reality of Marjorie shaped much of my late childhood and teenage years, as a young person from Erie. And this book was not for me. Not for any reason to do with any personal investment I may harbor, but more because the editing, which definitely was lacking. I was totally surprised by this, too, because I generally have great experiences reading works published by Rowman and Littlefield. Some of the continuity was simply sloppy. You can definitely take this review with a grain of salt, as I'm from Erie and also the suburb where Diehl-Armstrong stashed a body in a freezer, but as an avid reader, this one just did not impress me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2024
This book, which I read before viewing the related Netflix series, was picked up out of my college library for the simple fact that it was a new addition to the psychology section.
Parts of it dragged, and other sections were repeated over and over again, which gave some chapters a sense of deja vu. However, the subject matter itself was intensely interesting, and Clark clearly had done his research.
While I also enjoyed the Netflix series, this book adds further depth into the actual history and psychological concepts to be learned from the Pizza Bomber Case. It's worth a read, but should probably be stretched out over a few sittings-- I tend to read books in marathon sprints to the finish.
Parts of it dragged, and other sections were repeated over and over again, which gave some chapters a sense of deja vu. However, the subject matter itself was intensely interesting, and Clark clearly had done his research.
While I also enjoyed the Netflix series, this book adds further depth into the actual history and psychological concepts to be learned from the Pizza Bomber Case. It's worth a read, but should probably be stretched out over a few sittings-- I tend to read books in marathon sprints to the finish.
May 29, 2018
Listened to audiobook.
Organizationally, this book was a mess. The authors included an inordinate amount of repetition and digression. Information stated without equivocation at one point became very uncertain later.
Organizationally, this book was a mess. The authors included an inordinate amount of repetition and digression. Information stated without equivocation at one point became very uncertain later.
June 1, 2018
I assume I'm not the only one to track down this book having watched the excellent EVIL GENIUS documentary series on Netflix. Sad to say, MANIA AND MARJORIE DIEHL-ARMSTRONG is nowhere near the same calibre as the show, although it does flesh out a few extra details for those of us entranced by the case. It presents a chronological listing of Armstrong's life and crimes, mainly based on court transcripts. The story is still amazing but feels a bit familiar if you've watched EVIL GENIUS.
The main thing that prevents this from being good is the endless padding: there are long chapters on everything from female serial killers to the history of mental illness. I mean, did we need the long quotes from Plato and Aristotle? Really? There's also some repetition here which doesn't help. Even so, the facts alone make this an interesting story, but I'd recommend checking out EVIL GENIUS instead for a much more thrilling account.
The main thing that prevents this from being good is the endless padding: there are long chapters on everything from female serial killers to the history of mental illness. I mean, did we need the long quotes from Plato and Aristotle? Really? There's also some repetition here which doesn't help. Even so, the facts alone make this an interesting story, but I'd recommend checking out EVIL GENIUS instead for a much more thrilling account.
January 10, 2018
I listened to the audiobook version, so the typos/editing mistakes that another person leaving feedback mentioned is not something I can address. Audibly, though, the text flows very smoothly and intelligently with good organization of themes.
I quite enjoyed this book and am not sure why it has low ratings, except that maybe people were expecting it to be more of a biography on Diehl-Armstrong than it is. The main focus of the book, I believe, is the history and usage of the insanity defense in legal systems; then, the author happens to use the Diehl-Armstrong case throughout the book as a case study/partial biography.
I quite enjoyed this book and am not sure why it has low ratings, except that maybe people were expecting it to be more of a biography on Diehl-Armstrong than it is. The main focus of the book, I believe, is the history and usage of the insanity defense in legal systems; then, the author happens to use the Diehl-Armstrong case throughout the book as a case study/partial biography.
July 11, 2022
My nonfiction picks have been real doozies lately! I do appreciate the new details this book contributes to Diehl’s biography — I didn’t know, for example, that her late husband was black or that, pre-abortion access in PA, she founded and operated a questionable nonprofit women’s clinic that shuttled women to Buffalo, NY for abortions. Otherwise the co-authors overwhelm themselves (and readers) by writing about Diehl alongside the history of psychiatry — two topics that feel less symbiotic than forced together. Lots of marveling over the pathology of the female serial killer and whether or not she exists.
January 17, 2019
If you enjoy deep background on the history of mental illness in general, and on mania in murderers specifically, and on mania in female murderers to be exact - this is the book for you. As it happens, I was engrossed, and listened to many sections repeatedly. However, it's not your usual blow-by-blow description of events and does require some concentration to absorb the details.
June 7, 2019
3.5 stars.
These kinds of books are difficult to review.
It's horrendous and awful subject matter-wise, obviously. I appreciated the background matter regarding general mental health information, etc. but overall it felt disjointed at times and I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting on the next turn of events.
These kinds of books are difficult to review.
It's horrendous and awful subject matter-wise, obviously. I appreciated the background matter regarding general mental health information, etc. but overall it felt disjointed at times and I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting on the next turn of events.
February 2, 2018
well covered case review of ole' Marj's physce. in-depth historical background covering the changes to the DSM and how it applied as well.
June 7, 2023
She was fucked up but i like every page of this
5.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 24, 2023
This is really more of an exploration of the history of mental illness in our justice system with Ms Diehl-Armstrong’s case being sort of a side note.
March 30, 2025
Not really impressed by this book. It seemed didactic. I did finish it.
January 1, 2018
This all happened in my hometown. Which is why I'm not sure if this book is a local thing or bigger than that. Having said that, I have been very interested in her and her largest case, the pizza bomber case, ever since they took place. So this book was one I had been anticipating when I found out it was going to be a thing.
However there were issues that made it fall short of expectations. For starters, it was dry and read as a textbook. There was lots of talk about the history of psychology and the DSM. Great, because it is relevant. However I'm not sure it needed to go as far back as it did.
My other main issue with it is, while it does use this information to explain how these disorders and diagnoses could help influence the things that she has done, they don't do enough to show the other side, a diagnosis in and of itself does not mean someone will be a murderer. In fact, many people live with the same diagnoses and lead good, fulfilling lives. There is already enough of a stigma with mental illness, I don't think this book is doing anyone any favors there.
The reason this is not rated lower is because in the end it does redeem itself by being more interesting as well as discussing the diagnoses and some of the controversy surrounding how she received them. Were they real or was she working a system she understood all too well? People can read this book and decide for themselves.
However there were issues that made it fall short of expectations. For starters, it was dry and read as a textbook. There was lots of talk about the history of psychology and the DSM. Great, because it is relevant. However I'm not sure it needed to go as far back as it did.
My other main issue with it is, while it does use this information to explain how these disorders and diagnoses could help influence the things that she has done, they don't do enough to show the other side, a diagnosis in and of itself does not mean someone will be a murderer. In fact, many people live with the same diagnoses and lead good, fulfilling lives. There is already enough of a stigma with mental illness, I don't think this book is doing anyone any favors there.
The reason this is not rated lower is because in the end it does redeem itself by being more interesting as well as discussing the diagnoses and some of the controversy surrounding how she received them. Were they real or was she working a system she understood all too well? People can read this book and decide for themselves.
June 20, 2020
Very interesting. It's a sad story all around but such is real life.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews