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America's First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster
America’s first female serial killer was not always a killer. America’s First Female Serial Killer novelizes the true story of first-generation Irish-American nurse Jane Toppan, born as Honora Kelley. Although all the facts are intact, books about her life and her crimes are all facts and no story. Jane Toppan was absolutely a monster, but she did not start out that way.
When Jane was a young child, her father abandoned her and her sister to the Boston Female Asylum. From there, Jane was indentured to a wealthy family who changed her name, never adopted her, wrote her out of the will, and essentially taught her how to hate herself. Jilted at the altar, Jane became a nurse and took control of her life, and the lives of her victims.
When Jane was a young child, her father abandoned her and her sister to the Boston Female Asylum. From there, Jane was indentured to a wealthy family who changed her name, never adopted her, wrote her out of the will, and essentially taught her how to hate herself. Jilted at the altar, Jane became a nurse and took control of her life, and the lives of her victims.
216 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
February 2, 2021
“Isn’t it convenient to be able to pawn off illnesses onto women who don’t have the means to represent themselves? “An idea that she was insane,” indeed. More like, an idea that although she worked hard her whole life, these lazy privileged people will always live better just off sheer luck.”
Similar to In Cold Blood, America’s First Female Serial Killer is more of a novelisation than a straight-up true crime novel. And it really worked for me. Mary Kay McBrayer has given us a thoroughly enjoyable and impossible-to-put-down account of a terrifying woman, Jane Toppan, who used poison to kill her victims.
There are many things that I liked about this book, but the prose and narrative structure in particular really stood out. Towards the end, newspaper articles and different POVs of those involved are introduced, and these were well-utilised as a means of fleshing out the story. McBrayer is clearly a fantastic writer, and given that so little is actually known about Jane Toppan, she would have had her work cut out for her in order to uncover any real information about Jane’s life and her crimes. And so it bares another similarity to In Cold Blood in that the author has to embellish some details in order to fill in the gaps - but it’s so entertaining that I really don’t care about the embellishments.
This book has also made me realise how much I truly love reading about this period of history – Jane was active in the late 1800s, so around the same time that Jack the Ripper was active. Given how much I simply adored Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five for its social and historical commentary on this time period, is it any wonder I enjoyed this too?! I NEED MORE VICTORIAN-ERA BOOKS.
Toppan led quite a sad life, full of unfortunate and heartbreaking events, and although this will never excuse her actions, it does lend to helping us understand how murderers can be created. On the whole, I’d recommend this to those who enjoyed The Five or In Cold Blood. It was a page-turner from start to finish. 4 stars.
Similar to In Cold Blood, America’s First Female Serial Killer is more of a novelisation than a straight-up true crime novel. And it really worked for me. Mary Kay McBrayer has given us a thoroughly enjoyable and impossible-to-put-down account of a terrifying woman, Jane Toppan, who used poison to kill her victims.
There are many things that I liked about this book, but the prose and narrative structure in particular really stood out. Towards the end, newspaper articles and different POVs of those involved are introduced, and these were well-utilised as a means of fleshing out the story. McBrayer is clearly a fantastic writer, and given that so little is actually known about Jane Toppan, she would have had her work cut out for her in order to uncover any real information about Jane’s life and her crimes. And so it bares another similarity to In Cold Blood in that the author has to embellish some details in order to fill in the gaps - but it’s so entertaining that I really don’t care about the embellishments.
This book has also made me realise how much I truly love reading about this period of history – Jane was active in the late 1800s, so around the same time that Jack the Ripper was active. Given how much I simply adored Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five for its social and historical commentary on this time period, is it any wonder I enjoyed this too?! I NEED MORE VICTORIAN-ERA BOOKS.
Toppan led quite a sad life, full of unfortunate and heartbreaking events, and although this will never excuse her actions, it does lend to helping us understand how murderers can be created. On the whole, I’d recommend this to those who enjoyed The Five or In Cold Blood. It was a page-turner from start to finish. 4 stars.
August 6, 2020
This was really interesting. I know of more recent cases of nurses having hero complexes and ending up being murderers but I knew nothing of Jane Toppan. The book is less filled with info-dumping or peppered with stats and written more like a fiction novel where you are beside Jane watching what it was like growing up and what lead her into nursing and murdering. I think this would appeal more to people who are new to true crime or readers who do not like very gory true crime.
July 4, 2021
McBrayer's first book is something of a novelization of the life of Jane Toppan-- as the title states, America's first female serial killer. Toppen confessed to over 30 murders after she was convicted of murder in 1902 (she was also deemed insane, and spent the rest of her life in an asylum). Unlike a lot of 'true crime' novels, McBrayer opted to novelize Toppan's life, utilizing Jane as a narrator. Hence, while the story is based on a real person and her deeds, McBrayer created Jane's character and imbued her with motivations/emotions and so forth. Some people might find this off-putting, but I thought it worked really well. Another rationale for the format concerns McBrayer's desire to call attention to young people with serious problems with the hope that they will not be driven to make bad decisions; implied in this is the idea that Jane Toppan was a product of her environment-- she may have been a monster, but it was a monster that society created.
Jane (her real name was Honora Kelly) was born in Massachusetts (Boston area) in the 1860s; her parents immigrated from Ireland, but her mother died from consumption shortly after arrival. Her father had a very difficult time finding work (No Irish need apply) and eventually was forced to give up his daughters to an institution, the Boston Female Asylum. The Asylum basically took in girls and trained them to be maids/servants and 'placed them' in homes when they were still young; Jane was placed at age 6 or so. In their new 'homes', the placed girls were basically indentured servants until the age of 18, when their contracts expired and the family had to pay them 50 bucks. If they stayed on with the family, they had to negotiate wages and so forth.
Young, female and Irish, Jane had a lot of strikes against her from the get go, especially without any family to rely upon. McBrayer did a nice job on illustrating the inequalities of the American Dream here and the class system in place in the late 19th century. Jane was basically treated like a slave in the house and when her 'mother' died, she did not even leave anything for Jane. Jane left the family and took up nursing-- anther hard occupation-- and it was during this phase that she started experimenting with poisons, on patients.
I had never heard of Jane Toppan before, but it is a fascinating story. I should also note that the book was very well produced-- nice job Mango Press! So, if you have an interest in 'true-crime' stories, or want to learn a little of what it was like to be poor in Boston in the 19th century, you may have an interest in this one. As Clay Chapman blurbed on the cover: "Jane Toppan's legacy may have been written in strychnine, but it is May Kay McBrayer who finds Jolly Jane's voice in the captivating, empathetic exploration into one of America's most prolific serial killers." 4 strong stars!
Jane (her real name was Honora Kelly) was born in Massachusetts (Boston area) in the 1860s; her parents immigrated from Ireland, but her mother died from consumption shortly after arrival. Her father had a very difficult time finding work (No Irish need apply) and eventually was forced to give up his daughters to an institution, the Boston Female Asylum. The Asylum basically took in girls and trained them to be maids/servants and 'placed them' in homes when they were still young; Jane was placed at age 6 or so. In their new 'homes', the placed girls were basically indentured servants until the age of 18, when their contracts expired and the family had to pay them 50 bucks. If they stayed on with the family, they had to negotiate wages and so forth.
Young, female and Irish, Jane had a lot of strikes against her from the get go, especially without any family to rely upon. McBrayer did a nice job on illustrating the inequalities of the American Dream here and the class system in place in the late 19th century. Jane was basically treated like a slave in the house and when her 'mother' died, she did not even leave anything for Jane. Jane left the family and took up nursing-- anther hard occupation-- and it was during this phase that she started experimenting with poisons, on patients.
I had never heard of Jane Toppan before, but it is a fascinating story. I should also note that the book was very well produced-- nice job Mango Press! So, if you have an interest in 'true-crime' stories, or want to learn a little of what it was like to be poor in Boston in the 19th century, you may have an interest in this one. As Clay Chapman blurbed on the cover: "Jane Toppan's legacy may have been written in strychnine, but it is May Kay McBrayer who finds Jolly Jane's voice in the captivating, empathetic exploration into one of America's most prolific serial killers." 4 strong stars!
December 22, 2020
This was an interesting book but personally not my favourite true crime book I've ever read.
I've never heard of this case before so it was interesting to hear the details of her murders.
However, I really struggled with the writing style of this book.
I personally don't like true crime books told in a narrative style, which this book was.
I much prefer true crime books which lay out the facts rather than make up conversations which probably never happened.
This book felt more like a historical fiction than true crime.
I also struggled with the format. There were newspaper articles, narrative, short paragraphs, very long sections etc. It felt very disjointed and a bit all over the place.
An interesting read but not one I'll ever return to
TW: murder, violence and suicide attempts
I've never heard of this case before so it was interesting to hear the details of her murders.
However, I really struggled with the writing style of this book.
I personally don't like true crime books told in a narrative style, which this book was.
I much prefer true crime books which lay out the facts rather than make up conversations which probably never happened.
This book felt more like a historical fiction than true crime.
I also struggled with the format. There were newspaper articles, narrative, short paragraphs, very long sections etc. It felt very disjointed and a bit all over the place.
An interesting read but not one I'll ever return to
TW: murder, violence and suicide attempts
May 28, 2020
It was interesting but too much seemed like fictionalised reconstruction to me. I listened to the audiobook version of this and the narration was really good. Also I’m not sure I agree that Jane was the first American female serial killer. There was also that pioneer woman who lured men to her homestead.
February 10, 2020
You know, for as much as I watch true crime documentaries and TV shows, you’d think I’d read a hell of a lot more books on serial killers than I do. I mean, I’ve read shockingly few books on the subject; maybe three? Four, tops. I haven’t even read Helter Skelter, a book which I’ve always wanted to tear into ever since looking at the photos in my mother’s copy with the bodies in complete white (seriously, it’s as creepy looking as all get out).
But after reading Mary Kay McBrayer’s America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster, that all might change because hot damn, have I been missing out.
When Mary Kay asked if I’d be interested in getting an early look at the book, I was a bit hesitant only because I know my reading pace. I didn’t want her waiting around on me for a review. I tend to take my time with books. But after her assurance timing was fine, and especially after I looked into Jane Toppan – a serial killer I was completely unaware of – I took her up on the offer. I’m glad I did.
Mary Kay takes a docudrama-esque approach to her subject, but in her preface she explains, “What I’ve written here is researched. The facts are intact. Everything that can check out does check out. What you’re about to read is what I believe to be the likeliest account of who Jane Toppan was as a person, who she became as a monster, how the people around her might have molded her into that, and what we might be able to learn from her. With those objectives in mind, and because facts are few, some things I have just had to assert through educated guess.” There’s no way would know, for instance, what Jane might have been wearing on a particular day, but I don’t think that’s important. What’s key is the story, and if it’s believable because of the facts. And it is. It’s also captivating as hell and frustrating for those of us who like to judge our killers in black and white.
Here’s what I mean: Have you ever seen The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon? If not, the short of it he’s a pedophile who’s been recently released from prison. You desperately want to hate him because he’s a piece of shit pedophile. But the directing and script are so good, you kind of fell for him. Mary Kay manages to toy with your emotions in a similar way. Yes, Toppan is an awful human being through and through, but there is a case to be made on nature vs. nurture here, as well as the value of mental health treatment. Mary Kay doesn’t just lay down the facts, she makes you think about what might have been if Toppan had been born in a different environment. You don’t automatically think Toppan should be put to death for her crimes (like I usually do). You actually consider why she did what she did. That’s shows Mary Kay’s strength as a writer, her ability to put a whole lot of grey in the mix even while providing factual information.
Well-researched, gripping, and thought-provoking, America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster gives an up-close and intimate look at quite possibly one of the first angels of death. This is Mary Kay McBrayer’s first novel, and if it’s any indication of what she’s capable of, she’s going to have a hell of a future.
But after reading Mary Kay McBrayer’s America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster, that all might change because hot damn, have I been missing out.
When Mary Kay asked if I’d be interested in getting an early look at the book, I was a bit hesitant only because I know my reading pace. I didn’t want her waiting around on me for a review. I tend to take my time with books. But after her assurance timing was fine, and especially after I looked into Jane Toppan – a serial killer I was completely unaware of – I took her up on the offer. I’m glad I did.
Mary Kay takes a docudrama-esque approach to her subject, but in her preface she explains, “What I’ve written here is researched. The facts are intact. Everything that can check out does check out. What you’re about to read is what I believe to be the likeliest account of who Jane Toppan was as a person, who she became as a monster, how the people around her might have molded her into that, and what we might be able to learn from her. With those objectives in mind, and because facts are few, some things I have just had to assert through educated guess.” There’s no way would know, for instance, what Jane might have been wearing on a particular day, but I don’t think that’s important. What’s key is the story, and if it’s believable because of the facts. And it is. It’s also captivating as hell and frustrating for those of us who like to judge our killers in black and white.
Here’s what I mean: Have you ever seen The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon? If not, the short of it he’s a pedophile who’s been recently released from prison. You desperately want to hate him because he’s a piece of shit pedophile. But the directing and script are so good, you kind of fell for him. Mary Kay manages to toy with your emotions in a similar way. Yes, Toppan is an awful human being through and through, but there is a case to be made on nature vs. nurture here, as well as the value of mental health treatment. Mary Kay doesn’t just lay down the facts, she makes you think about what might have been if Toppan had been born in a different environment. You don’t automatically think Toppan should be put to death for her crimes (like I usually do). You actually consider why she did what she did. That’s shows Mary Kay’s strength as a writer, her ability to put a whole lot of grey in the mix even while providing factual information.
Well-researched, gripping, and thought-provoking, America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster gives an up-close and intimate look at quite possibly one of the first angels of death. This is Mary Kay McBrayer’s first novel, and if it’s any indication of what she’s capable of, she’s going to have a hell of a future.
December 1, 2020
Before receiving this book, I had never heard of Jane Toppan. And now I can tell everyone about her! This would make a great intro to true crime book for readers trying to test the waters as it is not information overload or even stats upon stats. This book is sort of like a retelling and we get to witness the story from Jane's side. The facts in this book are actual facts, but they are just presented to us in a different method than most documentaries or bios... and that made this book even more fun to read! While serial killers are deplorable and make the worst decisions, there are times where you feel for them. What happened to them in their lives that made them this way? Are they struggling internally with mental illness that was never observed, diagnosed, and/or treated? Did one life choice make all the difference? Nothing takes away from the pain they have caused or the lives they have taken, but it makes you think that things are not always black and white. I also have to credit the author for eliciting these thoughts and emotions from me while talking about America's first female serial killer. I highly recommend this one!
June 18, 2024
This was an absolutely fascinating read. We don’t hear about female serial killers enough and it was a treat to delve into this story. Highly recommend the audio which is narrated by the author herself.
January 13, 2021
Is it wrong to say a book about a serial killer is fun? Because this definitely is - due as much to the writing as to the story itself. You can tell the author is enamored with her subject, while still maintaining her objectivity. (Although she does seem almost offended that Toppan was overlooked compared to men of a similar bent. I don’t think this is something the female sex would want to be equal in though. Just saying.)
Jane Toppan is a name I was not familiar with before, but now she feels like...well, not a close friend because she poisoned her close friends. I feel like I understand her now though and her life story will definitely stick with me.
I’m always a bit suspicious of books about real events that read like fiction, so I googled Toppan. The author’s characterization fits what was known about Toppan, and she also adds her own conjectured psychology to spice things up. Actually, I found the characterizations of various people in the book to be realistic and well thought out. This isn’t just a recounting of history but rather a story that tries to look at every angle and multiple points of view. Also, news and magazine articles from the time, including Toppan’s confession, are included, which gives a richer feel. All these aspects made for a quick, interesting, unusual read. I believe this is the author’s first book too. I could see her branching out to fiction easily.
Jane Toppan is a name I was not familiar with before, but now she feels like...well, not a close friend because she poisoned her close friends. I feel like I understand her now though and her life story will definitely stick with me.
I’m always a bit suspicious of books about real events that read like fiction, so I googled Toppan. The author’s characterization fits what was known about Toppan, and she also adds her own conjectured psychology to spice things up. Actually, I found the characterizations of various people in the book to be realistic and well thought out. This isn’t just a recounting of history but rather a story that tries to look at every angle and multiple points of view. Also, news and magazine articles from the time, including Toppan’s confession, are included, which gives a richer feel. All these aspects made for a quick, interesting, unusual read. I believe this is the author’s first book too. I could see her branching out to fiction easily.
June 5, 2020
4.5 stars. An excellent portrait of a most chilling woman.
September 28, 2020
I received this book in my September "Fall for Murder" package from Night Worms.
It is a sad and interesting concept that many women have been doing the same things men have been doing all along, without recognition. This can apply to farm work, construction, fighting, and in the case of this book, calculated murder. I commend Mary Kay McBrayer for her dive into the possible thoughts and feelings of Jane Toppan here.
It seems Jane had some mental illness in her birth-family and was later adopted into another family who only truly saw her as 'the help.' Jane, being precocious, was able to grow up to become a well-received nurse, and that's when her feelings of loneliness turned into a quest for vengeance and acknowledgement.
"What can you do with the one to whom you have given the knowledge of how to kill? How can you be mad at her for doing what you taught her? Did you teach her that all life was precious? Was hers?"
There are some intriguing plot points that suggest that had Jane's upbringing been more loving, had the one true relationship she developed turned into a marriage and happy union, she might not have ended up the way she did. There is the proposal that she wanted justice for herself and that the only way it would come about is if she took matters into her own hands. When she begins poisoning patients it is almost like she was testing the waters for the real victims she wanted to take out. Like a cold and calculated learning curve until she could perfect her art enough to bring it into her own home and 'take care' of the people closer to her.
This book pulled me in and had unquestionably good writing, but I took away some stars because I thought there could have been more details about Jane's life. The author had the ability to take the imagined parts of Jane's life and run with them, but I left the book feeling like I might still not know enough about Jane Toppan. Granted, one doesn't want to skew the story too much around the facts presented (murder dates, trial, etc.), but I think I just wanted a bit more. I wanted to connect with and fear Jane on an even deeper level.
To be fair, this means I would read other Mary Kay McBrayer books because she clearly has what it takes to draw me in and keep me turning the pages voraciously.
It is a sad and interesting concept that many women have been doing the same things men have been doing all along, without recognition. This can apply to farm work, construction, fighting, and in the case of this book, calculated murder. I commend Mary Kay McBrayer for her dive into the possible thoughts and feelings of Jane Toppan here.
It seems Jane had some mental illness in her birth-family and was later adopted into another family who only truly saw her as 'the help.' Jane, being precocious, was able to grow up to become a well-received nurse, and that's when her feelings of loneliness turned into a quest for vengeance and acknowledgement.
"What can you do with the one to whom you have given the knowledge of how to kill? How can you be mad at her for doing what you taught her? Did you teach her that all life was precious? Was hers?"
There are some intriguing plot points that suggest that had Jane's upbringing been more loving, had the one true relationship she developed turned into a marriage and happy union, she might not have ended up the way she did. There is the proposal that she wanted justice for herself and that the only way it would come about is if she took matters into her own hands. When she begins poisoning patients it is almost like she was testing the waters for the real victims she wanted to take out. Like a cold and calculated learning curve until she could perfect her art enough to bring it into her own home and 'take care' of the people closer to her.
This book pulled me in and had unquestionably good writing, but I took away some stars because I thought there could have been more details about Jane's life. The author had the ability to take the imagined parts of Jane's life and run with them, but I left the book feeling like I might still not know enough about Jane Toppan. Granted, one doesn't want to skew the story too much around the facts presented (murder dates, trial, etc.), but I think I just wanted a bit more. I wanted to connect with and fear Jane on an even deeper level.
To be fair, this means I would read other Mary Kay McBrayer books because she clearly has what it takes to draw me in and keep me turning the pages voraciously.
January 13, 2025
“Monsters come from lack of humanity, and it seems to me that the human was driven out of Jane.” (A Note From the Author)
A very interesting biography of a little-known serial killer. I think the author, McBrayer, did a good job of presenting this book as an examination of fact and not as a glorification or excuse for Jane Toppan’s behavior. I think she well in preventing events in a matter-of-fact way, though she does admit in her foreword that she did have to extrapolate some information because of lack of source material. By basing the narrative on the source material, it allows the reader to see the inaccuracies as Jane’s story unfolds because the stories written about her weren’t accurate either. So much of her story and life were overlooked, most likely because she was a woman and was not taken seriously or seen as dangerous as her male counterparts (take for example, Charles Cullen, or the ‘angel of mercy,” who was also a nurse). In fact, even at her trial, they wrote her off as insane, even though she claimed to be fairly upfront with the doctors.
This book highlights how society failed not only Jane Toppan, but also her victims. At multiple instances she was suspected of homicide, but not until the Davis’s was she ever actually investigated. It shows the struggles, challenges, and unfair upbringing in a way that shows that they were horrible without using it as an excuse for Toppan's actions.
I don’t typically like a lot of material regarding serial killers, but I think McBrayer was able to approach Toppan’s story in a tasteful way. Even in sections that touched on the pleasure Jane received from her acts gave enough to let the reader know what was going on without being too explicit or detailed. I think putting Toppan’s confession near the end was a good move that allowed the reader to put together the story given all the information given and come to their own conclusions on Toppan’s true motives. A well-done book that was informative, compelling, and eye-opening.
A very interesting biography of a little-known serial killer. I think the author, McBrayer, did a good job of presenting this book as an examination of fact and not as a glorification or excuse for Jane Toppan’s behavior. I think she well in preventing events in a matter-of-fact way, though she does admit in her foreword that she did have to extrapolate some information because of lack of source material. By basing the narrative on the source material, it allows the reader to see the inaccuracies as Jane’s story unfolds because the stories written about her weren’t accurate either. So much of her story and life were overlooked, most likely because she was a woman and was not taken seriously or seen as dangerous as her male counterparts (take for example, Charles Cullen, or the ‘angel of mercy,” who was also a nurse). In fact, even at her trial, they wrote her off as insane, even though she claimed to be fairly upfront with the doctors.
This book highlights how society failed not only Jane Toppan, but also her victims. At multiple instances she was suspected of homicide, but not until the Davis’s was she ever actually investigated. It shows the struggles, challenges, and unfair upbringing in a way that shows that they were horrible without using it as an excuse for Toppan's actions.
I don’t typically like a lot of material regarding serial killers, but I think McBrayer was able to approach Toppan’s story in a tasteful way. Even in sections that touched on the pleasure Jane received from her acts gave enough to let the reader know what was going on without being too explicit or detailed. I think putting Toppan’s confession near the end was a good move that allowed the reader to put together the story given all the information given and come to their own conclusions on Toppan’s true motives. A well-done book that was informative, compelling, and eye-opening.
September 21, 2020
*Minor Spoilers Ahead?*
I really enjoyed diving into this book! I think the author tackled a very ambitious project by writing a historical narrative off of what I'm assuming would have been very limited source materials recorded at the time. I think that McBrayer hits the nail on the coffin when she says that true crime fans often overlook Jane because of her station and place in American life. Her success as a serial killer is really a reflection of her status- no one would suspect her as she was mostly invisible to society.
The book starts off with a recounting of her early life and her transition into nursing, where her 'real' passion takes off. I really liked the imagining of Jane's character and was surprised to read about the 'indentured servant' part of her upbringing. I'll confess that I didn't know many details about the discrimination that Irish Americans faced at this point in history and that felt like it added depth to Jane's life experiences.
As the story progresses, we learn more about her career as a nurse and her special mineral water that many of her victims took prior to their death. I was absolutely gobsmacked by how frequently she poisoned her employers without arousing practically any suspicion. Again, she is not on anyone's radar which explains why everyone considered her a close friend and loyal nurse.
There were some very fun things done with the format of this book. I liked the newspaper clippings & Jane's notes in the margins at the end. It was interesting to read the progress of her murders and subsequent trial through other narrative accounts. The only thing that I really kept coming back to as I read was that I would have really enjoyed more distinction between fact and fiction. While this is a fictionalized account, it would have been interesting to know if certain parts of the newspaper clippings were authentic or if the 'testimonies' at the end came directly from source material. Could just be preference, but I'm always interested in knowing the 'facts'.
This book is a 3.5/5 stars for me! Would recommend to folks just getting started in true crime or for fiction readers that are interested in reading a fictionalized version of Jane's story.
I really enjoyed diving into this book! I think the author tackled a very ambitious project by writing a historical narrative off of what I'm assuming would have been very limited source materials recorded at the time. I think that McBrayer hits the nail on the coffin when she says that true crime fans often overlook Jane because of her station and place in American life. Her success as a serial killer is really a reflection of her status- no one would suspect her as she was mostly invisible to society.
The book starts off with a recounting of her early life and her transition into nursing, where her 'real' passion takes off. I really liked the imagining of Jane's character and was surprised to read about the 'indentured servant' part of her upbringing. I'll confess that I didn't know many details about the discrimination that Irish Americans faced at this point in history and that felt like it added depth to Jane's life experiences.
As the story progresses, we learn more about her career as a nurse and her special mineral water that many of her victims took prior to their death. I was absolutely gobsmacked by how frequently she poisoned her employers without arousing practically any suspicion. Again, she is not on anyone's radar which explains why everyone considered her a close friend and loyal nurse.
There were some very fun things done with the format of this book. I liked the newspaper clippings & Jane's notes in the margins at the end. It was interesting to read the progress of her murders and subsequent trial through other narrative accounts. The only thing that I really kept coming back to as I read was that I would have really enjoyed more distinction between fact and fiction. While this is a fictionalized account, it would have been interesting to know if certain parts of the newspaper clippings were authentic or if the 'testimonies' at the end came directly from source material. Could just be preference, but I'm always interested in knowing the 'facts'.
This book is a 3.5/5 stars for me! Would recommend to folks just getting started in true crime or for fiction readers that are interested in reading a fictionalized version of Jane's story.
October 13, 2020
I received this book in my September "Fall for Murder" package from Night Worms.
The first 75% or so was very good. It was well written, captivating, and sad. The author did embellish a few minor things since there is not too much known about Jane Toppan aside from her murders and what was confessed. I was surprised that I had never heard of her and after learning about all that she did, it seems like she should be more well known.
After the 75% mark, the book switches from her POV to articles from other people and newspapers. I thought the newspaper sections were fine but I didn’t much care about the POV from other people. It jarred me and I feel like this part could have worked continuing in her POV. At times I got a little confused at what was happening because of the style change.
Overall, I felt sorry for Jane, and also for her victims. Her life was not easy. I agree with the idea that she may have never got into killing had one person showed her true kindness. It’s a sad story but was interesting to see happen during that time period. It was a bit amazing that she got away with as much as she did for so long.
I haven’t researched outside of this book but so far I feel like it gives a good insight to who Jane Toppan was and also that of her named victims. There are more sources listed in the back for anyone interested on investigating further. I also liked how the author tied in the prejudice at the time toward Jane’s race (Irish) into the known facts.
This is a true crime book I could see myself revisiting in the future.
The first 75% or so was very good. It was well written, captivating, and sad. The author did embellish a few minor things since there is not too much known about Jane Toppan aside from her murders and what was confessed. I was surprised that I had never heard of her and after learning about all that she did, it seems like she should be more well known.
After the 75% mark, the book switches from her POV to articles from other people and newspapers. I thought the newspaper sections were fine but I didn’t much care about the POV from other people. It jarred me and I feel like this part could have worked continuing in her POV. At times I got a little confused at what was happening because of the style change.
Overall, I felt sorry for Jane, and also for her victims. Her life was not easy. I agree with the idea that she may have never got into killing had one person showed her true kindness. It’s a sad story but was interesting to see happen during that time period. It was a bit amazing that she got away with as much as she did for so long.
I haven’t researched outside of this book but so far I feel like it gives a good insight to who Jane Toppan was and also that of her named victims. There are more sources listed in the back for anyone interested on investigating further. I also liked how the author tied in the prejudice at the time toward Jane’s race (Irish) into the known facts.
This is a true crime book I could see myself revisiting in the future.
August 25, 2020
This was not what I was expecting at all—I enjoyed it much more than I expected. It read so much like a novel, the author outdid Erik Larson in novelizing historical nonfiction.
And the narration was wonderful because the author narrated it! And she has the most delightful Southern voice.
I liked getting inside the head of Jane from a young child becoming a servant to the monster and what drove her to murder in this novella style. As Mary Kay addressed in her awesome intro from her time as a counselor to teen boys in a juvenile home, they all start as children. And everything they experience, everyone who crosses their path to adulthood plays a story. Every monster we know of was once a child. It doesn’t justify their actions by any means, it’s just sad to know it could have ended differently for them.
And the narration was wonderful because the author narrated it! And she has the most delightful Southern voice.
I liked getting inside the head of Jane from a young child becoming a servant to the monster and what drove her to murder in this novella style. As Mary Kay addressed in her awesome intro from her time as a counselor to teen boys in a juvenile home, they all start as children. And everything they experience, everyone who crosses their path to adulthood plays a story. Every monster we know of was once a child. It doesn’t justify their actions by any means, it’s just sad to know it could have ended differently for them.
November 27, 2020
“Jane Toppan, the greatest poisoner in history, here confessed she poisoned thirty-one persons.”
I think this one was an interesting true crime novel, unique in the narrative style it’s written in. There’s no info dumping or heavy statistics, just following along her life and how she eventually grew into the serial killer we know her as today. I didn’t have an issue with the author’s writing style really, mainly with the story itself and the feeling of attempting to gain sympathy for her. I felt that too much was imagined/fictionalized and it didn’t feel authentic. In the end I was a bit disappointed with this true crime book, as it felt more like historical fiction rather than true crime. However, it was still an interesting, quick read that shed light on a serial killer I knew little about.
I think this one was an interesting true crime novel, unique in the narrative style it’s written in. There’s no info dumping or heavy statistics, just following along her life and how she eventually grew into the serial killer we know her as today. I didn’t have an issue with the author’s writing style really, mainly with the story itself and the feeling of attempting to gain sympathy for her. I felt that too much was imagined/fictionalized and it didn’t feel authentic. In the end I was a bit disappointed with this true crime book, as it felt more like historical fiction rather than true crime. However, it was still an interesting, quick read that shed light on a serial killer I knew little about.
January 23, 2022
Let me start by saying I'm a nurse. I was absolutely intrigued by the story of Jane Toppan & I absolutely love true crime. While I found the book overall entertaining and interesting I found that because it wasn't based on absolute truths but deductions it fell a little short for me. This is the authors assumptions and not truth which was disappointing.
June 25, 2020
I’d give this a 3.5 if I could. True crime is one of my favorites. While this imagined retelling is fictional, it is based on all of the true story that was discoverable. It leaves you wondering what the author made up and what she did not. A great quick read, uniquely laid out, and wonderfully “imagined”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2021
Interesting take in telling a killers life in style of a story but just not for me, found it a bit confusing at times and hard to follow.
October 21, 2020
Easy read! Very interesting and underappreciated story.
May 27, 2020
I would have been more comfortable with this if it was published as historical fiction based on a true story. This is basically a novelization. It's okay, but not what I was looking for.
June 22, 2020
I listen to the audio in one day. Is an excellent narration and the story allow you to learn the background of the killer as well as to understand the historical circumstances that allow her to commit this crime and what can make a person become a monster.
September 12, 2020
This is a quick, fast-paced novel about the serial poisoner Jane Toppan. It presents the full story of the woman's life, from her difficulty beginning to ultimate conviction for poisoning. I particularly enjoyed the mix of different narrators and newspaper/court reports. At times, it was like reading pieces of evidence. Which, actually, is a little ironic, because when I first picked up this book, I thought it was nonfiction - not sure why as it never claims to be; rather, it is a work of historical fiction based on true events. Maybe it's the title - seems very matter of fact. Perhaps something like "Cruel Caregiver: The Life of Jane Toppan."
November 17, 2020
I wanted to love this book so much, but I cannot and will not ever sympathize with a cold blooded killer.
Mary Kay McBrayer set out to tell the story of how Jane Toppan was made into a murderer. This is a subject matter that fascinates me, as you can trace other famous serial killers like Dahmer and Manson and Kemper back to unhappy childhoods and visualize how they may have grown up to become the infamous villains they are known as today. With Jane Toppan, you really can't, though McBrayer does try.
America's First Female Serial Killer is basically historical fiction. McBrayer puts a lot of speculation into the situations that formed Jane Toppan's childhood and eventual life, but it's just that: speculation. And oddly, it's extremely sympathetic speculation. McBrayer makes small, almost meaningless events huge story lines that are supposed to show why Toppan was treated badly enough to enact at least 31 counts of murder. Except, I just don't quite see where being adopted early, working for a rich family, being a talented nurse, and getting ghosted by your first love could really lead to horrific acts of sexualized murder.
I also really hated some of the stylistic choices in this novel. I understood that the changes in tense and perspective were supposed to equate to the uncertainty of certain stories in history as well as the actual timeline of events, but it made everything hazy and confusing. Was Jane in her 40s, 60s or 80s when she finally got arrested? I really have no idea. And sadly, I also don't really care. She was an evil woman who did cruel, unjustified things out of nothing more than greed and spite (just read her confessions at the end of the book! It's all words actually written by Jane Toppan and it's eerie as hell.) I don't buy that her childhood turned her into a monster because her childhood wasn't great, but it wasn't abusive or extreme in any regards. Many people in her situation back in that time went through the exact same traumas, but none of them decided to go on a murder spree.
I feel like I would have enjoyed this book far more if it had been a nonfiction account of Jane Toppan's life and let the reader decide at the end whether she was born or made into a monster at the end. I really don't like having the author's opinion shoved in my face at the beginning that she was made this way, as McBrayer did nothing in her novel to convince me of that.
Mary Kay McBrayer set out to tell the story of how Jane Toppan was made into a murderer. This is a subject matter that fascinates me, as you can trace other famous serial killers like Dahmer and Manson and Kemper back to unhappy childhoods and visualize how they may have grown up to become the infamous villains they are known as today. With Jane Toppan, you really can't, though McBrayer does try.
America's First Female Serial Killer is basically historical fiction. McBrayer puts a lot of speculation into the situations that formed Jane Toppan's childhood and eventual life, but it's just that: speculation. And oddly, it's extremely sympathetic speculation. McBrayer makes small, almost meaningless events huge story lines that are supposed to show why Toppan was treated badly enough to enact at least 31 counts of murder. Except, I just don't quite see where being adopted early, working for a rich family, being a talented nurse, and getting ghosted by your first love could really lead to horrific acts of sexualized murder.
I also really hated some of the stylistic choices in this novel. I understood that the changes in tense and perspective were supposed to equate to the uncertainty of certain stories in history as well as the actual timeline of events, but it made everything hazy and confusing. Was Jane in her 40s, 60s or 80s when she finally got arrested? I really have no idea. And sadly, I also don't really care. She was an evil woman who did cruel, unjustified things out of nothing more than greed and spite (just read her confessions at the end of the book! It's all words actually written by Jane Toppan and it's eerie as hell.) I don't buy that her childhood turned her into a monster because her childhood wasn't great, but it wasn't abusive or extreme in any regards. Many people in her situation back in that time went through the exact same traumas, but none of them decided to go on a murder spree.
I feel like I would have enjoyed this book far more if it had been a nonfiction account of Jane Toppan's life and let the reader decide at the end whether she was born or made into a monster at the end. I really don't like having the author's opinion shoved in my face at the beginning that she was made this way, as McBrayer did nothing in her novel to convince me of that.
June 18, 2020
The concept of this book is an intriguing one. I don't know that Jane Toppan was the right subject for it. While I'm only giving this one star, I don't think the author is a bad writer. The book was very readable. The way the author shifted between different perspectives and narration styles was a good match for the content. The problem is the content.
The book puts much more emphasis on the "Making" than the "Monster," even though Jane begins killing a little over a third of the way through the book. It plays into the myth that murder by poisoning isn't as gruesome as other murder methods. Except for the one instance when someone lived to later testify, the murders seem sterile. Part of the reason she murders is that she enjoys it, and it is not a reason that gets mentioned often.
This really stood out in the sexual aspects of Jane's murders. In reality, Jane claimed that she killed because she felt sexual pleasure when she murdered someone. The only victim that was able to testify said that Jane was kissing her as she was poisoning her. That scene is in the book. It is alluded to a few more times, but it gets maybe alluded to with one word once Jane is arrested. The book is about why Jane was a murderer. It seems problematic that the book would go into quite a lot of detail about the more sympathetic reasons while saying almost nothing about this one. The paragraph that made this a one-star rather than a two-star review is the one that left me questioning if Jane molested a child.
There's also one plot issue that is so big that I keep thinking I'm misreading the book. I went back hoping that I was just misunderstanding, but I think the author leaves Florence alive in the more narrative part of the book. When she is last mentioned, Jane got her fired. I checked Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer, and if that is accurate, Florence was already dead at that point. She then shows up in the confession listed as someone Jane killed.
The book puts much more emphasis on the "Making" than the "Monster," even though Jane begins killing a little over a third of the way through the book. It plays into the myth that murder by poisoning isn't as gruesome as other murder methods. Except for the one instance when someone lived to later testify, the murders seem sterile. Part of the reason she murders is that she enjoys it, and it is not a reason that gets mentioned often.
This really stood out in the sexual aspects of Jane's murders. In reality, Jane claimed that she killed because she felt sexual pleasure when she murdered someone. The only victim that was able to testify said that Jane was kissing her as she was poisoning her. That scene is in the book. It is alluded to a few more times, but it gets maybe alluded to with one word once Jane is arrested. The book is about why Jane was a murderer. It seems problematic that the book would go into quite a lot of detail about the more sympathetic reasons while saying almost nothing about this one. The paragraph that made this a one-star rather than a two-star review is the one that left me questioning if Jane molested a child.
There's also one plot issue that is so big that I keep thinking I'm misreading the book. I went back hoping that I was just misunderstanding, but I think the author leaves Florence alive in the more narrative part of the book. When she is last mentioned, Jane got her fired. I checked Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer, and if that is accurate, Florence was already dead at that point. She then shows up in the confession listed as someone Jane killed.
August 27, 2023
I always thought Aileen Wuornos was the first female serial killer, but I found out that Honora Kelley, who later was named Jane Toppan, was the first one, and she was brutal.
Honora Kellye was an Irish-American born in Boston in 1857. When Honora was only age 1, her mother died of tuberculosis. The dad attempted to take care of Honora and her older sister Delia, but there were mentions of abuse. When the two girls were 8 and 6, their father dropped them off at the orphanage at the Boston Female Asylum. She was prone to telling stories to keep the other girls entertained and to gain their friendship, but she was also a hard worker. When a girl turned ten, they place them in respectable families.
When Honora was placed, she was sent to the family to work. She wasn't part of this family. She should have been, but she was often mistreated. They even renamed her Jane Toppan so she wouldn't sound Irish as Irish immigrants were treated with discrimination during this time. Jane did well in school and had many friends, but as she grew up, she gained a lot of weight, had few friends, and was rejected by a man she wanted to be with.
All these years she continued telling untrue stories (read-lies), gossiping, and drinking heavily. However, she entered nursing school at age 33, first at Cambridge Hospital then at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was fired from both positions, yet when she hired her services out to wealthy families, she came highly recommended.
Most of the doctors loved her because she was friendly, outgoing, and did her job well. She was nicknamed Jolly Jane. Her classmates in nursing school began to resent her, though.
I won't tell the whole story here, but it is well written and worth a read. It reads like a regular novel rather than a true crime story. In all, Jane Toppan killed at least 31 people, probably more. She was caught when suspicions arose after an entire family was killed, and she was finally arrested in October of 1901.
She got a thrill from killing making her a complete monster, but her story is quite interesting and McBrayer is more than competent in her telling of this story.
Honora Kellye was an Irish-American born in Boston in 1857. When Honora was only age 1, her mother died of tuberculosis. The dad attempted to take care of Honora and her older sister Delia, but there were mentions of abuse. When the two girls were 8 and 6, their father dropped them off at the orphanage at the Boston Female Asylum. She was prone to telling stories to keep the other girls entertained and to gain their friendship, but she was also a hard worker. When a girl turned ten, they place them in respectable families.
When Honora was placed, she was sent to the family to work. She wasn't part of this family. She should have been, but she was often mistreated. They even renamed her Jane Toppan so she wouldn't sound Irish as Irish immigrants were treated with discrimination during this time. Jane did well in school and had many friends, but as she grew up, she gained a lot of weight, had few friends, and was rejected by a man she wanted to be with.
All these years she continued telling untrue stories (read-lies), gossiping, and drinking heavily. However, she entered nursing school at age 33, first at Cambridge Hospital then at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was fired from both positions, yet when she hired her services out to wealthy families, she came highly recommended.
Most of the doctors loved her because she was friendly, outgoing, and did her job well. She was nicknamed Jolly Jane. Her classmates in nursing school began to resent her, though.
I won't tell the whole story here, but it is well written and worth a read. It reads like a regular novel rather than a true crime story. In all, Jane Toppan killed at least 31 people, probably more. She was caught when suspicions arose after an entire family was killed, and she was finally arrested in October of 1901.
She got a thrill from killing making her a complete monster, but her story is quite interesting and McBrayer is more than competent in her telling of this story.
January 4, 2021
Well researched and brilliantly pieced together, America’s First Female Serial Killer documents the life and crimes of Jane Toppan.
Rather than reading like a typical true crime novel, however, McBrayer presents the reader with a tapestry of true crime stylings, historical speculative fiction, newspaper clippings and statements, all woven together to create this wonderfully immersive novelisation that reads like fiction and is impossible to put down.
Knowing that McBrayer had researched and fact-checked as much as possible, but also knowing that not all of the details present in the pages are strictly factual – instead they serve to enhance what IS known and fact-checked – makes for a truly unique reading experience and one that has me appreciating the talent behind putting this together.
Jane Toppan is a fascinating subject and while there is a lot to unravel here around how much she may have been a victim of her circumstances – “If I had been a married woman I probably would not have killed all these people. I would have had my husband, my children, and my house to take up my mind” – there is also no denying just how cold, calculated and truly depraved her actions were.
4.5 stars
Rather than reading like a typical true crime novel, however, McBrayer presents the reader with a tapestry of true crime stylings, historical speculative fiction, newspaper clippings and statements, all woven together to create this wonderfully immersive novelisation that reads like fiction and is impossible to put down.
Knowing that McBrayer had researched and fact-checked as much as possible, but also knowing that not all of the details present in the pages are strictly factual – instead they serve to enhance what IS known and fact-checked – makes for a truly unique reading experience and one that has me appreciating the talent behind putting this together.
Jane Toppan is a fascinating subject and while there is a lot to unravel here around how much she may have been a victim of her circumstances – “If I had been a married woman I probably would not have killed all these people. I would have had my husband, my children, and my house to take up my mind” – there is also no denying just how cold, calculated and truly depraved her actions were.
4.5 stars
February 16, 2023
Honora Kelley was taken from the Boston Female Asylum by Ann Toppan to work as a household servant. She was only eight and had been abandoned by her Irish immigrant father Peter. It was an everyday occurrence in the Boston of 1862. Ann changed the girl's name to Jane and beat her on a regular basis. She was called a "Paddy" and the Irish were inferior and lazy. Catholics were contemptible.
At eighteen, Jane was given fifty dollars and the choice of leaving the household, as her contract as an indentured servant was over. She stayed.
Ann kicked the bucket and Jane cleaned and dressed the corpse in preparation for a six day viewing. She opened the windows, as by the sixth day, the odors were quite pungent.
She finally left after twenty-two-years of living in an attic to attend a nursing school in Cambridge. She was later hired at Massachusetts General Hospital, and like our present day Charlie Cullen, her patients began to die at an alarming rate. Digoxin was Chuck's drug of choice, but in the 1890's, morphine and atropine were Jane's personal favorites. She was overhead to say that there was no reason to keep the elderly alive.
The Davis family died one after another and autopsies uncovered high levels of arsenic. Jolly Janie was a tenant of the unfortunate victims and after a short trial she was found guilty but insane and lived a long and quiet life as a ward of the state.
The best parts of the book are the actual writings of the serial killer. The public education system of the nineteenth century turned out a much more literate public.
Toppan, or Kelley, provided excellent material for a true crime book.
At eighteen, Jane was given fifty dollars and the choice of leaving the household, as her contract as an indentured servant was over. She stayed.
Ann kicked the bucket and Jane cleaned and dressed the corpse in preparation for a six day viewing. She opened the windows, as by the sixth day, the odors were quite pungent.
She finally left after twenty-two-years of living in an attic to attend a nursing school in Cambridge. She was later hired at Massachusetts General Hospital, and like our present day Charlie Cullen, her patients began to die at an alarming rate. Digoxin was Chuck's drug of choice, but in the 1890's, morphine and atropine were Jane's personal favorites. She was overhead to say that there was no reason to keep the elderly alive.
The Davis family died one after another and autopsies uncovered high levels of arsenic. Jolly Janie was a tenant of the unfortunate victims and after a short trial she was found guilty but insane and lived a long and quiet life as a ward of the state.
The best parts of the book are the actual writings of the serial killer. The public education system of the nineteenth century turned out a much more literate public.
Toppan, or Kelley, provided excellent material for a true crime book.
May 4, 2023
While basing the book on accurate information from the trial & confession of Jane Toppan, whose real name was Nora Kelly, & facts from her life, much of the story is historical fiction of what she was feeling, her interactions with people, & her romantic encounters in order to bring her to life. Things were a bit confusing at times when the factual information started being inserted as it often wasn't clear who was speaking. With all that said, it was an interesting story. Jane was a hospital & private nurse who murdered 30+ people--patients, those who annoyed or threatened to expose her, or anyone who stood in the way of what she felt she deserved. While she is described as a lovable, charming, efficient, & helpful person, I could not stir up any sympathy or liking for her despite her early life in an orphan asylum, mistreatment by various employers, & loss of all contact with any family she had. It seems these were what contributed to her murderous ways, but because her murders were done as "experiments" to perfect her poisoning skills, or for her own gain or personal reasons & not, as a nurse, to ease people out of a painful or terminal illness, I couldn't feel for her situation. But it was quite an interesting story & also amazing that it took people so long to realize what she was doing when nearly everyone she "nursed" died.
May 19, 2020
Go buy the book now!!
I was very kindly sent a review copy by the author.
Wow! This book is awesome!
Following the life of American serial killer Jane Toppan. This wonderful book discusses the many unfortunate events in and surrounding the life of Honora Kelly. From being abandoned at a young age, spending her formative years as an indentured servant to eventually becoming a nurse that would kill 31 people!
This book is perfect if you are a true crime lover and have just been searching for something that would scratch that In Cold Blood itch. I am generally not a fan of narrative nonfiction, but the prose and narrative structure were so compelling that I couldn’t help but make the comparison to Capote’s masterpiece, the only narrative nonfiction that I have truly loved. This is also full of social and historical commentary which made the resemblance between the two narratives even more concrete to me.
Another feature I was really excited about was the use of original documents and bibliography. It is definitely the kind of book that will send you down the research spiral several times. The research was well done and it shows.
Overall if I had to break it down to the decimals this would be a 4,7 but for all intents and purposes it is a solid 5 ⭐️
I was very kindly sent a review copy by the author.
Wow! This book is awesome!
Following the life of American serial killer Jane Toppan. This wonderful book discusses the many unfortunate events in and surrounding the life of Honora Kelly. From being abandoned at a young age, spending her formative years as an indentured servant to eventually becoming a nurse that would kill 31 people!
This book is perfect if you are a true crime lover and have just been searching for something that would scratch that In Cold Blood itch. I am generally not a fan of narrative nonfiction, but the prose and narrative structure were so compelling that I couldn’t help but make the comparison to Capote’s masterpiece, the only narrative nonfiction that I have truly loved. This is also full of social and historical commentary which made the resemblance between the two narratives even more concrete to me.
Another feature I was really excited about was the use of original documents and bibliography. It is definitely the kind of book that will send you down the research spiral several times. The research was well done and it shows.
Overall if I had to break it down to the decimals this would be a 4,7 but for all intents and purposes it is a solid 5 ⭐️
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