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My Mother, a Serial Killer
A gripping and shocking story of a serial killer mother, and the brave daughter who brought her to justice. Dulcie Bodsworth was the unlikeliest serial killer. She was loved everywhere she went, and the townsfolk of Wilcannia, which she called home in the late 1950s, thought of her as kind and caring. The officers at the local police station found Dulcie witty and charming, and looked forward to the scones and cakes she generously baked and delivered for their morning tea.
That was one side of her. Only her daughter Hazel saw the real Dulcie. And what she saw terrified her.
Dulcie was in fact a cold, calculating killer who, by 1958, had put three men in their graves - one of them the father of her four children, Ted Baron - in one of the most infamous periods of the state's history. She would have got away with it all had it not been for Hazel.
Written by award-winning journalist Janet Fife-Yeomans together with Hazel Baron, My Mother, A Serial Killer is both an evocative insight into the harshness of life on the fringes of Australian society in the 1950s, and a chilling story of a murderous mother and the courageous daughter who testified against her and put her in jail.
That was one side of her. Only her daughter Hazel saw the real Dulcie. And what she saw terrified her.
Dulcie was in fact a cold, calculating killer who, by 1958, had put three men in their graves - one of them the father of her four children, Ted Baron - in one of the most infamous periods of the state's history. She would have got away with it all had it not been for Hazel.
Written by award-winning journalist Janet Fife-Yeomans together with Hazel Baron, My Mother, A Serial Killer is both an evocative insight into the harshness of life on the fringes of Australian society in the 1950s, and a chilling story of a murderous mother and the courageous daughter who testified against her and put her in jail.
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First published March 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
November 19, 2019
This was horrific. How would you feel if your mother was bumping off your family? How would you feel if when she got caught and imprisoned she hung on to you and you couldn't rid yourself of family-feeling? You'll never know, none of us will. The author did and that's what makes this book so interesting.
It puts me in mind of Rian Malan's brilliant and agonised memoir, My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience. Rian's father, D.F. Malan, a former pastor, was the Prime Minister of South Africa whose government implemented and brutally enforced apartheid. He was responsible for many, many murders. Because Malan is a brilliant writer and really bared his heart and soul in this book making it an all-gold 10 star read, I will remember it for another 20 years unlike this book, My Mother, a Serial Killer, but it's still a 5 star read.
It puts me in mind of Rian Malan's brilliant and agonised memoir, My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience. Rian's father, D.F. Malan, a former pastor, was the Prime Minister of South Africa whose government implemented and brutally enforced apartheid. He was responsible for many, many murders. Because Malan is a brilliant writer and really bared his heart and soul in this book making it an all-gold 10 star read, I will remember it for another 20 years unlike this book, My Mother, a Serial Killer, but it's still a 5 star read.
June 17, 2019
A tragic story of a daughter being in the troubling position of having to advise authorities that her own mother has murdered three men.
The story starts in the 1940’s when having already abandoned four children and another husband (unbeknown to anyone at this time), Dulcie Bodsworth murders in a calculation fashion, the murder of her current husband, and the father of her three children.
Hazel is 9 at this time and knows something isn’t quite right. Not only does she witness canoodling and secrets between her mother and another man, she knows her beloved dad would not have fallen in a river and drowned. A poor family, living in tents along a country NSW town, her father returns from hospital physically incapacitated by rheumatoid arthritis. Not a well man at all, Dulcie feigns love and understanding and tucks him in to bed at 6.00pm, while she goes to sleep in the other tent, with the other man! Hazel’s father is dead, presumed drowned, the next day. Years later on exhumation, large traces of arsenic were detected.
Thus proceeds two more murders, Dulcie is a manipulative woman, putting on airs and graces and always a good image in public. Never forming close enough ties in a community so she can make a hasty exit whenever the mood strikes. She even baked cakes and scones for the local constabulary! Years later she forms a friendship with and baked for Morris Iemma, who considered nominating Dulcie for an Order of Australia Medal. With a quiet word from the local police, this was quickly abandoned.
Dulcie lacked empathy. Whilst not having been mentioned in the book, I would say she was a psychopath. She abandoned her children, forced them children to lie, failed to provide any stability (at times they were to sleep upright the car!) and lied to all who knew her. She was a trouble maker at her nursing home and even attempted to start a fire there. She lit numerous fires in her unit that she occupied before going into care.
Hazel suffered a nervous breakdown and realised her mother must be made accountable, and proceeded to stealthily advise another township’s police department of her mother’s wrongs. Hazel was lucky to find a loving husband, and despite Dulcie trying to kill him also, who always stood by her. Together they raised a family and fostered 101 children. Hazel states this was her way of making amends for the sins of her mother. Every child deserves to be loved, cared for and heard. This is about the only good I could see come out of this tragic story. She stood by her mother, continuing to visit until her death, stating she did not love her mother, but was doing the right thing by not abandoning her, as her mother did her.
Well written by Hazel, with contributions by Janet Fife-Yeomans using court documents and comments by friends and acquaintances; no one would ever forget Dulcie Bodsworth.
The story starts in the 1940’s when having already abandoned four children and another husband (unbeknown to anyone at this time), Dulcie Bodsworth murders in a calculation fashion, the murder of her current husband, and the father of her three children.
Hazel is 9 at this time and knows something isn’t quite right. Not only does she witness canoodling and secrets between her mother and another man, she knows her beloved dad would not have fallen in a river and drowned. A poor family, living in tents along a country NSW town, her father returns from hospital physically incapacitated by rheumatoid arthritis. Not a well man at all, Dulcie feigns love and understanding and tucks him in to bed at 6.00pm, while she goes to sleep in the other tent, with the other man! Hazel’s father is dead, presumed drowned, the next day. Years later on exhumation, large traces of arsenic were detected.
Thus proceeds two more murders, Dulcie is a manipulative woman, putting on airs and graces and always a good image in public. Never forming close enough ties in a community so she can make a hasty exit whenever the mood strikes. She even baked cakes and scones for the local constabulary! Years later she forms a friendship with and baked for Morris Iemma, who considered nominating Dulcie for an Order of Australia Medal. With a quiet word from the local police, this was quickly abandoned.
Dulcie lacked empathy. Whilst not having been mentioned in the book, I would say she was a psychopath. She abandoned her children, forced them children to lie, failed to provide any stability (at times they were to sleep upright the car!) and lied to all who knew her. She was a trouble maker at her nursing home and even attempted to start a fire there. She lit numerous fires in her unit that she occupied before going into care.
Hazel suffered a nervous breakdown and realised her mother must be made accountable, and proceeded to stealthily advise another township’s police department of her mother’s wrongs. Hazel was lucky to find a loving husband, and despite Dulcie trying to kill him also, who always stood by her. Together they raised a family and fostered 101 children. Hazel states this was her way of making amends for the sins of her mother. Every child deserves to be loved, cared for and heard. This is about the only good I could see come out of this tragic story. She stood by her mother, continuing to visit until her death, stating she did not love her mother, but was doing the right thing by not abandoning her, as her mother did her.
Well written by Hazel, with contributions by Janet Fife-Yeomans using court documents and comments by friends and acquaintances; no one would ever forget Dulcie Bodsworth.
February 27, 2025
“She possessed no conscience. She was lethal.”
MY MOTHER, A SERIAL KILLER, simply put, is a true crime biography of Dulcie Bodsworth, a member of that rather rare variation of serial killer, a female. Living rough in the Australian outback in the middle of the 20th century, she and her lover, a young man many years her junior, did away with her second husband and two close friends. As she grew up under the thumb of her mother, Hazel Baron, came to understand that Bodsworth was a dominating, narcissistic sociopath who brooked no opposition to her ideas and hated to be out of the limelight of society for even a moment, a society that had convinced themselves she was kind, witty, charming and caring. Hazel Baron knew better.
MY MOTHER, A SERIAL KILLER is not gripping in the sense that one might expect from a suspense thriller or a well-written mystery. But Baron’s descriptions of her mother’s life, the detective work that was involved with ultimately bringing her to justice, and especially the details of the courtroom drama that saw her almost slip from the grasp of Lady Justice make for some easy-going, interesting and surprisingly compelling reading. Very enjoyable and definitely recommended to those who enjoy a well written true crime drama.
Paul Weiss
MY MOTHER, A SERIAL KILLER, simply put, is a true crime biography of Dulcie Bodsworth, a member of that rather rare variation of serial killer, a female. Living rough in the Australian outback in the middle of the 20th century, she and her lover, a young man many years her junior, did away with her second husband and two close friends. As she grew up under the thumb of her mother, Hazel Baron, came to understand that Bodsworth was a dominating, narcissistic sociopath who brooked no opposition to her ideas and hated to be out of the limelight of society for even a moment, a society that had convinced themselves she was kind, witty, charming and caring. Hazel Baron knew better.
MY MOTHER, A SERIAL KILLER is not gripping in the sense that one might expect from a suspense thriller or a well-written mystery. But Baron’s descriptions of her mother’s life, the detective work that was involved with ultimately bringing her to justice, and especially the details of the courtroom drama that saw her almost slip from the grasp of Lady Justice make for some easy-going, interesting and surprisingly compelling reading. Very enjoyable and definitely recommended to those who enjoy a well written true crime drama.
Paul Weiss
did-not-finish
November 6, 2018The story is intriguing, but not enough to make up for the way it's written. It reads like an essay written by a teenager.
June 4, 2022
My Mother, A Serial Killer was mystifying. How could a mother of such small children kill three men, one her own husband? Deplorable
But as I questionable as her crimes were, nothing beats her antics once she was released from prison and ended up in a nursing home!!!!
This was one of my first true crime books after creating my current GR account. Little did I know I would become obsessed (or possessed as I misspoke a couple of hours ago i think either counts lol) with true crime like I have!
But as I questionable as her crimes were, nothing beats her antics once she was released from prison and ended up in a nursing home!!!!
This was one of my first true crime books after creating my current GR account. Little did I know I would become obsessed (or possessed as I misspoke a couple of hours ago i think either counts lol) with true crime like I have!
August 18, 2018
The story itself is good, but strays too often into details about people who are not a part of the main story-- felt like fillers to make the book longer perhaps? I would prefer a shorter book.
July 7, 2019
‘Hazel Baron was nine when she first suspected her mother was a murderer.’
There were two sides to Dulcie Bodsworth. There was Dulcie, the community-minded wife and mother, respected as a talented cook and caterer. And there was Dulcie, who abandoned her first family, and then murdered her second husband (the father of four of her children) and two other men.
This is a story about a family living on the periphery of Australian society during the 1940s and 1950s. It is the story of a cold-blooded killer and of her courageous daughter. Dulcie would have got away with these murders if Hazel hadn’t turned her in to the police.
In 1950, when her husband Ted Baron, a former railway ganger was in hospital crippled by rheumatoid arthritis, the family was living in two army tents opposite Mildura on the NSW side of the Murray River. Dulcie took up with Harry, who was some 19 years younger. On the night Ted was discharged from hospital, Dulcie put her four children to bed with warm milk and Aspro tablets. The following morning, she shook Hazel awake, to tell her that her father was missing, and she thought he’d drowned in the river. Ted’s body was found upstream a few days later. An inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death. Immediately afterwards, Dulcie removed the children from school. She told the police that Harry was Ted’s brother, then later claimed he was her brother.
Thus began a number of years where the family moved frequently. By 1955, Dulcie had a job as a housekeeper on a sheep station near Wilcannia in north-western NSW. The manager of that station, Sam Overton, became Dulcie’s second victim in 1956. His death was attributed to natural causes. Dulcie killed Sam Overton by putting arsenic on his lamb chops. She thought that once he was dead, Harry would be able to take over the station. Dulcie’s third victim was Tommy Tregenza, a man whom Dulcie had befriended. Tommy drank too much, and when he died in an accidental fire in his room (a shed at the back of the hotel where Dulcie cooked), no-one seemed surprised. Dulcie was furious, though, as although she’d managed to convince Tommy Tregenza to leave his money to her in his will, she didn’t receive anything.
Dulcie killed three men who got in her way. In addition to looking at her life, this book tells how she was brought to justice. Hazel, now married and a nurse, had been suspicious of her mother since her father Ted’s death. The investigation was not straightforward. Dulcie Bodsworth was finally charged with three murders in 1964 and served 13 ½ years. Dulcie Bodsworth died in 2008.
I finished this book full of admiration for Hazel Baron.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
There were two sides to Dulcie Bodsworth. There was Dulcie, the community-minded wife and mother, respected as a talented cook and caterer. And there was Dulcie, who abandoned her first family, and then murdered her second husband (the father of four of her children) and two other men.
This is a story about a family living on the periphery of Australian society during the 1940s and 1950s. It is the story of a cold-blooded killer and of her courageous daughter. Dulcie would have got away with these murders if Hazel hadn’t turned her in to the police.
In 1950, when her husband Ted Baron, a former railway ganger was in hospital crippled by rheumatoid arthritis, the family was living in two army tents opposite Mildura on the NSW side of the Murray River. Dulcie took up with Harry, who was some 19 years younger. On the night Ted was discharged from hospital, Dulcie put her four children to bed with warm milk and Aspro tablets. The following morning, she shook Hazel awake, to tell her that her father was missing, and she thought he’d drowned in the river. Ted’s body was found upstream a few days later. An inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death. Immediately afterwards, Dulcie removed the children from school. She told the police that Harry was Ted’s brother, then later claimed he was her brother.
Thus began a number of years where the family moved frequently. By 1955, Dulcie had a job as a housekeeper on a sheep station near Wilcannia in north-western NSW. The manager of that station, Sam Overton, became Dulcie’s second victim in 1956. His death was attributed to natural causes. Dulcie killed Sam Overton by putting arsenic on his lamb chops. She thought that once he was dead, Harry would be able to take over the station. Dulcie’s third victim was Tommy Tregenza, a man whom Dulcie had befriended. Tommy drank too much, and when he died in an accidental fire in his room (a shed at the back of the hotel where Dulcie cooked), no-one seemed surprised. Dulcie was furious, though, as although she’d managed to convince Tommy Tregenza to leave his money to her in his will, she didn’t receive anything.
Dulcie killed three men who got in her way. In addition to looking at her life, this book tells how she was brought to justice. Hazel, now married and a nurse, had been suspicious of her mother since her father Ted’s death. The investigation was not straightforward. Dulcie Bodsworth was finally charged with three murders in 1964 and served 13 ½ years. Dulcie Bodsworth died in 2008.
I finished this book full of admiration for Hazel Baron.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 3, 2018
Ah true crime, and one I hadn't heard of until now. Well researched and well written, I did quite enjoy this book. This woman was a real psychopath, who didn't give killing her victims a second thought and utilised her charms for her own gain. Her daughter's capacity to continue to associate with her in later life was truly amazing. This one is probably of most interest to true crime fans and those interested in a small piece of Australian history. A good yarn, so to speak! :)
February 25, 2022
This novel is an extraordinary story of Hazel Baron, whose mother was the infamous Dulcie Bodsworth. Dulcie Bodsworth was a serial killer. A lady with no empathy, who murdered for her gain and used her children as pawns.
My Mother, A Serial Killer is both an evocative insight into the harshness of life on the fringes of Australian society in the 1950s and a chilling story of a murderous mother and the courageous daughter.
3.5 stars
My Mother, A Serial Killer is both an evocative insight into the harshness of life on the fringes of Australian society in the 1950s and a chilling story of a murderous mother and the courageous daughter.
3.5 stars
April 11, 2018
A chilling story of murder, set in the Australian outback during the 40s, 50s and 60s. Each chapter leaves your jaw hitting the floor time and time again. Great read.
January 23, 2019
This book is riveting, not only because of the perspective of a mother turning in her own mother to the police as a serial killer, but also the amount of detail given in the historical context of the time. The criminal history, cultural history as well as the sociological structures of Australia in the mid-20th century are woven throughout the book and make it a surprisingly in-depth read as opposed to the common structure of most over-sensationalized crime books (whether fiction or non-fiction). HIGHLY recommend this book for people who have an interest in human nature, the family unit and crime of a very personal impact.
June 3, 2022
What an incredible story. The timeline felt like it jumped around a bit, and some aspects could’ve been more fleshed out. But it was a good book because that woman was such a piece of work.
March 28, 2019
This book was ok. It started out interesting but then half way through it became completely boring. The case itself is interesting enough but I would have liked to be given more insight into Dulcie considering she falls into the very small group of female serial killers. Hazel Baron is undoubtedly a strong individual who endured so much but I just felt her experiences were reduced to a few short lines here and there. In the end this book could have been much more enjoyable had it not been written like an essay, and one I couldn’t really be bothered reading in the end.
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March 1, 2020I'm not comfortable one star this, as I find the story interesting. What bugs me and makes it difficult for me is the style. While Hazel Baron is listed as an author, the book is told via third person pov, and the writing style is very YA. I did like the information about life after WWII, but I didn't find myself especially gripped by the story. However, I do want to know more about Hazel.
January 3, 2021
This book was an interesting read. When I picked this book up, I was unaware that it took place in Australia. The author took us through many remote regions of the country and it was interesting to learn about how some families living on the poverty line survived in these areas.
As far as the story went, it was almost unbelievable how Baron's mother managed to commit so many murders (as well as get chummy with the local police) with no suspicion whatsoever. If not for Baron, her mother would have gotten away with her crimes (and probably would have gone on to continue to murder, as her greed was the driving force in her life). It's strange how Baron's mother continued to have power over her siblings, who either didn't believe her or still felt a loyalty to her mother, despite knowing her crimes. The most unbelievable part of this story is the amount of time her mother spent in jail for her crimes and what happened to her afterwards.
I enjoy reading true crime but I think this book suffered from a few problems. This book was written decades after the events that occurred in the author's life and the author was clearly a layperson. Having read countless true crime stories, this one suffered from a narrator that was neither impartial nor a skilled author.
As far as the story went, it was almost unbelievable how Baron's mother managed to commit so many murders (as well as get chummy with the local police) with no suspicion whatsoever. If not for Baron, her mother would have gotten away with her crimes (and probably would have gone on to continue to murder, as her greed was the driving force in her life). It's strange how Baron's mother continued to have power over her siblings, who either didn't believe her or still felt a loyalty to her mother, despite knowing her crimes. The most unbelievable part of this story is the amount of time her mother spent in jail for her crimes and what happened to her afterwards.
I enjoy reading true crime but I think this book suffered from a few problems. This book was written decades after the events that occurred in the author's life and the author was clearly a layperson. Having read countless true crime stories, this one suffered from a narrator that was neither impartial nor a skilled author.
February 25, 2022
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars & I highly recommend it...
however this book about Dulcie (the aforesaid murderess) has 18 photographs but only 6 of them (& they are not good) include Dulcie. Whatever you think she is the star of this book.
I was prejudiced when I started this book - never good & it wasn’t this time either. It is a surprising book. What made Hazel dob in her mother - & then visit her after jail for the rest of her life? Why would Dulcie want to see her nemesis?
What makes a “Dulcie” tick?
If read carefully the answers are there but not until the very end.
It is an enlightening book. And not complicated by a waffling number of psychological theories.
The facts are there - thoroughly researched & constantly surprising.
Dulcie was parodied in “Prisoner” as Lizzie, a very popular Australian series about female prisoners - but I feel she has been sorely underused - she is a great topic for an Australian movie.
Serial killers are so topical & so very few are females ..... she was not repentant or remorseful & actually benefited from her crimes, despite being imprisoned. Times were changing & so was Dulcie.
What a story!! Give it a go.
however this book about Dulcie (the aforesaid murderess) has 18 photographs but only 6 of them (& they are not good) include Dulcie. Whatever you think she is the star of this book.
I was prejudiced when I started this book - never good & it wasn’t this time either. It is a surprising book. What made Hazel dob in her mother - & then visit her after jail for the rest of her life? Why would Dulcie want to see her nemesis?
What makes a “Dulcie” tick?
If read carefully the answers are there but not until the very end.
It is an enlightening book. And not complicated by a waffling number of psychological theories.
The facts are there - thoroughly researched & constantly surprising.
Dulcie was parodied in “Prisoner” as Lizzie, a very popular Australian series about female prisoners - but I feel she has been sorely underused - she is a great topic for an Australian movie.
Serial killers are so topical & so very few are females ..... she was not repentant or remorseful & actually benefited from her crimes, despite being imprisoned. Times were changing & so was Dulcie.
What a story!! Give it a go.
June 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and found it shocking, sad and gripping. I thought the writing was excellent: well paced and tense. Reading about life in Australia and about ruthless grifter and psychopath Dulcie was fascinating. The last part of the book failed to hold my attention as much as I don’t particularly enjoy reading about legal proceedings but I was really hooked on this story overall and glad I picked it up.
May 16, 2018
I'm surprised I had not heard of these crimes and this woman. It is obvious to see that she was a psychopath. I was equally surprised that she was used as a 'consultant' on the 'Prisoner' show and that Lizzie was loosely based on her.
Hazel, one of her daughters, did an amazing job to survive her childhood and young adulthood, and thrive as an adult. I initially felt appalled that she stayed in touch with her mother and even helped her when she was out of prison. But then I realized she most likely did not do it because her mother was now old and frail, and she felt sorry for her, but rather in an effort to keep tabs on her and stop her from harming more people because, yes, Dulcie was still a menace, even in her old age. One does not suddenly grow a conscious.
I felt her husband and partner in crime got off very lightly considering he was very much involved in these crimes.
All in all an appalling pair of people and a prime example of how homicidal psychopaths operate.
Hazel, one of her daughters, did an amazing job to survive her childhood and young adulthood, and thrive as an adult. I initially felt appalled that she stayed in touch with her mother and even helped her when she was out of prison. But then I realized she most likely did not do it because her mother was now old and frail, and she felt sorry for her, but rather in an effort to keep tabs on her and stop her from harming more people because, yes, Dulcie was still a menace, even in her old age. One does not suddenly grow a conscious.
I felt her husband and partner in crime got off very lightly considering he was very much involved in these crimes.
All in all an appalling pair of people and a prime example of how homicidal psychopaths operate.
February 10, 2020
I waffled on 3 or 4 stars because there are chunks of the book that easily could have been taken out without taking away from the story but, I really liked how bizarre and outrageous this woman's life was, and you can't help but feel sorry for this daughter. It almost seems as if the mother truly enjoyed terrorizing her as much as she apparently enjoyed killing these men. If you're a fan of Netflix documentaries and crime in general, you need this book.
January 4, 2022
A true story with a truly unexpected main character in 1940’s Australia!
A riveting true story as told by the daughter, Hazel Baron.
Wow, this is truly engrossing from start to finish. What a brave girl Hazel Baron was/is, and what a perfect example she is that we are not our past. She grew into a loving and caring soul who has selflessly given so much to the lives of others.
A must read… especially for Australian history buffs.
A riveting true story as told by the daughter, Hazel Baron.
Wow, this is truly engrossing from start to finish. What a brave girl Hazel Baron was/is, and what a perfect example she is that we are not our past. She grew into a loving and caring soul who has selflessly given so much to the lives of others.
A must read… especially for Australian history buffs.
May 21, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. True crime and it's chilling.
June 14, 2019
Audiobook:
Engrossing story, well read by Kate Hosking
About 6 hours 57 minutes.
Engrossing story, well read by Kate Hosking
About 6 hours 57 minutes.
November 7, 2020
Didn't know this story, interesting character is Dulcie, according to her daughter she claimed innocence right to the end.
March 14, 2020
I was surprised as to how riveting this story was. A terribly tragic story that only came to be known to the public because young Hazel became suspicious and witness to several terrible crimes that her mother, Dulcie Bodsworth committed in Australia starting in the 1950s. Her mother was charming and appeared kind and caring; but she had a cruel, evil, dark side. Dulcie always got what she wanted, and did whatever she had to in order to get it. Female serial killers are a rarity, but Dulcie certainly fit the profile of a true psychopath, without a doubt.
Hazel lived in fear and suffered from bouts of depression because she knew what her mother was capable of. Would she become her next victim? Hazel knew that she had to do something and finally reported her suspicions to the police, which launched a very interesting investigation and court trial. It is obvious that living with a mother like this deeply affected Hazel throughout her life in many ways, and changed her as a person. Her brothers also suffered greatly from having a mother like this as well.
A very disturbing but worthwhile read.
Hazel lived in fear and suffered from bouts of depression because she knew what her mother was capable of. Would she become her next victim? Hazel knew that she had to do something and finally reported her suspicions to the police, which launched a very interesting investigation and court trial. It is obvious that living with a mother like this deeply affected Hazel throughout her life in many ways, and changed her as a person. Her brothers also suffered greatly from having a mother like this as well.
A very disturbing but worthwhile read.
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January 29, 2024Synopsis✨
Dulcie Bodsworth was the unlikeliest serial killer. She was loved everywhere she went, and the townsfolk of Wilcannia, which she called home in the late 1950s, thought of her as kind and caring.
That was one side of her. Only her daughter Hazel saw the real Dulcie. And what she saw terrified her.
Thoughts✨
The first half of this book had me hooked. Even after reading so many serial killer and true crime books, I was still saying “she did what?!” throughout the story. The account being written from the perspective of her daughter was intriguing and I liked being surprised at what Dulcie would do next.
However, as quickly as the first half went.. the second half felt excruciatingly slow. The second half details the trials after Dulcie is caught and I found it informative but very dry.
If you like true crime stories, It is worth reading . I had no previous knowledge of Dulcie or her crimes so it made for an interesting read.
November 3, 2022
When I picked this book up, I expected to be spooked, not sad 😞
In my defence, the edition I grabbed on a haul at a Walmart had huge, fluffy pink bunny slippers on it, and for some reason I thought it was going to be a dark, humourous piece of fiction.
It very much was not.
Yet the light at the end of the tunnel was Hazel herself. Her mother brought death into the world, and she made up for it by giving life. Creating her own biological family wasn’t enough—she went on to foster 100 kids and create an impact of good and doing right by her mother, evil and wicked as she was, to the very end. She is an admirable hero, and I’m glad this book’s appearance deceived me so that I could unveil the gold beneath and see the hope and life of a true hero in a world obsessed with true crime and serial killers in the spotlight.
In my defence, the edition I grabbed on a haul at a Walmart had huge, fluffy pink bunny slippers on it, and for some reason I thought it was going to be a dark, humourous piece of fiction.
It very much was not.
Yet the light at the end of the tunnel was Hazel herself. Her mother brought death into the world, and she made up for it by giving life. Creating her own biological family wasn’t enough—she went on to foster 100 kids and create an impact of good and doing right by her mother, evil and wicked as she was, to the very end. She is an admirable hero, and I’m glad this book’s appearance deceived me so that I could unveil the gold beneath and see the hope and life of a true hero in a world obsessed with true crime and serial killers in the spotlight.
April 20, 2022
Wow! It absolutely astounds me - the lives that some people have been forced to endure!
Hazel Baron not only survived but, with assistance from her supportive and loving husband Bill, her best friend Connie, her brothers Allan and Jim, and the mental health treatment she received, she also thrived. She, along with her husband Bill, raised four children and eventually cared for over 100 foster children!
Hazel is an amazing and resilient woman!
P. S. I, unlike Hazel, would NEVER have been able to visit Dulcie Bodsworth before or after her release from prison.
Janet Fife-Yeomans' narrative flows along at a brisk pace and, although populated with very many "characters", is quite easy to follow.
Recommended to readers who enjoy true crime stories.
Hazel Baron not only survived but, with assistance from her supportive and loving husband Bill, her best friend Connie, her brothers Allan and Jim, and the mental health treatment she received, she also thrived. She, along with her husband Bill, raised four children and eventually cared for over 100 foster children!
Hazel is an amazing and resilient woman!
P. S. I, unlike Hazel, would NEVER have been able to visit Dulcie Bodsworth before or after her release from prison.
Janet Fife-Yeomans' narrative flows along at a brisk pace and, although populated with very many "characters", is quite easy to follow.
Recommended to readers who enjoy true crime stories.
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