To Die For: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Dana Sue Gray

by Kathy Braidhill

Impeccably dressed, meticulously neat, Dana Sue Gray spared no expense on herself. Dropping thousands of dollars on a shopping binge or a luxurious day spa was nothing out of the ordinary for Dana-nor for many wealthy women. But Dana wasn't wealthy-she was an unemployed nurse. She was also a serial murderess, who preyed upon elderly women, violently killed them, then used their credit cards to embark on wild, post-murder spending sprees.

Women serial killers are rare-there are only 36 documented cases-and those, like Dana Sue Gray, who murder so brutally that veteran police officers are shaken by the bloodiness of the crime scene, are even rarer. Now, in an exposé as shocking and fascinating as its subject matter, author Kathy Braidhill explores the stunning story of Dana Sue Gray, one of the most dangerous, deadly, and disturbed women in history.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 15, 2000

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written, good story.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reporting with occasionally wobbly proofreading.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dana Sue Gray is unique amongst serial killers in that she is female. Her favorite tools for murder were knives and telephone cords; a wonderful woman.
The first case was a lady of eighty-six who lived alone in an upscale community in California. Norma Davis was stabbed with two knives and strangled with a phone cord. The police assumed that the crime was committed by a man.
The next victim was also done in with a phone cord. The killer took some credit cards and became queen for a day, buying expensive clothes and some Smirnoff vodka.
When Dana was arrested and the police searched her home, they were astounded by the accumulation of every possible product the woman had managed to fit into every room of the house. Credit card receipts sealed Gray's fate and years of courtroom negotiations led to a predictable outcome. The book was a bit too long and repetitive for my tastes but it is still a good read.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of my true crime books I bought 10-15 yrs. ago [back in the days that I only read true crime and my hubby slept with one eye open and fed the dog part of his dinner before eating!]. When I decided to broaden my reading material this book along with a bunch of others was shoved in a closet to be read when I was desperate [such as now when I'm on a 3 month trip without those wonderful library books!]. Should have left this one in the closet!!!

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thi is what I wrote on Bookcrossing about this book in 2007:

Enjoyed reading this book. Boy what a crazy lady this one is.The book was very well written. At the end you are still left with a lot of questions. How did she become this way? Who was the guy who was with her when she was shopping? what happened, why did she suddenly decide to plead guilty? but even with these questions left unanswered it was a compelling read. Finished reading on April 18th

[Dee brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting . It was written differently than other true crime books just get a copy! :D

[Paula Cox]

Very disturbing.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book to dread for my law class and it did not disappoint! I loved how it showed the back story so if criminology and psychology interest you, this is a great book for that.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dana Sue Gray is a serial killer that killed several older women in the early 90's. She would use their credit cards after murdering her victims. I had not heard of her before. I found this book to be very interesting because it took place in the county I grew up in.

I think Gray has major issues besides being cold hearted she also has psychotic tendencies. She would not admit her crimes to detectives even after they reviewed the evidence they had linking her to the murders. She was in denial the whole time, which is typical of criminals. What made her case stand out is that it is very rare for women to be serial killers. It was hard to believe that a woman would be so brutal with older women and murder them in such a violent way as Gray did.

The book was written before the trial started so it does not go over that process. However, I did google this case and she is currently still in prison. It would be interesting to know if she ever does admit to killing these ladies since she would only admit to running up the deceased women's credit cards.

[Nenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owing to the detailed accounts, this could be a reference book for homicide detectives and lawyers. This is one in a series of books in St. Martin's True Crime Classics. Reading it was like watching an episode of CSI. It tells the story of a woman who attacked elderly women, kill them by strangulation and bludgeoning, then proceed to take their credit cards/checkbook and go on a shopping spree just minutes after the murder. The book clearly demonstrates that the way people behave and the things one does can be traced back to events in the past. But nobody is excused from doing crime just because they were not properly raised or because they were in dire circumstances. I'm not being naive, but being non-fiction, the book somehow drums in the scary fact that such kind of people really exists.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great true crime book about a female serial killer who brutally murdered little old ladies and then minutes after killing them went on shopping sprees with the victim's credit cards. A truly compelling story.

[Louise Blais · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is very unusual to hear about women serial killers. The woman is the picture of evil, the devil etc. I am happy she will never see the light of day. All the sorrow she brought to all the families of the elder women she has murdered is horrendous !!!! May you rot in Hell Dana Sue Gray.

[Meredith Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

choose by Jessica

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a sick bitch & I am glad she will never be let out.

[G Ream · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really twisted people out there.

[Jennifer Shermer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad writing. Bad editing. Bad read.

[Sonia Flores-wallis · Rating 1 out of 5]

started it couldn't stand how descriptive of every little thing few pages I read bored out of my mind so gave up two thumbs down

[Lindsey SD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could definitely use some editing and fine tuning. However, the author did an enormous amount of research and the story is fascinating. I couldn't put it down.

[Tija Addams · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite true crime books. So well written. Dana is the epitome of evil

[Candy Anderson]

Good reading