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True Crime Explicit #4
The Corpse Collector: The True Story of Dorothea Puente The Boarding House Killer
The Boarding House Killer; a true crime story about Dorothea Puente that’ll leave your spine tingling.
In this deep dive into this serial killer’s horrific actions, you’ll learn more about the evil deeds of the Boarding House Killer, Dorothea Puente. Get transported back to the 1980s, Sacramento, California. Learn the names of her victims and her heartless reasons for killing elderly and mentally disabled boarders under her care—if you dare.
The Newspapers dubbed her the Death House Landlady. You decide if that title is accurate as you learn exclusive facts of this case and follow the investigation and subsequent conviction of Dorothea.
Explore the true facts in this easy-to-read book that’ll keep you up all night. Get ready to leave the lights on! The twists and turns in this one will leave you breathless.
In this deep dive into this serial killer’s horrific actions, you’ll learn more about the evil deeds of the Boarding House Killer, Dorothea Puente. Get transported back to the 1980s, Sacramento, California. Learn the names of her victims and her heartless reasons for killing elderly and mentally disabled boarders under her care—if you dare.
The Newspapers dubbed her the Death House Landlady. You decide if that title is accurate as you learn exclusive facts of this case and follow the investigation and subsequent conviction of Dorothea.
Explore the true facts in this easy-to-read book that’ll keep you up all night. Get ready to leave the lights on! The twists and turns in this one will leave you breathless.
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2021
111 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 6, 2025
Dorothea had lived quite a (horrid) life in her first twenty or so years. It made this true crime tale feel very fast-paced with everything she had already been through and endured. Her life was truly shocking, and the way she was constantly able to get away with the same or similar crimes had me dumbfounded. Just wow.
May 6, 2022
Interesting and got straight to the point.
March 15, 2022
This is a true crime story of two sides of the same coin. Only in this instance the other side of the coin is horribly mutilated. Another parallel I can give to the life of murderess Dorothea Puente is that of the picture of Dorian Gray. While Dorian behaved deplorably his deeds were never reflected in his personal appearance. Outwardly he was a devilishly handsome young man that women found very attractive and charming, whereas men envied him and wished to have his luck and looks. Unbeknownst to everyone Dorian had a terrible secret he had a portrait commissioned. For every terrible deed he participated in his portrait bore the horrors of his actions. It became a truly horrific work of art showing his truly damned soul.
Similarly Dorothea Puente came across as this sweet little old lady who the public only knew as someone who took in and helped the needy and downtrodden. She won civil awards for her dedication. Her own portrait of her truly evil black heart was where no one could see it. And when people began to suspect her of her murderous actions they disappeared before they could tell the truth the gentle kindly false face was so great at hiding. Her years of telling lies made her quick on her feet in whatever situation she found herself in. She could come up a suitable story that her out of a lot of trouble. Even after the bodies were found in her yard how was she able to slip away from the police? Elderly murderess Dorothea Puente was elderly, clever, lucky, and homicidal.
Ms. Ortiz has become a true crime writer. She has honed her skill and is able to portray her monsters in truly a credible fashion that keeps you reading until the end. What I found especially interesting was reading the killer's backstory. What made her capable of perpetuating such a series of astonishing crimes?
Similarly Dorothea Puente came across as this sweet little old lady who the public only knew as someone who took in and helped the needy and downtrodden. She won civil awards for her dedication. Her own portrait of her truly evil black heart was where no one could see it. And when people began to suspect her of her murderous actions they disappeared before they could tell the truth the gentle kindly false face was so great at hiding. Her years of telling lies made her quick on her feet in whatever situation she found herself in. She could come up a suitable story that her out of a lot of trouble. Even after the bodies were found in her yard how was she able to slip away from the police? Elderly murderess Dorothea Puente was elderly, clever, lucky, and homicidal.
Ms. Ortiz has become a true crime writer. She has honed her skill and is able to portray her monsters in truly a credible fashion that keeps you reading until the end. What I found especially interesting was reading the killer's backstory. What made her capable of perpetuating such a series of astonishing crimes?
April 5, 2025
"She was perhaps, one of the most complicated serial killers in American History."
This book is classified as True Crime. This book is about Dorothea Puenta, and how their entire life went from birth to death. She was raised in an unloving home and had multiple siblings. As a child, she was SAed and was forced to work at the age of four. At nine, she became an orphan and then started to take after her mother in personality. She became an habitual liar, and she was arrested for the first time at nineteen years old.
I gave this book five stars. The reason behind that is due to how detailed the information was. It was insane how she was able to get away with so much stuff in that time period by changing up her last name and such.
This book is classified as True Crime. This book is about Dorothea Puenta, and how their entire life went from birth to death. She was raised in an unloving home and had multiple siblings. As a child, she was SAed and was forced to work at the age of four. At nine, she became an orphan and then started to take after her mother in personality. She became an habitual liar, and she was arrested for the first time at nineteen years old.
I gave this book five stars. The reason behind that is due to how detailed the information was. It was insane how she was able to get away with so much stuff in that time period by changing up her last name and such.
May 15, 2025
hard to believe
Hard to think that a little old woman would bury people she killed in her own yard. Hard to think that an elderly woman would kill in the first place. She did very well with her scheming. She got away with so many things, but in the end they always get caught no matter how long they get away with murder. I was expecting in the very beginning she would be collecting corpses,but that came later.
Hard to think that a little old woman would bury people she killed in her own yard. Hard to think that an elderly woman would kill in the first place. She did very well with her scheming. She got away with so many things, but in the end they always get caught no matter how long they get away with murder. I was expecting in the very beginning she would be collecting corpses,but that came later.
September 19, 2022
Excellent writing
A fascinating story of an amazing woman who time and time again murdered and stole checks from vulnerable old people, and kept getting away with it. So thoroughly researched, and well written. How do some people get away with so many awful things, again and again? This story will tell us how this woman did it.
A fascinating story of an amazing woman who time and time again murdered and stole checks from vulnerable old people, and kept getting away with it. So thoroughly researched, and well written. How do some people get away with so many awful things, again and again? This story will tell us how this woman did it.
July 6, 2022
Wow!
I vividly remember this case when it first broke. I live about 155 miles frm Sacramento and even as a child I recall this being on the news constantly. Every good a thoughouly researched book.
I vividly remember this case when it first broke. I live about 155 miles frm Sacramento and even as a child I recall this being on the news constantly. Every good a thoughouly researched book.
September 7, 2022
This book gave me a new side to serial killers, WOMEN. I suppose that shouldn't be. But if had to think about it, I would've given it more thought I would've thought they might use Poison. Less mess and not easy to detect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2022
An interesting read! I look forward to listening/reading the rest of these books
December 27, 2023
Good Read
This book was a very fast, easy read. The writing and the story was very well done. This was a very twisted and interesting case.
This book was a very fast, easy read. The writing and the story was very well done. This was a very twisted and interesting case.
March 29, 2024
Delusional woman
How she was not more accurately diagnosed, puzzles me. She was definitely sick. However, she was able to beat the system.
How she was not more accurately diagnosed, puzzles me. She was definitely sick. However, she was able to beat the system.
April 7, 2024
Got. Away with to much
This is a goog read how this person got away with it for so long is unbelievable. I recommend this book.
This is a goog read how this person got away with it for so long is unbelievable. I recommend this book.
February 11, 2025
good read
Decently detailed back story. I wish it had more to do with the case though. But still a good read to understand the events
Decently detailed back story. I wish it had more to do with the case though. But still a good read to understand the events
November 16, 2022
I remember watching a documentary on this case and was just in shock.
“She decided she was going to devote her life to helping others - just as long as there was something good in it for her.”
“She decided she was going to devote her life to helping others - just as long as there was something good in it for her.”
July 15, 2025
This did not have enough factual information for me. This seemed more aimed toward children which...that's a no.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews