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Evil Wives
This book focuses on a carefully chosen selection of history’s deadliest female criminals, making it a chilling and engrossing read.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 3, 2021
This book contains the true crime tales of 34 murderous women. Each chapter, on the average, is around 6 pages. There are photos/drawings with each chapter. The women included are as follows: Jane Andrews -- Tracie Andrews -- Celeste Beard -- Sue Basso -- Betty Broderick -- Joyce Cohen -- Adele Craven -- Evelyn Dick -- Nancy 'Nannie' Doss -- Kathleen Folbigg -- Tracey Frame -- Rita Gluzman -- Marie Hilley -- Kimberly Hricko -- Elena Kiejliches -- Nancy Kissel -- Katherine Knight -- Ann Miller Kontz -- Shayne Lovera -- Jessica McCord -- Shelly Michael -- Sharee Miller -- Shawna Nelson -- Dorothea Puente -- Margaret Rudin -- Pamela Smart -- Susan Smith -- Lynn Turner -- Rosemary West -- Lisa Whedbee -- Mary Carol Winkler -- Misty Witherspoon -- Susan Wright -- Aileen Wournos.
If you're interested in true crime, and looking for a brief synopsis of any of the above women, this book is a good place to start.
3 Stars = I liked the book.
If you're interested in true crime, and looking for a brief synopsis of any of the above women, this book is a good place to start.
3 Stars = I liked the book.
November 25, 2018
I'll start with a warning to any married men who are thinking of reading this book: never, ever jokingly ask your wife what page her story is on. The female sense of humour seems to run counter to that of the male, at least insofar as a suggestion of her inclusion in a book like this is concerned.
I'm not going to try to pass this off as a great piece of literature or an in-depth study of psychotic wives. What it is, is a fairly extensive catalogue of child stranglers, husband poisoners, baby drowners and others of that ilk. Most accounts are limited to a few pages and most are accompanied by photos of the accused and victims. Marlowe has a gift for boiling the story down to its salient points so that each tale holds the reader's interest, if they happen to be interested in this type of thing. Just don't expect any detailed case studies.
If I learned anything from this book, it would be this: if you are an aging fat man with lots of cash in the bank, you should probably beware any attractive young lady who seems to be infatuated with you. Don't worry about me: I'm already old and fat, but the wife makes sure I'm in no danger of satisfying the third requirement.
I'm not going to try to pass this off as a great piece of literature or an in-depth study of psychotic wives. What it is, is a fairly extensive catalogue of child stranglers, husband poisoners, baby drowners and others of that ilk. Most accounts are limited to a few pages and most are accompanied by photos of the accused and victims. Marlowe has a gift for boiling the story down to its salient points so that each tale holds the reader's interest, if they happen to be interested in this type of thing. Just don't expect any detailed case studies.
If I learned anything from this book, it would be this: if you are an aging fat man with lots of cash in the bank, you should probably beware any attractive young lady who seems to be infatuated with you. Don't worry about me: I'm already old and fat, but the wife makes sure I'm in no danger of satisfying the third requirement.
August 24, 2011
I picked this up on a whim because it was on the clearance shelf at barnes and noble, my bf kept looking at me like I was plotting his death haha! Realistically though, I find true murder stories fascinating and this had a lot of historial information on women serial killers (which are very rare) and just women murders in general. Some of the articles in here are not for the faint of heart, but if you like true murder and want to read somethingg different this would be a great book to pick up.
May 13, 2014
"Amazing Real Life Crimes"
This book contains 34 true accounts of deceit, betrayal, and ultimately murder by several women. These stories are harrowing. Many family members became victims: mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, but mostly husbands. Even though most of these criminals denied involvement, there was always overwhelming evidence to bring them to trial. Between 1920 and 1956, poison such as arsenic-laced foods was the choice of murder, but now the choice weapons are handguns, shotguns, and knives. There was one story that I found especially heinous, the story of Sue Basso who enticed five other people to torture and kill a 59-year old man who had the mentality of an eight-year old. Each case is very interesting to read, each well documented, excellently written, with photos and bibliography sources. Frankly, I found these stories very intriguing. Of the 34 crimes, 3 were in Great Britain, 1 in Canada, 2 in Australia, 1 in Hong Kong but involved an American wife killing her husband who worked there, and the remainder of the crimes took place in the USA. For those who like crime stories, these are a must read.
This book contains 34 true accounts of deceit, betrayal, and ultimately murder by several women. These stories are harrowing. Many family members became victims: mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, but mostly husbands. Even though most of these criminals denied involvement, there was always overwhelming evidence to bring them to trial. Between 1920 and 1956, poison such as arsenic-laced foods was the choice of murder, but now the choice weapons are handguns, shotguns, and knives. There was one story that I found especially heinous, the story of Sue Basso who enticed five other people to torture and kill a 59-year old man who had the mentality of an eight-year old. Each case is very interesting to read, each well documented, excellently written, with photos and bibliography sources. Frankly, I found these stories very intriguing. Of the 34 crimes, 3 were in Great Britain, 1 in Canada, 2 in Australia, 1 in Hong Kong but involved an American wife killing her husband who worked there, and the remainder of the crimes took place in the USA. For those who like crime stories, these are a must read.
October 31, 2014
This anthology contains many names that will be familiar to True Crime readers, but at 35 cases in 200 pages, you can imagine how superficial the treatment is. A look at the bibliography shows that almost all the accounts came from newspaper and magazine articles--and other anthologies.
July 7, 2013
one sitting read, tragic yes, interesting hell yes...
so for anyone who likes to read true crime this one is a definite must!!
so for anyone who likes to read true crime this one is a definite must!!
November 10, 2018
Only read some of this. Too disturbing by far, and I am not easily disturbed. Hard pass.
June 20, 2019
Good for a few laughs. Pace yourself as you go through the sagas
March 6, 2017
It's like Snapped only in book form.
February 14, 2011
Several pages of each (over thirty in all). All exept two or three involved adultry. Very thought provoking.
May 14, 2011
Sick, twisted, psycho; Shame of it is, The book is non-fiction.
October 21, 2011
the kind of book you can pick up and put down, lots of small sections. Some of the stories are more interesting than others.
August 10, 2012
Fabulous. I loved the short story format and detail without waffle.
November 1, 2012
Good read, lots of new cases I wasn't familar with.
July 26, 2013
My boyfriend has been scared ever since he noticed this book in my library :P
good book, breaks the perspective that murderers are mostly men.
good book, breaks the perspective that murderers are mostly men.
December 28, 2016
An addicting and informative read, perfect for those who enjoy true crime stories.
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June 13, 2017Was good
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews