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Evil Obsession: The Annie Cook Story
We will include a typed list of the true names behind the pseudonyms used in the book. A new book with no library or owners' marks. All pages perfectly clean, tight and bright.
298 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1991
15 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Nellie Snyder Yost
17 books9 followersNellie Irene Snyder was born on June 20, 1905 to Albert Benton Snyder and Grace Bell McCance Snyder in a sod house in northwest Lincoln County Nebraska. At the age of two weeks she was carried on horseback to a ranch in McPherson County Nebraska. She suffered a childhood illness that permanently damaged her spine and slowed her growth resulting in her diminutive height of 4 feet,8 inches. She lived with her family in McPherson County until 1919 when the family moved to Maxwell, Nebraska where she graduated as class valedictorian in 1923. She taught one year in a rural McPherson County school, riding horseback to her school six miles a day. After that she moved to Salem, Oregon for two years, where she worked in the office of Miller Department Store.
After moving back to Nebraska, she married David Harrison "Harry" Yost on July 6, 1929 and the couple lived on a ranch in the Box Elder Canyon, south of North Platte, Nebraska, for 30 years. They had one son Thomas Snyder Yost. Harry fell ill and spent his last five years at the Grand Island Veterans Hospital. During those years, as Nellie spent about 10 days out of each month at the hospital, she would sit by his bed side, writing manuscripts in long hand. He died in 1968. She moved to North Platte, Nebraska, where she was active in the Lincoln County Historical Society. She was very active, but in the Historical Society as they worked to open the Lincoln County Museum in 1976, and in Nebraska Writers Guild. She was active in Riverside Baptist Church where she married Frank A. Lydic on August 30, 1984. He was a long time friend and fellow writer. Frank died on November 9, 1991. Soon after, while finishing a trip to promote her last book, she developed pneumonia and was hospitalized. She was transferred to a hospital in Lincoln where she died on January 16, 1992. She was buried next to her first husband at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Her information was carved on the back of his gravestone with the epitaph, "She Loved Life."
After moving back to Nebraska, she married David Harrison "Harry" Yost on July 6, 1929 and the couple lived on a ranch in the Box Elder Canyon, south of North Platte, Nebraska, for 30 years. They had one son Thomas Snyder Yost. Harry fell ill and spent his last five years at the Grand Island Veterans Hospital. During those years, as Nellie spent about 10 days out of each month at the hospital, she would sit by his bed side, writing manuscripts in long hand. He died in 1968. She moved to North Platte, Nebraska, where she was active in the Lincoln County Historical Society. She was very active, but in the Historical Society as they worked to open the Lincoln County Museum in 1976, and in Nebraska Writers Guild. She was active in Riverside Baptist Church where she married Frank A. Lydic on August 30, 1984. He was a long time friend and fellow writer. Frank died on November 9, 1991. Soon after, while finishing a trip to promote her last book, she developed pneumonia and was hospitalized. She was transferred to a hospital in Lincoln where she died on January 16, 1992. She was buried next to her first husband at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Her information was carved on the back of his gravestone with the epitaph, "She Loved Life."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 17, 2016
I read this book because, like many who have written reviews, I have ties to the region it depicts. The first two thirds are a gripping description of life under a gruesome matriarch on a farm during the first half of this century. My ancestors lived this way, including the hard-farm labor but without the evil intent and bordellos, and for that I loved the descriptions of rural life and strife. The courtroom proceedings, which take of the last third, take forever and could have been edited down to around ten pages. I think this book is worth the read for people who enjoy reading about true crime and tough times but the only reason most people read it is because they already know something about Lincoln County Nebraska.
December 29, 2010
Since moving to North Platte five years ago, many people have encouraged me to read this book because of the historical context it provides about Western Nebraska in the early 1900s. This was a period in Nebraska history that many would probably rather forget. Back when North Platte earned the moniker “Little Chicago of the West.” Before starting this book, I knew from what people had told me that Annie Cook was not a nice person. But I had no concept of how truly evil she was. I’m just amazed at how horrible she was to others, including her own family.
There are two passages in the book that really made an impression on me. The first is an observation by Joe Cook, who grew up on the Cook farm and became an unwitting foster child to Frank and Annie Cook. In this passage, Annie’s daughter (Clara) has inherited her mother’s cruel disposition, and a young Joe Cook is pondering the horrible actions that he has witnessed from both women during the time they ran the county poor house: “Even as a boy Joe knew that he would never understand how Annie, and sometimes Clara, could enjoy, as they seemed to, the cruelty they put upon the helpless old people.” (pg. 149)
Even as an adult, it’s hard for me to imagine the pleasure they derived from hurting others. It’s harder still to think about how many people turned a blind eye to what was going on out at the Cook farm.
The second passage comes much later as Joe Cook is pondering the fact that Annie has had no visitors during her final days in the hospital: “The poor old woman. All she had to show for nearly eighty years of living was her farm, a little money and the questionable loyalty of a dozen people she had ‘bought.’ Not a friend in the lot. Not a real friend anywhere.” (pg. 256)
I think this is a fantastic illustration of the futility of Annie Cook’s obsession with money and power. I hope that anyone reading this book takes this message to heart and realizes that our legacy will not be measured in the stuff we accumulate in our lifetime, but in the lives we have touched along the way.
There are two passages in the book that really made an impression on me. The first is an observation by Joe Cook, who grew up on the Cook farm and became an unwitting foster child to Frank and Annie Cook. In this passage, Annie’s daughter (Clara) has inherited her mother’s cruel disposition, and a young Joe Cook is pondering the horrible actions that he has witnessed from both women during the time they ran the county poor house: “Even as a boy Joe knew that he would never understand how Annie, and sometimes Clara, could enjoy, as they seemed to, the cruelty they put upon the helpless old people.” (pg. 149)
Even as an adult, it’s hard for me to imagine the pleasure they derived from hurting others. It’s harder still to think about how many people turned a blind eye to what was going on out at the Cook farm.
The second passage comes much later as Joe Cook is pondering the fact that Annie has had no visitors during her final days in the hospital: “The poor old woman. All she had to show for nearly eighty years of living was her farm, a little money and the questionable loyalty of a dozen people she had ‘bought.’ Not a friend in the lot. Not a real friend anywhere.” (pg. 256)
I think this is a fantastic illustration of the futility of Annie Cook’s obsession with money and power. I hope that anyone reading this book takes this message to heart and realizes that our legacy will not be measured in the stuff we accumulate in our lifetime, but in the lives we have touched along the way.
September 6, 2013
This book is horrifying, but you just can't put it down. I am from the area written about in the book and if you want to see the characters come to life, be sure to go to www.npplfoundation.org and consider coming to our Evil Obsession Cemetery Tour (September 20, 21 and 24, 2013). Local actors read a monologue while standing by the "ghost's" headstone. PLUS - a FILM based on this book will start filming in the Spring of 2014. A very good read!
April 3, 2011
This is a very dark book. It keeps you turning the pages, in horror as you realize that the account with in these pages is based on actual events in North Platte, Nebraska. It is even bone chilling at times. I highly reccomend this book.
November 13, 2012
For anyone who lives or grew up in the area around North Platt, NE this is must read! The autobiography of a monster - Annie Cook. Covers many years including prohibition, the dust bowl, etc. Interesting look at the times during the early years of North Platte.
December 16, 2012
Moved to NP and immediately went to the local library to learn more about the area. This book was highly recommended. While I learned a great deal about the area I was seriously spooked by this evil woman!
Read
January 3, 2011awesome book a great page turner very creepy the only book I would recommend to others and the only book I have read quickly kept my interest till the last page
August 17, 2012
This was a book club selection. I had never heard of Annie Cook. This is, by far, the scariest book I've read in years. "Evil" is certainly most appropriate for the title. Horrific and sick would also apply. This is not light reading. Unbelievable story. Annie clearly survived and prospered because of a cast of characters who were as wicked as she.
August 12, 2008
I really got into this story because it is a dark nonfiction about my hometown.
January 13, 2012
Eye opening true story of evil, murder, abuse, bribery in North Platte Nebraska in the 1930s-1950s. So many people knew, yet no one would stand up to this evil woman.
March 23, 2021
This review contains spoilers.
The story of Anne Cook is an interesting one. How one woman could control an entire county with bribes, physically and verbally abuse men, women and children and even kill without any repercussions is quite astounding. However, I feel like there were holes in this story, questions that weren't answered by endless pages of trial proceedings (that frankly had nothing to do with Mrs. Cook or this story) or private conversations between Mrs. Cook and her cohorts that no surviving witnesses could have recounted.
Delving into Mrs. Cook's childhood and upbringing may have shed light on why this woman craved money, power, and control and allowed the reader some insights as to why she had such control over Liz. I find it hard to believe that a few trips to an Omaha whore house created the monster Mrs. Cook was. Why did Mrs. Cook's niece, Mary, allow her own mother to remain under Mrs. Cook's roof with full knowledge of the abuse her mother was sustaining? Was there no one brave enough to confront Mrs. Cook or bring charges against her? For me however, the bigger question is why her husband allowed the abuse and cruelty to go on throughout their entire marriage, even after his wife killed their daughter. He wasn't afraid of her and he was apparently a religious man so how did he reconcile her actions?
Too many unanswered questions and holes in this story for a higher rating.
The story of Anne Cook is an interesting one. How one woman could control an entire county with bribes, physically and verbally abuse men, women and children and even kill without any repercussions is quite astounding. However, I feel like there were holes in this story, questions that weren't answered by endless pages of trial proceedings (that frankly had nothing to do with Mrs. Cook or this story) or private conversations between Mrs. Cook and her cohorts that no surviving witnesses could have recounted.
Delving into Mrs. Cook's childhood and upbringing may have shed light on why this woman craved money, power, and control and allowed the reader some insights as to why she had such control over Liz. I find it hard to believe that a few trips to an Omaha whore house created the monster Mrs. Cook was. Why did Mrs. Cook's niece, Mary, allow her own mother to remain under Mrs. Cook's roof with full knowledge of the abuse her mother was sustaining? Was there no one brave enough to confront Mrs. Cook or bring charges against her? For me however, the bigger question is why her husband allowed the abuse and cruelty to go on throughout their entire marriage, even after his wife killed their daughter. He wasn't afraid of her and he was apparently a religious man so how did he reconcile her actions?
Too many unanswered questions and holes in this story for a higher rating.
September 27, 2011
Their was this lady named Annie Cook, she lived in North Platte Nebraska. A lot of people in town would say she was the meanest person they ever laid their eyes on. Annie Cook was not like every ordinary person, she was kinda like a monster to some people. If people where to see her in town they would always look the other way and walk towards where they where looking. No one wanted to be in arms length of this lady. She put the whole city in a fright area, where sometimes they where even scared to come out of their houses at night. Sometimes there would be rumors that she killed people by the canal. She had horrible houses all around North Platte. She had a daughter who always stood by Annie's side, but one day they got in a fight and Annie killed her with a cooking pan. After awhile that story got around the whole town. Annie buried her right beside where she wanted to be buried. Sheriffs even were scared of her. And until she died people where scared to live here. Annie is buried right by her daughter in a cemetery in North Platte. A lady that was very scared of her but had the guts to write a story about her and what she did to the town. Back then their where always newspaper articles of her but these papers never did get to Annie.
February 17, 2019
Wow. If you’re looking for a book that depicts the abhorred effect of greed on people, this is the one. It is extremely well written. Kudos to Nellie for taking an absolutely devastating story and making it a captivating read. There’s no happy ending here. No one wins in the story. Everyone Anne Cook touched was forever tainted with her evil. I kept hoping for vindication for Lizzie, Mary, and Joe. It never came and even after she died, people kept trying to take more from these three victims. I shook my head throughout the novel just amazed at how everyone stood by and let this happen, how money lining the pockets of doctors, politicians and law enforcement made them turn a blind eye to the abuse and murder of these people. Money is not that important. I’d live in a box on the street before I’d turn a blind eye to the horrors that happened in this book.
The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5 was because closer to the end of the book, it became really technical with the court trials.
The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5 was because closer to the end of the book, it became really technical with the court trials.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2015
While I was reading the book Evil Obsession I couldn't help but to think how this woman got away with all these things for so long. The book is about the Evil doings of a local North Platte woman, Annie Cook. She did many things that would be frowned upon today, she torchered innocent children into doing her work around the farm and she also used children as sex slaves to make more children to do work on her farm and use them as slaves. At the beginning of the book the wrong doings were minor, but, when she realized how easy it was to get away with stuff she started to do worse things and she got away with it for the longest time. I never knew who Anne Cook was until I read this true story about her life, but now I know that she was a bad woman and I hate her with a passion. I rated this four stars because it was a great story but at some points in the story I had no clue what was going on.
October 9, 2018
Anne Cook, an evil woman who always needed things done her way and as quick as possible. Most people believed that she was one of the nicest woman ever. Reality of the situation was she was cruel and manipulative. She brutally continuously beat her sister, her niece, and any others who may have tried to help her but, they only tried out of fear. Fear for what the woman Anne Cook would do.
The book Evil Obsessions reminds me of a book I read in 7th grade, A Child Called ‘It’. In both books they had shown abuse and have manipulative people may be. Experiencing that first had with my real dad. I know just how it feels to be the one under the hand. People just don’t recognize things because, they don’t pay attention. When they do they might not understand all of the parts.
The book Evil Obsessions reminds me of a book I read in 7th grade, A Child Called ‘It’. In both books they had shown abuse and have manipulative people may be. Experiencing that first had with my real dad. I know just how it feels to be the one under the hand. People just don’t recognize things because, they don’t pay attention. When they do they might not understand all of the parts.
August 13, 2007
This is the true story of a woman who lived in North Platte, NE around the turn of the century. As the title claims, she was evil: not a serial killer, but just mean. A few times I wondered if I even wanted to keep reading because I hated her so much. It's interesting because it happened in my state (where so little seems to happen worthy of true-story publications) and so recently. Because of that I feel like I should have heard of her, but I never had. Huskers, be proud of the repulsive parts of your history!
June 6, 2012
This book was worth reading for the history, but what a DARK history. I suppose it's possible that many places had something similar happen during this period of U.S. history, but to read it in such detail and see the wickedness, abuse, and greed so widespread and so close to home was disturbing. The quote on the back of the book, attributed to Keith L. Blackledge, says it well: "...a fascinating story. Annie is a unique sort of monster.... This is the dark side of the 'good old days,' and a reminder that great wrongs can still be committed when respectable people look the other way."
November 1, 2016
I wanted to read this book because I have heard a lot of great reviews and I wanted to learn the actual story behind Annie Cook. Not going to lie, but this book is really hard to get into, but it is actually an okay book. I would recommend it, but it is not a book that I actually would want to read over and over again. At some points, this book is very gruesome and at others, it can be very interesting. I was very bored at some times but I kept going. If you are into history and mean people then this book is a great one for you.
February 2, 2011
This a book that has a lot of real hard to read facts about a woman who lived right here in Hershey and North Platte Nebraska. And how she kept a poor farm and killed many people that came to the farm.She kept her sister Liz and Liz's daughter Mary there and woked them like slaves. This stoy realy made me understand things aren't always what thye seem to be.
April 7, 2008
Very interesting book about North Platte. The main character is truly evil and participated in many of the activities that gave North Platte the reputation of being Little Chicago. Her foster son was married to one of my many aunts.
July 27, 2011
This actually happened 80 miles from my hometown. It is a horrific story that unsettled me. Hard to believe how evil a person can be. I didn't want to put the book down, but needed a break from the darkness. Altogether it was a great book.
January 4, 2018
Written about a woman and her lust for power, it is hard to believe the extent of greed and the cruelty she was willing to exert to make her evil schemes come true. I also grew up in the area, and it was interesting to learn more about the history of the area.
April 14, 2019
A bit of local history (I’m from near Omaha) of the true crime variety that is truly blood-chilling. I read this back in high school and once since. Not for the faint of heart, but interesting and seemingly a case that faded to near obscurity. True crime fans would likely enjoy.
March 31, 2018
You live in central Nebraska , you can never travel the hwy between North Platte and Hershey without thinking of this book and the evil that took place.
July 25, 2025
This is a book of history from the North Platte area of Nebraska. Annie Cook was driven by money, power, and wealth, and would go to any lengths to achieve such status. Annie was an evil woman who left a trail of fear that lasted long after she passed away.
There are triggers of abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional. She was probably narcissistic in nature. While some scenes may be hard to read, it wasn't a made-up story of an imaginary characters evil doings but a true story of Anne Cook and those under her control. knowing it was a true story made it slightly easier to get because it wasn't some sickos imagination. with that being said, Anne Cook was a horrible woman and abused anyone she could.
There are triggers of abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional. She was probably narcissistic in nature. While some scenes may be hard to read, it wasn't a made-up story of an imaginary characters evil doings but a true story of Anne Cook and those under her control. knowing it was a true story made it slightly easier to get because it wasn't some sickos imagination. with that being said, Anne Cook was a horrible woman and abused anyone she could.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2025
I automatically give all books that are biographies or autobiographies 5 stars because you can’t spice up already written history. That being said, this book did feel like it lagged at times. It also made be completely lose myself over a character death…then I remembered the character was a real person who used to live only 45 minutes away from where I do now and I cried even harder. No one deserved the abuse Annie dished out and I hope Frank was right and that she had a “sickness of the mind” because it’s terrifying to think someone could be this evil and have a good head on their shoulders.
February 22, 2021
It’s hard to believe this book was written about two towns I consider my home. This story happened 50-100 years ago and yet it made me wonder. Is there anything I’m missing, anything that is happening right beneath my nose today, anyone who needs my help? The injustice of the story was definitely hard to read and yet I couldn’t stop reading.
February 12, 2024
Very interesting read. It is crazy what people will turn their backs to because of fear or bribery.
May 9, 2025
This happened in my home town and have always heard stories about it, so I read the book. It was a really good telling of the story.
July 24, 2013
I read this book years ago. It is about a scandal in my home town, North Platte, NE, which was known as Little Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s (due to it's prostitution rings, illegal booze, and gunslingers). It's not the best writing in the world but the history is great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews