My Favorite Crime Book Club discussion

As you’re reading these stories, do you feel any empathy or sympathy for these women? Which ones, and why?

I think that's tough because I don't recall the author really talking much about the things the women went through much before their murders. I do remember them talking about Erzbet having seen a lot of horrific things- but not so much any of the other women. I think being able to feel empathy or sympathy for me would including knowing about some of the traumatic things they'd been through. Like what on earth happened to Nanny Doss??

All that to say, no. When I read the book, I don't recall feeling sympathy for the women. Maybe that's harsh- or maybe I'm just not remembering everything.

I definitely felt like some of them were MORE despicable than others (the ones that tortured and killed their servants, Anna Hahn who killed elderly folks, etc.). All of them are cruel psychopaths, but for some reason I feel like the husband killers were just a little less cruel? I think the power dynamics have a lot to do with my outlook here, but I wouldn't call my feelings about them "empathy."