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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
True rating: 3.5
This book was a great introduction and overview about various female serial killers in history, but it was lacking a certain sense of academia. There was no hard data or evidence to accompany it. Reading about each serial killer I felt like I was listening to someone just sum up their life and killings as if they were sharing a factoid at a party.
This book was a great introduction and overview about various female serial killers in history, but it was lacking a certain sense of academia. There was no hard data or evidence to accompany it. Reading about each serial killer I felt like I was listening to someone just sum up their life and killings as if they were sharing a factoid at a party.
I feel kind of weird saying I really enjoyed a book about female serial killers, but I really enjoyed this book about serial killers! All of the cases are at least 100years old, so it allows you to read about these women and their crimes with a bit of disconnect. I found some of the stories to be a little boring, but overall this was a fascinating read!
The content was interesting but the delivery fell flat for me.
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Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History
I’ve read my fair share of true crime books, but Lady Killers is one of the few that focuses exclusively on female serial killers. Books on this topic are rare, so I was thrilled that Tori Telfer decided it was worth exploring.
For the most part, Telfer selected a fascinating and diverse group of women to feature—spanning multiple continents and time periods. Some of these cases date back centuries, with one possibly from the 1200s, while others are from the 19th and 20th centuries. What’s clear across history, though, is that arsenic was by far the weapon of choice for many of these women. It’s almost amusing to think that some of them might have evaded capture if they had just shown a little restraint. But rather than stopping after one or two murders, many of these killers couldn’t resist eliminating anyone who had ever wronged them—eventually drawing suspicion.
The Psychology of Female Killers
One of the book’s most compelling discussions is how society views female serial killers versus their male counterparts. History has often rewritten these women’s stories, portraying them as seductresses, witches, or even vampires—anything but cold-blooded murderers. Take Erzsébet Báthory, for instance. Rather than being remembered simply as a sadistic killer, she has been immortalized in legend as a supernatural figure who bathed in the blood of virgins. Even nicknames like "The Giggling Grandma" (for serial killer Nannie Doss) serve to soften the perception of these women’s crimes.
Telfer does an excellent job breaking down this gendered narrative, showing how powerful men throughout history have attempted to rationalize or diminish the horror of female-driven violence. This aspect of the book is particularly fascinating for those interested in sociology and psychology.
Beyond the Murders
What I appreciated most about Lady Killers was that it didn’t just recount the crimes. Telfer also delves into the historical and cultural contexts these women lived in, which often played a significant role in their motives. Some killed for economic survival, while others appeared to be purely sadistic. The inclusion of these societal backdrops made the book feel richer and more immersive than just a collection of murder stories.
Some readers have complained that Lady Killers provides too much historical detail, but I disagree. The background information helps paint a fuller picture of each case—offering insights you wouldn’t get from a quick Buzzfeed listicle. Plus, I loved the random historical tidbits, like how aristocratic women in Erzsébet Báthory’s time plucked their hairlines to achieve a high forehead (which, as someone with a naturally high hairline, made me momentarily feel aristocratic. Sigh).
What Worked, What Didn’t
This book had a lot of positives. It was fast-paced, well-researched, and easy to read, all while introducing me to killers I had never heard of before. Telfer’s writing style is quirky and engaging, which helped balance out the dark subject matter.
So why didn’t I love it more?
I think it felt a bit shallow at times. Since many of these women lived anywhere from 50 to 300 years ago, it’s hard to know how much of their stories are actually true. Some of the women were even labeled as "witches" in official court records, which made me question the accuracy of certain accounts. While I understand why Telfer included these historical cases, I do think that choosing such ancient crimes meant sacrificing cold, hard facts in favor of compelling storytelling.
Additionally, while I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, some sections got a bit grotesque. Telfer doesn’t shy away from the brutality of arsenic poisoning or the gruesome methods some of these women used. Having grown up watching movies like Arsenic and Old Lace, I hadn’t fully realized how agonizing arsenic poisoning actually was—it’s definitely not as “romantic” as pop culture makes it seem.
Final Verdict
Overall, Lady Killers is an entertaining and well-researched look at female serial killers throughout history. If you’re a true crime fan and want to read about lesser-known murderesses, this is a great pick. However, if you prefer true crime books that focus heavily on undeniable facts and modern cases, this one might not be for you.
That said, I still recommend it—because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good murder book?
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
I’ve read my fair share of true crime books, but Lady Killers is one of the few that focuses exclusively on female serial killers. Books on this topic are rare, so I was thrilled that Tori Telfer decided it was worth exploring.
For the most part, Telfer selected a fascinating and diverse group of women to feature—spanning multiple continents and time periods. Some of these cases date back centuries, with one possibly from the 1200s, while others are from the 19th and 20th centuries. What’s clear across history, though, is that arsenic was by far the weapon of choice for many of these women. It’s almost amusing to think that some of them might have evaded capture if they had just shown a little restraint. But rather than stopping after one or two murders, many of these killers couldn’t resist eliminating anyone who had ever wronged them—eventually drawing suspicion.
The Psychology of Female Killers
One of the book’s most compelling discussions is how society views female serial killers versus their male counterparts. History has often rewritten these women’s stories, portraying them as seductresses, witches, or even vampires—anything but cold-blooded murderers. Take Erzsébet Báthory, for instance. Rather than being remembered simply as a sadistic killer, she has been immortalized in legend as a supernatural figure who bathed in the blood of virgins. Even nicknames like "The Giggling Grandma" (for serial killer Nannie Doss) serve to soften the perception of these women’s crimes.
Telfer does an excellent job breaking down this gendered narrative, showing how powerful men throughout history have attempted to rationalize or diminish the horror of female-driven violence. This aspect of the book is particularly fascinating for those interested in sociology and psychology.
Beyond the Murders
What I appreciated most about Lady Killers was that it didn’t just recount the crimes. Telfer also delves into the historical and cultural contexts these women lived in, which often played a significant role in their motives. Some killed for economic survival, while others appeared to be purely sadistic. The inclusion of these societal backdrops made the book feel richer and more immersive than just a collection of murder stories.
Some readers have complained that Lady Killers provides too much historical detail, but I disagree. The background information helps paint a fuller picture of each case—offering insights you wouldn’t get from a quick Buzzfeed listicle. Plus, I loved the random historical tidbits, like how aristocratic women in Erzsébet Báthory’s time plucked their hairlines to achieve a high forehead (which, as someone with a naturally high hairline, made me momentarily feel aristocratic. Sigh).
What Worked, What Didn’t
This book had a lot of positives. It was fast-paced, well-researched, and easy to read, all while introducing me to killers I had never heard of before. Telfer’s writing style is quirky and engaging, which helped balance out the dark subject matter.
So why didn’t I love it more?
I think it felt a bit shallow at times. Since many of these women lived anywhere from 50 to 300 years ago, it’s hard to know how much of their stories are actually true. Some of the women were even labeled as "witches" in official court records, which made me question the accuracy of certain accounts. While I understand why Telfer included these historical cases, I do think that choosing such ancient crimes meant sacrificing cold, hard facts in favor of compelling storytelling.
Additionally, while I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, some sections got a bit grotesque. Telfer doesn’t shy away from the brutality of arsenic poisoning or the gruesome methods some of these women used. Having grown up watching movies like Arsenic and Old Lace, I hadn’t fully realized how agonizing arsenic poisoning actually was—it’s definitely not as “romantic” as pop culture makes it seem.
Final Verdict
Overall, Lady Killers is an entertaining and well-researched look at female serial killers throughout history. If you’re a true crime fan and want to read about lesser-known murderesses, this is a great pick. However, if you prefer true crime books that focus heavily on undeniable facts and modern cases, this one might not be for you.
That said, I still recommend it—because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good murder book?
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
“The half-life of murder is forever.”
Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer takes a deep dive into an often overlooked area of true crime. When FBI agent, Roy Hazelwood, claimed at a homicide conference in 1998 that, “There are no female serial killers,” Telfer made it her mission to prove otherwise. In this deadly book doused with appropriate levels of wit and a morbid sense of humor, Telfer brings us closer to 14 female serial killers, while debunking tropes suggesting that these women killed for hormonal purposes, or for love. Instead, she offers a look into the complex and wicked hearts of the real female serial killer, rife with vicious predation.
This was truly a refreshing true crime book to read. Not only was its core a welcome change from reading about men killing women, but it was so well researched, engrossing, and surprisingly charming at times despite the copious amounts of arsenic poison practically shaking from the pages. I also had never heard of most serial killers in this book, so I was lusting over the fresh and gory details. I think my favorite women to read about were Mary Ann Cotton, the wretched woman, and Kate Bender, the beautiful throat cutter. Not only does Telfer give us a plentitude of brutal details, but she also plunges into the troubling brains of these women. It was truly an engaging and fascinating read.
4 out of 5 stars.
My favorite quote was, “She’d been cool for years, but Death, of course, would always be more cold-blooded.”
Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer takes a deep dive into an often overlooked area of true crime. When FBI agent, Roy Hazelwood, claimed at a homicide conference in 1998 that, “There are no female serial killers,” Telfer made it her mission to prove otherwise. In this deadly book doused with appropriate levels of wit and a morbid sense of humor, Telfer brings us closer to 14 female serial killers, while debunking tropes suggesting that these women killed for hormonal purposes, or for love. Instead, she offers a look into the complex and wicked hearts of the real female serial killer, rife with vicious predation.
This was truly a refreshing true crime book to read. Not only was its core a welcome change from reading about men killing women, but it was so well researched, engrossing, and surprisingly charming at times despite the copious amounts of arsenic poison practically shaking from the pages. I also had never heard of most serial killers in this book, so I was lusting over the fresh and gory details. I think my favorite women to read about were Mary Ann Cotton, the wretched woman, and Kate Bender, the beautiful throat cutter. Not only does Telfer give us a plentitude of brutal details, but she also plunges into the troubling brains of these women. It was truly an engaging and fascinating read.
4 out of 5 stars.
My favorite quote was, “She’d been cool for years, but Death, of course, would always be more cold-blooded.”
dark
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I think while interesting, to learn about these women, some of which i had never heard of... overall the book didnt feel at all cohesive or like the conclusion packed the punch it needed to. I think the stories individually had a really weird balance of both well researched and also not researched at all, if that makes sense. overall decent book, glad it is off my TBR, and sad that i didnt like it as much as i hoped that i would.
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was an interesting read!
I like that the author focused on older female serial killers. I had not heard of most of the women in the book.
Some of the details are disturbing but I think that's normal for most true crime stories.
My main take away from the author's perspective was that murders are "just people" there's nothing magical or mythical about someone that kills. Society tried to explain the actions of these killers by turning the women into witches, demons and evil seductresses. Many of the women were just trying to live their lives in a world where they had nothing and were considered nothing.
I also think it's interesting that the author emphasizes how female killers are often forgotten. I think women are confined to specific roles in society, and serial killer is not a role people are comfortable with even more so when it's about a woman. It's funny how many ways women are denied their true identity based on their sex. No she's not a serial killers, she's a witch!
I like that the author focused on older female serial killers. I had not heard of most of the women in the book.
Some of the details are disturbing but I think that's normal for most true crime stories.
My main take away from the author's perspective was that murders are "just people" there's nothing magical or mythical about someone that kills. Society tried to explain the actions of these killers by turning the women into witches, demons and evil seductresses. Many of the women were just trying to live their lives in a world where they had nothing and were considered nothing.
I also think it's interesting that the author emphasizes how female killers are often forgotten. I think women are confined to specific roles in society, and serial killer is not a role people are comfortable with even more so when it's about a woman. It's funny how many ways women are denied their true identity based on their sex. No she's not a serial killers, she's a witch!