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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This was a good book. Not amazing, not bad, but good. It was well written. I'd never heard of these murders before the book, so everything was new to me. I tend to have difficulty with this hybrid of historical fiction slash true crime. I want more definition, more definitive lines between truth and fiction. I prefer books that are firmly in one genre or the other. This is just a personal preference of mine. I do think this book was well done for what it is, but I just prefer something a little different.
So, a pleasant enough way to pass a couple afternoons, but it won't be a favorite of mine.
So, a pleasant enough way to pass a couple afternoons, but it won't be a favorite of mine.
Great true crime
What a story! while this is more historical fiction as written, it is fully based on true events and it is such a bananas course of events. Definitely recommend.
What a story! while this is more historical fiction as written, it is fully based on true events and it is such a bananas course of events. Definitely recommend.
In The Murderess, Laurie Notaro’s historical fiction take on a horrifying murder, the author skillfully evokes a sense of time and place. The book begins in the 1920s and continues into the Great Depression, and we get a sense of how difficult life could be, even before 1929, including for ordinary working people. The times are part of the story, economically and socially.
The Murderess paints a backstory of the people involved fitting them into the times they were living. What makes The Murderess intriguing is the way Notaro portrays Winnie Ruth Judd (known as Ruth). The headlines of the day painted Judd as a cold blooded murderer. Notaro makes her a complex and even sympathetic figure.
Laurie Notaro also effectively develops the characters of Ruth’s husband and the victims, weaving all these elements into a gripping story. If you like true crime, this is a compelling story. If you like historical fiction, too, you’ll find this book hard to put down.
The Murderess paints a backstory of the people involved fitting them into the times they were living. What makes The Murderess intriguing is the way Notaro portrays Winnie Ruth Judd (known as Ruth). The headlines of the day painted Judd as a cold blooded murderer. Notaro makes her a complex and even sympathetic figure.
Laurie Notaro also effectively develops the characters of Ruth’s husband and the victims, weaving all these elements into a gripping story. If you like true crime, this is a compelling story. If you like historical fiction, too, you’ll find this book hard to put down.
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Publisher Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.
It’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd.
MY THOUGHTS
I hardly know where to begin! Winnie Ruth Judd could be ditzy or cunning depending on who is asked. This fictionalized crime thriller sucked me in at the start and kept me reading straight through. The audiobook version was fantastic.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.
It’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd.
MY THOUGHTS
I hardly know where to begin! Winnie Ruth Judd could be ditzy or cunning depending on who is asked. This fictionalized crime thriller sucked me in at the start and kept me reading straight through. The audiobook version was fantastic.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced