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Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Hell's Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, a Serial Killer Family on the American Frontier by Susan Jonusas
9 reviews
jhbandcats's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.5
I had never heard of the Bender family before encountering this book. I suppose I should have focused on their being brutal murderers but instead I kept noticing how filthy they were. This has nothing to do with the murders - it was just their way of life - but it made an impression on me.
I was equally appalled at the crowds of gawkers who showed up to get mementos of the crimes. Everything within the cabin and stable was stolen by excited murder-tourists. Some even dismantled the cabin to take home bits of wood. Others jumped in the graves to see if the people recovering bodies had forgotten anything.
In addition to the information on the murders, the book gives an in-depth look at prairie life in the second half of the 19th C. The location of the nascent railroad could literally put a town on the map. The desolate areas in between towns had few spots offering food or lodging. In an area known for its outlaws, a glimmer of a lantern was welcome, and travelers were tired enough and trusting enough that they let down their guard.
I appreciate learning about this period and this area of the country. The author is mostly straightforward in telling the story of these people and this time. There’s slight literary license - fog in an alley - *was* there fog in an alley? Had the author looked at the weather reports for that area on that day? But there’s so much other solid research that I’m quibbling.
I’m looking forward to the author writing more.
I was equally appalled at the crowds of gawkers who showed up to get mementos of the crimes. Everything within the cabin and stable was stolen by excited murder-tourists. Some even dismantled the cabin to take home bits of wood. Others jumped in the graves to see if the people recovering bodies had forgotten anything.
In addition to the information on the murders, the book gives an in-depth look at prairie life in the second half of the 19th C. The location of the nascent railroad could literally put a town on the map. The desolate areas in between towns had few spots offering food or lodging. In an area known for its outlaws, a glimmer of a lantern was welcome, and travelers were tired enough and trusting enough that they let down their guard.
I appreciate learning about this period and this area of the country. The author is mostly straightforward in telling the story of these people and this time. There’s slight literary license - fog in an alley - *was* there fog in an alley? Had the author looked at the weather reports for that area on that day? But there’s so much other solid research that I’m quibbling.
I’m looking forward to the author writing more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence
racheleileen25's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Gore and War
readbymadi's review
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Gore
abby_can_read's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.0
🎧
I enjoyed this book. It was a well-researched -- some of the people involved, the town's history, and some of the events. This book covered more than the Bender family.
I enjoyed this book. It was a well-researched -- some of the people involved, the town's history, and some of the events. This book covered more than the Bender family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Gore
zakcebulski's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
3.0
I thought that this story was absolutely fascinating. I knew, from my years of studying true-crime the name of the Bender family, but, I did not know the details of the family itself. I think that Susan Jonusas did a passable job of creating an informative tale.
The thing about this book is that the narrative prose is inconsistently interesting. The start of the book regarding the murders and the Bender family is interesting for sure, but, around the half way point to the book it comes to a very slow halt to the point where I was constantly looking at how much of the book was remaining. That is never a good sign.
I thought that the dissapearing in to thin air of the Benders was interesting, and the attempted railroading of two women who were tried and beleived to be the Benders was fascinating, but, otherwise it was just... okay. And that is the most I can say about it.
I think that this was a strong start for Jonusas, and while they are not a Schechter or Rule, they did a good job. I am not sure how much of the contents of this book are accurate, but, it does sound like she did a considerable amount of research in old documents and newspapers, which I commend her for, if it is true.
I could recommend this book to people who like true crime or were interested in the Bender family, but, it is a book that becomes more of a slog the farther in to it you get, unfortunately.
Oh well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
emily_koopmann's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Child death
donutcome4me's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Great fast paced yet consise and well researched read, but if you're looking for something with a conclusion this book isn't for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
caidyn's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
As a Kansan, the Bender family is basically a folktale that everyone knows about. Perhaps not all of the right details, but still known. This book is the only one I've ever seen about the family that really takes a look at the facts and contemporary documents. Very well researched and fascinating to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
bookishbellz's review
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
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