A review by zakcebulski
Hell's Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, a Serial Killer Family on the American Frontier by Susan Jonusas

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.

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