Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset (Belle Sorensen) (Gussman) immigrated to America from Norway in 1881 where she changed her name and married twice. She had some "bad luck" with fires and deaths of her husbands. Camilla Bruce took the facts of her life that are known and crafted a story adding a sister and a confidante who helped her with the disappearances of approximately forty people. She wanted a better life for herself in America, but went to extremes to attain it. This is such an extraordinary story and it's amazing that she was a real woman. It was difficult to read due to the subject matter, but Camilla Bruce made this an engaging and absorbing story.

This book is bleak and almost makes you, at moments, root for one of the most prolific and dark female serial killers in American history. The entire premise to me felt like Belle felt justified with her actions-after all, who in the world had treated her fairly or kindly? Why should she extend kindness or life to anyone when no one had for her?
I had to read this in bursts and always intersperse something cheery and joyful within it. I haven't had nightmares in a very long time from a book and this one sure did it for me. It was gruesome, violent, dark, bitter, intense, a never-ending burn that made your nerves raw and left you feeling on edge.

This is an historical novel of horror, but not the supernatural kind. It’s the kind of horror having to do with the evil of human greed and cruelty and murder. Belle had it tough as a poor, abused child in Norway. Now that she’s an immigrant in Chicago, she schemes her way up the ladder.

In the Garden of Spite is a long novel, but it would have cheated the story to have been any shorter. It’s the perfect length to show Belle’s transformation from a teenager full of dreams to a spite-filled woman in her middle age. To meet someone like Belle in real life would be terrifying, but Ms. Bruce manages to make Belle an empathetic character, and thus we understand the feelings and behaviors of characters surrounding Belle.

Ms. Bruce writes wonderful dialogue scenes. There’s always something to “watch” while the characters talk. People dancing or chores of drudgery or children playing weave their way through the scene.

I love the way Ms. Bruce uses all the different senses in her descriptions. I could taste the porridge, smell the Germans’ cooking, hear the heavy buckets thudding, feel the gravel by the lake, and see the blood pooling around the scissors stuck in a man’s leg.

I have nothing negative to say about this book. Yes, it’s that good!

Literary, historical, psychological horror. Five huge stars.

I do not usually read mystery or suspense but I was intrigued by the subject. I devoured this book and I was so interested in Belle that I am going to read a biography of her.

Because I’ve been known to enjoy a true crime case or two, this new novel- In The Garden of Spite -intrigued me.Camilla Bruce based the story on real-life murderess, Belle Gunness.

Camilla does an awesome job of fictionalizing this evil woman who takes delight in killing. It’s unbelievable how she got away with her crimes for so long. I was disgusted. I was intrigued. I was captivated. And I loved every page of this book.

Here is the official synopsis:

They whisper about her in Chicago. Men come to her with their hopes, their dreams–their fortunes. But no one sees them leave. No one sees them at all after they come to call on the Widow of La Porte.

The good people of Indiana may have their suspicions, but if those fools knew what she’d given up, what was taken from her, how she’d suffered, surely they’d understand. Belle Gunness learned a long time ago that a woman has to make her own way in this world. That’s all it is. A bloody means to an end. A glorious enterprise meant to raise her from the bleak, colorless drudgery of her childhood to the life she deserves. After all, vermin always survive.

If you like learning about actual people in history or true crime stories, this is the book for you. I am really excited for people to read this novel. It comes out on January 19, 2021.

Belle Sorenson is said to be the first female American serial killer, yet her story is not well known. A Norwegian immigrant, Belle has always wanted to rise above her station and live in comfort. She will do so, no matter what it takes.

This was a fantastical book. I could not put it down. The author of course had to take liberties with the characters and stories, but I think she did a superb job. Belle comes across as sympathetic at times, yet still a monster. She is shown as a product of her environment. Her character is complex, as I imagine she was in real life; a traumatized woman with a strong hatred inside, yet with a longing to belong and comfort her children. The time period was also interesting. I’ve read a lot of serial killer stories, but not any from the 1800’s. The environment attributed to the story; drifters, farm work, shoddy investigations, etc. Reading the author’s note at the end tied up a lot of questions as to what was real and what was imagined; make sure to read it.

In the Garden of Spite comes out 1/19.

“Living with hatred is like living with a being, an entity made of spikes and thorns. You get used to it- you embrace it and nurture it. Eventually it becomes a part of your soul.”

“I had survived - just to spite - and I would rise in spite as well.”

When I started reading In the Garden of Spite I kept putting it down because of Bella, the main character. To say she’s damaged is an understatement and although the writing was great ,with all that’s going on in America I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading about another sociopath. When I learned Bella is based on the true story of a serial killer at the turn of the century I was hooked and could not stop reading. I don’t know why that completely turned the book around for me, but it did. There aren’t too many women serial killers, and the author did a wonderful job of fleshing out her life, her motives, and her effect on those around her. This is fictionalized account of her life yes, but whatever liberty's the author took with the character of Bella, makes this a great, turn paging, what could possibly happen next book.

Brynhild Storset Is looking for a way to escape the poorest of lives in a small Norwegian village. Her father is brutal and violent and cares more about drink than his wife or his daughters. When Brynhild gives herself to Anders, dreaming that he will marry her and take her away from this poor existence and their baby will have a better life, her hopes are dashed when Anders savagely beats her, leaves her for dead and she loses the baby. This changes Brynhild for life. She is determined to make Anders pay for what he did to her.
This begins a murderous rage inside this young woman. She works to leave her home for America to stay with her sister who has made a new life for herself, husband and baby. But once there Brynhild reinvents herself as Bella Sorensen and decides she will never again want for anything. She takes on a succession of husbands and if they fail to make enough money or live up to her expectations, she deals with them the same way she handled Anders long ago. She simply finds a way to remove them from her life. Permanently.
This is a story of a merciless, self-indulgent, murderous woman that even with knowing how much she suffered earlier in her life I can’t begin to sympathize with. She becomes a prolific murderess ridding herself of anyone in her life she chooses. She is utterly evil and dispassionate about everyone in her life be they family or friends, or adults or children

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, my comments are my own and unsolicited.

Have you heard of Belle Gunness? I hadn't until I read this book, and once I finished I had to learn more about this malevolent character. In the Garden of Spite is an historical fiction novel detailing the story of the infamous
Hell's Belle (or Lady Bluebeard as many referred to her). Born Brynhild Storseth, Belle grew up in Selbu, Norway and experienced, hunger, poverty, and abuse at the hands of the man who impregnated her. Instead of learning her "place" she opted for vengeance and a better way of life than the poverty stricken one she suffered from in Norway. Enlisting her sister's her help (who already lived in America) Belle was able to purchase passage to the states where she settled in Chicago and changed her name to Bella (later known as Belle). However, the lust for vengeance didn't end when she arrived and many men would have to pay for the crimes committed against her in her youth.

Many of the events documented in this book are fact, some are embellished and some were created for the story which is something I both simultaneously love and hate about historical fiction. The story of a female serial killer (as there aren't very many) was intriguing and I found the book hard to put down as I absorbed her sordid actions. Of course in the beginning I felt sympathy for the character but she became more and more violent as the novel progressed that I found it hard to believe that the girl in Norway was the same as the woman of LaPorte, Indiana. I enjoyed Bruce's interpretation of events though. We may never know what her motivation was (other than money of course) or what truly happened to her, but I found the story plausible and the events aligned well with the facts of the case.

What I didn't like, though, was the redundancy of the language. Belle was constantly "lifting her chin." She lifted her chin so much, according to Bruce, that I had a hard time not imagining her staring straight up at the sky through most of her conversations with her sister. The overuse of the wordy heady to describe sensations. It was used so much that even I noticed it, which is saying a lot (trust me). And how often I had to hear about her pantry being stocked with meats and how her husbands should be appreciative. This was mentioned so many times I actually worried that their food would go bad before they had a chance to eat it all. But overall, I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to those who are fascinated with true crime and serial killers.

I super wanted to love this because of the awesome premise, but the writing style is just not clicking. Wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished and rated it lowly. DNF.

Historical fiction based on true events.

Camilla Bruce spins a dark, dark, dark tale. Thoroughly bleak but enthralling, nonetheless. I couldn't look away and I couldn't manage to put the book down!

The premise? This novel is about one of the most nefarious, notorious serial killers of all time. Shockingly enough.. a woman! This book was factual and well researched. Very impressive.

Definitely recommended for those that like true crime mixed with historical fiction. A unique twist,

A fictional story based on the true events of Belle Gunness, also known as the Widow of La Porte. Before starting this book I did a little research about the real-life serial killer. The book follows the events of Gunness's life pretty accurately, with the exception of some fictional characters who despite not being historically accurate, really add to the story greatly. The true death of Gunness is still a mystery.

In this book Belle was born in Norway to a poor family. After a personal hardship which casted her as a black sheep she made her way to America to live with her sister and search for a husband. Despite the advice given, Belle is looking for more than love in a marriage. She wants a husband who can give her everything - food, mansion, children, fancy things, and status in the community. After two of her husbands "mysteriously" leave her a widow, and a move to a farm, Belle again searches for a husband. This time, with the help of her good friend, she advertises in the newspaper for a new man. But...she isn't really looking for a husband. She finds ways to dispose of each of her suitors once she gets a financial gain from them. Then one of her schemes goes completely wrong and she loses everything she's worked for. Find out if she can build herself back up!

This book was really intriguing to me. I've read a lot of FBI thrillers in present day but none have been about a woman and none have been set in the 19th century or based on true events. It was great seeing Belle progress from the feeble young girl she was to the woman in the end. Her methods of killing her victims were not clean so if that bothers you, this book may not be for you. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because about 3/4s through the book I got a little bored. The book was full of twists and surprises though and worth the read!

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I think after finishing this book, I will eventually suffer from nightmares at least for one month: it was mad, gruesome, dark, violent, extremely terrifying, disturbing, blood freezing , classic horrific combination of hair splitter- nerve bender- nail biter read!

And this is based on true events: a close encounter to one of the most dark, vicious, dangerous women serial killers of the history: ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you Belle Gunness ( this time Belle is not definition of beauty, she is a cruel beast! Named herself after Queen Isabelle) A Norwegian American immigrates to the US, for brighter future, starting from the fresh.

We witnessed to her teenage years: she’s been mentally abused, bullied, belittled by the men from her inner circle for years( work environment and by her own father who insists she is a changeling), lost her child with the harsh kick to her abdomen by the baby’s bastard father who has no intention to marry her. She bled to death but she finds a way to survive, thanks for her determination, sturdiness beat the grime reaper’s ass!

For years of abuse, humiliation , losses, unkindness of her own family members, poverty, bottled up anger, resentment turn her into some kind of vengeful creator Aileen Wuornos meets Kris Jenner and Frakenstein’s Bride!

As soon as she takes care of the bastard who killed her unborn child, tarnished her reputation, she writes to her sister Nellie who is having a painful pregnancy, living in Chicago and make her convince to live with her family.
You may think a young woman could struggle to find her own way in the new continent. But guess what: Little Brynhild (her birth name) changes her name as Belle as soon as she takes her first steps to the new continent. She has a plan. She will never be hungry or suffer from poverty again and no other men will harm her!

Well, I don’t want to give more spoils but I have to say: she reached most of her goals: she became wealthy and she married ( if you don’t count her husbands start to die suspiciously and any men she involves with vanished into thin air!)

This is the fictionalization of true crime story: Belle is hungry: she never satisfies with the things she has. She always wants more! She is lustful! She has uncontrollable temper. She ruthless and she is a real actress who can deceive anybody about her innocence.

This book was too long but I cannot stop reading and interestingly I thought if there were 300 more pages, I would certainly read and enjoy it!

This is well written, mind blowing, extremely intense, dazzling, riveting novel. I devoured slowly but each chapter was like heavy meals which take extra time to absorb properly.

Honestly I didn’t enjoy the previous debut novel of the author but this one surprised me. The author succeeded a detailed, meticulous, outstanding job with layer characters. I enjoyed both Belle and her sister Nellie’s POVS.

I highly recommend this incredible novel to true crime and psychological thriller lovers.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this outstanding ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This was ultimately a great fictional imagining of the inner world of a real life black widow, but it was a bit on the long side. The beginning chapters on Bella's origin and her sister's life felt like they were given more space than the time when Bella was actually in her flow of killing people.

By the time I got to Bella living on the farm I was excited to get to the more fast-paced and creepy parts of the book. I am not the biggest fan of historical fiction, but was intrigued about the true life basis of this story. If you are into historical fiction, true crime, or intriguing female protagonists, you will enjoy this book.

This book was very intriguing; however, also very dark. I did not know what I was getting into when I started In the Garden of Spite, but I was quickly hooked. The story and characters are very well developed and believable, which in a historical fiction book is important. I really enjoyed following Bella's life and learning how events shaped her morbid decisions. In the end, I would definitely recommend this book to mystery and historical fiction fans, although I would warn them of the sometimes graphic nature of this story.

OMG! This one was definitely a teeth-gnasher! Bella was a force, deadly one, and multifaceted. I'm appalled thinking this character is based on a true serial killer yet couldn't look away from the blood. I do think the author should have ended the novel with the last news article -- just added a few more details to allow readers to assume their own ending though... may have added another layer of pondering ;)

I enjoyed this book so much! So little is known about the why of the murders committed by Belle Gunness, but Camilla Bruce provides believable, compelling circumstances, though fiction, where you can see the creation of Belle unfold, without pulling any punches on the murders she committed. It is easy to both despise and feel incredibly sorry for Belle. I am happy to recommend this book.

I so enjoyed this book. The story of Belle Gunness was not one I’d ever heard before...and I had so much fun reading about her. And then researching her after finishing this book.

In this story, Belle went through a lot by the time she was a young teenager. And it begs the question...what can you survive? And will you still be you? She’s clever and driven and determined to grab all that she can from life and won’t let anyone keep her from it.

I think the author did a great job taking what was known and incorporating into the story, while also finding opportunities to add her own details and twists on the characters. Definitely recommend this book, you can get yours in January 2021! Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the chance to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!