This was a really intriguing concept! I had no idea Stanford University had such an interesting, and dramatic start, or equally as interesting and dramatic founders. I listened to the audio book version of this and I really enjoyed the way Christopher P Brown read the book. I did, however have a little issue with the writing it could get repetitive, and droning covering information multiple times making the book longer than it needed to be. The delivery of information was a little bland like just a series of facts were being stated rather than the author building a story, and the ending was a little frustrating. However I did find the story overall interesting, and this was clearly well researched, and a lot of time and effort went in to gathering the information to put this book together.

The plot sounded intriguing, but I did not love this one. It was so fact-packed and full of details about people that it felt more like a long police report than a novel. I am not sure if the audio was the same for this ARC as the actual audiobook, but there were several technical issues with listening as well that I'm sure contributed to my not liking it as much.

If you are affiliated with Stanford and you are super interested in the topic, it is definitely well-researched. Just not my cup of tea.

I really enjoy historical true crime, and this book didn’t disappoint.

In order to tell the story of Jane Stanford’s death, the author first delves into Jane’s life - her marriage, the birth and death of her only child, the creation of Stanford University, and the privilege afforded a woman with loads of money.

I thought it was well researched, and I found the information about the formation of Stanford University particularly interesting! It’s not a time period or an area I know much about. I also thought that the conclusion was well thought out, and a very viable one given that nobody will ever know who really did kill Mrs Stanford.

I also really liked the narrator - he had an easy accent, and a nice style to his reading. Definitely a book worth getting into for anyone interested in historical true crime or the history of one of the most famous universities in the US.

✨ Review ✨ Who Killed Jane Stanford?: A Gilded Age Tale of Murder, Deceit, Spirits and the Birth of a University by Richard White; Narrated by Christopher P. Brown

I don't listen to / read a lot of true crime, but I was excited to find this one written by Richard White, a historian that always produces interesting explorations of the past. I was also hooked by my interest in the Bay Area, even if the Gilded Age isn't really my favorite time period.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. White framed the story with the murder of Jane Stanford, and along the way provided deep contextualization of Stanford - the woman, the family, and the university. As he explored the history of her life, her death, and the investigations after her death, he revealed layers of scandal, Gilded Age corruption, racial and socioeconomic inequities, and so much more.

I really appreciated how he "broke the fourth wall," and provided glimpses into the challenges of doing this research with sources that had gone missing (maliciously or likely some due to the 1906 earthquake), as well as the ways the sources frequently contradict each other. I enjoyed these reflections into the practice of this writing, and the differences between historians and detectives in the way they approach cases like these.

It's a book that true crime lovers who also enjoy history would like reading, though it's not as flashy as some more modern true crime where all of the answers come together neatly. I learned a lot about Stanford, but also about the Bay Area in the Gilded Age.

Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company, Tantor Audio, and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!

This was a very thorough account of the poisonings of Jane Stanford and I feel satisfied with the way the facts were laid out and explained. I didn't know much about the case going into the book, but I was very intrigue and agree with the author in that the facts do point to a murder- and that the evidence points to the same person.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy.

This read more like a history of Jane Standford's life and her association with Standford University, than a true crime tale. The conclusion: We don't know who killed Jane Standford and we might never know. Some cases are meant to be left a mystery because it is impossible to figure out who did it so long ago. It was interesting and I learned something new, but nothing was jaw dropping or super exciting. I was waiting for the title of this book to be answered and I didnt get that. I was left rather unsatisfied.

This is an interesting book to listen to.
Listening to this book was an education in itself and certainly an eye opener.
The Narrator did a good job in presenting the story without making it sound boring. The author did and enormous amount of research to been able to present the facts which will be even news to Stanford alumina. To be honest Jane Stanford didn’t seem like a very nice person who used her money to control people in her employ and at the University. It also makes you realize that in the 100+ years the same kind of dealings is still going in businesses and politics.

I wanted to read this book because I thought was going to be a fascinating true crime story, but in fact the murder part was much smaller than I expected. It does frame the entire story, but so much more of this work focuses on the gilded age, and how those with money and/or power ruled over those who had little or neither. It was about deceit, controlling others, deep seeded corruption, and yes spirits all in relation to the San Francisco vicinity and the beginning of Stanford University. It is clear that the author put a great deal of research into this book, and the amount of documents that have conveniently become missing is an interesting part of the story. Overall I found this audiobook a engrossing listen. At times it was difficult to keep all the players straight, as there were so many, and there were spots where it felt a bit long winded. The narrator started off a bit slow and drab, but once past the introduction section he conveyed the story in a way that felt appropriate to such a tale. I would definitely recommend it to other history/true crime listeners, but with the caveat that if you're looking for a book focused just on the crime this isn't it. This is a history that simply happens to include an unsolved or should I say covered up murder.

Mindboggling! Such an education about the evolution of Stanford and the community of humans orbiting its founders. I had no idea about this twisted crime and its aftermath before finding this book, and I was absolutely gripped. The book is structured well, and the short chapters make for a pacy read/listen. The narrator is good, tells the story and stays out of the way: Perfect. Thank you!

Jane Stanford with egotistical, demanding, self-aggrandizing and murdered. From her permanent companion Bertha, to the Maid Elizabeth, Ying Sue the cook Ethan Steph at the University her and her husband started there were no shortage of suspects. From the first attempted murder in San Francisco Bertha and Elizabeth were suspects even an ex Butler was thought to may have wanted revenge, but she lived through that attempt it wouldn’t be until her trip to Hawaii whoever wanted her dead would be successful. In her death investigation much like her life it was so micromanaged it was essentially bundled and who did it would never be found out. In this book by Richard White, he sets out to answer that question is has a lot of gossip, and fax and I totally enjoyed it. It’s not so much true crime as it is social commentary on a Victorian era murder. Although if you like true crime in investigation you’ll love this book. I was given this book by Netgali and I leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any grammar or punctuation errors as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

This is a Nonfiction history book with an unsolved murder. The genre of true crime while correct is as misleading as the title. My first reaction when I saw the title and attempted to view the cover was "Not Lizzie Borden." (Mrs. Stanford's hair).

This reads like history, and repeats over and over the same things. Lizzie used an axe; Mrs. Stanford's killer used strychnine. There were too many to count suspects, and that is where the book failed for me as true crime nonfiction and became a sour college class reminder.

The author states several times the differences between historians and detectives, and how they perceive a scene. I believe that rationale applies to historians writing history versus a novel.

This was incredibly dull. The author used a collegiate vocabulary that the narrator read well. I would have preferred more of a radio drama male voice. Even with the dry material my attention would not have struggled so much.

The epilogue is the best part, and even that is too long.

Three stars it's thorough and unlike Lizzie, Mrs. Stanford won't get a song.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for accepting my request to read and review Who Killed Jane Stanford?.

Who Killed Jan Stanford?
By Richard White
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publish Date: 5/17/2022

In San Francisco Gilded Age corruption and conspiracy surround the murder of Stanford University co-founder Jane Stanford.

Jane and Leland Stanford founded Stanford University in 1885 to honor their teenage son who died suddenly.

Years later in 1893 Leland dies and Jane Stanford continues her eccentric spiritualist ways for many years imposing her beliefs on the University and key educators.

In 1905 she was murdered in Hawaii by strychnine poisoning. The trustees at Stanford University and many associates look to create a story of a death by natural causes. With Janes large fortune necessary for the success of Stanford, her suspicious death cover-up penetrated the wealthy, powerful circles of San Francisco. No one pursued Jane Stanford’s killer.

An exciting, extensively researched story of what really happened to Jane Stanford.

Perusing documentary evidence author Richard White expertly dissects conflicting witness statements, political corruption and other evidence that tells the story of Janes death during the San Francisco Gilded Age.

White finds many people who wanted Jane dead and one person who could make it happen.

As one of my favorite Universities the history of Stanfords creation and the story of the killing of its founder was shocking non-fiction.

Do you like non-fiction? This one is as good as any fiction bestselling thriller.