I love reading True Crime books. And Olson's writing style is one of the best out there. This book was great and it had me guessing who their murderer was. It kept my attention the whole time I read the book I would give it four out of five stars

This book was captivating with its detailed and gripping narrative - a standout in the true crime genre.

Olsen's meticulous research and his ability to delve into the psychological dimensions of the case are superb. The complex relationship between Nickell and her daughter Cindy is explored in depth, adding a poignant layer to the chilling events. This exploration transforms the book from a mere recounting of crimes into a profound commentary on familial dysfunction and generational trauma

This is a well researched account of a true story. The author writes this in a way that makes it feel like fiction. It is well written. Perfect for true crime fans

I had a hard time with this one. I love this author and usually i dont have a problem but i think with the number of all the characters i was struggling. Sad story but it is not my favourate from him. I will read others from author but this one was just not for me i guess.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC.

Will will read anything Gregg Olsen puts out! He is a fantastic true crime writer that can take a real horrifying story and make it read like a fiction book.


An interesting read and account of some shocking events surrounding cyanide killings in America. An engaging story. Well done!

This book was quite detailed. That was a good and bad thing in this case. The case was very interesting but I feel like in some places the story dragged. It was a solid story overall though. I would not mind trying more books by this author.

Thank you Thread Books for the opportunity to review this book

I will always read books this author published. I think he is one of the best true crime writers ever and this book lives up to his reputation. Any true crime I read will be by this author.

I think I enjoy listening to true crime books rather than reading them, but I finally made it to this one. Definitely a wild story! Not my favorite Olsen, but amongst them for sure!

I really loved Starvation Heights and how Gregg managed to provide a narrative of what happened, but also thoroughly researched and this was just that!

I really liked if you tell so I thought I would enjoy this one. But I did not. It started out strong and peaked my interest a bit but good LORD it was LONNGGGGG

A worthwhile read for readers of true crime.
Olsen does an admirable job of setting the scenes, introducing the characters and explaining possible motives.
It is a truly cold blooded person who would do what was described in the book.
All of those was pre internet and I well remember the paranoia attached to crimes such as these.

Maybe it was me but I just found this book too confusing and I just could not keep track of who was who. This was a DNF for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Thread Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.


"American Mother" by Gregg Olsen is, a true crime story following Stella Nickels who may or may not have been responsible for the death of two other people.

I would give "American Mother" by Gregg Olsen a 3-star review because, while the story was interesting I just didn't really like how the author wrote this and didn't enjoy learning about this true crime.

I enjoyed the beginning of this one but then it began to drag a little! For some the length and detail of this book would have been right up their street but for me it was too much.

This definitely had the making of an excellent crime thriller, but the vast amount of detail made it a labor intensive read.

What a well researched, propulsive piece of nonfiction! I really enjoyed this book despite the heavy subject matter. I went into this book blind but learned so much. The book was well written and kept me engaged.

The book American Mother is a true crime telling of the story of Stella Nickels who may, or may not, be responsible for the death of two people.
What follows is a deep dive into the case and a story that seems straight out of a tv movie but its real. Gregg Olsen writes true crime in a way that allows you to form your own opinion, he does not give into bias and lets the reader make up their own mind.
He clearly explains the vast cast of characters in this book in a way that helps you keep track of who everyone is and their connections to each other and explains the science in an easy to understand way.
I had not heard of this case before and I am glad to see writers like Olsen shine a light on stories that are often overlooked.

Very good and thorough true crime! Unfortunately I started to lose interest a bit during the courtroom scenes, it seemed to go on forever but that is the problem with true crime sometimes, when they tell the real story it is not always the most exciting. I had never heard of this case but thought it made for a good book.

A true story that had my skin crawling the audacity of some people. The people involved often have no conscious. If you like true crime you will love this.

American Mother: The True Story of a Troubled Family, Motherhood and the Cyanide Poisonings That Shook the World by Gregg Olsen

Gregg Olsen sure knows how to dig deep into true crime and he definitely did so in American Mother. In this book, Mr. Olsen tells the story of Stella Nickell, the woman who used cyanide laced Tylenol to poison her husband and another person. Stella’s daughter Cynthia was the one who notified federal agents of her mother’s crimes. But she didn’t reveal everything… That's where Gregg Olsen and his digging comes in.

Murder isn't entertaining however, I think we are fascinated with true crime because we just can't believe or fathom that someone could actually perform these heinous crimes. We want to understand the why and the how.

I will read any true-crime novel by Gregg Olsen. Facts. Looking forward to the next!

This is the first book I have read by this author. Its about a woman called Stella who was put on trial for poisoning people with cyanide and abusing her daughter.
If you love descriptive true crime, then this is for you, just be warned there may he triggers