This book reads like a true crime documentary show but is a little slow paced. Definitely just as creepy as his first book and kind of goes in the mind of a killer.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review.

American Blad Widow by Gregg Olson is a must-read book that will keep you on the edge of your seat! With its descriptive language and intricate plot, this true crime novel will leave you wanting more! A haunting and mesmerizing account of Stacey Castor's crimes. I highly recommend!

This book captured my interest first by the title and then forward to the story. It kept my interest because it seemed somewhat unbelievable, both in the characters and the storyline. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that this is non-fiction. The author brings the characters to life and and I am always trying to figure out what makes people do what they do, and sometimes there is no answer. It was also heartbreaking that good people can be so easily duped over and over again. I have read a number of books by this author and have always found they are well researched and each one is as unique as the crime and people. This one is no different. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was creepy and shows you some glimpses inside the mind of a killer. I think this could be a tv show as the characters were very real and the way the storyline flitted between all the characters kept it interesting. A must read if you are a true crime fan.

Gregg Olsen does a great job getting inside the head of a killer and pulling out the thoughts and actions that took place. The extra storyline of “love” really made this book come alive - we’d do anything for love. Good from start to finish and one you keep going back to read more.

As a huge fan of Gregg Olsen, I did enjoy the telling of this story - he is always able to lay out the facts in a chronological order, that makes it easy to follow as a reader. I was not aware this was a re-release, but enjoyed it just the same! I enjoy the way that Gregg is able to capture a reader within the first few pages, making us wanting to find out more and more about the case. Although it was a bit slow in a few parts, I found that this was essential to the telling of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I did receive a copy of of American Black Widow by Gregg Olsen from NetGalley. So thank you for that and this review is all my own.

Not gonna lie, I love true crime and reading about it is something I do want to read more of. But this book does seem to jump around timeline wise to the point the only way I knew what time it was by Sharon's last name. The stuff I read about was crazy, this woman had no shame and I never knew of this crime so I did enjoy what I read. Like I said the only thing I did not like was I was trying to figure out the timeline. Seeing the way killers are so calculated, it is insane. If you like True Crime do give it a chance and have an open mind about the timeline pace.

Arc review

This book is inspired on a true story.
This story follows the shocking case of greed and manipulation. Sharon Nelson known as the black widow. The ministers wife who ended up with two unalived husbands.

Looking more in depth with this book, I didn't realise it was published in 1998. I do like the newer book cover.
There was alot of research put into the book which was good for the indepth information. Prior to reading this book I was aware who Sharon Nelson was and this is a more of an in depth story behind her actions and story.

I like the concept of the 'whos who' at the start of this book to help you understand who the characters are and what they are to other characters within the book.. eg of this Mike Fuller is Sharon's first husband and is the minister and so forth.

Also the book is broken down into 3 sections:-
Book 1-Ministers wife
Book 2-Doctors wife
Book 3- Firemans wife

Definitely worth the read.

Overall 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
#AmericanBlackWidow #ThreadBooks

Ever since a young age I have read Ann Rule's true crime books. She had such a way with writing where you really felt for the victim's plight. Since she worked with detectives, she also made the detectives key players in the book. Since they are giving so much of their time to her, I supposed it was a fair trade.

This book felt like an Ann Rule book in many ways. I was a bit disappointed that after we met the detectives initially, they didn't come back into the story. I also was a bit disappointed there wasn't a picture section because I definitely would have liked to see this woman Sharon who wooed all these men. Maybe the reason there was no picture section was because it was a galley?

I was puzzled why this book had no updates after the 1980s. After a bit of research, it looks like this is a rerelease of a 1990s true crime book. So you would think something would have happened since Sharon and Gary had been put in prison. Like when are they eligible for parole? Have any of the major players died?

I did find this an intriguing true crime book that was well-written. A bit of the language was dated.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

America Black Widow is the true story of Sharon Fuller,her first but not last married name, the Preacher's wife who saw herself as Colorado's own Marilyn Monroe, a woman of voracious appetites and no moral compass. Scandalising her husband's congregation with her behaviour Sharon quite openly reels in married Optometrist Perry Nelson,destroying both their marriages..and eventually his business. After what appears to be a tragic accident Sharon pockets the life insurance and wastes no time marrying Glen Harrelson, a friend of Perry's who she was already having an affair with. When Glen meets a grisly,and suspicious, end the police decide that losing 2 husbands in strange circumstances is no coincidence.

This is quite a tale,told in almost novelistic style by Gregg Olsen. Sharon's tangled love life is almost worth a book in itself ,aside from her husbands and known lovers there are several mentions of random encounters with "persons unknown". She appears to have had almost a hypnotic effect on her victims, who were besotted with her even as she was blatantly stealing from them and treating them with contempt.
What most affected me about this book was how she got away with things for so long,seemingly while cunning she was no genius and dropped several really large hints to various people about the crimes she .along with yet another besotted married man ,Gary Starr Adams,had committed .
A fascinating read for True Crime fans

I love Gregg Olson's books so I thought I'd try this true crime novel,unfortunately it was alot like Ann Rules true crime stories that go into to much detail. Many will like this but it just wasn't for me!
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this!

A change of pace for me as I usually stick to fiction. The story didn’t benefit from the creativity that fiction writers are free to use. The story was interesting but pretty straightforward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thread for an ARC copy of this book. This isn’t a typical book I would read, but as a true crime watcher/listener I thought I’d give it a try. I enjoyed it! There isn’t much of a twist- more just a (mostly) chronological telling of the story, but it kept me interested. Now I wish there were more YouTube true crime stories about it because I’d like to watch/learn more!

American Black Widow is a true crime story about a woman who killed her two loving husbands for their money. Gregg Olsen takes us through the life of the Sharon Nelson, her marriages, and the eventual discovery of her crimes.

The author's writing style is thorough while also keeping the reader engaged throughout the book. Olsen does an excellent job of presenting the facts while also providing his own insights and colorful commentary.

The story is both intriguing and disturbing at the same time.

Overall, The Black Widow is a chilling true crime story that will keep you turning the pages and wanting more.

This was a good read perfect for true crime fans.Sharon Fuller Nelson Harrelson was without a doubt a deadly femme fatale drawing men into her web and into their minds until they were under her spell which led to deadly outcomes.For family and friends left behind their lives were never the same again.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thread Books for the ARC.

That s was reminiscent of Anne Rule--overly descriptive, lots of purple prise, unnecessary tangents that have little or nothing to do with the crime. This was less true crime and more memoir, honestly. Not at all my cup of tea.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
A true story of Sharon who marries Mike, a minister- but Sharon isn’t satisfied with one man -soon she is having affairs with the optometrist, causing his marriage to end, Of course there is a wedding and then another death. Once again she has money to start over with another man, but with two men dying under mysterious circumstances, the police become involved, Who murdered the husbands?

Thanks to Negalley, Gregg Olsen and his publisher for this ARC of American Black Widow.

Gregg Olsen has a way to tell a story that makes you feel like you are there. Gregg Olsen has a way to tell a story that makes you feel like you are there. Sharon Nelson was a greedy, murdering psychopath who thinks the world revolves around her. She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. This book kept me up reading. I could not put it down.

Gregg Olsen can write a nonfiction book with the best of them. "American Black Widow" was a great read.

I really struggled to stay interested in this one. The writing style was excellent as are all Gregg Olsen novels but seemed dated and a bit dragged out. Overall an intriguing read.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

I was so excited to get this one. It really sounded like it would be an interesting story. However, I quickly learned that this was not the book for me. The writing style was very flamboyant and descriptive. I didn’t need to know she had sensuous lips. I was also never sure what time period the author was talking about or whose point of view I was reading. It just didn’t work for me and I did DNF the book. I love a good true crime book, but this was just wasn’t for me.

I do want to thank the publisher for this e-arc and I do hope this book all the success with the right readers.

I will not be leaving reviews outside of netgalley.