I’m late giving feedback I know but this little gem somehow slipped off my radar till recently. I obviously requested it ages ago so had forgotten it was based in a true crime case so I read it thinking it read like a podcast would if in a book form. Clearly the true element of it dictated the style somewhat. Anyway I loved it and would wholeheartedly recommend to any true crime fans or simply crime readers. It was chilling in its subject matter with death dealt with so callously. Entertaining more than it should have if I’m honest but I us3 the excuse I didn’t know it was true.

I didn't love this one but I also didn't hate this one. However I'm not sure how I feel about this one.

I love all of Gregg Olsen's work. I love how he can tell these terrible stories, in a way that is respectful but gets the point across effortlessly.

"American Black Widow: The Shocking True Story of a Preacher's Wife Turned Killer" by Gregg Olsen is a chilling true crime narrative that delves into the dark and captivating story of a preacher's wife turned murderer. Olsen's storytelling prowess shines as he unfolds the events, making it an engrossing read for true crime enthusiasts.

One of the notable strengths of the book is Olsen's ability to meticulously detail the shocking events while maintaining a gripping narrative. The exploration of the psychological aspects adds depth to the portrayal of the central character, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the unfolding tragedy. Olsen's skill in crafting a suspenseful atmosphere keeps the audience captivated.

However, some readers might find certain elements of the true crime story following familiar patterns within the genre. Additionally, while Olsen provides a compelling overview, those seeking more extensive analysis or exploration of the cultural and social context may find aspects of the narrative somewhat limited.

In summary, "American Black Widow" is a compelling true crime account that delivers on the shocking and dramatic elements of the genre. Olsen's storytelling ability and attention to detail make it an engaging choice for fans of true crime narratives. However, readers expecting a more comprehensive examination of the broader context surrounding the events may find the book focused primarily on the sensational aspects of the story.

This book is scary because it is true. Really good book, Olsen presents the story in a fast paced story that the reader does not want to put down. Recommend to true crime pod cast lovers!

The book, American Black Widow, by Gregg Olsen, was an interesting read. I had not heard of this case before and found the details surrounding the two murders shocking. I believe that the story shows the extent of what can happen when humans are left to their own depravity. Sex, greed, and murder are the end result of a life out of control.

Mr. Olsen wrote an intriguing book that I read in a couple of days. It is a gripping book even though the reader has a good understanding how the story will play out. It is fascinating to see the control one woman can have over many different men, even to the point of destroying reputations, families, and lives. It is not a book about religion although Sharon Lynn Harrellson was brought up in a religious home and married a minister. She abandoned her religious upbringing. She instead pursued the life she thought she wanted: money, power, sex. All the things she was not going to find in her religious experience.

There were a few instances of foul language that was used as direct quotes and occasionally in the text. There are also sexual scenes and references. The book is not explicitly graphic either in sex or in the description of murder. There were also a few instances of grammatical errors which may have been the result of being a digital print. They were not enough to put off the reading of the text, but enough worth mentioning.

Overall, I enjoyed, American Black Widow, by Gregg Olsen. This was the first of his books I read and would likely read another. I would recommend this book to ages 18 and above due to the content of the material and the sexual references contained in the book.

I've been a Gregg Olsen fan for many years. Both his fiction and his non fiction books are excellent reads. American Black Widow tells the story of a woman who loved men and loved being married. Her biggest problem was how to move from one husband to the next, which she soon solves. Olsen's descriptive style gives readers a true to life picture of the events surrounding one community's realization that a killer was hiding behind the face of this charming widow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of American Black Widow by Gregg Olsen.

Another amazing book by this author, this well researched and chilling tale follows on from his last read, which kept me turning the pages inhorror of what was unfolding, chilling.

While overall this was a quick read I found I didn't really like the overall tone. It's full of information about 'Black Widow' Sharon Nelson, and is clearly well researched however I do think the author sometimes allowed their own assumptions and bias to override the facts. Slut shaming has no place in 2023, and the constant harpening back to her looks and sexual history just felt very off to me.

I might try other books by Gregg Olsen, due to his easy writing style, however I'll be cautious about the subject matter.

Gregg Olsen is the true crime master! I was totally immersed in this story. It was one that I wasn't familiar with prior, but had read Olsen's work before and knew I wanted to read this story. Highly recommend this one!

Gregg is one of my favourite true crime authors as well as fiction. I have actually seen this on a true crime show. I think the fact that I had seen it , took some shine off the book , I liked his writing though.

When Mike and Sharon show up in Rocky Ford everyone is a little suspicious. Sharon is a raucous women with her sights set on men and always showing what she has but she is also the minister wife. The minister on the other hand is more cold and gruff and the community isnt sure of them. Not long after being in Rocky Ford Sharon gets entangled with a local dentist, Perry. Eventually Mike and Sharon get divorced and fairly quick after Sharon and Perry tie the knot. Not long after their marriage Perry goes missing and is found dead in a canyon. After being declared an accident, Sharon hooks up with a firefighter Glenn. Eventually Glenn also ends up dead. Police start getting suspicious and investigating Sharon and mysterious deaths of two of her husbands.

This was exactly what you want in a true crime book. Obviously these crimes are horrible and justice is needed for their families but the way Gregg Olsen portrays Sharon and tells the story is captivating. He gives the facts and needs and wants of every reader through backstories of how this all occurred. I thought it was well written and really showed the evil of what is in the world. I think for a true crime fan this is a must read!

Massive thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy. Below are my honest thoughts and opinions.

"American Black Widow" is the story of Sharon Nelson, a former Reverand's wife that just seems to have tough luck in her marriages. When her first husband Mike Fuller turns out to be more controlling than loving, Sharon seeks solace in an affair with the town's local, married optometrist, Perry Nelson. When both of their marriages crumble, Perry and Sharon continue their own whirlwind romance, only for it to end in tragedy - Perry's body is found at the bottom of a canyon. After collecting a substantial amount of life insurance from Perry's death, Sharon moves on to Glenn Harrelson, a local fireman, that just ended his marriage to his best friend. But just as unexpectedly, Glenn mysteriously dies in a house fire. And yet, he was found with two bullet holes in his skull, and Sharon is on the run.

Marketed as gripping and a page-turner, this novel was incredibly lackluster. There was no mystery - everyone, including the characters in the story, knew Sharon was to blame for these deaths. The mystery was more how the killings took place and who did the actual killing.

It is an interesting story of a local man-eater that somehow manages to seduce any man that gets caught into her web. However, the author took particular interest in describing how hot she was or giving intimate details of her sexual escapades, neither of which added any substance to the plot.

I wanted to know why Sharon jumped to murder, how she convinced someone to help her, how she felt after her husbands died, and what her children thought of her mom. I wanted to read about how Sharon chose her victims and if she ever felt any remorse. I didn't care for the cavalier attitude towards describing how she attracted her prey; I cared for knowing how she thought she would get away with it.

All in all, it was a good read, but nothing riveting nor brilliant about it.

My first Gregg Olsen book was If You Tell which had me gripped from the first few chapters. When I saw American Black Widow on NetGalley I quickly requested it. The way Olsen crafts a story with such dark subject matter in a respectable, consumable way is a gift. I read about 30% of the book, then put it down for a while, finishing it when I picked it back up a few months later. It's a long story and there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and it sometimes took a few seconds to remember who the person was and what their connection was to Sherry or the story. As sometimes happens with true crime, the story can be a little dry but the fact that this is a true story is mind blowing to me; I will never understand the siren call of women like Sherry. Fans of Olsen and/or the story of Sherry Lynn should grab this one.
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Thank you NetGalley and Thread Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC! I absolutely love Gregg Olsen's books, this is my 3rd true crime one by him and probably my favorite as far as writing style. It was an easy read even though the subject matter is baffling that anyone could do the things Sharon does in this story. I love that the author puts so much into researching the personalities of the characters and even interviews actual people involved in the case about it, and the way he includes them in the his telling of the story. I think Gregg is an amazing author and I hope he continues his true crime line of books, as they are always stories not heard of elsewhere and told without bias. He definitely teaches you not to trust anyone and that people are not always what they seem!

I couldn’t finish this. I tried but didn’t really find the story that compelling. The writing was OK but the story itself didn’t feel like it needed it’s own book.

I absolutely love Gregg Olsen's books and he is an immediate need to read author for me. This book was so throughly researched and well written. As usual with most true crime books the story is awful, but Gregg has a way of writing the story to shed the most light on the victims and their stories rather than just telling a gruesome story about awful people. Highly recommend for true crime lovers like me.

4.75/5 stars! I love Gregg Olsen and devoured his last true crime read, so I couldn't wait to jump into this one. I will say that his books aren't likely for everyone. He is extremely descriptive and in-depth in his story-telling. I adore this because I read true crime on a consistent basis. But if you're looking for a story that glosses over some details to rush into the actual crime, this wouldn't be for you. That being said, I strongly recommend reading his books. This book was so powerful and I felt like I really knew the characters by the time it ended.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.75/5 stars! I love Gregg Olsen and devoured his last true crime read, so I couldn't wait to jump into this one. I will say that his books aren't likely for everyone. He is extremely descriptive and in-depth in his story-telling. I adore this because I read true crime on a consistent basis. But if you're looking for a story that glosses over some details to rush into the actual crime, this wouldn't be for you. That being said, I strongly recommend reading his books. This book was so powerful and I felt like I really knew the characters by the time it ended.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.