This book is a good one if you like an unreliable narrator and true crime without a firm resolution. This story was something else. At times the narrative is hard to believe. At other times I felt a twinge of sympathy for Judd. I wonder what her like would have been like if she'd been born 75 years later.

Overall, it left me with too many questions / unknowns and I didn't understand how the epilogue was supposed to help resolve anything. Is she insane? Is she on drugs? Was she manipulated?

I will always love Laurie Notaro most for her non-fiction memoirs.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Great book by one of my favorite authors. The history of Winnie Ruth Judd presented in this book is well researched and fascinating.

Well researched and highly captivating! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys true crime and historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for the eARC.

I was so intrigued by the premise of a fictionalized retelling of a true story. The novel took me a bit to get into, but was an enjoyable read once it got going!

The Murderess tells a fictionalized story of a true crime which took place in Phoenix in 1931. Ruth Judd travels from Phoenix to Los Angeles with two trunks and baggage containing two bodies and body parts. Along the way, blood and body fluids are leaking everywhere. It is the decomposition odor that brings attention to officials when she disembarks in Los Angeles. The resourceful Ruth goes on the run, hiding in a department store and making her way to La Vina, the tuberculosis sanitorium where she lived previously, then eventually forced to turn herself in. Newspaper articles carry the sensational details that are presumed regarding the murders, the victims, and Ruth’s involvement. Gradually Ruth’s life growing up in a small Indiana town and events leading up to the murders are revealed. But Ruth gives different accounts of motive and details of the murders to her husband, Doctor, others, and the reader.
Through Ruth’s narration, it is evident that we are not getting the complete, truthful story. Once I was able to piece together ‘facts’, I realized that Ruth suffers from some form of mental illness, and Doctor, who can’t keep a job and in treatment much of their married life, is a drug addict – which as a doctor, narcotics are easily accessed. He is much older than Ruth. They are two damaged souls who found each other and live sad, desperate lives. They moved around a lot to give Doctor repeated fresh starts, living in Mexico and California. We also learn of the victims, her best friends Sammy and Anne; and Jack, her lover while living on her own in Phoenix.
I had difficulty getting into the book because of the writing. Notaro is a journalist and, in my experience, those skills don’t transfer well to novel writing. Sentences are disjointed and don’t flow smoothly. I often had to reread to figure out the subject of a sentence. I adjusted to this ‘reporting’ style and the story took over because it was so engaging and fascinating. And I do believe the writing improved some as I read on. Notaro very skillfully dropped clues and revealed details at just the right time, which made this an exceptional book.

It was a slow, but fascinating read maid more so by the fact that it is based on a true story. It had a strong beginning and then towards the end the book sort of fizzles out. I guess you can't change history.

The Murderess is an engaging read based on a true story about a crime that has never been sufficiently explained. Ms. Notaro gives the reader a thorough view of what was life in the 20's/30's and all difficulties women had to face besides war, poverty, and lung diseases. Ruth never had a clear definition of what she wanted in life, she marries an older man (with a drug addiction), leaves a religious and strict family, has to fight for her life and that of her husband when leaving Mexico, finds a life in her own terms in Phoenix where the tragedy happens. She was a victim as well as a killer, had her own drugg addictions, a delusional mind that did not help her, and "friends" that were not really looking out for her. A tragedy that was built step by step till the end. A trial that was a spectacle and was only saved by her own acting and that of a lawyer and a judge. Once you start reading "The Murderess" you won't be able to stop!
I thank Ms. Notaro, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own

Book Tagline: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.

It was a slow start but I am so glad I stuck with this real-life story set in the United States during the Depression-era. Narrated by multiple characters, Laurie Notaro gives readers a glimpse into the circumstances that led Winnie Ruth Judd to commit such brutal murders. I believe the author's background in writing nonfiction adds to a historical fiction that is more thorough in presenting the backstory of several major players, including the victims. What surprised me the most was how much empathy the author was able to bring out in me. Given the subject matter, I wasn't expecting to feel sympathy for a woman who declared simply "I was justified."

Highly recommended for historical fiction and true crime fans.



#TheMurderess #NetGalley
Publication Date 08/10/24
Goodreads Review 14/10/24

The Murderess is a harrowing and complex story set in Depression-era Los Angeles.
Ruth Judd,a doctor’s wife has just arrived at the train station from Arizona,and as she tries to pick up her two pieces of luggage, she is stopped by the porters - who, alarmed by a horrific smell emanating from them,open them up to reveal the dismembered body parts of two women. Just as the police arrive,Ruth narrowly escapes and goes on the run.
As the story unfolds, it skillfully navigates multiple perspectives,intricately intertwining the experiences, which kept me captivated and on the edge of my seat.

The author does an amazing job of immersing us in the past with rich, evocative detail, bringing the era to life,as well as diving into Ruth’s personality and mental health in the lead up to the murders. Moreover, Notaro expertly presents both sides of the story, allowing readers to understand the complexities of Ruths motivations and challenges.
I really felt sympathy for her, as horrific as the crime was, and to my surprise I found out this was based on a true crime!
This book is a very thought-provoking and engaging read, highly recommended for anyone who loves true crime. Its intricate narrative and compelling character dynamics make it a standout that will spark discussion and reflection.

A fictionalized account of a true crime, THE MURDERESS, is an awesome read. I actually looked up the original crime to see how much of the book is fiction. Laurie Notaro stuck close to the nonfictional crime reports, filling in the gaps of a crime that has never been completely solved even though Winnie Ruth Judd was convicted and given the death penalty for the murder of Anne Leroi. Notaro obviously spent a great deal of time and effort researching the details of the crime that came to be known as The Trunk Murders. Notaro's writing elevated what could easily have become a rote telling of crime to a fascinating look at how so many different people and events would come to bear on the trial. Even the jurors would play a part in the story. I'd recommend this book to any true crime buff but also to anyone who enjoys a crime novel that has so many players, it is hard to keep up with who is NOT guility of something. 5 easy stars.

Slow to start for me, felt a bit difficult to get into, but worth the patience as it does become addictive. To feel inside the mind of a murderess and her sanity and maybe your own just a little bit, the author does an incredible job putting you there. How I found compassion for this main “character” is beyond me. “It (I) was justified” haunts my thoughts. You are transported to the 1920’s and 30’s, your lungs feel like they can’t breathe from the strong prevalence of tuberculosis, you feel the heat of the desert and the inability to get cool, you worry about money but have difficulty comprehending the cost of living and wages at that time. I had never heard of this very real woman named Winnie Ruth Judd, and this book and author opened my eyes to her fictional world, steeped in so much reality. I definitely recommend this book!

True Crime fiction is a genre that is not often on my radar, but the premise of Laurie Notaro's "The Murderess" intrigued me and thus I offer this review in exchange for an advanced copy.

As I began this reading journey, I did find myself having interest in the years following the Great Depression that it depicted in detail, as well as the struggles that women in that time period had to overcome to live authentic, independent lives on their own terms. But note that I did not mention a focus on what should have been the central appeal. That being the sensational, horrific double murder comitted by a woman of much mystery.

As presented, Winnie Ruth Judd, the titular murderess, is at once seemingly high-strung, flighty, and histrionic, while also being calculating and self-aware. Often she is portrayed as mysterious, lost, and misunderstood. Quite late in the narrative is she presented as seriously mentally ill. Over arching this small woman who, for a time, had a hefty impact on people around her, is a whole cast of characters with questionable and primarily unresolved motives that may (or may not!) have had an influence. From sensational beginning to lackluster end, the reader gains very little insight into this headline grabbing murderous event.

The Murderess on October in 1931 a passenger travel from Phoenix to LA train with two larger truck thought out the train red liquids come out of the track people are assured smuggled deer this happen alside the Great Depression we meet are character Ruth Judd who owns the truck saying they are medical book in the truck and she was delivering to her husband told her to open the truck: she doesn’t have the key. While open the truck there are two woman bodies that have be shot and cut up to fit in the truck. While reading this story I fell down a massive rabbit hole also I felt that a lot of the things Laurie Notaro changes didn’t quite make sense to me. The story is writing in three parts it took me a while to really get into the story from jump into a lot of different pov. This book is dark and disturbing of trying to figure out how a women like Ruth Judd become murdered her two best friends. This book also follow mental health problems in a way Judd is a unreliable narrator.

Thank you Netgalley and Little A New York

An interesting narrative take on a shocking case. The author's access to source material allowed her to write a story that shows a complicated picture of a very complicated individual in Winnie Ruth Judd, her relationships, and a story that would be national headlines in any era it happened in. There is a LOT of tragedy in this story, and it's not always easy to read, but it's required reading for those interested in historical true crime.

The Murderess by Laurie Notaro is a horrifying 1930s true crime story!
This book surprised me. I was intrigued and kept wanting more!

In the mind of Winnie Ruth Judd is a troubling place to be to say the least. Did Ruth actually commit the murders? Did she have help or did someone else murder those poor girls? We will never know what really happened in the bungalow the day of the murders but Notaro gives the reader a believable plausibility leading up to and the day it happened.

So many people couldn’t believe Ruth could commit these murders and it is no wonder. She came across naturally thoughtful, unassuming and kind. That said, Notaro shows another side to her and it is manic at times. You won’t know what is real or not real when you step inside the mind of Winnie Ruth Judd.

I must confess, due to the graphic details of their deaths and the circumstances of Ruth’s mental state and what she went through had me pause at first. Could I get through this story unscathed? Surprisingly I did but this story was a deeply emotional one, disturbing, and wrought in such tragic events. The topics may be triggering to some. I will say, I had to step away a few times to get a grip on what I was feeling while reading this story.

When I got about half way through the book, I did a bit of research on my own about this crime. I had not heard of this case before or the people involved. Quite frankly, I was blown away by it which is a bit of a shock about the details considering I read true crime often. From what I researched, the author of this book has weaved a brilliant story of what-ifs and her character development and narrative is fantastic.
Stephanie Hopkins

DNF at the 8% mark. While I have always enjoyed the author's nonfiction, I have never been able to fully engage with her novels. The writing in "The Murderess" is a bit stilted and unpolished and kept me from fully engaging or feeling the need to continue reading.

**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I wanted to like this book as I am a big fan of Notaro's nonfiction humor books. Unfortunately, the book didn't hold my interest. I found a few historical errors about the 1930s, though maybe that will be fixed in the final copy. However, the way money is thrown around in this book makes it seem like the Great Depression is things that happened to someone else. It was hard for me to focus and the character of Ruth was too scattered to keep tracking. I suppose it may all come together in the end but I just couldn't get there and honestly, didn't want to.

The Murderess by Laurie Notaro is based on the heinous 1930s true crime story of Winnie Ruth Judd, the Trunk Murderess. Amongst other things, her marriage to the narcotics-abusing older Doctor and their moves in America, her affair, her close friendships with murder victims Annie and Sammy, mental and physical illness, crimes, prison, and life after prison are vividly described. Included are real bone-chilling letters she penned which gave me goosebumps. My prior knowledge about this case was minimal so learning more was educational.

Graphic crime details and the human capacity to kill, dismember and stuff the bodies of two fellow human beings into trunks are disturbing. The coldness in which Ruth acted is breathtaking. She justified theft as borrowing. This is a grim read but also insightful, especially into the mind of a tiny and apparently "sweet" woman. Notaro's writing is gripping and intelligent and kept me glued to the pages. Talk about a fascinating yet difficult topic!

If you are a true crime reader looking for something different, this just may be it.

My sincere thank you to Little A and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating book.

I was completely unfamiliar with the true crime this book was based on going in, but picked this book up anyway due to the late 20s/early 30s setting and of course always intriguing concept of a murderess. I didn't entirely jive with the writing style at first so I ended up taking a pause on it not too far in, and from there waffled on whether or not I even wanted to keep going with it until the story regained my interest at about the 50% mark.

Which was unfortunate, as from there I did find this to be very engaging! Once we began to get the backstory of the crime rather than just the slog of a woman on the run from the law (sounds more interesting than it is, mostly it's a lot of blistered feet and sweaty clothes) it was much easier to get invested. Getting to actually meet the victims was the most fascinating part of this whydunnit, and I wish the book had been structured a bit differently so that we could have gotten there sooner.

This was ultimately more like a 3.5 by the end but it was also just too close to a DNF for me in that draggy 2nd quarter to round up. Still, certainly worth the read if you have any interest in the case or true crime-based fiction.

My thanks to Little A and NetGalley for the ARC.