I have to say, this book left me feeling pretty conflicted. On one hand, it’s a gripping read with an unreliable narrator that keeps you second-guessing everything. The story does a fantastic job of making you feel paranoid right alongside the characters, but on the other hand, I’m not sure if I actually enjoyed the experience or just felt frustrated.
The plot is packed with mystery and moments that make you question everything—is Ruth telling the truth, or is she just lost in her mind? Did she really have a son, or is she imagining things? And the whole deal with her husband is another puzzle that keeps you guessing. While some of these questions sort themselves out, the ending still feels hazy, and I’m not sure I ever got the satisfying resolution I was hoping for

Reading this was both easy and dense, if that makes sense lol, the writing flows, but it’s also heavy with layers of uncertainty, making it hard to figure out what’s true. The different narrative styles add to that complexity. Some sections are short and sharp, almost like journal entries, while others are more flowery and introspective, especially when we see things through Ruth’s eyes. The shift to Anne and Sammy’s perspective was jarring, and I still don’t know if I liked that or just found it confusing
Honestly, I can’t decide if this book was brilliant in how it messes with your head or just too much to really enjoy. It’s a chaotic, twisty read that does keep you thinking, but I’m still torn about how I feel. Maybe that’s a good thing, or maybe it’s not. Either way, it left an impression, and that’s got to count for something, right?

Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the Arc of this book in audiobook format

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where true crime and historical mysteries are popular.

The Murderess by Laurie Notaro

When Ruth shows up at the train station with a suitcase so heavy and leaking blood… She has to run away as fast as she can. What they find inside the cases leaves them all stunned. The dead bodies of 2 women, one hacked to pieces and a woman now on the run.

This book was a tad slow for my liking. I do understand it is based on a real life crime so that kept me intrigued. We get the current day timeline and the past. Ruth was friends with both of the girls and the past is the lead up to the fateful night in question.

Ruth and her friends were basically trafficked by a man and they all ended up fighting over him. I never liked any of the characters and I didn’t like Ruth but you can see how it all ended up the way it did and that made me sad for the women. The plot was great, getting a fictionalized story of Ruth before she went to prison based on the things the author did know and took creative license with the rest.

It was a decent audio but I wish the pace had been better.

4 stars

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of The Murderess by Laurie Notaro.

This book has the most gory and intriguing start with a proper young caught hauling trunks of decaying body parts on a train. Winnie Ruth Judd is now on the run, sending letters to her doctor husband and hiding from the truth of what she's done. Flashback to the beginning. Who did these body parts belong to, and how did they end up in a trunk in Ruth Judd's care?

I had NO clue that this was a true story, making the saying "truth is stranger than fiction" even more apt. This is a story about friendship, romance, infidelity, law and order, and even jailbreaks. It's kooky and unbelievable, but after reading the real story, it turns out that Notaro just did a great job bringing an insane story to life.

The Murderess is a compelling true crime novel that fictionalizes one of the most famous female killers of the 20th century.

Beginning in 1931, Winne Ruth Judd takes a train and with her two trunks. When the trunks are discovered to contain bodies, Judd is long gone. Set in such a different era, this is a fascinating story of how Judd got away with murders for so long. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The perspective shifts contributed well to the character development and even pacing of the plot.

I think this is a blend of historical, crime, and suspense fiction that will appeal to many readers.

While the story was interesting I disliked the audio so much I struggled hard to keep going. The narrator had a monotone voice that just did not fit with what was happening in the story. Even 70% in I still had to force myself to keep going and only did because I’d made it so far already. The story started strong but dwindled and by the end I was just ready for it to be over. Not a good fit for me.

This is a historical fiction novel about a real murderess, Winnie Ruth Judd, aka The Trunk Murderess. Actual events mixed in with fictional plot, this novel is an account of Judd and the real murders that occurred in 1931. I think it's safe to assume that Judd was definitely mentally unwell. And what surprised me most was how much I actually liked Judd's character and wanted her to prevail. I mean, obviously, that's not what happened, but Notaro definitely makes you think that this story wasn't so black and white.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for this audio e-arc.*

This is quite the departure from the Laurie Notaro that I know and adore. If you're looking for Notaro wit, this isn't it. If you're looking for an interesting fictional account of what might have happened with a real-life murderess, you'll hit the jackpot here.

I wasn't familiar with the story and I'm not sure how much fact is embedded in the narrative, but this was impressive and, of course, well written. Notaro paints the life of a very flawed woman and what could have led to her crimes.

I did find it slowing a bit near the middle, bogged down in detail. But, overall, this was superb.

Although it didn't turn out to be the murder mystery I expected, it's no less interesting. It is raw and emotional, the type of story that will tug at your heartstrings and not always in a good way. Only pick up if you are ready to dive into the twisted mind of a murderess. The story is dark and disturbing, especially at the start. Because it is based on a true story, you might not find the resolution you want but the ending will leave a lasting impression on you. And I thought it wrapped up everything quite well. Overall, it's a good read.

The audiobook is well-narrated, the audio quality is excellent and flows smoothly from start to finish. Each character is distinct and easily recognizable, making it effortless to follow the plot and understand the dynamics between them. One of the standout aspects of this audiobook is how the narrator skillfully captures the personalities of the characters, giving them depth. Of course, writing is great in that aspect, too. Especially, the emotional complexity of the main character makes the whole experience engaging.

If you are a fan of true crime and/or historical romance and appreciate a well-paced thrilling story, I highly recommend the audiobook of The Murderess by Laurie Notaro; narrated by Hillary Huber.

P.S. I'd like to thank the publisher for the complimentary audio copy. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this thrilling story.

5 ☆
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If annotating an entire book were a person, it would be this book! This entire book could have been annotated! It was that good. It started with a bang and ended with an even bigger bang! I highly recommend this book. Ruth was literally delusional and crazy, but I enjoyed her the entire time! I wonder, does that make me delusional and crazy as well? Oh well, it’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd. Now, let the story begin.
The audiobook was good; the narrator did a good job telling the story. She was easy to listen to and understand.
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Thank you, Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook, and Little A for the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.