Pretty Evil New England
True Stories of Violent Vixens and Murderous Matriarchs
by Sue Coletta
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Nov 01 2020 | Archive Date Jan 01 2021
Rowman & Littlefield | Globe Pequot
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Description
For four centuries, New England has been a cradle of crime and murder—from the Salem witch trials to the modern-day mafia. Nineteenth century New England was the hunting ground of five female serial killers: Jane Toppan, Lydia Sherman, Nellie Webb, Harriet E. Nason, and Sarah Jane Robinson.
Female killers are often portrayed as caricatures: Black Widows, Angels of Death, or Femme Fatales. But the real stories of these women are much more complex. In Pretty Evil New England, true crime author Sue Coletta tells the story of these five women, from broken childhoods, to first brushes with death, and she examines the overwhelming urges that propelled these women to take the lives of a combined total of more than one-hundred innocent victims. The murders, investigations, trials, and ultimate verdicts will stun and surprise readers as they live vicariously through the killers and the would-be victims that lived to tell their stories.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781493052332 |
| PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
V N, Reviewer
This book was very good. I am from New England, and I did not know of any of these cases!!! Very well written and engrossing. I could not stop reading this book. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.
Laura A, Reviewer
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Before reading this book I didn't realize how many women serial killers there were in the early 1900's. This book was very informative and gave great description into what made these women kill. This book was well written.
Elaine L, Book Trade Professional
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Pretty Evil New England.
I don't read much nonfiction but I know female serial killers take a backseat in history as opposed to their male counterparts and should be given their due so when I saw the premise to Pretty Evil New England, I knew I had to request it and was pleased when it was approved.
The author has done copious research, digging into archives and courtroom documents and transcripts to bring to life five of the most notorious female serial killers.
And these women are just from New England!
This was a fascinating, shocking and, at times, a dry read especially when courtroom transcripts took the place of a narrative, but I was engrossed and kept flipping the pages.
This definitely isn't for anyone but if you enjoy nonfiction crime about female serial killers, you should consider picking up Pretty Evil New England.
Sheila T, Reviewer
I received an advance copy of, Pretty Evil New England, by Sue Coletta. This book is pretty evil, too evil for me. The women in this book are pretty sick and twisted. Others might enjoy this, those who really enjoy horror movies.
Lynn B, Media/Journalist
I love a true crime book this one is about women committing horrific murders. This book is nonfiction but it tells stories in a way that seems like fiction. If you’re into true crime this is the book for you.
Brittany M, Educator
I thought this was a super fun read and gave a really vivid look into female killers during the just barely post Victorian era. It was interesting to see these women violating the idea of the demure woman that we hold in the modern ear, and I look forward to discussing it with students in the future.
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