Pretty Evil New England: True Stories of Violent Vixens and Murderous Matriarchs

When one thinks of serial killers, one might think of Ted Bundy, or the Green River Killer, or even Jack the Ripper. It is not likely, though, that one will think of any women. But there are several female serial killers among the American pantheon of criminals, and Sue Coletta, an absolute master of the true-crime genre, brings to bear her brilliant writing and stellar research in this marvelous treatise by taking a hard look at female serial killers in New England during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

She tells the stories of Jane Toppan, Lydia Sherman, Nellie Webb, Harriet E Nason, and Sarah Jane Robinson, even using their own words at times to really give readers the whole story. She has accessed interviews, newspaper articles, court transcripts, and more to bring readers into the times and places about which she is writing. Her writing is accessible and focused, appropriate for the topic, and the stories of these women are very compelling. She has chosen great subject matter for fans of true crime writing. Readers will still be left with questions unanswered, but they will be fully satisfied with these fascinating stories. Don’t miss this one.