Review: In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of the Black Widow of La Porte

In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of the Black Widow of La Porte by Camilla Bruce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkely Publishing Group for an Advanced Reader Copy.

This is based on the story of Belle Gunness (Belle Sorensen, Brynhild Storset, and other names I'm sure) who was an active serial killer in Chicago, IL, and La Porte, IN, around 1900. While not a lot is known of specifics, and no deaths were ever tied directly to her, this book takes a look at what might have happened.

While I was intrigued by a female serial killer that I'd never heard of, the book left me a little bored. Sure, there was death and mental health issues and violence, but it was a pretty slow build to get there. I kept wondering when the "serial" part of the killer was going to start. The story was interesting, with historical details that brought it to life, but I kept waiting for something to happen.

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