Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales

by Mitzi Szereto

Overview

Female Serial Killers Through Time

From historical accounts to modern cases, explore the captivating psychology behind these killer women, unraveling their motives and unveiling the dark complexities of human behavior.

The fair sex. We’ve often heard this clichéd expression being used to refer to women. Although it has become increasingly outdated, the mindset still exists that women are the gentle and nurturing sex. When it comes to murder, that notion gets turned on its head. And this isn’t a recent phenomenon; we can find plenty of female killers going back in history. In fact, some of the world’s most notorious serial killers have been women. These female killers give their male counterparts a run for their money, and deserve to be counted among the most famous serial killers. 

Unearth the disturbing histories of notorious women. From the chilling accounts of infamous black widow murders to the spine-tingling narratives of women who shocked the world with their sinister deeds, this anthology delves deep into the minds of these deadly women. Spanning eras and continents, these tales of true crime offer a chilling exploration of the darkest corners of human nature.

Inside:

• Discover lesser-known cases of female killers that challenge conventional narratives and shed light on the often-overlooked stories of women who defied societal norms and perpetrated gruesome crimes.
• Enjoy a diverse selection of true crime tales that spotlight the narratives of female serial killers from various historical periods.
• Explore the international spectrum of female murderers and uncover how factors such as culture, upbringing, and personal experiences contribute to the making of these deadly women.

If you liked books such as Lady Killers, The Big Book of Serial Killers, or The Best New True Crime Stories, you’ll love Women Who Murder.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684814671
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	03/12/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	271
Sales rank:	890,712
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Mitzi Szereto (mitziszereto.com) is an American-British author, anthology editor, and short story writer. Her latest books are those in The Best New True Crime Stories series (now numbering seven volumes). A contribution from her anthology Getting Even: Revenge Stories received the Crime Writers Association Short Story Dagger “Highly Commended.” Mitzi edited the first erotic fiction anthology to include a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She’s appeared on TV, radio, and at literature festivals around the world, presented the web channel Mitzi TV, and portrayed herself in the mockumentary film, Lint: The Movie. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @mitziszereto. She lives in Seattle.

Read an Excerpt

Excerpts from Women Who Murder: Ruth Snyder: The Original Femme Fatale
By Ciaran Conliffe

Albert was now worth more than ninety thousand dollars to Ruth if he died “by misadventure.” According to Judd, Ruth made several attempts to give misadventure a helping hand. These included engineering gas leaks while he was asleep, knocking the jack out from his car while he was under it, and closing the garage doors while his engine was running. Albert survived all of this without even realizing they were anything more than accidents. Ruth also allegedly attempted to overdose him with mercury bichloride (a toxic substance also known as corrosive sublimate that was used to poison insects and was also prescribed at the time as a treatment for syphilis), but this only gave him indigestion. When her friends inquired about Albert’s health, she told them he was much worse off than he actually was, letting them think he might die suddenly, though in truth, he seemed invulnerable to everything she threw at him.

According to Ruth, things didn’t reach the point where murder was on the table until the end of February 1927, more than a year after she had arranged the life insurance policies. During one of Albert’s angry tirades against her (which were usually accompanied by physical violence), he said that one day he would “blow her brains out.” Ruth took this threat seriously enough to tell Judd about it, and he told her that he believed Albert could do it. The only option, he said, was to kill Albert first.

On the night of Saturday, March 19, 1927, Ruth and Albert went to a party being held by Walter and Serena Fidgeon. Unusually, Lorraine came with them, as her grandmother was away, working as a nurse. The Fidgeons had met the Snyders the previous summer on vacation and had stayed in touch. It was noticed that while Albert was drinking heavily, Ruth stayed sober. This was unusual enough for her that people asked her why she wasn’t drinking, and she said she was feeling unwell. In conversation with a doctor there, she explained that she had menstrual cramps. Albert didn’t let his wife’s condition hold him back; he got so drunk that he had a fight with Serena Fidgeon’s brother, George, at around 1:30 a.m. That put an end to the evening, and the Snyders went home.

The following morning at around 7:45 a.m., Harriet Mulhauser, who lived next door to the Snyders, was awakened by a telephone call from a panicked Lorraine. The nine-year-old told her that her mother was “very sick.” Harriet ran to the house and found Ruth lying in the upstairs hallway. Her feet were tied, though her hands were free. A bit of rope and a gag lay next to her. All Ruth said was that she got “an awful whack on the head.” Harriet sent Lorraine to her house and phoned her husband and the police, in that order.

When her husband Louis went looking for Albert, he found him in the bedroom, under the blankets. He was wearing pajamas, and was bound hand and foot. Unlike Ruth (who’d been tied up with rope), he was bound with a towel and a necktie. He was face-down in the pillow, his head covered in blood. Around his neck was a length of picture-wire, twisted cruelly tight. Next to the body was a revolver, opened for reloading. It was obvious that Albert was dead.

Anno Bisesto, Anno Funesto
By Alisha Holland

Katherine Knight was finally out of her coma. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be any help. She had no memory as to what had occurred. All she knew of that Leap Day evening was that she had left her taxidermy-decorated home and gone to John’s. In his bedroom, they’d watched television, had sex, then went to sleep. The only time anyone had gotten up was when John went to use the toilet. The next thing she knew, she was in the hospital.

But detectives didn’t buy this version of events. They hadn’t been sitting on their hands while Katherine was hospitalized. They were busy questioning John’s neighbors, friends, and co-workers. A picture of the real Katherine Knight was coming into view.

John’s boss hadn’t been the only concerned party to call the police that morning. Just days before the murder, John had stopped by the house across from his. He and the owner were on friendly enough terms that he was able to give him a warning: If the neighbor should ever leave for work and see John’s truck still parked in the driveway, he needed to call the police, as it would mean that Katherine had done him in. When the neighbor saw the truck on March 1, he immediately went to Pricey’s and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, he then knocked on the windows, which was of no use either. Returning to the front door, he noticed blood on the door jamb. It sent a chill down his spine.

Katherine Knight was as well-known in their small town as John Price had been. Pricey was famous for being the guy you could drink with until the wee hours. Even more admirable than his staying power was that no matter how drunk he got the night before, he was always the first guy at work the next morning.

By the time Pricey and Katherine met, her reputation as a jealous, vindictive, and even violent partner preceded her. Yet her history didn’t matter to him. They were just two hard-working folks who wanted to hang out with friends at the pub. Kathy drank and swore and smoke and fought. She was practically a female version of himself.

What Pricey hadn’t known was that Katherine was more than just a tough lady who knew how to get what she wanted. She had been physically, verbally, mentally, and emotionally abusive to partners for years—something investigators would soon be learning all about.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

Down in the Ditch: Joanna Dennehy, Serial Stabber by Charlotte Platt
Ruth Snyder: The Original Femme Fatale by Ciaran Conliffe
Innocence Taken: The Murder of Karissa Boudreau by Mike Browne
Women Fight Back by Tom Larsen
Twisted Firestarter by C L Raven
On the Courthouse Steps: The Trial of Susan Smith by Cathy Pickens
Angelina Napolitano: “I Am Not a Bad Woman” by Edward Butts
The Strange Case of Keli Lane by Anthony Ferguson
Mahin: Monster or Victim? by Mitzi Szereto
Dead Woman Walking by Joan Renner
Jolly Joseph: The Kerala Cyanide Serial Killer by Shashi Kadapa
Beauty and Beast by Ily Goyanes
Anno Bisesto, Anno Funesto by Alisha Holland
Mona Fandey: The Malaysian Murderer by Chang Shih Yen

About the Authors
About the Editor

Editorial Reviews

The usual suspects rub shoulders with little-known killers from around the globe in this surprising, disturbing, and thoroughly engaging collection of stories of lethal women, evil mothers, deadly lovers, and abuse victims driven to the brink. Essential reading for all true crime fans.”
—Dean Jobb, author of The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream

“This exciting true crime anthology, finely edited by Mitzi Szereto, demonstrates that although women around the globe kill far less frequently than men, their murderous tales are often more compelling. Highly recommended!”
—Dr. Scott Bonn, author of Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World’s Most Savage Murderers

“Mitzi Szereto’s expertise at assembling collections of true crime essays is on display in Women Who Murder, whose eclectic contents include stand-out essays by the likes of Cathy Pickens (a ‘Southern Gothic’ mystery) and Ciaran Conliffe, who explores the legendary Ruth Snyder case.”
—Martin Edwards, crime writer

“For those who like their true crime lean, mean, and multinational. Women Who Murder delivers bite-sized case studies both notorious and little known, but always addressing one overriding question: what drives a woman to kill? Editor Mitzi Szereto opens a Pandora’s box-load of shockers, contributing her own essay about Iran’s first female serial murderer. Women Who Murder argues convincingly that homicide is not just a macho pastime. Expect many sequels.”
—Dennis McDougal, author of Mother’s Day and Angel of Darkness

“Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales does exactly what it says on the cover of this beautifully edited book by Mitzi Szereto. A must-read for all true crime readers’ bookshelves. An important contribution to crime literature. Very enjoyable.”
—Christopher Berry-Dee, the World’s number-one true crime author

“Editor and author Mitzi Szereto returns with Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales. From the infamous case of the murderous mother Susan Smith to Iran’s first known serial killer to a black magic murder ritual in Malaysia, Mitzi Szereto delivers a stellar group of international authors and their deadly true crime tales.”
—Dan Zupansky, author and host of True Murder

“In Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales, Mitzi Szereto has compiled a series of fascinating stories featuring female killers. These tales describe in detail not only the crimes themselves—ones that take place in countries all over the world—but, perhaps more interesting, the backgrounds of these women and what drove them to commit these heinous acts. The authors of these stories tell them so well that I found myself empathizing with the murderesses, surprising myself. I recommend this enthralling book, but especially to those interested in understanding what drives an individual to murder.”
—Carolina Garcia-Aguilera

“From ritual murder to serial killers, this book has it all. It’s a must-read book for all fans of true crime. If you want to understand what drives a woman to kill, this is the book for you.”
—Readers Favorite

“Mitzi Szereto has again pulled together a colorful bouquet of stories written by diverse authors. All stories make you think about the women’s motives, whether you understand them or not. How far were they driven by societal constraints, patriarchy, poverty, and depression? Highly recommended reading!”
—Defrosting Cold Cases

“Each case study offers a unique puzzle, challenging readers to question their preconceived notions of gender and criminality. Through these unsettling narratives, the book sheds light on the complexities of human behavior and the darkness that can lurk within anyone. Don't miss this chilling exploration of the female psyche and the true crime genre's underexplored territory.”
—Horror Fuel

“A diverse group of international authors share an array of deadly true crime tales in the anthology Women Who Murder, edited by Mitzi Szereto… The writers traverse the world and dip back into history to come up with stories that chillingly explore the darkest corners of human nature.”
—The Crime Fiction Lover Rap Sheet

“The memorable characters we meet in Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales include a sex-crazed Nazi, an Indian cyanide killer, a failed Malaysian singer who finds fame as a murderer, and an Australian who skins her victim and stews his head. The cases underscore the differences in the sexes when it comes to killing; while men typically reach for a gun, women can be much more creative.”
—Dan Williams, reviewer, #1 True Crime Book Club

“Women Who Murder is a welcome addition to the series edited by Mitzi Szereto that should be the first of many more on lady killers editions worldwide.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Szereto points out that men and women do kill differently and often for different reasons.... Many women, particularly those labeled as Black Widows, do so for the money, though that’s not the only reason. Sometimes it’s the only way to get rid of a threatening boyfriend or spouse or because of jealousy, love, and hate. But kill they do. And in this fascinating read, we learn about 14 women who did.”
—New York Journal of Books

“Mitzi Szereto’s Women Who Murder is a captivating and thought-provoking addition to the true crime genre, offering a fresh perspective on the phenomenon of female violence. Through a diverse range of cases and compelling storytelling, Szereto explores the complexities of these crimes, challenging readers to confront their assumptions and biases. Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast or simply intrigued by the mysteries of the human psyche, Women Who Murder is sure to captivate and disturb in equal measure.”
—Women Talking UK

“Mitzi Szereto’s collection, Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales, does not disappoint on any level. I’m not just going to recommend this volume: I’d urge you to go and check out her extensive back catalogue of true crime where she repeatedly proves herself to have a masterful understanding of what readers want from the genre.”
—Mystery Tribune

“This true crime anthology shows the darkest side of what women are capable of. Mitzi flips the script, showcasing the chilling stories of deadly women, spanning eras and continents, who defy expectations and yield dangerous weapons while doing so, giving their male opposites a run for their money.”
—She Reads

“Readers of true crime will enjoy this collection of stories. For me, this was definitely a different take on the genre, a good read, and I even learned a thing or two... Excellent. 5 out of 5 stars.”
—The Itinerant Librarian

“Be sure to read it!”
—Spectrum Queer

“Many of the chapters looked at relevant social and cultural issues attached to the cases.... The collection had a wide variety of stories to tell.”
—Cross Examining Crime

“Women Who Murder: An International Collection of Deadly True Crime Tales is the latest in Mitzi Szereto’s excellent series of anthologies and contains true crime cases about female killers from around the world, including Mitzi’s own contribution about Iran’s first-known female serial killer.”
—Choice magazine

“Frequently in the realm of crime, there's a tendency to overlook women or underestimate their capacity for extreme violence and murder, often citing them as the ‘gentler sex.’ However, the editor presents fourteen tales that unequivocally demonstrate that women are just as capable of criminal acts as men.”
—The Secret Book Review

From the Publisher