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Hell's Princess
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
In the pantheon of serial killers, Belle Gunness stands alone. She was the rarest of female psychopaths, a woman who engaged in wholesale slaughter, partly out of greed but mostly for the sheer joy of it. Between 1902 and 1908, she lured a succession of unsuspecting victims to her Indiana "murder farm." Some were hired hands. Others were well-to-do bachelors. All of them vanished without a trace. When their bodies were dug up, they hadn't merely been poisoned, like victims of other female killers. They'd been butchered. Hell's Princess is a riveting account of one of the most sensational killing sprees in the annals of American crime: the shocking series of murders committed by the woman who came to be known as Lady Bluebeard. The only definitive book on this notorious case and the first to reveal previously unknown information about its subject, Harold Schechter's gripping, suspenseful narrative has all the elements of a classic mystery--and all the gruesome twists of a nightmare.
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review
Daisey
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

This book has been in my Audible TBR for a while; I think since I listened to the author‘s short book about the Benders. It finally moved to the top of my list thanks to #Roll100. It relates a lot of information, but in the end, there are still questions about some of the specific details. Regardless of those, Belle Gunness was an evil and violent serial killer who managed to kill many men and probably several children.

#nonfiction #audiobook

51 likes4 stack adds
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DarkPizza
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
Pickpick

First off, Schechter is a very engaging writer and I really like his style. While I enjoyed this book, I was slightly disappointed by how short it was and how little information is provided about Belle and her crimes. However, that is definitely a fault of the subject matter being somewhat mysterious, and not a reflection on Schechter. I think he did everything he could with the limited information available.

2 likes1 stack add
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jessinikkip
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

Online described her perfectly "America's first Craiglist Killer was a six foot tall Norweigan immigrant". She wrote letters to men and posted ads in newspapers to lure men in then killed them and buried them in the back hog lot. This was a good book but it really needed to describe her as something other than "fat".

bookandbedandtea I enjoyed this book! And you've hit on one of my buttons too. I'm a 6 foot woman of Scandinavian decent and have usually been the biggest woman in the room. It would be great if people recognized that tall plus full bodied doesn't necessarily equal fat. 🤷‍♀️ 4y
CoffeeK8 @bookandbedandtea agreed. 6‘1” Baltic stock here 4y
bookandbedandtea @CoffeeK8 Nice to "meet" you. I wish I knew more like us in real life! 4y
40 likes4 comments
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jessinikkip
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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In case you guys wondered, this is my bookmark. I said I needed an idea what to draw on it and my dog licked it. Well, what else was there to do? #bookmark #dogsoflitsy #TBRCrew

Crazeedi 💙🐶💜 4y
41 likes1 comment
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jessinikkip
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Book 1 of September is just for fun. One we lost when moving after getting it from the library. I paid and they said they could take it and donate it somewhere or I could keep it. I figure I already paid them $25 for it, its mine now.

#TBRCrew #CrimeADay @Bookworm54 @AkashaVampie @AsYouWish @jb72 @ElizaMarie @Squidget @AnansiGirl

ElizaMarie Sounds interesting. Ha... moving can be so stressful sometimes. The amount of things I have “lost“ from moving ... I still don't know what's in storage or what I still own. 4y
40 likes1 comment
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vkois88
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
Mehso-so

This book was full of information. So much information, in fact, that it was overwhelming. It slowed me down a lot and I kept finding myself distracted. It was difficult to get through. In addition, I found gratuitous use of some language to be overbearing. Yes, they were names of the time, but it does not need to be dropped every other word. 🙄
The only reason I‘m giving 3⭐️ is bc of the amount of research that clearly went into the book.

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mariaku21
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Mehso-so

This was interesting.

As in that, it was bizarre and I can't believe I haven't heard about Belle earlier. She is a one of a kind in a long list of men, she completely stands out and in the oddest of ways.

Belle Gunness is a mystery to me still, even months after reading all about her.

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Dempsey
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

I found this book fascinating and frustrating at the same time. I was mainly frustrated because it really goes in depth as to how the American judicial system worked in the early 1900‘s. I was APPALLED. Say what you will about it now, but it‘s 1000% better than back then.

CoverToCoverGirl Great review! 5y
12 likes1 comment
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MatschMomma
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

This was very good, gruesome but good. I found the forensics of the time fascinating if not somewhat asinine.

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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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“I‘ve been a bad, bad girl
I‘ve been careless with a delicate man”

Belle Gunness fully embodies the lyrics to #Criminal . She murdered and butchered countless men. It wasn‘t until she was killed in a fire that her crime spree was unveiled...in her pig pen.

I found this a fascinating book on a woman serial killer, & with each turned page, the story kept getting more bizarre. I‘ve used this for past challenges, but had to share again. #LilithJuly

Cinfhen And I‘m still just as intrigued!!! 5y
KarenUK Perfect choice 👌💕 5y
Mowen036 I only live like an hour away from where she lived! No one really ever talks about it. 5y
See All 6 Comments
Balibee146 I have this and now moving up tbr 👆👍 5y
Librarybelle @Mowen036 I bet there‘s still a lot of sadness about what happened. It must have been shocking to the townspeople when they discovered her secret! 5y
Librarybelle @Balibee146 Hope you enjoy it! 5y
89 likes7 stack adds6 comments
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Echo
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter

Triflers need not apply.
#SSDGM

stacybmartin One of my fave MFM quotes! 🤣 6y
12 likes1 comment
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Reviewsbylola
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Belle Gunness was a female serial, the likes of which are rarely seen. Unlike most female killers, Gunness killed for the pure pleasure and savagery of the act. She lured her unsuspecting victims to her “murder farm”, where she hacked them to death.

She sure looks like a real charmer. 😂

#highwaytohell #marchintothe70s

Stephaniereads1 I need to read this. 6y
Bklover Are those her children?!?!😳😳😳😳 6y
Bklover Hell, I‘m going to have to read this one! 6y
See All 9 Comments
Cinfhen She looks a little unfriendly & maybe a wee bit pissed 😬 don‘t think I‘ll be joining that princess for coffee 😉 6y
Kalalalatja How could anybody be lured by her??? She looks scary!! 6y
Reviewsbylola Yes they are! @Bklover 6y
Lizpixie Wow. She‘s a peach isn‘t she😱 6y
Megabooks In-fucking-sane! 6y
cathipink I just listened to the My Favorite Murder about her. The husband ad is so classic - 'Triflers need not apply.' Same, Belle, same. 🙂 6y
102 likes7 stack adds9 comments
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Julsmarshall
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Mehso-so

Interesting, shocking, sad. A bit repetitive, likely due to how little is known about “the Lady Bluebeard”. Overall, a good distraction in my commute.

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Julsmarshall
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Current #audiobook for the commute. Quite interesting! #truecrime

theladygreer Ooh, she was really something. 6y
jlondon1963 She was something else. 6y
55 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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DGRachel
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Mehso-so

I finished the audio at work today and unfortunately I found my attention wandering too easily. The subject was interesting, but there seem to be a lot of unknowns and no real conclusions. I was left wondering whether Belle was, in fact, a serial killer. The court case was fascinating and I liked the narrator, but I would have preferred more concrete evidence to support the author‘s claims and less speculation.

Kaye Good review ! 6y
HeathHof I ended up setting this one to the side. It started off well and then became hard to stay interested in. 6y
97 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DGRachel
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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It‘s official. There‘s no way for me to reach 24 hours on either readathon, and while I‘m not surprised, I am surprisingly disappointed. Going to snuggle with #Bailey to make myself feel better about failing. #dogsoflitsy #pitbullsoflitsy #readathonfail #24B4Monday #24in48

BeansPage Don't worry about it sweetie I think you're doing a great job! 👍🏻👍🏻 6y
Patchshank I'm not going to make it either. Had less time this weekend than I thought. 6y
Patchshank Hell's princess was an interesting book though. It really made me appreciate the advances we've made is forensic science. 6y
See All 8 Comments
Julsmarshall It‘s so okay! I never seem to quite make the times on challenges either but if you get in reading and have fun, that‘s all that matters! You did so much reading, I think you are doing great! 6y
wanderinglynn It‘s not failing. You still read a lot & probably enjoyed it. So to me, that‘s a win! I never make these challenges either. The fun is in trying. 🙌🏻 6y
Andrew65 A brilliant day! 🙌 Having fun is far more important than any time element. @Patchshank I agree with @wanderinglynn 6y
Mollyanna Did You have fun reading and connecting with other readathoners? No failing here! It‘s all about the fun of reading together. You are doing brilliantly! 👏🏻❤️👏🏻 6y
Librarybelle No failure! Great job! 6y
92 likes1 stack add8 comments
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DGRachel
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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1️⃣ just started the tagged audiobook with half a dozen other books in progress both print and audio. ?
2️⃣ Hufflepuff ????
3️⃣ Çukur

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

ReadingRover Hufflepuffs unite! (edited) 6y
DGRachel @ReadingRover 💛🖤 with snacks 💛🖤 in comfy chairs 💛🖤 and with squishy blankies 💛🖤🤣🤣 6y
rachelsbrittain Thanks for joining in 💛🖤💛 6y
peachyandrew I‘m a proud Hufflepuff as well! 💛🖤💛 6y
67 likes4 comments
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DrHodgdon
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter

Currently listening to this on audiobook based on the recommendation of Last Podcast on the Left!

DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you are enjoying it here! 6y
8 likes1 comment
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HeathHof
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Just started this today. She's one twisted sister and the Grandmama of gold diggers. Good Lord, so many murders 😱

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LeahBergen
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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I‘m reading this one right now with my best friend in our “long-distance book club” (she‘s 🇺🇸 and I‘m 🇨🇦).

I‘m only on page 50 or so and I‘ve lost track of the body count. 😳

LitLogophile Loved this! 6y
saresmoore Oh, my! 6y
Headinherbooks_27 I've been wanting to read this! 6y
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jessinikkip I tried to read this before but just couldnt get into it and stopped on page 20 or so. Does it get better?? 6y
Librarybelle She‘s vicious! 6y
OrangeMooseReads This was an interesting one. 6y
batsy Oh my. I hadn't heard of her. Sounds... (is it wrong to say "fascinating"? ?) 6y
Reviewsbylola Always a good sign when you‘ve got a ton of dead bodies so early. 😁😁 I‘m a horrible person. 😂 6y
Bookzombie @Reviewsbylola 😂 I think you are awesome! 6y
valeriegeary Ooooo! 6y
Jakaranda they never found her head. 6y
DeborahSmall This looks great! 6y
124 likes3 stack adds12 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
Pickpick

Love true crime. Had never even heard of Bella Gunness, until I saw this in Bookpage. I enjoyed it.

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Mdargusch
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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The title says it all “butcher of men”. Another historical true crime book that I found fascinating.
#evilwoman #octoberxfiles

Crazeedi I've heard of this one, looks intriguing! 6y
Reviewsbylola She def looks evil. 6y
Cinfhen Interest peaked!!! And I‘ve previously stacked...maybe @LeahBergen suggested this book!?!!! 6y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen @Cinfhen Nope. I have it stacked, too. 😄 6y
Cinfhen Hmmmmm @LeahBergen 🤔who could it have been?!???! 6y
Cinfhen I think it was @Librarybelle ❤️ @LeahBergen 6y
Librarybelle @Cinfhen @LeahBergen I‘m the guilty party! 6y
84 likes5 stack adds7 comments
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korynnerobustello
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Another greatly researched book from Schechter. Beautiful layout. Great additions for documentation.

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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Belle Gunness = #maneater #OctoberXFiles

Leniverse Literally a maneater? 😳 6y
Robothugs 😬 Dang! 6y
Librarybelle @Leniverse @Robothugs Well...she butchered her male victims and fed them to the pigs. And buried their remains throughout her property. She‘s as close to a literal man eater as you can get, I think. 😬 6y
See All 7 Comments
Robothugs She is. She is. Well done. 😱 6y
BlameJennyJane 🤣🤣🤣🙆🏽‍♂️🔪🐷 6y
Librarybelle @BlameJennyJane Love the emojis! 6y
Cinfhen Ooooh!! #stacked 6y
69 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Owlizabeth
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Not sure if this is the best bedtime reading, but I‘ve been drawn into this biography of a female serial killer.

hwestfall I have wondered about that book. I will be interested to hear what you think. 6y
Mdargusch I thought this story was fascinating- she was brutal! 6y
58 likes1 stack add2 comments
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bookandbedandtea
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

This was creepy and gory and sickening. It's very short (thank goodness, I wouldn't want to read much more about this hideous family) and didn't add much to what I already knew about the Benders but it was well researched and presented so I'm calling it a pick.

This book isn't in the litsy database so I tagged another book by the same author on the same subject.

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Mdargusch
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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#bookandbreakfast
I love tagging along on my husband‘s business trips. 🌸😁

Crinoline_Laphroaig I have fond memories of a Trade Show in New Orleans. I would sightsee all day and would meet up with the husband for dinner at a fabulous restaurant and somebody else picked up the tab. 😁 6y
mabell Looks delightful! 6y
Kalalalatja Looks wonderful 😍 6y
See All 7 Comments
emilyhaldi Omg 😍😍😍😍😍😍 6y
LeahBergen What pretty dishes! 💕 6y
Cathythoughts Looks divine 6y
Reviewsbylola Yeah I would too!! Why don‘t you ever bring your kids like one of his co workers. 🤔 6y
107 likes7 comments
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Mdargusch
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Belle Gunness was #alone on her Indiana farm, just killing and hacking people up! I can‘t put this book down. It‘s my first read on my new Paperwhite and I‘m flying through it. How have I never heard about this serial killer that murdered 28 people or more? It‘s riveting. #heatofjuly

mabell I first heard of her from a Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast episode. Wow! 😳How did she get away with all of that?! I got the kindle book free, but I'm not sure if I want to delve that deeply into it. 6y
DarcysMom I am reading this right now, too. Crazy story, isn't it? 6y
Mdargusch It‘s very interesting @mabell and @DarcysMom and I can‘t put it down. 6y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB It‘s true crime? 6y
Mdargusch Yes! @BarbaraBB 🔪🔪🔪 6y
Reviewsbylola Are you liking your kindle? 6y
Mdargusch Love it! @Reviewsbylola 😁 6y
100 likes6 stack adds7 comments
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DarcysMom
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Mowen036 I loved this one! I got the kindle in motion version too. It‘s amazing. 6y
DarcysMom @Mowen036 Excellent! This is my first kindle in motion, and I want it to be awesome. 6y
76 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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SUPER SALE ALERT!

Reviewsbylola Oh wow, thank you! 6y
Headinherbooks_27 I heard about this and been wanting to read it 6y
Mdargusch Wow! I was just looking at this! Thanks for the heads up. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 6y
58 likes3 comments
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LitLogophile
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

This story is so dark that it actually gave me nightmares. Parts are boring and there‘s problematic racial/gender issues, but the value in this book is that I‘ve never read about quite so twisted of a murderer before. I didn‘t know a darn thing about Belle, but now I know too much.😶

Also, I absolutely love reading about historic court cases. It‘s incredible to compare modern trials and trial publicity with those of an earlier era.

Reviewsbylola This sounds like a must read for me! 6y
Mdargusch Me too! @Reviewsbylola 👍🏼 6y
97 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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LitLogophile
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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I downloaded this collection of books about notorious murderers because my current read is so engrossing — the story of Belle Gunness, a rare female serial killer.

Well, I just realized that they‘re all by the author of the book I‘m reading about Gunness, Harold Schechter! What a fortuitous circumstance 😊

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farre
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Mehso-so

I was fascinated by the story, but not the storyteller. Like, no need to keep repeating the local, TERRIBLE nickname of the black woman. ONCE WAS ENOUGH WHITE DUDE WHO WROTE THE BOOK.

DGRachel YES! Just because he kept saying “this is what people at the time called her” didn‘t make it okay that he kept calling her that! 6y
3 likes1 comment
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BrainyHeroine
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

Is anyone else loving this Amazon Original series? It's free on kindle and audible for prime members and is AMAZING! Great vignettes of American True Crime. I loved these so much I bought his book Hells Princess, which is so far also amazing.

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OrangeMooseReads
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Mehso-so

This was an Amazon Kindle First pick a few months ago. I‘ve read Schechter previously (Depraved). I don‘t love his writing. He likes to use “$10 words” I was glad this was on my kindle so I could easily look up some of the words.
The subject was interesting. I didn‘t know anything about Belle Gunness. The amount of unknowns is incredible in this case.
I‘m giving this a so-so mostly because of Schechter‘s writing style.

TiredLibrarian Agree with you about Schechter's style. It's too bad, because he writes about so many interesting cases. 7y
OrangeMooseReads @TiredLibrarian he does and he does fantastic in-depth research. I feel like it takes extra time to read his works because I can only take it in small doses. 7y
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

Wow...what a bizarre story, and it‘s true! True crime lovers, take note of this. Belle Gunness murdered and butchered mostly men, but that is only just the beginning of her story. This is an amazing account of murder, lies, publicity, ghoulish acts, notoriety, and so much more. My only beef in this telling is Schechter‘s negative assessment of Belle‘s looks and incredulity of her ability to attract so many men based on her “mannish” facade.

Librarybelle And just a half hour to go to complete #8intwo ! 7y
83 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Well...I wonder what Joe Maxson would think of those of us who read novels on a regular basis...

SandyW Not much, I presume. 😂 7y
55 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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The chapter this quote comes from tells of the “carnival” atmosphere of families coming to the “murder farm” to either find relics of the dead or to view body parts. Yes, body parts.

I‘m a tad bit ghoulish to some people, but I have to say #no to taking dog bones, because they were a possible victim of Belle‘s. #getmovin

SandyW Sounds, erm, unappealing. 😲 7y
67 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Made 4 hours today for #8intwo ! And this book...I‘m about halfway through, and it keeps getting more and more bizarre. Belle Guinness was one cold, calculating woman.

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Librarybelle
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Taking a break from #NetGalleyTBRAttack to start this...due to the library soon. And, I‘m almost to an hour and a half reading for #8intwo

SandyW Library books always become a juggling act for me too. Somehow there are other books that manage to sneak into the queue and throw things off! 😂 7y
amb Or all your holds are released at once 7y
Librarybelle @amb Yes...that too! 7y
75 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Mowen036
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

I finally finished this one! I love kindle in motion books now! I live about an hour away from the murder farm and have always heard about Belle Gunness but something‘s that I read in this book I had no idea that it even happened! Very well researched!!

Gharv @Mowen036 what are Kindle in Motion books? 7y
Mowen036 @ghav it‘s a regular kindle book but then it had pictures, illustrations, pictures and slideshows within it. 7y
Gharv Wow! I haven‘t seen one of those! I added this one to my TBR! Thank you! (edited) 7y
35 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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jlondon1963
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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Pickpick

An early female serial killer who lured men to help with her farm in Indiana from 1902-1908 and murdered them. Remains were found in her basement after a fire destroyed the home. She was considered a Lady Bluebeard she may have set up one of her handyman for her supposed death. Reads like a novel.

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ConnieK
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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I just added this to my Kindle. It looks interesting.

asiriusreader Welcome to Litsy!! 7y
Mollyanna That does look interesting! Welcome to Litsy! 7y
TheRiehlDeal Sounds quite interesting! 7y
13 likes1 stack add3 comments
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JosieG
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
Pickpick

As always, an excellent true crime book by Mr. Schechter. Definitely an adult book, as it deals with the myriad gruesome details surrounding the case. There were many a time I thought I'd never be hungry again after listening to the audiobook. But I highly recommend the audiobook, as the narrator is fantastic.

(One note, though: Palouse, WA is pronounced Pa-loose. Not Pa-louse, as it was pronounced by the narrator.)

CSeydel Oh I really hate it when audio narrators mess up pronunciation. How hard is it these days to verify such things?? 7y
JosieG Apparently it's pretty difficult, because one of our colleges in my city regularly has its name pronounced wrong, as does my city. We listen out for that here, because we sort of half expect out-of-towners to get it wrong. But it's annoying when local commercials even have it said wrong. 😒 7y
57 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Mowen036
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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I‘m in love with the images and videos in this ebook! Gah! So cool and a good read!

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Mowen036
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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So excited!!! I found this on amazon first reads for $5.99!!! Belle Gunness lived 2 countries away from where I live. I‘m so excited that her story is being shared. Even if she was one of the most notorious women serial killers.

vkois88 Stacked! I have a vague feeling I've heard of her bc of Deadly Women on ID, but I'm not 100% sure. Sounds good though 7y
amber_ldsmom Ooooh, I got that on kindle for like $1.99 or something! Excited to read it! 7y
33 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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JosieG
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter

I have to hand it to the women in this town. They were feisty, and knew their own minds, and I'm loving it.

As for the rest of it... it's gory as anything Mr. Schecter has ever written, and I frequently lose my appetite while listening. 🤢

SconsinBookyBadger Oh boy this is on my tbr. Probably won‘t be eating/snacking when I get to this one. 😳 7y
JosieG @anansigirl Definitely! I'm listening to it on audio, and I generally turn on something to listen to while I cook, but this is not the right choice for that activity. He spares few details and includes quotes from autopsies and such. He's thorough, but it's disturbing material. 7y
44 likes2 comments
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MelAnn
Hell's Princess | Harold Schechter
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#RandomBookQuote

Play along! Random book quote that doesn‘t make sense or twisted humor without its context. Be sure to tag me when you play!

tammysue 😂 7y
julesG This makes sense, in a way. 😂😂😂 7y
MelAnn @julesG lol! 7y
66 likes1 stack add3 comments