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Starvation Heights
Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice | Gregg Olsen
32 posts | 37 read | 67 to read
In 1911 two wealthy British heiresses, Claire and Dora Williamson, came to a sanitorium in the forests of the Pacific Northwest to undergo the revolutionary "fasting treatment" of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard. It was supposed to be a holiday for the two sisters. But within a month of arriving at what the locals called Starvation Heights, the women were emaciated shadows of their former selves, waiting for death. They were not the first victims of Linda Hazzard, a quack doctor of extraordinary evil and greed who would stop at nothing short of murder to achieve her ambitions. As their jewelry disappeared and forged bank drafts began transferring their wealth to Hazzard's accounts, Dora Williamson sent a last desperate plea to a friend in Australia, begging her to save them from the brutal treatments and lonely isolation of Starvation Heights. In this true story-a haunting saga of medical murder set in an era of steamships and gaslights-Gregg Olsen reveals one of the most unusual and disturbing criminal cases in American history.
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Reecaspieces
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Twainy
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🎧 great audiobook! I loved Margaret‘s voice, it lent so much more realism to the story for me. Just that one foreign accent set the story for me.

So fasting, I can go a good 18 hours LOL this story was horrific & let‘s just say, perfect ending. If you like true crime, creepy horror stories that could be told around a campfire, this is it!

This author is now on my must listen list! Listen before dark list. Batshit crazy doctor!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

Olsen writes about some of the most disturbing crimes and this story about a woman who claims she can cure people through fasting was fascinating, creepy, and even shocking at times. The way people just blindly followed her instructions was cult-like.

I googled all sorts of things after finishing this one because I wanted pictures about the doctor and the victims. So bizarre, but such a great read.

Tamra How bizarre! 2y
EvieBee This sounds great! Years ago I purchased a used copy and lost it in all the moves but pretty sure I own a kindle edition. 2y
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LibraryCin
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Wow, crazy! It floors me that people would do something like this to begin with, but then to become so brainwashed as to think it was helping as they slowly starved to death. All very interesting. And this really happened!

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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

Historical true crime about an osteopathic doctor who believed fasting could cure any complaint and starved rich patients to take their valuables. Pictured on the right are two of her most famous patients (pre-"treatment") one of whom died and the other who led the charge to convict Dr. Linda Hazzard for murder. A wholly fascinating and well researched read though it got bogged down in details and failed to explore Hazzard's true beliefs /motives.

Librariana I recently watched an "Ask a Mortician" video about this! I think Caitlin Doughty is just the coolest and I want to say she might've interviewed the author of your tagged book (my memory fails me on whether he might've been the author of a different book altogether.) She did a fantastic job and even filmed a few clips on location. A fascinating story! 3y
Librariana *A fascinating yet deeply disturbing story, I should add! 3y
rachelsbrittain @Librariana that is exactly how I found the book! I saw Caitlin Doughty's video about it and knew i needed to read more about it! 3y
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EadieB
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@Kaila-ann Thanks for returning my book! Sure was an interesting story. Can‘t wait to read it again and read all the comments from our #LMPBC group. Thanks also for the colorful bookmark!

#StarvationHeights #GreggOlsen

iread2much 😄 it was a fascinating read 4y
EadieB @iread2much Yes! I enjoyed it too! 4y
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EadieB
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1911 2 wealthy British heiresses, Claire & Dora Williamson, came to a sanatorium in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, known as Starvation Heights, to undergo the revolutionary fasting treatment of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard. But within a month the women were emaciated and waiting for death. Linda Hazzard, a quack doctor of extraordinary evil and greed, stole their jewelry and forged bank drafts transferring their wealth to Hazzard's accounts.

EadieB It is a true story and one of the most unusual and disturbing criminal cases in American history. I was really surprised at how many people were victims of Linda Hazzard and how many praised her even though so many died from her treatment. The book is very interesting but could have been shorter as things were repeated many times. I still, however, enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend it. #StarvationHeights #GreggOlsen (edited) 4y
Crazeedi Omg Edie, what a story! 4y
See All 7 Comments
EadieB @Crazeedi it was great! 4y
Andrew65 Sounds incredible. 4y
EadieB @Andrew65 Very interesting story! 4y
Andrew65 @EadieB It sounds it. 4y
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EadieB
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Day 22 - #3Books #ThatGaveMeABookHangover

What‘s a book hangover?
1. The inability to start a new book because you are still living in the old book‘s world
2. The inability to function at work/school because you were up all night binge-reading

OriginalCyn620 Love the bottom two books! ❤️ 4y
Traci1 Me Before You gutted me. Definitely hangover inducing. 4y
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EadieB
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In 1911 Claire and Dora Williamson, came to a sanatorium in the Pacific Northwest, known as Starvation Heights, for fasting treatments. Within a month the women were waiting for death. Linda Hazzard, a quack doctor of extraordinary evil and greed, stole their jewelry and forged bank drafts transferring their wealth to Hazzard's accounts. It is a true story and one of the most unusual and disturbing criminal cases in American history. 👇🏻

EadieB ☝🏻 I was really surprised at how many people were victims of Linda Hazzard and how many praised her even though so many died from her treatment. The book is very interesting but could have been shorter as things were repeated many times. I still, however, enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend it.👇🏻 (edited) 4y
EadieB ☝🏻 Reading it with a group on Litsy added enjoyment to the experience. I will also be reading more from Gregg Olsen as his books look very interesting. #StarvationHeights #GreggOlsen Catching up on my July reviews. (edited) 4y
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Hestapleton
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WHAT A RIDE. This book was wild from start to finish! Olsen tells this story so well and it is incredibly well researched. I don‘t want to spoil anything for my #lmpbc group, but if you are a true crime fan, you need to read this book!

EadieB I enjoyed it very much too! 4y
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Hestapleton
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I‘m drop dead tired but I can‘t stop reading this month‘s #LMPBC book! @EadieB you picked a good one! This story is WILD and Olsen is such an awesome storyteller. I am sucked in!

EadieB @Hestapleton I know! That‘s why I couldn‘t take time to underline anymore because it was too interesting and I just had to keep reading. 4y
Hestapleton @EadieB I absolutely get it!! This makes me want to read his more recent book. 4y
EadieB @Hestapleton I have 7 other books by him. I need to read some others. 4y
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EadieB
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#LMPBC #GroupE #Round9

@Hestapleton Today I‘m mailing Starvation Heights and 1 surprise book from your TBR to you. I only marked up the beginning of the book as it became a very tedious chore so the rest of you can finish marking up the book and I‘ll read your comments when I get the book back in November. I did enjoy the book but parts were very gruesome! Hope you all enjoy the book too!

Hestapleton Omg you are too kind!!! I‘m excited to read! I like gorey 😂🙈 4y
EadieB @Hestapleton I think you will enjoy the book! 4y
iread2much O, I hope it‘s not too gruesome, but I‘m exited to read it 4y
Hestapleton @EadieB the package came today! I‘m so excited for Lost City of the Monkey God! Thank you!! 4y
EadieB @Hestapleton Great! I‘m glad you like the book I sent you! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! (edited) 4y
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EadieB
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#LMPBC #GroupE #Round9

Starting my book in order to mail it at the end of the July. Have you started yours?

Hestapleton I‘m about halfway through and hoping to finish it this weekend! I‘m horrible at mailing things out on time, but really going to to try to get it out Wednesday! 4y
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DebinHawaii
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#RedRoseSeptember #catchup
This book has been in my Kindle #TBR ‘stack‘ for a couple of years now. 📚📚😬📚I bought it for the true crime & Pacific Northwest setting. Linda Hazzard (known as the “Starvation Doctor”) claimed that starvation diets & other treatments were a #Remedy for a number of diseases & medical complaints. She took their money & slowly starved people to death at Wilderness Heights, her Olalla, WA sanitarium in the early 1900s.

BookNAround There‘s a great Stuff You Missed in History Class (I think) podcast episode about this. 5y
Chrissyreadit My favorite murder also has a podcast episode. The book is in my kindle TBR. I can‘t believe how much that woman got away with! 5y
Hooked_on_books It‘s good! Very disturbing. 5y
arlenefinnigan Wow. Disturbing. 5y
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MatschMomma
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Bailedbailed

One word .....painful. I'm not sure if the story didn't hold enough or the author was that bad but my God this drug on and on.
Do yourself a favor and skip this it's just torture.

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LGal

"John Kellogg and the breakfast bunch must be reveling in a chortle over everything they read and heard out of Olalla."

A lighter line in a very sad tale.

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jen_hayes7
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One of my favorite things to research before vacation is finding reads that take place in the city or area I‘m visiting. I‘ve had this book on my nook for awhile and was heading to visit family in Seattle so I thought it‘d be a good time to start it. Little did I know that we‘d head west and drive past several of the other cities in this book. I heard about Dr. Hazzard on MFM and was so intrigued,I picked up this book. It did not disappoint. #MFM

megnews I do the same thing. 5y
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Sweettartlaura
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3.5⭐️ - a little too long.
Otherwise this book was a pleasant surprise. I‘m not native to the PNW, so I love reading things set here, especially history.
This also held my interest better than I expected. While I do think it ran a little long & was repetitive at times, overall the details added to the story.
Definitely a good read for Puget Sound locals, and for true crime fans - you won‘t forget Dr. Hazzard & her nefarious deeds any time soon.

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Sweettartlaura
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Such a great description of Mount Rainier & #tacoma. And I think, 100 years later, Tacoma is perfectly comfortable with not being Seattle 😏😎

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jlondon1963
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1911 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 murderess in the Pacific Northwest. The story is about two very rich and eccentric British sisters who get taken in by a quack running a starvation diet. One sister dies and the other surviving by a thread is rescued by her maid servant. Fascinating how people can get looped into these medical fad diets.

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jlondon1963
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1911 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 murderess in the Pacific Northwest. The story is about two very rich and eccentric British sisters who get taken in by a quack running a starvation diet. One sister dies and the other surviving by a thread is rescued by her maid servant. Fascinating how people can get looped into these medical fad diets.

JosieG I live in Washington State, and I swear, so much creepy stuff has happened here in the past. It's weird, because the state is so wonderful. It just doesn't fit the atmosphere. 😱 6y
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Lyn-Mara
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This true story is sooo creepy. Isolation has always been one of my greatest fears. I‘m convinced anything can happen in the dark,deep woods.

JoScho Oh me too! Like no thank you! 7y
AmyG Sounds like a good book. Creepy as hell. 7y
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Rissa1
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This book wasn't amazing, but it was interesting. I can tell you I won't be signing up for any weird weight loss plans. It is crazy the way people fall under others control. ☠

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Rissa1
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The last book I need to finish to meet my goal. Number 85!!

suvata 🎉👍🏻🎊👏🥂 7y
No_One Oh! I have this on my TBR list and I was pondering listening to the audiobook. It sure seems like a fascinating story! 7y
Rissa1 It is interesting. 7y
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Rissa1
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This is crazy.

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Chocamanda
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Pickpick

The above image is of Dorathea Williamson, taken shortly before she was rescued by her family nurse, and during the time she was undergoing Linda Hazzard's "fasting treatment". While I found this book fascinating, perhaps another take on this story from a feminist/new historicist lens would give a more well-rounded view of the women on both sides of the case. This book was terrifying, and much of the ideas Hazzard put forth still resonate today.

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Chocamanda
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At work, making candy and starting the audio version of this true crime gem. The irony is not lost on me 😐

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DebinHawaii
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An Acai bowl--my Aloha Friday breakfast of choice, along with a coffee press of Maui Mokka Peaberry coffee. I like the pretty strawberry flower on this one. 🍓🌺 A few pages of this book which seems quite intriguing (history and true crime, set in Washington State) before finishing some work projects. I am more than ready for the weekend.😬

Mimi28 Enjoy!! 😊😊 7y
Daisey These bowls always look amazing! 7y
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Hooked_on_books
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I love true crime! Really, I would choose In Cold Blood as the best, but I already see it well represented here (appropriately), so I give you Starvation Heights, the story of a woman whose "miracle treatment" for many ailments was starving people to death. A fascinating historical true crime which took place near Seattle.

#SEEWHATIHAVEWON

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underthebelljar
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Oh! One more for #aprilbookshowers...

Gregg Olsen is a #localauthor and this book is about some chilling local history. #TBR

CocoReads I've always wanted to read this--I've read a few of his novels and they're really good but I don't think I've read any of his true crime. 8y
underthebelljar @CocoReads I haven't read any of his books yet but this is the one I'll probably start with. I'm not really into true crime but I've been wanting to read this one for a while. 8y
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Seattlejulie
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This book was an eye opener for me. Read it for book club. Highly recommend!

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