The Poison Widow: A True Story of Sin, Strychnine, and Murder

Rating:
Summary: Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Review: Modern day murderers have nothing on Myrtle Schaude. Author Linda Godfrey has done a thorough research job, getting at every angle of the Poison Widow's life, longing, and loss. Even had Myrtle Schaude been alive to interview, Linda couldn't have painted a more explicit mental picture of who this twisted woman was.

It is a quick read and such a compelling true tale that the story stays with you long after you've put the book down. I'm hooked by Linda Godfrey's style of storytelling and will always read whatever comes next from her.

Rating:
Summary: Murder in a Euphemistic Era
Review: Once upon a time, a long - but not that long (St. Patrick's Day, 1922)- time ago, in America's Dairyland and just a little south of Lambeau, Myrtle Schaude murdered her husband and then attempted the big chill on her 4 children as well. She wanted to come to Minnesota and live happily ever after, like Susan Smith, with her much younger lover. "Curses, foiled again!"

Author Linda Godfry has done a good job of dredging up old newspaper nuggets, correspondence, pictures (embedded in the text, not in the conventional and convenient center of the book) and the court transcript in this little True Crime book. But, because of the times back then, the reader must read between the lines of the staid and euphemistic reporting to get the full horror of post-Lizzie Myrtle the murderer, who was convicted, paroled, and married again. The second family never knew of the first's fate until the author came knockin' at their doors. /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: Murder in a Euphemistic Era
Review: Once upon a time, a long - but not that long (St. Patrick's Day, 1922)- time ago, in America's Dairyland and just a little south of Lambeau, Myrtle Schaude murdered her husband and then attempted the big chill on her 4 children as well. She wanted to come to Minnesota and live happily ever after, like Susan Smith, with her much younger lover. "Curses, foiled again!"

Author Linda Godfry has done a good job of dredging up old newspaper nuggets, correspondence, pictures (embedded in the text, not in the conventional and convenient center of the book) and the court transcript in this little True Crime book. But, because of the times back then, the reader must read between the lines of the staid and euphemistic reporting to get the full horror of post-Lizzie Myrtle the murderer, who was convicted, paroled, and married again. The second family never knew of the first's fate until the author came knockin' at their doors. /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem in the Midwest
Review: The Poison Widow is a well-written, capivating, comprehensive great read. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history, true-crime, police thrillers, murder mysteries, psychology or non-fiction. The sordid story and facts are laid bare and well-documented by the inclusion of much of the state's evidence and actual letters the murderer wrote to her lover. This book keeps your interest throughout, includes lots of pictures that breathe life into these real-life "characters" who lack character. I read it cover to cover--not wanting to miss one detail! With this book, Mrs. Godfrey has really done her research and combined so many seperate resources into a coherent, yet frightening look back into the life and mind of a "mild-mannered" murderer. Great investigative work went into this book! Her writing style reminds me of that of Daniel Keyes in "The Minds of Billy Milligan" which is another true story--about a rapist with multiple personality disorder. Makes one wonder about what lurks in the minds of everyone you know and trust. A must read!! You will enjoy it!

Rating:
Summary: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem in the Midwest
Review: The Poison Widow is a well-written, capivating, comprehensive great read. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history, true-crime, police thrillers, murder mysteries, psychology or non-fiction. The sordid story and facts are laid bare and well-documented by the inclusion of much of the state's evidence and actual letters the murderer wrote to her lover. This book keeps your interest throughout, includes lots of pictures that breathe life into these real-life "characters" who lack character. I read it cover to cover--not wanting to miss one detail! With this book, Mrs. Godfrey has really done her research and combined so many seperate resources into a coherent, yet frightening look back into the life and mind of a "mild-mannered" murderer. Great investigative work went into this book! Her writing style reminds me of that of Daniel Keyes in "The Minds of Billy Milligan" which is another true story--about a rapist with multiple personality disorder. Makes one wonder about what lurks in the minds of everyone you know and trust. A must read!! You will enjoy it!