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emmaura's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Found this book as a book swap with a friend.
I enjoyed reading this story - and note, it is very much a work of fiction based loosely on the truth - and found the narrative compelling and hard to put down!
I enjoyed reading this story - and note, it is very much a work of fiction based loosely on the truth - and found the narrative compelling and hard to put down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Death of parent
baobaebye's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
We get it, she raises her chin in defiance.
I generally enjoyed this dive into a book loosely based on true crime, but the repetition every 30 pages or so about the main character raising her chin was maddening. Trying to humanise such a tricky real person is a huge challenge and for the most part the author has done a decent, if simplistic, job.
I generally enjoyed this dive into a book loosely based on true crime, but the repetition every 30 pages or so about the main character raising her chin was maddening. Trying to humanise such a tricky real person is a huge challenge and for the most part the author has done a decent, if simplistic, job.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
ppppaula's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had no idea this was based on a real person so am left feeling a little disturbed. This is a fictionalised version of the life of Belle Gunness, an American-Norwegian serial killer. Dark and twisted. A long book but it managed to hold my attention the entire time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
dualportaldestinies's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
abbiexhope's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
kayliecelery's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this duo point of view read. We follow sisters Bella & Nellie as they move from Norway to America and then how things turn from normal everyday to pure murder at every turn.
Bella is based off the 'first' female serial killer Belle Gunness and I feel Camilla really does her justice. There are some scenes that are intensely graphic, but to be honest I feel that added to the story and made you realise just how brutal the murders were.
Overall I loved the atmosphere, I loved the difference in pace between Bella's and Nellie's chapters to show the clear difference between the sisters and their mental states.
If you love historical fiction and crime, this is a must read for you.
I listened to this on Audiobook, and would also recommend that as the narrator did an amazing job depicting the differences between the sisters, and expressing them.
Bella is based off the 'first' female serial killer Belle Gunness and I feel Camilla really does her justice. There are some scenes that are intensely graphic, but to be honest I feel that added to the story and made you realise just how brutal the murders were.
Overall I loved the atmosphere, I loved the difference in pace between Bella's and Nellie's chapters to show the clear difference between the sisters and their mental states.
If you love historical fiction and crime, this is a must read for you.
I listened to this on Audiobook, and would also recommend that as the narrator did an amazing job depicting the differences between the sisters, and expressing them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
olivianw's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"God will not always punish; my mother was right about that. He might not even help those who strive to help themselves, but I could. For weeks after his death I barely slept; I lay awake...at night staring into the darkness, riding that joy as a liquor...It was strong and pure, that joy; it made me feel powerful and happy. I had never felt anything as strong and pure as that. As if I could do anything. As if there were no limit. I had paid him back."
In the late 1800s a young Norwegian woman emigrated to America for a new life away from poverty, her alcoholic father, violent mother and the farmer's son who injured her to force her to miscarry his child. There Bella Sorensen stays with sister Nellie and her family whilst hunting for a good husband to support her. She soon finds Mads and adopting children, her life appears to be complete. Until Mads is not enough and then Bella takes matters into her own hands again. What follows is her life as she adopts children, is widowed and remarries under some very suspicious circumstances. Men don't survive long around Bella.
Marrying true crime of a female serial killer with biography and historic fiction, this is a fascinating endeavour. Chapters alternative between Bella and Nellie, which helps to give a sibling's perspective. Bella's behaviour, despite the horror is somewhat understandable initially, as she fights to make her way in a world designed by and for men. She is unlikeable yet compelling. Once she purchases the La Porte farm in Indiana, it becomes more and more gruesome. A Victorian, Norwegian Killing Eve, this is an engrossing tale of motherhood, murder and revenge.
This book was gifted to me by the publisher, Michael Joseph Books.
In the late 1800s a young Norwegian woman emigrated to America for a new life away from poverty, her alcoholic father, violent mother and the farmer's son who injured her to force her to miscarry his child. There Bella Sorensen stays with sister Nellie and her family whilst hunting for a good husband to support her. She soon finds Mads and adopting children, her life appears to be complete. Until Mads is not enough and then Bella takes matters into her own hands again. What follows is her life as she adopts children, is widowed and remarries under some very suspicious circumstances. Men don't survive long around Bella.
Marrying true crime of a female serial killer with biography and historic fiction, this is a fascinating endeavour. Chapters alternative between Bella and Nellie, which helps to give a sibling's perspective. Bella's behaviour, despite the horror is somewhat understandable initially, as she fights to make her way in a world designed by and for men. She is unlikeable yet compelling. Once she purchases the La Porte farm in Indiana, it becomes more and more gruesome. A Victorian, Norwegian Killing Eve, this is an engrossing tale of motherhood, murder and revenge.
This book was gifted to me by the publisher, Michael Joseph Books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
kgrand's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
outsmartyourshelf's review
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Born Little Brynhild, Belle discovers that it's a man's world, so she decides to even the score by killing men for their money. Starting with the first man who disappointed or crossed her, Belle leaves a trail of dead men behind her. from her homeland of Norway to Chicago in the US & beyond. She's smart though, & only her greed may be thing that brings her down.
A fictionalised version of a true story, this is a shocking read with a staggering number of possible victims. It starts off quite slowly, but by the end the reader is drawn into the story. The narrative is from the points of view of Belle & her older sister, Nellie. The author introduces a third main character, James Lee, who is very much the -devil-on-your-shoulder catalyst for many of the killings in the book & his relationship with Belle is intriguing as they really did bring out the worst in each other. I thought it was well written in an engaging style & although the ending is a bit of an anticlimax (necessarily so), it was a fascinating, if fictional, look at a prolific female serial killer.
Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Michael Joseph UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
A fictionalised version of a true story, this is a shocking read with a staggering number of possible victims. It starts off quite slowly, but by the end the reader is drawn into the story. The narrative is from the points of view of Belle & her older sister, Nellie. The author introduces a third main character, James Lee, who is very much the -devil-on-your-shoulder catalyst for many of the killings in the book & his relationship with Belle is intriguing as they really did bring out the worst in each other. I thought it was well written in an engaging style & although the ending is a bit of an anticlimax (necessarily so), it was a fascinating, if fictional, look at a prolific female serial killer.
Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Michael Joseph UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Sexual violence