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The Women Are Not Fine: The Dark History of a Poisonous Sisterhood
'Such a compelling account of a small but significant dark corner of history... Profound, angry, and tender all at once' VIRGINIA FEITO, author of Victorian Psycho and Mrs March
'A meticulously researched and sensitively rendered portrait of a community of women' ERIN KEANE, author of Notes on the Myths That Made Me
'Hope Reese has sleuthed out a riveting, remarkable true story that raises questions like the best dystopian fiction' PEGGY ORENSTEIN, author of Girls & Sex
'A moving story of desperation, violence and survival' HELEN LEWIS, author of Difficult Women
'A feat of investigative reporting . . . This book proves that our past is present' ELIZABETH FLOCK, New Yorker writer and author of The Furies
'Enthralling . . . A fascinating read' STEPHANIE COONTZ, author of Marriage, a History
'Hugely well-researched - an intriguing (and thoughtful) antidote to stereotypes about gendered violence.' GINA RIPPON, author of The Gendered Brain
The dark history of a poisonous sisterhood
The women of Nagyrév are desperate.
They're abused by their husbands.
They are feeding their newborns to livestock.
At the turn of the 20th century, in the village of Nagyrév, Hungary, midwife Zsuzsanna Fazekas was more than a caretaker - she was a confidante. She helped poor women give birth; she assisted them with abortions; and she listened. Their stories were the husbands who drank, who beat them, who made their lives unbearable.
In response, Auntie Zsuzsi asked one "Why bother with them?"
Her solution was arsenic. Soon, women began slipping this concoction, made by dissolving flypaper in water, into their husbands' porridge, stews, and brandy. And over the next twenty years, the quiet village became the epicenter of one of the deadliest poisoning epidemics of the 20th century - according to some estimates, up to 300 people in the region were murdered.
Why did they do it? How did these murders spin out of control? How did these women get away with their crimes for two decades?
In The Women Are Not Fine , journalist Hope Reese pieces together archival newspapers, court documents, police records, and the vital work of historians, sociologists, and psychologists, diving deep into the truth behind this extraordinary event. Her findings serve as a stark when women in a community are pushed to the brink, the consequences reverberate through history.
The Women Are Not Fine is more than a true crime story. It's a timely, haunting exploration of what happens when women's suffering goes unanswered.
'A meticulously researched and sensitively rendered portrait of a community of women' ERIN KEANE, author of Notes on the Myths That Made Me
'Hope Reese has sleuthed out a riveting, remarkable true story that raises questions like the best dystopian fiction' PEGGY ORENSTEIN, author of Girls & Sex
'A moving story of desperation, violence and survival' HELEN LEWIS, author of Difficult Women
'A feat of investigative reporting . . . This book proves that our past is present' ELIZABETH FLOCK, New Yorker writer and author of The Furies
'Enthralling . . . A fascinating read' STEPHANIE COONTZ, author of Marriage, a History
'Hugely well-researched - an intriguing (and thoughtful) antidote to stereotypes about gendered violence.' GINA RIPPON, author of The Gendered Brain
The dark history of a poisonous sisterhood
The women of Nagyrév are desperate.
They're abused by their husbands.
They are feeding their newborns to livestock.
At the turn of the 20th century, in the village of Nagyrév, Hungary, midwife Zsuzsanna Fazekas was more than a caretaker - she was a confidante. She helped poor women give birth; she assisted them with abortions; and she listened. Their stories were the husbands who drank, who beat them, who made their lives unbearable.
In response, Auntie Zsuzsi asked one "Why bother with them?"
Her solution was arsenic. Soon, women began slipping this concoction, made by dissolving flypaper in water, into their husbands' porridge, stews, and brandy. And over the next twenty years, the quiet village became the epicenter of one of the deadliest poisoning epidemics of the 20th century - according to some estimates, up to 300 people in the region were murdered.
Why did they do it? How did these murders spin out of control? How did these women get away with their crimes for two decades?
In The Women Are Not Fine , journalist Hope Reese pieces together archival newspapers, court documents, police records, and the vital work of historians, sociologists, and psychologists, diving deep into the truth behind this extraordinary event. Her findings serve as a stark when women in a community are pushed to the brink, the consequences reverberate through history.
The Women Are Not Fine is more than a true crime story. It's a timely, haunting exploration of what happens when women's suffering goes unanswered.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2025
36 people are currently reading
889 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 18, 2025
Well researched and fascinating account of women in a small Hungarian village who took part in mass incidents of fatal poisonings. Many victims were alleged domestic abusers. I appreciated the author’s reminders throughout the book identifying the people mentioned previously. Highly recommend as a fantastic non fiction read.
December 27, 2025
Ending 2025 with a banger! This was fascinating af
November 12, 2025
sose irtam meg emailt ironak, ezutan a konyv utan azonnal megtettem. Zsenialis sztori, nem ertem miert most talalkozom vele eloszor, a Meregkeveroket meg is kertem karacsonyra gyorsban. Kurva jol leirta a torteneseket, empatikus a karaktereivel, kepes rendszerben gondolkodni, leirja az akkor uralkodo nezeteket, normakat, 10/10 munka, nyomas elolvasni!!!
amugy meg slay queens
amugy meg slay queens
October 7, 2025
Interesting concept, poor execution. I was excited to read about my country, but this book did not live up to my expectations.
There is no distinctive style or literary prowess displayed. I noted several repetitions (the word ‘display’ is used three times in a single paragraph), grammatically dubious and unnecessarily drawn-out sentences, an overuse of adjectives and em-dashes, meaning it all reads like a mediocre essay. So many useless details are included—I don’t really need to know the exact proportions of a shed to follow the story.
I also found some choices to be of bad taste. Dedicating an entire chapter to the way these women were executed and explaining all of it in graphic detail? Girl. In the context of the story—but also in general—that is extremely inappropriate.
It would have been nice to keep the Hungarian naming conventions (known as the Eastern name order, in which the last name comes first) not only because it’s more pleasing to the ear, but also because I don’t like americanising names. The role of patriarchy as the core structure facilitating these murders could also have been explored; I was waiting for the topic to be brought up, but it never was. Another disappointment.
There is no distinctive style or literary prowess displayed. I noted several repetitions (the word ‘display’ is used three times in a single paragraph), grammatically dubious and unnecessarily drawn-out sentences, an overuse of adjectives and em-dashes, meaning it all reads like a mediocre essay. So many useless details are included—I don’t really need to know the exact proportions of a shed to follow the story.
I also found some choices to be of bad taste. Dedicating an entire chapter to the way these women were executed and explaining all of it in graphic detail? Girl. In the context of the story—but also in general—that is extremely inappropriate.
It would have been nice to keep the Hungarian naming conventions (known as the Eastern name order, in which the last name comes first) not only because it’s more pleasing to the ear, but also because I don’t like americanising names. The role of patriarchy as the core structure facilitating these murders could also have been explored; I was waiting for the topic to be brought up, but it never was. Another disappointment.
July 25, 2025
Meticulously researched and documented. Thoughtful and well-written. Does not sensationalize, seeks to understand. Connects the murders of a hundred years past with current patterns of violence. I couldn’t put it down.
November 2, 2025
Pretty interesting story about a topic I would’ve never heard about otherwise. Women can kill too people…. JK but, definitely it was very intriguing to hear about why the women did it, why they chose poison specifically, and how women turn to each other for support. Why even bother with him?
July 27, 2025
Hands down my favourite non-fiction read of the year.
When women in 20th-century Nagyrév, Hungary, suffered in silence, how did they communicate their pain? There were no phones, no TV, no radios, only neighbours. They survived through huddles and hives—tight-knit, uniquely female social networks.
What these women ultimately did to reclaim control over their lives and stop the abuse was extraordinary.
Hope Reese is a remarkably talented writer and journalist. Her storytelling is meticulous and deeply researched, yet balanced. She not only captured the women’s suffering, but also explored the strain and pain the men endured during this time.
Two of the most powerful lessons I took from this book:
1) The effects of war ripple far beyond the frontlines, seeping into every home and community. We should promote peace and co-existence at every opportunity.
2) When women commit violent crimes, society often responds more harshly than it does with men. Tabloids dehumanise them, calling them monsters, witches, psychopaths, “bad apples”—as if they’re no longer fully human. This narrative conveniently shifts the focus away from the societal conditions that allowed these crimes to occur in the first place.
This book is a gripping, eye-opening exploration of history, gender and survival. Seriously recommend!
When women in 20th-century Nagyrév, Hungary, suffered in silence, how did they communicate their pain? There were no phones, no TV, no radios, only neighbours. They survived through huddles and hives—tight-knit, uniquely female social networks.
What these women ultimately did to reclaim control over their lives and stop the abuse was extraordinary.
Hope Reese is a remarkably talented writer and journalist. Her storytelling is meticulous and deeply researched, yet balanced. She not only captured the women’s suffering, but also explored the strain and pain the men endured during this time.
Two of the most powerful lessons I took from this book:
1) The effects of war ripple far beyond the frontlines, seeping into every home and community. We should promote peace and co-existence at every opportunity.
2) When women commit violent crimes, society often responds more harshly than it does with men. Tabloids dehumanise them, calling them monsters, witches, psychopaths, “bad apples”—as if they’re no longer fully human. This narrative conveniently shifts the focus away from the societal conditions that allowed these crimes to occur in the first place.
This book is a gripping, eye-opening exploration of history, gender and survival. Seriously recommend!
September 25, 2025
I can really only recommend this book. It’s well written, well reassured and it makes you really think about the amount of pressure put on women.
December 17, 2025
soo interesting! I love these types of books
January 10, 2026
"The women were not fine, but they were also not alone."
November 10, 2025
very detailed... some may say too detailed
July 24, 2025
A powerful and deeply researched story. It really pulls you in and gives you space to take in the complexity of these women’s lives. Gripping, thought-provoking, and definitely worth a read.
December 4, 2025
Fascinating read. The accounting of what occurred was interesting. But the analyses during the last 30 or so pages, I found most riveting. Great read especially for those interested in the psychology of trauma and domestic abuse.
October 1, 2025
" The women of Nagyrev are desperate."
What are women to do when their homes and dignity are threatened ? They must take back control of their destiny, whatever the cost. The author meticulously follows the trial of the angelmakers of Nagyrev to answer one crucial question : are these women cold-blooded killers or victims that are simply part of the never-ending cycle of violence ?
Without judgement, Reese investifates the past and connects the murders with current of violence. While she sometimes blurs the lines between corelation and direct consequence, it remains an interesting read. The long list of trials and murders are a bit repetitive though.
3 stars.
What are women to do when their homes and dignity are threatened ? They must take back control of their destiny, whatever the cost. The author meticulously follows the trial of the angelmakers of Nagyrev to answer one crucial question : are these women cold-blooded killers or victims that are simply part of the never-ending cycle of violence ?
Without judgement, Reese investifates the past and connects the murders with current of violence. While she sometimes blurs the lines between corelation and direct consequence, it remains an interesting read. The long list of trials and murders are a bit repetitive though.
3 stars.
November 16, 2025
Well researched and fascinating.
October 27, 2025
Set a century ago in the Hungarian hinterland, this is the true story of the greatest female-led mass poisoning in modern history, with some 300 men, over a period of 20 years and in a single region, murdered by their wives.
It should be shocking—and it is—but author Hope Rees does not lean into sensationalism; rather, presenting the facts of her meticulous research without embellishment or bias. And it is exactly this that makes for such compelling reading.
For Rees is keen to explore not just the crime itself, but the social and psychological factors behind it, many of which remain relevant today and, moreover, serve as a salutary warning as to what can happen when women are pushed to the brink.
Among other questions, Rees asks why the abused women—in a sparsely populated, isolated region, without access to modern communications—were able to form such a powerful network. Why did they resort to such extreme measures? And why did the poisonings—administered via an arsenic solution made from soaking flypaper in water—go undetected for so long?
It is to Rees’ credit that she not only details, through case studies, the suffering of the women, but also that of the men, the majority of whom had returned home from war maimed and severely traumatized. While not excusing their behavior, Rees demonstrates the implications of such experiences and their insidious reach into communities whose dynamics are forever changed.
Rees goes on to examine how female killers act and are perceived and treated differently to their male counterparts, both then and now, drawing on the expertise of historians, sociologists and psychologists to round out an enlightening, well-balanced and thought-provoking read.
It should be shocking—and it is—but author Hope Rees does not lean into sensationalism; rather, presenting the facts of her meticulous research without embellishment or bias. And it is exactly this that makes for such compelling reading.
For Rees is keen to explore not just the crime itself, but the social and psychological factors behind it, many of which remain relevant today and, moreover, serve as a salutary warning as to what can happen when women are pushed to the brink.
Among other questions, Rees asks why the abused women—in a sparsely populated, isolated region, without access to modern communications—were able to form such a powerful network. Why did they resort to such extreme measures? And why did the poisonings—administered via an arsenic solution made from soaking flypaper in water—go undetected for so long?
It is to Rees’ credit that she not only details, through case studies, the suffering of the women, but also that of the men, the majority of whom had returned home from war maimed and severely traumatized. While not excusing their behavior, Rees demonstrates the implications of such experiences and their insidious reach into communities whose dynamics are forever changed.
Rees goes on to examine how female killers act and are perceived and treated differently to their male counterparts, both then and now, drawing on the expertise of historians, sociologists and psychologists to round out an enlightening, well-balanced and thought-provoking read.
Read
August 31, 2025Hope Reese has written a stunningly good nonfiction examination of feminism, domestic violence and how women in a small Hungarian village took actions to terminate their husbands by poisoning them over 100 years ago. At bottom the intricately researched episode is as much about the balance of power between men and women as it is about the huge number of murders from long ago. The last chapter is a brilliant review of current science and context of spousal abuse and its lack of remedies and justice. Strongly recommend.
September 15, 2025
Picked up this book for its feminist title and stayed for the historically rich account of women banding together and pushing back in an unexpected way. Not a genre I would usually gravitate towards but I was so intrigued by the detail and nuance that Reece brought to the story. I loved the links forward to current gendered & domestic violence statistics as well as the broader takes on gender. Incredibly well researched, highly recommend!
October 10, 2025
Fantastic piece of investigative work into an obscure, almost forgotten, phenomenon. Though through Reese's work the very idea that this is a phenomenon is tacitly. Journalistic and yet, simultaneously, the facts are arrayed in such a way as to provide insight into our contemporary culture. I've never read anything quite like it.
October 22, 2025
Astonishing. I bet the research for this book was very difficult and time-consuming.
it was done, though.
it was done, though.
January 4, 2026
Hope Reese erzählt die Geschichte der Giftmischerinnen von Nagyrév, einem Dorf in einer abgelegenen ungarischen Provinz, die Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts über Jahre hinweg unzählige Giftmorde begangen hat. Was als die letzte, verzweifelte Möglichkeit, sich gegen häusliche Gewalt zu wehren, angefangen hat, wurde irgendwann eine Möglichkeit, sich unbequemer Verwandter zu entledigen.
Die Situation der Frauen in Nagyrév war durch harte Arbeit und Armut geprägt. Bei jeder Frau gab es mindestens ein gewalttätiges männliches Familienmitglied und immer war Alkohol mit im Spiel. Auch wenn die einzelnen Schicksale im Dorf bekannt waren, hat niemand etwas dagegen unternommen. Die Männer hielten es für ihr Recht, ihre Ehefrauen so zu behandeln und die Frauen waren eher froh, wenn es eine andere als sie getroffen hat.
Irgendwann bietet Auntie Zsuzsi, eine der Dorfhebammen, einen Ausweg an: die Frauen sollen ihre Männer mit Arsen vergiften. Zuerst sind die Frauen entsetzt. Sie sollen zu einer Mörderin werden? Aber irgendwann ist die erste von ihnen so verzweifelt, dass sie den Rat befolgt. Nachdem diese Grenze überschritten ist, scheint es für die Frauen von Nagyrév kein Halten mehr zu geben. Sind es anfangs nur die gewalttätigen Ehemänner, derer sie sich entledigen, werden es irgendwann auch die alten oder kranken Verwandten, die sie aus dem Weg räumen.
Anfangs konnte ich die Verzweiflung der Frauen nachvollziehen. In einer sehr begrenzten Umgebung den Launen ihrer Männer ausgesetzt zu sein, täglich Gewalt zu erleben und zu wissen, dass das nie ein Ende haben wird... dass man davon träumt, den Mann zu töten, kann ich verstehen. Vielleicht auch, dass einer von ihnen den Traum Realität werden lässt. Aber dass dann eine nach der anderen einen oder mehrere Morde begeht, das war mir dann doch zu viel. Aber so oder so ähnlich ist es passiert. Die Abgeschiedenheit des Dorfs, die es zu einem Gefängnis gemacht hat, hat auch dafür gesorgt, dass die vielen Todesfälle lange nicht aufgefallen sind. Vielleicht dachten die Frauen deshalb, dass sie ungestraft davonkommen würden. Dass sie tatsächlich vor Gericht gestellt wurden, haben sie als Ungerechtigkeit empfunden.
Die Geschichte der Frauen von Nagyrév klang interessanter, als sie die Autorin erzählt hat. Im Buch klangen Schicksale und Taten sehr ähnlich, dass ich sie irgendwann nicht mehr auseinanderhalten konnte. Ich hätte mir mehr von den einzelnen Frauen gewünscht und weniger von der Gruppe.
Die Situation der Frauen in Nagyrév war durch harte Arbeit und Armut geprägt. Bei jeder Frau gab es mindestens ein gewalttätiges männliches Familienmitglied und immer war Alkohol mit im Spiel. Auch wenn die einzelnen Schicksale im Dorf bekannt waren, hat niemand etwas dagegen unternommen. Die Männer hielten es für ihr Recht, ihre Ehefrauen so zu behandeln und die Frauen waren eher froh, wenn es eine andere als sie getroffen hat.
Irgendwann bietet Auntie Zsuzsi, eine der Dorfhebammen, einen Ausweg an: die Frauen sollen ihre Männer mit Arsen vergiften. Zuerst sind die Frauen entsetzt. Sie sollen zu einer Mörderin werden? Aber irgendwann ist die erste von ihnen so verzweifelt, dass sie den Rat befolgt. Nachdem diese Grenze überschritten ist, scheint es für die Frauen von Nagyrév kein Halten mehr zu geben. Sind es anfangs nur die gewalttätigen Ehemänner, derer sie sich entledigen, werden es irgendwann auch die alten oder kranken Verwandten, die sie aus dem Weg räumen.
Anfangs konnte ich die Verzweiflung der Frauen nachvollziehen. In einer sehr begrenzten Umgebung den Launen ihrer Männer ausgesetzt zu sein, täglich Gewalt zu erleben und zu wissen, dass das nie ein Ende haben wird... dass man davon träumt, den Mann zu töten, kann ich verstehen. Vielleicht auch, dass einer von ihnen den Traum Realität werden lässt. Aber dass dann eine nach der anderen einen oder mehrere Morde begeht, das war mir dann doch zu viel. Aber so oder so ähnlich ist es passiert. Die Abgeschiedenheit des Dorfs, die es zu einem Gefängnis gemacht hat, hat auch dafür gesorgt, dass die vielen Todesfälle lange nicht aufgefallen sind. Vielleicht dachten die Frauen deshalb, dass sie ungestraft davonkommen würden. Dass sie tatsächlich vor Gericht gestellt wurden, haben sie als Ungerechtigkeit empfunden.
Die Geschichte der Frauen von Nagyrév klang interessanter, als sie die Autorin erzählt hat. Im Buch klangen Schicksale und Taten sehr ähnlich, dass ich sie irgendwann nicht mehr auseinanderhalten konnte. Ich hätte mir mehr von den einzelnen Frauen gewünscht und weniger von der Gruppe.
September 29, 2025
This is a harrowing, extraordinary true story that centred and spread from the small town of Nagyrev (population 1,500) Hungary in the early 1900s. It is a fascinating, little-known historical account, meticulously researched and detailed. If this were a fictional story, I believe it would be rejected as being too far-fetched and implausible. Author Hope Reese has written an astonishing factual report about a network of true crimes that escalated throughout the district. She accessed old newspapers, court documents, police records, and interviewed experts in human behaviour.
The women had few rights, and it was nearly impossible to leave a bad marriage or file for divorce. They were treated like servants in their home and were unable to flee an abusive, drunken, or violent husband. They lived in poverty and isolation. One hundred and two men left Nagyrev to fight in WW1, and only forty-nine returned. Many were disabled or disfigured and unable to work. They suffered from PTSD and drank heavily. The women were encouraged to take men's jobs while the men were at war. This gave them a new feeling of empowerment, but this was being lost. Many women suffered brutal beatings in silence, as was the custom, but this was about to change. They formed social groups where they exchanged tales of suffering.
The leading midwife, Auntie Zsuzsi, listened to their stories and suggested they kill men who were abusing them by poisoning them with arsenic. This was easily obtained by soaking flypaper in water and putting it in the men's food or liquor. The network of poisoning spread from Nagyrev by other practitioners and contacts. Within two decades, approximately 300 people, mainly men, died from arsenic poisoning. The book contains lists naming the victims, as well as the names of 28 defendants who stood trial starting in 1929, along with their court-ordered sentences.
The women had few rights, and it was nearly impossible to leave a bad marriage or file for divorce. They were treated like servants in their home and were unable to flee an abusive, drunken, or violent husband. They lived in poverty and isolation. One hundred and two men left Nagyrev to fight in WW1, and only forty-nine returned. Many were disabled or disfigured and unable to work. They suffered from PTSD and drank heavily. The women were encouraged to take men's jobs while the men were at war. This gave them a new feeling of empowerment, but this was being lost. Many women suffered brutal beatings in silence, as was the custom, but this was about to change. They formed social groups where they exchanged tales of suffering.
The leading midwife, Auntie Zsuzsi, listened to their stories and suggested they kill men who were abusing them by poisoning them with arsenic. This was easily obtained by soaking flypaper in water and putting it in the men's food or liquor. The network of poisoning spread from Nagyrev by other practitioners and contacts. Within two decades, approximately 300 people, mainly men, died from arsenic poisoning. The book contains lists naming the victims, as well as the names of 28 defendants who stood trial starting in 1929, along with their court-ordered sentences.
August 9, 2025
I was so engaged by The Women Are Not Fine!
While acknowledging that the events/phenomena she describes are unique in many ways, Hope doesn’t sensationalize/generalize them at all—instead, she remains curious, open-minded, and understanding.
As Hope implies, we’re often resistant to the idea that people who do things that surprise/shock/scare could be similar to us in any way. In order to maintain our distance, we call them things that we know that we aren’t—Hope gives monsters, witches, and psychopaths as examples.
Maybe we do this because it’s hard to imagine that we might do something “bad” if we were living through the same set of circumstances as them.
Hope’s thorough and nuanced research and empathetic perspective don’t allow for simple understandings of “something bad.” She rejects understanding the crimes of the women of Nagyrév as isolated events, and pushes the reader to understand them as natural responses to the environment/s in which they were living.
Hope’s empathy and willingness to linger in complexity makes The Women Are Not Fine a really captivating book. :-)
While acknowledging that the events/phenomena she describes are unique in many ways, Hope doesn’t sensationalize/generalize them at all—instead, she remains curious, open-minded, and understanding.
As Hope implies, we’re often resistant to the idea that people who do things that surprise/shock/scare could be similar to us in any way. In order to maintain our distance, we call them things that we know that we aren’t—Hope gives monsters, witches, and psychopaths as examples.
Maybe we do this because it’s hard to imagine that we might do something “bad” if we were living through the same set of circumstances as them.
Hope’s thorough and nuanced research and empathetic perspective don’t allow for simple understandings of “something bad.” She rejects understanding the crimes of the women of Nagyrév as isolated events, and pushes the reader to understand them as natural responses to the environment/s in which they were living.
Hope’s empathy and willingness to linger in complexity makes The Women Are Not Fine a really captivating book. :-)
September 10, 2025
The Women Are not Fine is an almost incredible true story - and one that was written with great attention to detail.
It is an important piece of research at this time in our culture. In the United States, we are on the precipice of losing women’s rights.
This book delineates the patterns that can lead to accepted murder when women have no way to improve their lives.
I was abused in my college days and, because I was lucky enough to be living at a time where we women owned our own bodies, was able to swiftly leave the relationship.
With patricharical forces coming from the top of our nation today, that may not be the case in the near future.
Hope Reese’s writing dramatically alerts us to dangers that can happen when women are not well.
My suggestion is to read it through to the end so you will also be inspired to be vocal for a healthy society. Hope Reese thank you for this compelling book.
It is an important piece of research at this time in our culture. In the United States, we are on the precipice of losing women’s rights.
This book delineates the patterns that can lead to accepted murder when women have no way to improve their lives.
I was abused in my college days and, because I was lucky enough to be living at a time where we women owned our own bodies, was able to swiftly leave the relationship.
With patricharical forces coming from the top of our nation today, that may not be the case in the near future.
Hope Reese’s writing dramatically alerts us to dangers that can happen when women are not well.
My suggestion is to read it through to the end so you will also be inspired to be vocal for a healthy society. Hope Reese thank you for this compelling book.
August 2, 2025
This book blew me away. The Women Are Not Fine is a fascinating, deeply researched look at a forgotten corner of history; rural Hungarian women who took justice into their own hands after years of abuse and neglect. Hope brings their story to life with empathy and sharp insight, showing how desperation and oppression can push people to unthinkable choices.
It’s true crime with a feminist lens, but it reads like a gripping novel. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and incredibly well-written. Highly recommend if you're into smart, bold storytelling that sticks with you.
It’s true crime with a feminist lens, but it reads like a gripping novel. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and incredibly well-written. Highly recommend if you're into smart, bold storytelling that sticks with you.
August 13, 2025
Extremely interesting insight into the mass poisonings carried out by the Nagrév women of rural Hungary. It’s a story which is not well known and equally unusual as it flipped the statistics of gendered violence on It’s head. It discusses the daily lives of these working class women and the community they sought out in other women, who were also facing hardship due to a lack of freedom in their marriages and families.
As much as I found it insightful and important research, unfortunately I struggled to get on with the structure of the writing and the format of the timelines.
As much as I found it insightful and important research, unfortunately I struggled to get on with the structure of the writing and the format of the timelines.
January 19, 2026
A very unusual book both subject wise and form wise. I really appreciate it that the author refrained from unnecessary fiction/tear jerky material; I found the first part that is basically an account of the events to be smoothly written and got sucked in royally. The unofficial second part, however, the social commentary, felt more incoherent and I did miss either a stronger opinion or more cross references here and there. I recommend this if you are interested in true crime.
July 21, 2025
A fascinating and propulsive read. It's clear that Reese has mined all the possible artifacts and documents available, presenting a meticulous piece of historical detective work. What really stood out to me about the book, however, was how fresh and relevant it feels. Will certainly be enjoyed by lovers of Ruth Goodman, Siddhartha Mukherjee, and the like.
July 22, 2025
An engrossing story based on archival evidence of a stunning period in Hungarian history when rural (mostly) women were given the means to set themselves free from abusive situations. The stories are brought to life in gripping detail. A non-fiction thriller that also delves into the psychology of sisterhood.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews