Disturbed Ground

by Carla Norton

The author of Perfect Victim reveals the truth behind the shocking case of Dorothea Puente, the genial Sacramento landlady who was actually a psychopathic killer who buried the corpses of her indigent and homeless victims in her lovingly tended garden.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

415 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 1994

About the author

Is my fiction inspired by true events? Absolutely. My first book was a true account of a shocking crime. PERFECT VICTIM, which I co-wrote with the prosecutor, made the reading list for the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit and was a #1 New York Times bestseller.

The case haunted me, and now that astonishing true story fuels two works of fiction: THE EDGE OF NORMAL and WHAT DOESN'T KILL HER. Reeve, my fictional heroine, is a young survivor of kidnapping and captivity. Scarred, flawed, and psychologically unbalanced, ‘Edgy Reggie’ has a hot sense of justice. And she’s absolutely fearless.

After PERFECT VICTIM, I wrote another true crime, DISTURBED GROUND. This is the shocking true story of a shape-shifting ex-con, a woman who fooled everyone -- neighbors, clergy, even cops -- while in fact she was the rarest of all criminals: a female serial killer.

THE EDGE OF NORMAL: Thriller Award Finalist; Royal Palm Literary Award Winner.

WHAT DOESN'T KILL HER: Nancy Pearl Book Award Winner.

Jeffery Deaver calls THE EDGE OF NORMAL the "perfect blend of literary style, psychological insight & edge-of-the-seat thriller."

Taylor Stevens says WHAT DOESN’T KILL HER is "a smart, tightly written, psychological thrill ride.” (The book is titled HUNTED overseas.)

**Please feel free to contact me via Goodreads if you'd like to ask a question. Thank you!

Reviews

[Mauoijenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This BITCH was crazy!
Very good true story of the days during this FEMALE serial killer. Very engrossing and full of interesting details. Excellent true crime book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of a little old lady who helped the down and out elderly alcoholics, older man and women who needed a place to live. She cooked, clean and made sure they took their medication on a regular bases. Some she helped by giving them to much medication and once they were died, buried them in her beautiful garden. She then continued to collect their ss, disability checks and so forth for several months after they were deceased. I really never figured out how she selected the ones in her boarding house to do away with, and no one probably will ever know fully the true workings of her mind. But she took in one boarder who a few people liked very well and she made him disappear which raised all kinds of questions and while looking for this gentleman 7 people were discovered in her back yard. Her looks and actions fooled so many people, even the jury had a hard time deciding which ones she killed and which due to their health died and she just buried them to keep collecting their checks every month. She could have received the death penalty but the jury just could not believe they little sweet lady committed murder with malice.

[Christopher Molleda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book. This is one of those books that makes you wonder who people really are. Often people, including myself as a police officer, see elderly people as no threat or rarely as a suspect. Through my career I have learned that crimes can be committed by persons of all ages. I will not give spoilers but this puts in perspective of how a person can seem so sweet yet is purely evil.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but long-winded account of a fiendish serial murderer preying on her boardinghouse tenants in 1980s Sacramento.

[Kimberly Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one incredible story about a little old lady, who reminded most of a grandmotherly figure, who had a dark side, literally, for she was convicted of killing three people out of nine. This case, like so many other true crimes I've read, begs the question, what exactly do juries actually listen to in a courtroom?

I cannot for the life of me figure out after having read, in great detail, the courtroom drama that unfolded, how the jurors felt Dorothea Puente wasn't guilty of murdering all nine of her tenants? Carla, the author, made me feel like I sat, personally, in that courtroom, and I clearly felt she was guilty of everything the prosecution brought forth in evidence. How could it not be any clearer? But, unfortunately, that's not the way the case went down, and I was entranced reading this story. Just downright unbelievable.

Dorothea was one sinister woman. A highly disturbed person you never want to meet. This was a great true crime novel and I'm glad I read it. The author did an amazing job in bringing you to this story, as if you had sat right there. Very well written and you will be turning the pages!

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netherlands on Sunday, April 22, 2007 I wrote:

Reading this book since a few days. nearly finished. Carla Norton is a very good writer.
I loved her other book Perfect Victim.
This book like that is written very well.
I must admit I became a bit bored because so much of the book was about the trial. The first part of the book is great though! Nearly finished reading the book. Just a few chapters to go.

eta finished it a few hours later. It was oke.

[Velia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be back to rate and review. I need to ponder about the case for a while. Well written book though.

[Stan Modjesky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but could have been better done

This was a complicated case, involving 9People murdered, and a trial that took years to unfold. Considering that, The author might have made a little more effort to Lighten up the tone of it. The story itself is interesting enough, but I think she spent for too much time Giving a blow by bowl of All of the corp I'm events during the preliminary hearing and the Final trial.
Considering the sheer number of characters involved in the story, At the very least a List of who was whom would have been helpful. And after page upon page of description, it would have been absolutely lovely to have seen even 1 illustration : 1 photograph of someone involved Or even a photo of Crime scene.

I gift about 3 chapters toward the end of the recount of the trial and sentencing hearing, and Don't think that I missed very much.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book. I definitely believe this woman killed those people. And am once again amazed at how badly police can sometimes drop the ball in obviously suspicious situations. Murderers grow old too, fellas. The book was good but the court proceedings were a bit drug out. Of course, there is no way knowing how exactly the crimes played out since there was no confession. So the courtroom proceedings was were a bulk of the info on this bizarre case are exposed. I'm personally just not a big fan of the courtroom side of true crime books usually. Not badly written, just more court stuff than I prefer. Sad story of people in most need of help being spoon feed to thieving, murderous c**t. But my fellow true crime fans should enjoy.

[M.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine living around Dorothea, a kindly grandmother type of person that you trust, but, who in reality is a sinister serial killer accused of killing nine tenants, but convicted of killing only three, and you're sitting there in court seeing all the evidence brought forth by the prosecution as she is tried for their murder.

It's hard to imagine that someone who appears to be such a kind, lovable person, as Dorothea, could murder nine tenants, but it's even harder to reconcile, that with the all the weighty evidence submitted by the prosecution that Dorothea is found guilty of murdering only three tenants.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were so many red flags along the way that were missed by authorities or overlooked because this landlady was old and just seemed so nice, taking great care of the tenants that nobody else wanted to deal with due to mental or physical disabilities, etc. but the whole time she was getting them to hand over their social security, disability checks, and whatever else she could get her hands on. Then at some point they “left” and were just gone but a number of bodies were eventually found buried on her property...this is an amazing true story.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime. Dorthea Puente was a Sacramento landlady who wound up with missing tenants...found buried in her yard. Originally accused of nine murders, she was convicted of only 3 and received a life sentence. This book covers from start to finish, including the trial. It's a close look at a sociopath (her defense claimed it was the result of a rough childhood) who had bodies piling up in her yard, as well as many who testified at her trial that she had done so much good for them and helped them with difficulties in their lives. Interesting read.

[Lois Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Reads like a novel

This book kept me spellbound, turning pages late into the night and before sunrise. Trials can be dry as dust. But trials are about people, messy, contradictory beings of good and evil, light and dark, sweet and mean. Imperfect paradoxes all, unraveled only when something this grisly comes to light and the lies revealed like maggots on a rotting corpse. A glimpse of darkness and well worth your time.

[Kylee Tanilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book & loved the Crime Show Podcast episode covering it also. The information from the trial was a bit repetitive at times, but it seems like that’s a direct reflection of *how* the information was presented.

[Chetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a true crime book when I first started reading. I was impressed with the way the author was able to take all the facts from this case and turn it into an interesting read. There might have been an overload at the end with the trial but it was a true representation of how that trial was presented with months of testimony, witnesses, and experts. Fact can be stranger than fiction as this book very clearly shows.

[Paulette Sauerbrei · Rating 4 out of 5]

INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE

INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE

I chose this rating because it was a good book and the author did a good job of relating the story of a very troubled woman and the sad end for her victims.

[Mary Tiller Winter]

this is gonna be a doozy

[Debbie Darol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good except too much of the courtroom. Based on the book, I'm afraid I would have had a shadow of a doubt about her killing any that were found in the yard.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew my mind!!! You just never know with people, even if they are sweet older people.........great writing and kept a fast pace while reading. Could not put down!

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slows down and drags too much when then trial starts. Focuses too much on the trial.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite well written and researched. Interesting book.

[Mary Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a horrific topic, yet...

... so beautifully written. Carla has a wonderful grasp of language and really brings the reader into the story. I couldn't put the book down.

[Beth Tidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. There was a lot of information and details to keep track of and was therefore not a fast read. Highly recommend, especially for anyone who likes true crime novels.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book really interesting but the court case was too drawn out and I lost interest and flipped to the verdict.

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

the story of a little old lady that killed the people whom boarded at her home for their money and buried them in her garden.......

[LInda L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chillilng account of a serial killer -- a not so young woman. WAY too much about the trial -- the book just went on and on and on. Fair.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down! Always had me guessing what would happen next.