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Mistresses of Mayhem: The Book of Women Criminals
Mistresses of Mayhem is a resource book that describes some of the most famous women criminals in history. There are murderers, prostitutes, and even pirates. Background on each of the women is given, and the events of their crimes are provided.
249 pages, Hardback
First published March 13, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 7, 2014
I'm fairly convinced that this book wasn't edited. Or at least if it was, it was a rush job. While it was interesting subject matter, the way it was written and the numerous mistakes and spelling errors made it hard reading.
Mistresses of Mayhem is a resource book that describes some of the most famous women criminals in history and the present. In fact, some of the women featured in this book are still alive while others have been dead for hundreds of years. There are murderers, prostitutes, and even pirates. Background on each of the women is given, and the events of their crimes are provided.
There are some bad ladies in here. And a good one that had charges against her dropped. And some who there are doubts about their guilt and undecided charges against them. Because their backgrounds are provided, there is some speculation into why they did the crimes that they did. Although their history doesn't always account for the terrible things that they did. I hadn't heard of the majority of the women in here, and some of their stories definitely came as a shock. It's enough to make you want to wish it was fiction.
This would have been a great reference book, except it didn't really read as a standard non-fiction reference book. There was tons of personal opinion in it I'm always a little skeptical if in a book that's supposed to be non-fiction, the term "white trash" is used several times along with other non-professional names and descriptors. It also had numerous spelling errors, places where you can tell a "find and replace" feature was used incorrectly, and probably the worst of all, some facts actually weren't recorded correctly (IE: two sisters names are reversed leaving the wrong one dead in the book). An editing read-through would have caught a lot of these errors, so I'm not sure what happened. The formatting is a page or two for each woman and it is sorted in alphabetical order.
It certainly doesn't seem as if this book was actually ready to be published. A little cleanup and it would be a good tome on women readers. In its current condition, I just can't recommend it.
Mistresses of Mayhem
Copyright 2002
248 pages
Review by M. Reynard
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
Mistresses of Mayhem is a resource book that describes some of the most famous women criminals in history and the present. In fact, some of the women featured in this book are still alive while others have been dead for hundreds of years. There are murderers, prostitutes, and even pirates. Background on each of the women is given, and the events of their crimes are provided.
There are some bad ladies in here. And a good one that had charges against her dropped. And some who there are doubts about their guilt and undecided charges against them. Because their backgrounds are provided, there is some speculation into why they did the crimes that they did. Although their history doesn't always account for the terrible things that they did. I hadn't heard of the majority of the women in here, and some of their stories definitely came as a shock. It's enough to make you want to wish it was fiction.
This would have been a great reference book, except it didn't really read as a standard non-fiction reference book. There was tons of personal opinion in it I'm always a little skeptical if in a book that's supposed to be non-fiction, the term "white trash" is used several times along with other non-professional names and descriptors. It also had numerous spelling errors, places where you can tell a "find and replace" feature was used incorrectly, and probably the worst of all, some facts actually weren't recorded correctly (IE: two sisters names are reversed leaving the wrong one dead in the book). An editing read-through would have caught a lot of these errors, so I'm not sure what happened. The formatting is a page or two for each woman and it is sorted in alphabetical order.
It certainly doesn't seem as if this book was actually ready to be published. A little cleanup and it would be a good tome on women readers. In its current condition, I just can't recommend it.
Mistresses of Mayhem
Copyright 2002
248 pages
Review by M. Reynard
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
September 8, 2010
Pretty bad writing -- there were incomplete sentences (suject + predicate = sentence...did we not learn this in third grade?!), spelling errors, grammatical errors, and some badly placed slang that is totally inappropriate for journalistic writing.
Other than the terrible writing, the book itself is an excellent reference, and seems fairly well-researched. I read it from cover to cover, although I would recommend just using it as a reference instead. Some of the accounts are pretty dry.
Still, for those fascinated by female criminals or crime in general, it's a decent read.
Other than the terrible writing, the book itself is an excellent reference, and seems fairly well-researched. I read it from cover to cover, although I would recommend just using it as a reference instead. Some of the accounts are pretty dry.
Still, for those fascinated by female criminals or crime in general, it's a decent read.
January 12, 2024
Okay, it was the cover that lured me in. Inside more than 100 of the most notable fallen women of all time were waiting on me: murder, robbery, prostitution, espionage, blackmail, fraud, embezzlement, kidnapping, terrorism... famous ladies like Ma Barker, Elizabeth Bathory, Anne Bonny, Lizzie Borden, Lucretia Borgia, Heidi Fleiss (The Hollywood Madam), "Doctor Death", Christine Keeler (Profumo Affair), Mata Hari, Bonnie Parker, Belle Starr and many more are featured and described in a very intriguing way. There's a fine photo section too, but it could have been bigger. Glad that I came out of the book alive. Extremely interesting and page turning read. Highly recommended!
April 27, 2018
I thought the content was interesting but the editing was rough. It read more like fiction and I wondered how much was fact throughout many of the cases. Still, interesting and shocking.
July 12, 2019
Wicked and terrifying!!
October 9, 2023
Some of these I have heard of. Some of these just blow your mind with how people's minds can work sometimes. Kind of slow to work through but that's just the nature of the way it's written for me.
February 20, 2009
This is an astounding look at many of the female criminals os the past. Hornberger covers from Ma Barker and Bonnie, one half of Bonnie and Clyde, to Karla Faye Tucker and Darlie Routier and others still, to this day, sitting on death row.
Probably the two things I loved best about the book was that each section about a certain woman was short and simple and to the point. She did a few sentences to paragraphs on their childhood, the same for young adulthood, the same for the criminal period and then lastly, the same for the period of time after their criminal endeavors, if there was a period of time after that is. The second thing hinges on the last sentence of mine- I loved that she let the reader know what happened AFTER the crime(s) and/or conviction. I wanted to know not only who was sentenced to death and who was actually already put to death but about the people that served their sentences and were then released. Some of the women featured are still alive today.
Mistresses of Mayhem featires *about* a hundred different women, mostly fairly well known, not matter when the crimes were commited. Some of the crimes were for things as petty as stealing and forgery while most were for murder, kidnapping, and espionage.
I was nothing short of intriged the entire time I was reading this and if I ever find a Volume 2 I'll buy it in a second.
I'm thinking about keeping this to be honest although I don't know that I'd ever actually read it again.
Another point is that she included a lot of referenced if anyone was so inclined to look them up....like me. She named many books by their title and author that are probably going to be interesting in and of themselves.
I'd recommend for any true crime reader without a doubt.
Probably the two things I loved best about the book was that each section about a certain woman was short and simple and to the point. She did a few sentences to paragraphs on their childhood, the same for young adulthood, the same for the criminal period and then lastly, the same for the period of time after their criminal endeavors, if there was a period of time after that is. The second thing hinges on the last sentence of mine- I loved that she let the reader know what happened AFTER the crime(s) and/or conviction. I wanted to know not only who was sentenced to death and who was actually already put to death but about the people that served their sentences and were then released. Some of the women featured are still alive today.
Mistresses of Mayhem featires *about* a hundred different women, mostly fairly well known, not matter when the crimes were commited. Some of the crimes were for things as petty as stealing and forgery while most were for murder, kidnapping, and espionage.
I was nothing short of intriged the entire time I was reading this and if I ever find a Volume 2 I'll buy it in a second.
I'm thinking about keeping this to be honest although I don't know that I'd ever actually read it again.
Another point is that she included a lot of referenced if anyone was so inclined to look them up....like me. She named many books by their title and author that are probably going to be interesting in and of themselves.
I'd recommend for any true crime reader without a doubt.
August 7, 2015
A True Crime book featuring short biographies on female criminals that covers a bit of background information and a summary of their crimes.
Interesting read.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Interesting read.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
April 17, 2014
I really liked this book. The stories were interesting and the writer funny. I have two gripes about the book. One, there were some small mistakes that made some of the stories confusing and I had to read a couple of times to understand it. But a good proof reader should have caught that. Two, There is a woman mentioned on the back of the book that was not in the book. So now I am needing to look her up as I am interested in reading about her.
But I really liked the book as I am always interested in real life stories and human behavior. I would love to find more books like this.
But I really liked the book as I am always interested in real life stories and human behavior. I would love to find more books like this.
March 7, 2016
Francine Hornberger gives a very brief synopsis on the crime and information about the accused. BORING, dry read with very little background research done. Highly disappointed in the author with her lack of concern for the facts and ability to get names correct. Pass on this one if you consume True Crime books, read if you just want a little someone on someone but be sure and check with other sources to make sure what she has written is correct.
November 23, 2010
Interesting...Never knew of some of these women. I did skip just a few of the ones I already had read so much on. Lizzie Borden ect. I liked the writers wording here and there..(UM) thought this was very funny! I would reccomend to po=eople who are looking for a very quick read.
October 28, 2007
Interesting, has whole bunch of women and the crazy things they did. Crazy women doing crazy things!
Want to read
December 21, 2007oooooh I like the title! You should look at the 'The Nympho and Other Maniacs' its sort of the same thing...
February 5, 2009
This was a really interesting book for me being the true crime buff I am.
July 31, 2012
Interesting reading if you would like to get into the minds of female criminals.
October 3, 2016
This would be a jumping off point in the study of women in crime. Brief write up of many women that have been in Mayhem and worse.
May 8, 2011
August 2010.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews