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braunems's review
3.0
Very interesting story and clearly very well-researched, but the writing is sometimes awkward and much of it seems to be speculation to enrich the "plot." The author writes dialogue and internal thoughts that detract from the believability of the book. How can he know exactly what was said in 1913? How does he know what that person thought in that moment? It feels like he wants to make nonfiction into a novel, which can work sometimes, but in this case it distracted from what was really important, which is that this is a true story and it is dramatic and heartbreaking and absolutely bonkers enough without the unnecessary embellishments and artistic license. There were also a lot of awkward sentences that almost felt like they were translated from another language. But in general, I really enjoyed the book and appreciated the amount of research and the use of oral history and interviews.
flarnie's review against another edition
4.0
Unbelievable story, well told, with well matched narration. I enjoyed it.
abiisn's review
3.0
This would have been better if it was half the length. It was a slog towards the end
janel1994's review
5.0
A true crime novel that is both well written and researched. "Dr" Linda Hazzard definitely kept me up at night. This woman lured people to her "spa/facility" in the northwest in the 1910's and had them go on a fasting cure slowing starving themselves to death.