The Murder Mystique : Female Killers and Popular Culture

Although they account for only ten percent of all murders, those attributed to women seem especially likely to captivate the public. This absorbing book examines why that is true and how some women, literally, get away with murder. Combining compelling storytelling with insightful observations, the book invites readers to take a close look at ten high-profile killings committed by American women. The work exposes the forces that underlie the public's fascination with female killers and determine why these women so often become instant celebrities. Cases are paired by motivelove, money, revenge, self-defense, and psychopathology. Through them, the authors examine the appeal of women who commit murders and show how perceptions of their crimes are shaped. The book details both the crimes and the criminals as it explores how pop culture treats stereotypes of female murderers in film and print. True crime aficionados will be fascinated by the minute descriptions of what happened and why, while pop culture enthusiasts will appreciate the lens of societal norms through which these cases are examined.

Combining compelling storytelling with insightful observations, the book invites readers to take a close look at ten high-profile killings committed by American women. The work exposes the forces that underlie the public's fascination with female killers and determine why these women so often become instant celebrities. Cases are paired by motive—love, money, revenge, self-defense, and psychopathology. Through them, the authors examine the appeal of women who commit murders and show how perceptions of their crimes are shaped.

The book details both the crimes and the criminals as it explores how pop culture treats stereotypes of female murderers in film and print. True crime aficionados will be fascinated by the minute descriptions of what happened and why, while pop culture enthusiasts will appreciate the lens of societal norms through which these cases are examined.

Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction: The Killer Inside Each of Us 10 1. Women Who Kill in Self-Defense 16 Francine Hughes 16 Liysa Northon 26 2. Women Who Kill for Revenge 38 Betty Broderick 39 Amy Bishop 54 3. Women Who Kill for Love 68 Kristin Rossum 68 Susan Smith 85 4. Women Who Kill for Money 100 Olga Rutterschmidt and Helen Golay 100 Ann Woodward 117 5. Women Who Kill Because They Are Crazy 130 Aileen Wuornos 130 Andrea Yates 142 Conclusion: Her Trait, Her Fate 158 Notes 168 Selected Bibliography 182 Index 188 A 188 B 188 C 188 D 189 E 189 F 189 G 189 H 189 I 190 J 190 K 190 L 190 M 190 N 190 O 191 P 191 R 191 S 191 T 191 U 192 V 192 W 192 Y 192 « Combining compelling storytelling with insightful observation, the book invites readers to take a close look at ten high-profile killings committed by American women. The work exposes the forces that underlie the public's fascination with female killers and determines why these women so often become instant celebrities. Cases are paired by motive--love, money, revenge, self-defense, and psychopathology. Through them, the authors examine the appeal of women who commit murders and show how perceptions of their crimes are shaped. »--Résumé de l'éditeur "Combining compelling storytelling with insightful observation, the book invites readers to take a close look at ten high-profile killings committed by American women. The work exposes the forces that underlie the public's fascination with female killers and determines why these women so often become instant celebrities. Cases are paired by motive--love, money, revenge, self-defense, and psychopathology. Through them, the authors examine the appeal of women who commit murders and show how perceptions of their crimes are shaped."-- Provided by publisher