Tonya Mitchell

This book was so good! Elizabeth Cochran, aka Nellie Bly, gets herself thrown into Blackwell Island, an insane asylum in 1887, all for getting the story that would make her famous. I knew about Bly’s commuting but this story was told in an engaging and captivating way. Nellie Bly, in order to get a job at The World, agrees to be committed to Blackwell Island for 10 days. As she lives through those ten days, she commits to memory everything that goes on and writes a two piece article about show more the horrors she witnessed. Along with that, she goes to the police to report a death on the island that no one knew about. This book kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat. If you’re interested in anything about Nellie Bly, add this book to your list to read! show less

In a Nutshell: A compelling historical fiction about a woman accused of murdering her husband. Quick pace, complicated characters. Based on true events. A bit dissatisfied with the ending scenes, but overall, definitely recommended.

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Plot Preview:

1889. Liverpool, England. Twenty-six-year-old Constance Sullivan has been accused of murdering her husband William. As the whole world turns against her, the only person on her side is her mother, who promises to hire the

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best legal counsel to prove her daughter's innocence.
As we see the proceedings of Constance's trial, we also see in flashbacks, the events that led to the trial.
The story comes to us in Constance's third person perspective, and is written entirely in present tense.

Bookish Yays: show less

"The Arsenic Eater's Wife" is inspired by the 1889 court case of Florence Elizabeth Chandler Maybrick, the first American woman sentenced to hang in England. (From the Author's Note.)

This was a very interesting read. The author did a great job at including time specific details to provide context for the story. And, while there is sometimes a desire to make historical figures look worse or better than reality, this book provide a very well-rounded fictionalization of the characters. That show more fact that the author wanted to change the ending of the story so she decided to use different names was also a great choice. In this way, the details of this very intersting crime could be used.

I am glad I finally got around to reading this one as it has been on my TBR pile for a couple of months. show less

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.

I have read an autobiography of Nellie Bly and also Women 99 but this historical fiction novel of Nellie Bly is terrific. It not only tells her story but also of her ten (10) days in the Blackwell Asylum.

It is hard to put down, very engaging and well told. The dialogue keeps flowing and the extras that the author adds does not in any way detract from its greatness.

A book even Nellie show more would be proud of! show less