“True Crime on Random” is what I call my favorite section of John King Books, a famous used book store – warehouse is more like it – the pride of Detroit. That’s where I found this old gem with its irresistible cover art. Bizarre beauties: Sixteen scintillating sirens who literally loved their men to death! by Brad Steiger was published in 1965 by Camerarts Pub. Co. of Chicago.
It consists of short essays on some of the most infamous women of history. The writing is mediocre. The research was evidently perfunctory. The conclusions are naïve. Yet the line art inside is campy and dated and fun. And with his subject selection, a combination of the infamous and obscure, the author won my heart.
In the pages of this book, I first read about Zeo Zoe Wilkins. I ended up writing an entire book about her. And Countess Marie Tarnowska, another I have resurrected for the current generation. This book also introduced me to other forgotten femmes fatales. Some names are being withheld to protect my Books To Write list.
Those I will name include Countess Bathory; the pirate Mary Anne Blythe; Moll Cutpurse; Elizabeth Brownrigg; Cincinnati poisoner Anna Marie Hahn; the Red Bitch of Buchenwald, Ilse Koch; French poisoner Marie de Brinvilliers; and another French poisoner, Catherine Montvoisin (who, he says, used poison to discipline her husband when she was angry with him but never killed him. This is the first time I have heard of a poisoner intentionally inflicting mere illness, and as a punishment).
I will donate this book to a thrift shop and let this art continue to delight the true crime set. I wouldn't be surprised to see it turn up at John King Books again.
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