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bookowlie wrote:

sahmoun2778 wrote:This book is changing my perception of the 30's. I admit to a tendency to think that violent crime and evil exists only in my lifetime and that previous generations were much tamer. But this story blows that all to hell. These women are not hardened criminals or mob bosses, they are just ordinary housewives who don't seem to hesitate at all before committing murder and whose only remorse is in getting caught.

That's exactly how I felt! I always thought women in the 1930's were busy doing laundry, baking casseroles, dusting, going to the beauty salon.

My, my what restrictive views of women

Lillian's uncle must have paid off a bunch of jurors to get that verdict!

Fran wrote:

bookowlie wrote:

sahmoun2778 wrote:This book is changing my perception of the 30's. I admit to a tendency to think that violent crime and evil exists only in my lifetime and that previous generations were much tamer. But this story blows that all to hell. These women are not hardened criminals or mob bosses, they are just ordinary housewives who don't seem to hesitate at all before committing murder and whose only remorse is in getting caught.

That's exactly how I felt! I always thought women in the 1930's were busy doing laundry, baking casseroles, dusting, going to the beauty salon.

My, my what restrictive views of women

I think the opportunities for women in the 1930's were restrictive, not only in terms of jobs but men treating them like equals with important opinions.

-- 13 Jul 2015, 12:27 --

sahmoun2778 wrote:Lillian's uncle must have paid off a bunch of jurors to get that verdict!

Even with today's juries, I find myself shaking my head at many verdicts. Think of Casey Anthony and O.J. Simpson.

"Think of Casey Anthony and O.J. Simpson."

Good point!

Sahmoun, I agree with you about Lillian's uncle. He probably didn't want her to stop her sexy visits to him at work!

I guess those visits would be harder if she was in prison.

I think that we've got something new to add to the urban dictionary here: purple wives.

Purple wives: wives who would pull the ladder out from under their husbands in a heartbeat, for the right insurance payoff.

See, you'd be a purple wife before becoming a black widow.

I like that idea, zeldas.

Thanks!!

zeldas_lullaby wrote:I think that we've got something new to add to the urban dictionary here: purple wives.

Purple wives: wives who would pull the ladder out from under their husbands in a heartbeat, for the right insurance payoff.

See, you'd be a purple wife before becoming a black widow.

Ah, a great addition to the urban dictionary, Zelda! And what wonderful imagery it evokes! At first I was imagining bruised housewives (purple is just very closely tied to bruises for me in this instance??), but then I realized the wives who are willing to murder their husbands are more like bruises themselves, and are blackened by death when they choose to follow through and make themselves widows. Wait, does that make sense to anyone else?

On another note, I am not very far into the book yet but I am loving it! Such scandal!

I am almost done with half of the book. It is pretty engaging but also a bit confusing.

Escapeartist wrote:Enjoy Sahmoun, there are definitely a lot of purple and their dealings to keep up with.

-- 15 Jul 2015, 14:24 --

Lovely_Loreley wrote:

zeldas_lullaby wrote:I think that we've got something new to add to the urban dictionary here: purple wives.

Purple wives: wives who would pull the ladder out from under their husbands in a heartbeat, for the right insurance payoff.

See, you'd be a purple wife before becoming a black widow.

Ah, a great addition to the urban dictionary, Zelda! And what wonderful imagery it evokes! At first I was imagining bruised housewives (purple is just very closely tied to bruises for me in this instance??), but then I realized the wives who are willing to murder their husbands are more like bruises themselves, and are blackened by death when they choose to follow through and make themselves widows. Wait, does that make sense to anyone else?

On another note, I am not very far into the book yet but I am loving it! Such scandal!

The quote above is my mistake that brought that on, but your take makes sense too. I'm glad you're liking the book!!

Just finished the book. I loved it. Loved the twist at the end. I did a little research on the Philadelphia Poison ring on my own and found it very interesting. The author new his facts. I am wondering though, why he chose to change some names and not others or I guess why he couldn't use all of their real names. It was a fantastic read though. You just can't believe some of the things this group was capable of.

Escapeartist wrote: The quote above is my mistake that brought that on, but your take makes sense too. I'm glad you're liking the book!!

HA HA, yep that's the origin. I do like your take on it too, Lovely Lorelei!!

Hm... what would be a useful sample sentence?

"Buddy, I'm not sure about your engagement. You might be marrying one of those purple wives."
"Dude, chill. Alicia is all heart."

Loved the twist at the end. I totally didn't see that coming.