American Mother

The story of Stella Nickell is one that should chill anyone's blood. The lengths that she was determined to go, just to collect on her husband's life insurance policy was chilling.
In American Mother, the story unfolds, showing the depravity and the desperation of a woman who was trying to build a life, get away from the background she had, but instead, falling deeper into it. Knowing the story of the Tylenol poisonings, her mind began to work, and she decided to use cyanide to poison her husband.
While she wanted only to get him out of the way, she put laced pills back on the shelves of a supermarket, killing another person in the process, and destroying innocent lives along the way. While many thought that the husband of the second victim was to blame, all the evidence eventually pointed back to Stella.
There were so many questions that surrounded the case. She could have said nothing, and would have gotten away with murder. But greed won out, and she pushed the case, trying to get the larger insurance payout, eventually turning her own daughter against her.

This was a truly chilling, yet wonderful read. Gregg Olsen never disappoints in his books. The meticulous research, and the methodical laying out of the book all bring together the drama of Stella, while sharing the hard work put in by law enforcement.
True crime fans will not be disappointed in this book. This book will run you through the emotional gambit, bringing the case closer to home. With each turn of the page, you are reading faster, wanting to know more. When you can't put a book down, even for sleep, you know you have found a winner!