by Sarah Weinman
Genres: Crime Fiction, Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Fourteen chilling tales from the pioneering women who created the domestic suspense genre. Murderous wives, deranged husbands, deceitful children, and vengeful friends. Few know these characters—and their creators—better than Sarah Weinman. One of today’s preeminent authorities on crime fiction, Weinman asks: Where would bestselling authors like Gillian Flynn, Sue Grafton, or Tana French be without the women writers who came before them? In Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives, Weinman brings together fourteen hair-raising tales by women who—from the 1940s through the mid-1970s—took a scalpel to contemporary society and sliced away to reveal its dark essence. Lovers of crime fiction from any era will welcome this deliciously dark tribute to a largely forgotten generation of women writers.
Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives, is a collection of short stories from the trailblazers of domestic suspense. The book features fourteen chilling tales of suspense that will make your spine tingle. Featuring female authors from the 1940s through the 1970s, these are the woman who paved the wave for today’s female author’s of crime fiction and suspense. Three word review: Twisted, dark, and a delicious sampling of authors.
Sarah Weinman is the editor of this unique collection, and she chose a unique blend of authors to showcase. Each tale is quick, some only a few pages long but captures the elements of suspense, thrillers, and crime with psychological twists. Some of the tales are dark and gritty, while others reminded me of dime store crime novels. The stories are carefully crafted and a testament to each author’s individual ability and voice. I squirmed as some shocked me and others revealed raw and brutal feelings.
In Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives each tale delves into domestic life as it reveals the darker side of bliss. We have evil children, obsessed lovers and spouses looking for a sinister way out. The period in which these tales were written was a time when a woman was expected to be at home raising their beautiful “nuclear family”. Some of the stories tackle female issues and shatter those images of domestic bliss. The tales shake things up and unnerve the reader. I have always been a fan of crime fiction and was impressed by the group as a whole. While I preferred some more than others I would honestly recommend eleven of the fourteen tales to friends and I find that remarkable. Some of my favorite tales include Splintered Monday about a missing sister, The Heroine about a crazy nanny who will make you shiver and The Stranger in my Car told from a male perspective. Other notable titles were Louisa, Please Come Home, The Purple Shroud and Sugar & Spice. Some of the authors I was familiar with and others were new to me piquing my interest. You can easily see how some of today’s writers were influenced by these talented woman.
Fans of crime fiction, suspense, psychological thrillers, and Alfred Hitchcock will delight in these twisted tales of domestic bliss. Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives is a perfect gift or coffee table collection. This anthology was brilliantly pieced together showcasing some excellent authors from the past.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
kimbacaffeinate
I loved reading all the different female authors tales and seeing what inspired future authors.
Berls
I love Hitchcock movies – Rear Window has to be one of the best movies ever made IMO – but I’ve never really read anything like that, so IDK. You’re review definitely has me interested in reading these authors though. And I love the cover!
Daniel M
yep but still not very good figuring them out
kimbacaffeinate
that comes with time 🙂
amanda whitley
i love crime and suspense novels. that is my favorite actually.
kimbacaffeinate
I love those elements in my novels too Amanda, good luck 🙂
Anita Yancey
I love crime, suspense novels, they are my favorite books. This one sounds really good and I would enjoy reading it.
kimbacaffeinate
I really enjoyed these, it is such a nice mix of authors, and boy did they have command of short tales.
Candace
I’m not sure this is the book for me, but I really do love this cover, it’s fantastic!
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Candace, yeah I am not sure you are a Hitchcock kind of fan either..LOL
Veronica Vasquez
Absolutely love suspense novels! And anthologies! So this sounds like the perfect book!!
kimbacaffeinate
These were cool Veronica, good luck and I hope you get a chance to read them!
A Voracious Reader
This sounds like a good one to read on a stormy night huddled under some comfy covers while drinking hot chocolate.
kimbacaffeinate
That sounds like a perfect setting for this book 🙂
Christy
So all of the stories were actually wrote in the 40’s through 70’s? That’s cool! I’d like to read it just so experience the differences through the decades.
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed and each tale was unique.
Heidi
Twisted and Dark… sold… just finished SK’s Doctor Sleep yesterday and suffering from a book hangover today. This sounds delightful. I would love to read more of authors who set the table for today. I have really only Christie and I need to know more!
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, This was clever and I enjoyed it 🙂
Debbie Haupt
OOOH Kimba, my timbers are shivering 🙂
I LOVE dark women’s fiction, you know women crime writers are so more psychologically twisted then male authors, they love to play with the readers heads. Thanks for this great post
deb
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, they do love to play with the reader’s head!
Giselle
Whoa now this is your classic suspense read huh! I’m not huge on short stories though but there’s just nothing like old school scares!!
kimbacaffeinate
I agree Giselle, the old classic stories get you, think mini Hitchcock tales or Tales from the Crypt. Even though they are short tales they are extremely well done, most likely because they would have ended up in magazine or paper publications.
Brainr
I love crime/suspense stories, the sicker the better LOL. I don’t shy away from stories like this, for some reason I find it appealing.
This sounds like stepford wives and children of the corn had a love child. Lovely kid!
kimbacaffeinate
I like your analysis cue the scary music!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I admit I was a bit wary of these kinds of stories until you say they explode the bliss myth. Oh now I’m intrigued. I do enjoy these kind of mysteries and would love to explore what these ladies wrote. Also really enjoy the pulp look to the cover!
kimbacaffeinate
These were cool Melissa, and not to be read in one sitting. They make you think, cringe and go “no way!” I quite enjoyed them, and liked seeing the inspiration behind today’s talent.
MEgan
This one sounds interesting. I love the retro cover!
kimbacaffeinate
Isn’t it cool, I can almost hear her screaming! LOL
Pamela D
I really like suspense books, so this book sounds super interesting. Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
I love suspense too Pamela, and these were twisted tales that just grabbed you.
Carl
I do like some crime and suspense novels. I also enjoy certain true crime books if they’re not too gory. Thanks for the giveaway.
kimbacaffeinate
If the gore is accurate, then I can read it..but not watch it..LOL
kindlemom1
Ooo I love the idea of this! And that cover, it just perfect, very mid 1900’s.
kimbacaffeinate
Everyone loves the cover and it really captures the book’s essence.
Nick
I’ll admit that I wouldn’t want to pick this book based on the cover, but your review got me intrigued. Short stories are often unsatisfying, but these seem well-written. It sounds like it’s full of suspense and mystery.
Lovely review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
These were very well done, and perfect for picking up the book and sinking into a short tale, thanks Nick!
Mary
First off, love the cover and the 40’s thriller/slasher/detective novel vibe. Obviously, with authors from the 40’s-70’s, that’s what they were going for — and they succeeded. Crime fiction is definitely intriguing…might have to check this out!
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Mary, totally has that vibe from the cover to the context!
Jenea
Anything that is like Hitchcock type tales sounds good to me. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
you are welcome Jenea, this was different and perfect for fall!
Jennifer Bielman
Not really my thing but I love the old-timey cover.
kimbacaffeinate
I like the cover too Jennifer 🙂
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
Domestic suspense… I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before, but it sounds great. I don’t read short stories often, but I love that these women were pioneers of the genre. That alone makes this worth reading.
Great review.
kimbacaffeinate
I love that it is all female authors, and yes domestic suspense- think Hitchcock taking you into the lives of the mundane where everything looks normal but is not!
Lauren
Wow, this sounds fascinating! I love Hitchcock style tales, and if these stories are the precursors to books like Gone Girl and In the Woods, I really need to read them! Very cool, thanks for reviewing and putting this on my radar, I hadn’t heard of it until now.
kimbacaffeinate
This is a great collection Lauren, and perfect for the bedside, a guest room or as a gift. Each creepy tale leaves you thinking or shivering! LOL
blodeuedd
A very pulp cover, but that was the meaning.
Eh
kimbacaffeinate
The cover really fits well, and captured the feel of the tales.
Michele
“…delves into domestic life as it reveals the darker side of bliss.” <– OOO, girl — you had me hook, line, and sinker with that! Awesome review! I love suspense novels, and this anthology sounds great! Thanks so much for sharing and for the giveaway.
kimbacaffeinate
These were neat, and I loved reading samples from authors that influenced some of my favorite authors of today.