American Mother: The True Story of a Troubled Family, Motherhood, and the Cyanide Murders That Shook the World

by Gregg Olsen

Book Overview

Read the Wall Street Journal bestseller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If You Tell--an absolutely unputdownable and chilling true-crime story of Stella Nickell--a mother and wife who did the unthinkable... and the unforgiveable.

At 5.02 pm on June 5, 1986, an emergency call came into the local sheriff's office in the small town of Auburn, Washington State. A distressed housewife, Stella Nickell,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1538724855
• ISBN13: 9781538724859
• Release Date: November 2022
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

That Stella - what a pill!

I'm glad that I chose "Bitter Almonds" as my first Gregg Olsen book. I'm amazed at the research & detail that went into this tale of greed, deception, promiscuity & a whole bunch of various adjectives to describe Hot-to-Trot Stella Maudine Nickell. Without giving too much away, should you read this book, pay particular attention to the difference in relationships Stella had with each of her daughters. I was amazed at the similarities between Stella & Sue Snow's eldest children and seemingly lost younger girls. Who is Sue Snow? Read up and find out! You will not be disappointed with this book. The trial was probably the most detailed I have ever read and a bit difficult for me to follow and stay interested, but I made it through and look forward to reading the rest of Gregg Olsen's titles! I also appreciate the updates Gregg has provided at the end of the story. Any T.C. reader is always wondering what key characters are up to in recent days.

Excellant book

This was my first Gregg Olsen book but it won't be my last. This was a complicated story to put together and he did an amazing job. It did leave me wondering if Cindi really did help her mother Stella kill her dad though. They certainly aren't the kind of people I would hang out with.

From Honky Tonks to doing Hard Time

I have been a fan of true crime for many, many years. As with anyone who reads true crime, you learn that those capable of murdering someone come from all walks of life; from "white trash" to "upper crust." But I have never seen in one book so many candidates for Redneck of the Year Award; from their outlandish attire to their conspiracy theories. And, as per recent updates, it seems to be a cycle that, like the Energizer bunny, is still going twenty years later! I believe that with so much contradicting information and complicated characters to work with, Gregg Olsen did an excellent job of creating an intruguing true crime account of cold, calculating Stella Nickells' crime against her husband. And admist it all, Olsen does a superb job of leaving that one question that I believe all readers walk away with, "Just what was Cindy's [Nickell's daughter] involvement?" I love a book that leaves me wanting to know what happened to those involved. And this one definitely did!

one perfect research

Being a vivid true-crime reader I must say that this book really stands out from other true-crime books I have read over the years, the research is outstanding and it must have been a very difficult task for Gregg to get all that information from both families involved in this sad human tregedy. Stella Nickells thought that she could get away with murder for insurance money but the long hand of the law finally caught up with her, I have no doubth in my mind that she is guilty for both murders and she got what she deserved. It made me feel sorry for the third parties involved in this human trededy, thankfully few people who are living on the verge of poverty end up taking these crazy measures to make a quick buck, its no dishonour to be poor. A truly remakable book, a must read

Complicated, but worth the read

This book is a handful, but the story is good and the characters are just unbelievable. I can see why Ann Rule recommended it as a must-read. Not a particularly easy read, but well worth the immersion it requires. These days crime novels seem to offer little more than what we've seen on TV. Thank goodness this one gives us a real insider's look at the product tampering case that put an end to two-section capsule products.