In the garden of spite

— A True Crime Inspired Dumpster Fire I Couldn’t Stop Reading ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so excited to finally pick this one up because I am fully in my true crime era right now.

This was my May library book, and I’ve been sharing my thoughts every five chapters in the spoiler blog while also working on non-spoiler updates for both the website and YouTube — and honestly this book gave me SO much to talk about.

If you love dark historical fiction, true crime inspired stories, complicated women, toxic relationships, and morally spiraling characters… this one absolutely delivers.

It’s been a while since I originally learned about the Widow of Laporte, but if you watch true crime content on YouTube, chances are you’ve probably heard parts of this case before. I’ve seen multiple creators cover the story, including Bailey Sarian, which made finally reading this fictionalized version even more interesting.

What really hit me emotionally was how tragic parts of her story are in the beginning.

Her mother feels like one of the only people who shows her genuine compassion, and despite all the darkness ahead, there are moments where you can almost understand the emotional damage and desperation shaping her choices.

But then things keep escalating.

And escalating.

And somehow getting worse.

I honestly felt terrible for her husband at times because he’s trying so hard to give her everything she wants while having absolutely no understanding of the emotional storm happening inside her head. She’s angry at kindness, consumed by resentment, struggling with infertility, hoarding food, mourning the violence and instability she grew up around, and slowly unraveling while this poor man is just trying to survive the relationship beside her.

And then suddenly:
WHAT is happening?

Who is the dead woman James sent her to bury?
How is this supposed to connect to adopting children?
Why does every situation somehow become darker than the last?

This book honestly became the literary equivalent of watching a dumpster fire roll downhill while somehow also being unable to look away.

The twists kept surprising me, the motives stayed emotionally compelling, and the growing darkness throughout the story kept me fully invested until the very end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

This is absolutely one of those historical fiction / true crime crossover books I could see myself rereading.

📚 Grab the Book on Amazon
👉 https://amzn.to/42kosBZ

🎧 Audible
👉 https://amzn.to/4tuDgtr

📚 Kindle Unlimited
👉 https://amzn.to/3Qwafz6

📺 Watch More on YouTube
👉 https://youtube.com/@bambireadsbooks

🌐 More Reviews + Bookish Content
👉 https://www.bambireadsbooks.com

🎥 Bailey Sarian
👉 https://youtube.com/@BaileySarian

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