Inspired by author Tori Telfer’s Jezebel column “Lady Killers,” this thrilling and entertaining compendium investigates female serial killers and their crimes through the ages. When you think of serial killers—even notorious ones like Jack the Ripper or Ted Bundy—the assumption is that they’re male. Lady Killers disputes that claim, profiling fourteen female murderers—from Erzsébet Báthory to Mary Ann Cotton and Tillie Klimek—whose cruelty, cunning, and violence rival their male counterparts. The narrative explores each case in historical context, debunks sexist myths (the femme fatale, the black widow, the hormonal woman), and critically analyzes how media and societal stereotypes have shaped—and distorted—their legacies. Featuring fourteen illustrations by Dame Darcy, this is the first true-crime book to examine female serial killers through a feminist and wryly humorous lens