In 1911 two wealthy British heiresses, Claire and Dora Williamson, came to a sanitorium in the forests of the Pacific Northwest to undergo the revolutionary “fasting treatment” of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard. It was supposed to be a holiday for the two sisters. But within a month of arriving at what the locals called Starvation Heights, the women were emaciated shadows of their former selves, … waiting for death. They were not the first victims of Linda Hazzard, a quack doctor of extraordinary evil and greed who would stop at nothing short of murder to achieve her ambitions. As their jewelry disappeared and forged bank drafts began transferring their wealth to Hazzard’s accounts, Dora Williamson sent a last desperate plea to a friend in Australia, begging her to save them from the brutal treatments and lonely isolation of Starvation Heights.
In this true story — a haunting saga of medical murder set in an era of steamships and gaslights — Gregg Olsen reveals one of the most unusual and disturbing criminal cases in American history.
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Very interesting book.
This is a substantially researched and well written book. A fascinating read for someone like myself, who has, from childhood on, been surrounded by enthusiastic alternative, natural, organic health proponents and their never ending fads. Although there is much sound advice out there, this book demonstrates how tragic it is when people replace …
Well written. The fate of these women is proof that money can’t buy happiness and the notion of unhealthy body images/expectations are not new.
It is a true story and quite unbelievable! To think people can be so uninformed and just plain stupid! Maybe if people would read, read, read and ask questions, things like this book would never happen.
Well written with good editing. Seems to be researched well. Of course, not as entertainting as T. C. Boyles’ Road to Wellville (hope that’s right) but good enough to keep one’s interest. I wish I could rate it as Scary, because it seemed so to me. Yes, Weird Med Docs are still around & are doing business as usual and covered by insurance …
I was fascinated with this true story. The author researched the story very thoroughly, and it was well written.
It was hard to believe this was a true story. Very weird characters and was very depressing. Thought it would never end.
I have been a litigation paralegal for 35 years, and 25 of those years was spent defending doctors in malpractice cases. Because of that, I found this story fascinating! Thankfully, none of the doctors we defended over the years were as depraved as the self-proclaimed “doctor” in this book. The author did a great job of carrying the reader through …
An all too true horror story. A true crime story of an earlier day. Easy to read format tells the tale of a charlatan who styled herself a doctor, only to bilk her rich and unsuspecting patients out of every last penny they had as they suffered a slow and agonizing death under her supposed care.
I Can’t give this book a fair review. I got about 20% into it and just couldn’t get interested. It just didn’t have any elements that got me emotionally involved. I wanted to read it initially because of the area (Pacific NW) that it takes place in. The two sisters just didn’t come alive for me.
Health fads and quacks are still with us
Really enjoyed this book. Was a. Page turner.
Really fascinating true story
The fact that it was a true story made it so intriguing
Another writer who doesn’t write well enough to earn more stars with an excellent story. Because the story is tragic & could’ve been so much more interesting had the author honored us readers by letting us experience our own emotional responses to the action. It’s like the author was reacting to the book as it was being written & included those …
Well-researched and well-written but too depressing a tale for me.
I love true life crime stories, historical novels, and I am a ‘healtnut’. This book satisfies all my interests. Throw in the court cas (law degree me) and, well, Perfect!
I think the history of the 1800,s is so fascinating. This book is equally fascinating! I absolutely loved it’s! I will be reading it again.
Fascinating true crime taking place in 1912. Well written, interesting.
Well-written true crime account.