I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. This was an interesting read. Just can't believe this was a true story. It is truly a horrific and sad story. If you are into murder shows or reads you might want to give this one a look at. I don't want to say too much and give it away. What makes it just creepier is the period it takes place in.

I did find this book fascinating. I had never heard this story and it was a lot. I did actually like the author’s writing style, contrary to other’s opinions. I did feel it was a bit long, but also when you’re writing about true events, it’s best to keep all the details in the story.

Absolutely fascinating. Historical true-crime that just seems too wild to be true. Loved it. The audio was great.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I'm not a true crime reader (anymore), but I do like history, and I 've heard the story of Dr Hazzard many times in other titles and podcasts over the last few years, so I was curious to get into this book. I also currently live in Washington state, so it's a part of local history as well.
The story of "Dr" Hazzard is interesting in a current point of view due the the number of ideas she was working from, the health plans she was selling, compared to what is going on currently. Would people buy into her ideas today? We'd probably like to think they'd know better, but really, many fad diets closely mirror Hazzard's ideas.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, even given the book topic. It was interesting to hear the full story rather than snippets here and there. The topic saddens me, but I thought the book was well researched and put together.

I'm rating this one 4 stars - I doubt I would re-read it, but I'm glad I did read it, and will recommend it to others.

3/5 

I was so excited to start this because I LOVEEEED If You Tell, but this book just didn't have the same impact. Maybe I should just blame all of the True Crime knowledge I have in my head. The storyline bounced around so much it was confusing at times, and I think while the story is horrifying, the plot wasn't dramatized as much as I.Y.T. was. I know my negative effects are rally a comparison show, but it is what it is. Go read/listen to If you Tell, then listen to this to make your own opinion. 

Brief Plot: In the early 1900's, Dr. Linda Hazzard ran a sanitorium =founding in healing individuals' through "revolutionary fasting treatment." Following the history of two sisters in 1911, Claire and Dora Williamson suffer at the hands of Dr. Hazzard when one dies, and the other struggles to get out of the Dr.'s care. 

Thank you NetGalley and Thread for an eARC Audiobook copy of Starvation Heights, written by Gregg Olsen, and narrated by Stacey Glemoski.

This book has it all, murder, treachery, false promises, bigamy, theft, and deceit, and all of it centers around one woman. Linda Hazzard promised to cure what ails the common man when all else failed; she wrote and published a book, set herself up a sanatorium in Olalla, Washington, and waited for those who believed to roll in along with the dollars. Hazzard, who styled herself as a doctor, thought that if people followed her fasting health plan, she could save them from the illnesses that killed them; unfortunately, since the program called for fasting for longer than a month, it was more likely to cure than kill. It is believed that she killed and hid dozens of victims, but she wasn’t caught until the British Counsel got involved with the murder and kidnapping surrounding Hazzard’s care of two sisters who were British citizens. If the doctor hadn’t fought so hard to keep the surviving sister and her money under the doctor’s control, there is a good chance that she may not have gotten caught in her scheme.
Some of my friends say that I am fascinated by the more morbid parts of history, but what fascinates me is many of these crimes, disasters, and epidemics that I find to read about are forgotten. This one author cared enough about those affected they wanted to write about it so they would be remembered. Gregg Olson is one of these authors; he wanted to ensure that the greater public talks about a crime mainly remembered by those local to where it happened. While it’s not going to fascinate everyone, I think it will have a big draw for those interested in true crime, quack remedies, and even women’s history. It’s a book I’ve wanted to read for a bit, and I want to thank the publisher for allowing me access to the audiobook since I seem to be listening more than actually reading lately.

I absolutely love reading books by Gregg Olsen! He has a great way of telling a story. I was super excited to be picked for an arc audiobook of Starvation Heights. The story was good and it was told well. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it. The narrator made me sleepy and it felt drawn out on audio. However, the story was fascinating and I couldn't help but google tidbits along the way!

Starvation Heights is told in the early 1900's. It is about two sisters that are wealthy and from outside of the US. They travel to the Pacific Northwest to follow a health trend. The
"fasting" method by Dr. Linda Hazzard. The two sisters Dora and Claire are so excited to try this new method. They think it will cure them. The method consists of fasting with little to no food, enemas and brutal massages. It is such a sad story, Claire ends up starving to death and the sisters wealth and jewels are stolen too. Dora is lucky a friend came to save her.
Dora goes through the process of suing Dr Hazzard. In addition, the book covers the life of "Dr" Hazzard and all of the criminal charges that followed her. Starvation Heights is a true story and a part of our history.

I am a fan of historical fiction and true crime. So l enjoyed learning about this, which I had never heard of prior to reading this book! Thank you to Thread Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is a historical true crime which follows the story of Clare and Dora Williamson, British heiresses, that undergo Dr. Linda Hazzard's "fasting cure." This was the first time I had heard of Doctor Hazard and her fasting cure, but I was immediately drawn to this story, the nightmarish situation that the sisters find themselves in, and the medial murder that follows.

in the early 1900s "doctor" Linda Hazzard starts a clinic and fashions herself the "a fasting cure specialist." In reality it seems she was an arrogant scam artist who mistreated nearly everyone that surrounded her from her patients to her staff. Some of Hazzard's methods were not unique, in fact I hear of juice fasts even today, however it is a good reminder that just because something is natural doesn't mean it isn't dangerous.

I listened to this on audio, thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was well researched and fascinating, I would recommend it if you are a fan of true crime books or podcasts. I plan to pick up a print copy as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook.

I received a digital copy of the audiobook for Starvation Heights. I found the story compelling and well laid out. I myself practice "Intermittent Fasting" and really had no idea that the concept of fasting for health/medical reasons had been around for that long!! This story was shocking to say the least...but considering the time it took place in, it was easier to "get away" with something like that. The audiobook was pleasant to listen to in terms of the person reading the story and also in terms of the pace of the story and the chapters being broken down. I'd recommend this one for anyone interested in "true crime" etc.

3.5 stars , another good book by Gregg Olsen , I was equally fascinated and appalled by the real life events at starvation heights. I'm left feeling she was quite a formidable lady Dr hazard even if she was totally blinkered by anything other than her beliefs . I found the middle of the book a bit of a slog when they were trying to get funding to go to court and prosecute her but otherwise an enjoyable read . Food for thought .

This was absolutely fascinating. I’ve always been a fan of Gregg Olsen, both his fiction and his true crime. So when this appeared on audio from Netgalley, I was immediately excited. And most definitely not disappointed. The narration was on point - she had inflection and used accents, something that I find uncommon in true crime but that I very much appreciated.

The story was horrifying and I still am in shock of everything that occurred in this case. Brits Claire and Dora head to Ollala, Washington to take a fasting cure from Dr. Linda Hazzard, a ‘doctor’ who had never graduated from medical school. Within a month of arriving, Claire was dead and Dora was deemed incompetent with Dr. Hazzard in place as her guardian. It must have been a coincidence that the sisters were very wealthy, with Dr. Hazzard reaping the benefits of that wealth, yes? What follows is a taut description of the case brought against Dr. Hazzard by Dora and agents of Britain. Compelling and the narration by Stacey Glembowski was superb.

The true crime story told in "Starvation Heights" is really interesting, but the book could have been quite a bit shorter without losing anything. There are a lot of repetitions and the author spends a lot of time on side narratives that don't really impact the main narrative.

**** I received this book as an ARC free audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

As this book has been available in print and ebook I will start with the audiobook narrator. Her voice was very easy to listen to. It fit the story and was easy to hold my attention.

If you are a fan of true crime then this story of a doctor who starved her patients to death will interest you. She took advantage of those who were from other countries and who had great sums of money. This books talked about what happened and takes you all the way through the trial.

This is a case that I have heard plenty about over the years but I can’t say that I’ve read a more thorough telling of the doctor that starved her patients.

This is a terrifying and very sad story surrounding the trust many put in doctors that do not have the patients best interest at heart. This telling takes the basic story and expands on it in ways I hadn’t heard before. It was incredibly interesting.

I received an audio copy through NetGalley and the narrator did an amazing job at keeping the pace of this long book going while also keeping it interesting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 - mainly because it is very very long.

This is a very interesting read. I had no idea of this story. It’s totally twisted. Just proves that people can believe in. Gregg recall of stories is always a good read even with the horrible topics.

This ended up being quite the slow burn for me. As a fan of Gregg Olsen, I was surprised to find this read….. boring? Might be too harsh of a word but it took me quite some time to start and finish it. After several attempts I did power through until about 3/4 of the way in. The trial seemed to be the most interesting. Even so, I felt more drawn to the witness testimonies than the rest. The backstory of Sam and Linda was the worst for me. I could not, for the life of me, find it interesting.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

In 1911 the Williamson sisters arrived in the Pacific Noethwest to receive a strict liquid diet by Dr. Linda Hazzard.
After being in the care of Dr. Linda Hazzard the sisters find themselves emaciated and too weak to have coherent thoughts. The story is heart wrenching and can be difficult for some to read.
While the story is disturbing and incomprehensible at times I can understand why some folks would seek care under this doctor.
The narrator, Stacey Glemboski did a wonderful narration and kept me riveted while I listened to the story as it unfolded.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime, medical, and history books.
Be sure to check for TW as some can be disturbing to some.
This book is one they will stick with me for years to come.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Thread Books for the advance ALC.

I'm a big Gregg Olsen fan, but Starvation Heights is one I have not found time to read, so thank you NetGalley for giving me the push I needed by offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had heard of Linda Hazzard and "Starvation Heights" before but this book gave a more in depth view. I can't imagine what "Dr. Hazzard's" patients endured. The book was interesting and I encourage anyone with an interest in True Crime or Medicine to read this.

Another true-life bananas story! This was very well written and the audio was well done. I don't know how he does it but Gregg Olsen is able to tell a true story in such a way that makes it almost stranger than fiction! I am always going to want to read a book written by him b/c I know it's going to be good!

#StarvationHeights
#NetGalley

In 1910 Linda Burrfield Hazzard is the foremost Fasting Specialist in Tacoma. She advertises herself as an expert in fasting & dietic care, which can be utilised as the cure for any ailment, mental, physical, and moral.


Wealthy British heiresses Dora & Claire Williamson are living in America when they discover one of Hazzard’s books. Becoming enthralled by the concepts and having some minor illness, they decide to write to the specialist for advice. By 1911 both women have agreed to go to her sanitarium - Wilderness Heights for intensive treatment to be transformed into peak physical health.


Once under Hazzard’s care for some time, the specialist began to tell many of her patients that she should be responsible for storing their valuables and land deeds for safekeeping, She was also in charge of their communications, essentially cutting them off from the outside world and taking charge of all property and affairs.

Whilst this is obviously an excellently researched book, retelling the devastating stories of people under the care of Linda Hazzard. I feel like it is much longer than necessary with quite a few inane details and repeats included. In my opinion it would be better if it was edited down to at most 2/3 the length.


The narrator is reasonably good, but has some rather questionable accents.