Starvation heights is well written novel based on the true story of (Dr) Linda Hazzard who ran a sanitarium promoting hours long enemas and a fasting/ starvation diet which ultimately resulted in the deaths of some of her patients. Gregg Olsen has obviously researched his little heart out on this one but it has resulted in a very long but interesting book, getting to delve into some of the lives of the patients and to try and understand the thinking of Hazzard and her husband.
The audiobook is narrated by Stacey Glemboski who did a good job at bringing this story to life.

My honest review is freely provided in return for the kindness by NetGalley and the publisher in providing me with this story.

Before starting Starvation Heights, know that it is a long story — fascinating but long. You’ll meet Claire and Dora (wealthy patients seeking a cure) from “Dr.” Linda Burfield Hazzard (credentials questioned) and her “fasting cure”. Where this tale gets horribly interesting is in how the good “doctor” gains control of their lives and finances. It’s an amazing, impactful recounting of what happened, and very well researched and written.

Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen was such a shocking true story. I enjoyed the audio as well as the pacing and character information.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thread Books for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest true-crime story by Gregg Olsen, wonderfully narrated by Stacey Glemboski - 4.5 stars!

In 1911, two wealthy women set out for the Pacific Northwest for a rest period at a sanitarium run by Linda Burfield Hazzard - a fasting treatment. Within the month, both women were on the edge of death and their wealth was turned over to the "doctor." The locals called the place Starvation Heights and nothing was truer. The patients were subjected to extreme fasts, hours-long enemas, and painful massages.

I'm a huge fan of Gregg Olsen and this book is one reason why. He researches a case so thoroughly and brings light to such darkness as this. It's important today because now medical charlatans have the internet to spew and spread their so-called medical cures that may cause both physical and financial issues. In this book as in those cases, you can find people on both sides of the aisle either promoting or condemning. It was also amazing to me how someone with no medical degree was allowed to treat patients in this manner. A fascinating read.

Set in rural Washington just across the water from Seattle in the early 1910s, this is a true crime novel that yet again shows why the PNW has been a haven for serial killers and murders.
• Lots of wooded areas
• Few neighbors
• Libertarian values that keep the neighbors out of your business
• A “pioneering” spirit AKA do whatever you want to get ahead and not care about how it affects those around you (or were there first)
• Underfunded and/or corrupt criminal systems
• Misogyny
• Fascinating location that draws outsiders

Olsen does an excellent job of showing both the bluster and the callous nature of the Hazzards that underpinned their plans to lure trusting rich hypochondriacs from across the world to Seattle and eventually Kitsap County where they were starved and beaten until they died. All while Linda Hazzard pretended that her fast and cleansing would cure all ails. Instead, many died, the deaths covered up by Hazzard and her partners at a local mortuary.

The audiobook is well produced and paced. The accents used by Glemboski at times get pretty annoying, luckily as this is nonfiction there isn’t much dialog.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook copy.

Starvation Heights is the story of Dr Linda Hazzard and her "starvation cure". The events take place is 1911 when two British sisters found information on Dr Hazzard's starvation cure and thought it might relieve their supposed ills. After traveling to Dr Hazzard's home for treatment, one of the sisters eventually died of starvation. It soon was discovered that the "Doctor" and her husband has swindled the women out of a fair amount of their money and had forged documents to amend their will. This hadn't been her first time killing a patient while also stealing money from them.

A good true crime story! I didn't know anything about this particular story before reading. What a fascinating case! It baffles me now to hear about some of the treatments people believed in in the past. Some of her patients were as small as 50 pounds before they died. It's hard to fathom that anyone could believe that was the road to health!

This was a great audiobook! I loved Margaret’s voice, it lent so much more realism to the story for me. Just that one foreign accent drew me into the story & I read it straight through!

So fasting is a thing for me. I can go a good 18 hours LOL this story was horrific and let’s just say, perfect ending. If you like true crime, creepy horror stories that could be told around a campfire, this is it!

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette UK - Thread for the opportunity to listen to this book. This author is now on my must listen list! Listen before dark list. Crazy Doctor. Great book!

4.5 Stars

I recently read “If You Tell” by Gregg Olsen and it was such a horrifyingly captivating read that, as a true crime junkie, I jumped at the chance to listen to an advanced audio version of his book “Starvation Heights” narrated by Stacey Glemboski about a female “doctor” in the early 1900s who scammed rich and vulnerable people with “fasting” (starvation) methods of treatment in order to take all their money and valuables.

First of all, the narration was great and it was enjoyable to listen to the audio.

I have to say, this story was fascinating and seemed like “the perfect crime” especially in that time period. It was captivating and well researched as expected from Gregg Olsen. We get to learn the details of the sanitarium, closely following two of her victims, and what really went on behind it’s walls, ending in Linda Hazzard’s criminal trial and ultimate downfall. I find it most fascinating that she had an ability to gain such trust and compliance with her farce “fasting treatments” resulting in the slow and agonizing demise of her patients, with staff present.

My only qualm is that I would have loved to learn more about “Dr” Linda Hazzard’s background and life including her upbringing and what may have led to her becoming a “fasting specialist” turned murderer. I would have also been interested to know her family line and if she or any of her her victims have any descendants today and what their thoughts are/how they are affected today so the book does leave a bit to be desired.

All in all, this is a shocking true crime story, so grab a cup of tea and be ready to listen to “the tea”.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this audio ARC!

3-1/2 stars
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski (fabulous job narrating this audio)
Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins !

I'd like to thank NetGalley, the author, Gregg Olsen, and the audio publisher, for this ARC.

This true-crime audio was compelling and very upsetting. It was about a woman who went by the name of "Dr." Linda Hazzard who pretended to be a doctor or osteopath in the early 1900's in Washington state. She duped so many people, women and men, into paying her money to starve themselves, in order to heal their particular longstanding problems. Hazzard's massage and "treatment" methods were abusive and harmful, including slapping and punching, scalding hot baths, and of course, starvation. Hazzard's diet techniques included weak canned-tomato broths and daily enemas. She preyed on them with lies and manipulation, hypnotism, repetitive lies, and emotional abuse. Hazzard was a greedy woman who, with her sleazy husband, took more than their lives.

Although many intelligent people were eager to get care from Hazzard, the book focuses mainly on two lovely, wealthy British women, Claire and Dora Williamson, who didn't tell any of their family members that they were checking into the private sanatorium in the US. What the sisters had pictured and expected was a cozy cabin in nature surrounded by a gorgeous forest in Olalla, Washington (home of the author, Gregg Olsen).

This audio was over 15 hours long. I found it overly detailed and repetitive in sections, and I began to lose interest about halfway through it, and pushed myself to finish it since it was an ARC. It was still fascinating that this woman was able to take such advantage when townspeople and governmental people knew of this. She was tried for over 14 deaths, and I'll leave the outcome a mystery...

True story two wealthy British heiresses, Claire and Dora Williamson, who underwent a fasting treatment under the care of Dr. (and I use that title loosely) Linda Hazzard. After only being allowed tomato water and asparagus water, both women became severely emaciated and near death's door.

What shocks me is that people paid her for this treatment. Once under her care, patients became prisoners to her daily water enemas, pounding of the body, and boiling water baths.

Story is a little long, a little repetitive (at times I thought I had skipped back a few chapters) but I finished it so that was a plus.

And this is exactly why getting a second opinion is so important! Gregg Olsen lays out the case against Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard and her starvation campaign to cure anything. The immediate story starts out, it felt, with barely and introduction; we hit the ground running as we meet the first patients and we’re privy to the horrors that they faced under the doctor’s care. It’s all fascinating, in a gruesome kind of way, and very informative as to the medical care available at the time. Where the story lost me was in the repetition, where things that were stated throughout the initial exploration, they are rehashed in the same detail during the trial and gets slow. Overall, an interesting read, recommended for those who enjoy true crime.

At the turn of the century two rich sisters seek a doctor to help them lose weight. Little did they know their lives would take a turn for the worse once the doctor entered their lives and convinced them that starving is the way to heal them.

My stomach is still in knots after finishing this incredibly detailed true crime audiobook. That must say something about the quality of the research and writing - as well as the narration.

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen has been on my TBR for a long time but this is my first read of his work. It was also my first exposure to this case, which is truly horrific.

Starvation Heights spends most of its focus on the Williamson sisters but we get a huge amount of background information on pretty much everyone who was involved in the case. I'm not going to lie, there were a few times when I thought the book was too long - it's about a 15 hour listen - but most of the time, I was glad for the deep dive. Mostly I was enraged and disgusted that Hazzard got away with murder repeatedly. Even if she spent time in prison, it wasn't enough. She, and her staunchest followers, should have been put away forever.

Fans of true crime will very likely enjoy Starvation Heights. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio ARC.

Dr. Linda Hazzard fashioned herself as a "specialist of fasting cures." What she really was, was a marketer of death and greed. She took on a façade of caring and devotion to her patients, but very few of them ever lived to tell the tale. Her mistake was targeting wealthy clients, who unbeknownst to her, left a paper trail, and also relatives who wondered where their loved ones had gone. The true depravations of her crimes would have gone unnoticed had not it not been for the caring devotion of one nurse, a nurse who had given her entire life to caring and raising two sisters.

Claire and Dora Williamson were wealthy middle aged spinsters who traveled the world, searching for the perfect cure. There was always something better, something newer, a possibility of regaining vitality they felt they had lost, as well as the myriad of other ailments they were convinced they suffered from. After a lengthy correspondence with Dr Hazzard, the sisters felt confident that she could cure all their problems and give them a better handle on life itself. The Doctor seemed so sure of her methods that the sisters did not doubt anything that she had to say. After meeting with a few family members, but not revealing their plans, the sisters headed toward Seattle and hope. What they encountered however, was anything but what they truly expected. Within weeks of their arrival they were hardly recognizable, their weight had shrunk so rapidly. Others around them were shocked with their appearances, and what about all the personal belongings they had brought with them?

Reading through this story was shocking. The fact that anyone could be so depraved with another human beings life is despicable. Dr. Hazzard used manipulation and starvation as a means to an end. She took what she could from her victims, and thought none of them would ever live long enough to stop her. In her own mind, she was stronger, better, more capable of survival and success than anyone around her. Once she made up her mind to do something, she went all the way, bar nothing. In the end, her greed was her undoing. The arrival of Margaret Conway was the rest. Had Dora died before Ms. Conway arrived, more than likely nothing would have been done. Dora's pleading, and the shocking revelations made to Ms. Conway and the girls Uncle by Dr. Hazzard proved to be part of her downfall. The rest was brought about by a Vice-Consulate of the British Empire, who worked doggedly to right a wrong he felt had to be stopped and the murderer brought to justice.

The true crime genre is one that will never cease to shock, sicken, horrify, but enthrall a reader. The depravity of the human race can be manifested in a few people, but the devastation that they can incur is something that can never be forgotten. While a blind eye might be turned for a while, the truth will always find an out. While justice was never fully served during the lifetime of Ms. Dora Williamson, Gregg Olsen has outed the worst of the crime in his book. The injustice one feels while reading through the pages, almost screams for a retrial in modern times, although evidence, witnesses and time are against the case. Had forensics been what they are today during the trial, one wonders what would have truly been uncovered during the sensational trial of the "Starvation Heights" sanitarium and the unorthodox methods of its founder and "medical expert".

I loved listening to this book, hated it and wanted more all at the same time. It was hard to put down, but not one someone could consider "light reading", although the sensation of it can make you feel as though you are sitting in the courtroom listening to the testimony. This book is definitely worth a go! The narrator for this audiobook did a great job as well.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Narrator: this narrator really struggled to hold my attention. I found her voice quite robotic and dull.

I was immediately interested in this book upon reading the synopsis and the crime it covered. Unfortunately the story really focuses on the wealthy sisters who fell victim to to Linda Hazzard rather than the serial killer herself. The story is an emotional and disturbing one but unfortunately I thought the writing made it dull. I really enjoy Olsen’s fiction works but have noticed I am less drawn to his non-fiction writing.

Dark, Disturbing True Crime…
A dark and disturbing tale indeed in this perfectly nuanced audio version of the author’s exploration of the intricacies of another true crime. In usual carefully constructed fashion, the listener hears the tale of Doctor Linda Burfield Hazzard and her never before encountered fasting treatment which drew the wealthy from far and wide to the sanitarium known as Starvation Heights. When two well off British ladies arrive for their treatments, shocking and distressing events are all too soon about to unfold. A detailed and informative account of a chilling and mind blowing crime and well narrated in this audiobook version.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook ARC for this book - I am leaving this review voluntraily.

I would read anything by the wonderful Gregg Olsen, who always writes the most compelling True Crime books I have read in recent memory.

I have to say that this thrilling and shocking story, Starvation Heights and the murderess Linda Hazard, was best read through audio book as it is excellently read by Stacey Glemboski.

I already knew about this story from a few podcasts I have heard but this in depth and impeccably researched book brings to light far more details and brings the story to light.

A great audio book which I highly recommend.

Fascinating! I wasnt sure how I was going to like this one since it is a much older true crime from the early 1900s, but i found it incredibly gripping. I have never heard of this case before now. its extremely disturbing and i'm surprised it is not more notorious, then again i do live on the east coast so who knows. I thought it was very well written and well paced. The audio narration was great with the various accents!

Olsen has become something of a media darling for his true crime novels, and for good reason. In turn of the century Washington state, doctor Linda Burfield Hazzard is building a sanatorium where the wealthy elite can come to lose weight, lots of weight. Her fasting treatment is revolutionary, and wealthy British siblings, Claire and Dora Williamson have arrived to partake of the treatment. If they are uneasy to find that the sanatorium is still in the stages of construction, they don’t let it deter them. They should have listened to that little voice in the back of their minds, because Claire would not survive. Dorothy was rescued only because of a letter that Claire had sent to her former nurse, who arrived in time to save Dorothy, but tragically proved too late for Claire herself. It seems our obsession with body image is nothing new, and many of the bizarre “treatments” Hazzard prescribed look frighteningly similar to the tips offered by celebrities and social media influencers. A fascinating, if tragic look at what people will do be rich and/or thin

Starvation Heights, explores the saga of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard, in this very well researched book. I got chills at some of the stories and how a doctor could be so heartless to her patients. The book centers around two wealthy sisters who go to have a fast in 1910 (at this time this was pure starvation/broth mixed with lots of enemas). Linda used her facility in the Pacific Northwest to slowly kill and take the belongings of many desperate patients. The book carried on a lot longer than I wanted. I would've liked to known more about how Linda got from here to there more. The read is worthwhile and a good true crime for a rainy day. I think it deserves a little more credit.