The Deadly Housewife: America's Forgotten Female Serial Killer - with Gregg Olsen

Four husbands dead. A brother-in-law poisoned. A child's mysterious death. And at the center of it all, a seemingly ordinary wife and mother.

More than a century ago, Lyda Trueblood became one of America's most notorious female serial killers. Known in the newspapers as "Lady Bluebeard" and "Flypaper Lyda," she left a trail of suspicious deaths across the American West. Her weapon of choice? Arsenic extracted from ordinary household flypaper.

How did Lyda get away with murder for so long? Was she a calculating criminal mastermind, or did society's expectations of women as devoted wives and mothers help her escape suspicion?

This week on Once Upon a Crime, Esther welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling true crime author Gregg Olsen to discuss his new book, Ordinary Wife: The True Story of America's Forgotten Serial Killer, co-written with his daughter, Morgan Olsen.

Gregg shares fascinating details about Lyda's personality, possible motivations, and the investigation that finally exposed her crimes. We also discuss the challenges of researching a century-old murder case, the sensational newspaper coverage of Lyda's trial, and the surprising experience of writing a true crime book with his daughter.

Then, we turn to Gregg's remarkable career and some of his most unforgettable books, including If You Tell, the harrowing story of Shelly Knotek's daughters, and Out of the Woods, which chronicles the abduction and extraordinary survival of eight-year-old Shasta Groene.

Gregg also shares what he's learned from working closely with crime survivors and victims' families, why some stories continue to haunt him, and why he believes true crime storytelling can make a meaningful difference.

And don't worry, we've saved some of the biggest surprises in Lyda Trueblood's extraordinary story for readers to discover in the book!

Books and Links

• Ordinary Wife: The True Story of America's Forgotten Serial Killer by Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen — Book information and purchase links
• Notorious USA — Gregg Olsen's official website and new true crime imprint
• Read an excerpt from Ordinary Wife — America's Lady Bluebeard: The Strange Murder Trial of Lyda Trueblood
• Other Gregg Olsen books discussed: If You Tell, By the River's Edge, and Out of the Woods — Explore Gregg's books

Ordinary Wife was published October 27, 2026.

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