The Wicked Wives is based on a true story, about a major murder scandal that occurred in Philadelphia in 1936.
That year, 17 women were taken into custody on suspicion for murdering their husbands. Georgia DiSipio—a handsome, seductive man—is at the heart of this scandal. He convinces most of the women to get insurance policies on their husbands before murdering them.
Tom Rossi is the assistant D.A. investigating this scandal, and he’s intent on making sure those selfish, evil women get what they deserve—a lifetime behind bars.
The first portion of this book provides us with the backgrounds of each of the murderous women, as well as that of DiSipio. It then segues into the arrests and the trial.
The Wicked Wives has an extremely procedural tone and reads more like true crime than fiction. The author doesn’t exactly follow the writer’s golden rule of “show, don’t tell.” But at least it’s spot-on where courtroom and investigation procedures are concerned.
For a book that takes place during the 1930s, The Wicked Wives lacks the noir that makes this time period so fun to write about. Too bad.
Maybe if you’re familiar with the true story behind The Wicked Wives, you’d really appreciate this one. Otherwise, I’d recommend skipping it.
What did you think about this book?
Last Updated on December 11, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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