Cover Image: Triflers Need Not Apply

Triflers Need Not Apply

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Member Reviews

This is by far one of the best historical fiction I’ve read. It was gripping, it was emotional, and the author created the narrative so beautifully and professionally that you never feel like you’re swayed in any direction.

I highly recommend this book to those who love true crime, as well as historical books, any one of those you’re interested in, you’re sure to like this story.

I’m in awe of this author’s ability to take a real criminal and tell their story in such a real, raw way without judgment.

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Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

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I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

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Oh my .. this was such a juicy read and you just cannot keep the book down! A must read for all murder lovers.. Bodies everywhere!

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I had this book on my tbr pile for a long time, probably because of the size, it is over 400 pages!!
The storyline is very compelling and scary at the same time...Bella has a very dark mind that is pushed to the limit with an unfortunate event at 16. It seems that in her fight for survival, all is forgiven and justified but destiny has other plans.
Definitely an interesting reading if the reader has the courage and curiosity to keep going until the end.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review e copy.

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A serial killer story rooted in truth, TRIFLERS NEED NOT APPLY is a bone chilling tale of a villainess descending into bloodlust. I really enjoyed it, though at times I did feel it was going a little too slow. ALIAS GRACE meets SWEENEY TODD, I’d highly recommend!

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A fascinating look at a female serial killer and the impact of her secrets and lies on the family around her. I found the research on the true life Bella so intriguing.

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When I started this book I had no idea it was based on a true story and what a story it is! Bella is a young woman, she just wants a happy life, a nice husband and a few kids but when a young gentleman comes on a bit strong and ends up getting hurt it is the beginning of an unbelievable tale of a woman that exacts revenge on the male population. Told in two prospective’s by Bella and her older sister Maggie this is a brilliantly gory yet fun story.

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As usual I went into this one not knowing what it was going to be about and my eyes were well and truly opened!

This was a retelling of serial killer and ‘black widow’ Belle Gunness an American/Norwegian active in the late 1800s early 1900s.

After a traumatic event in her early adulthood leaving her barren and seeking the ultimate revenge she discovered her love of slaughter and truly developed a bloodlust.

Over many years her killings continued - some deserved - some most definitely not- and how she got away with it for so long I really don’t know!

I did look up the true story of this and I really enjoyed the retelling especially the ending as no one really knows the true story of what happened to Belle and her family.

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Brynhild from Norway becomes Bella from Chicago then Belle the farmowner. The transition is marked by abuse, fraud and murder and as Belle's criminal endeavours get more bloody this book gets more interesting. It's difficult to "like" this book based on a real killer, I struggled to be really interested until Belle's schemes started to unravel at the end. Then I wanted to rave through to see what would happen.

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Belle Gunness is possibly history's most notorious female serial killer. She thought to have killed over 14 people, including two husbands, not to mention unsuspecting men she invited to her farm as a wealthy widow, through newspaper ads no less.

Triflers Need Not Apply is a fictional reimagining of Gunness's life, in turn of the century Chicago. It's an account that will appeal to true crime fans and historical fiction aficionados. Bruce traces Belle's history from her origins as a child in Norway, right through to her mysterious demise. It's a compelling story, and despite the gruesome content, and largely unsympathetic main character - the reader is captivated.

Bruce balances the narrative well, interspersing chapters narrated by Belle with those of her sister, which acts as a foil and relief from the intensity of Belle's voice. Nellie's own realisation of her sister's crimes and her wrestling with her conscience adds a further dimension to the story; Bella isn't simply a villain, she has a sister that loves her and wants to protect her. Bruce doesn't paint her main character as wholly heartless; Belle has suffered serious trauma and she longs for her own children to raise and care for. Yet we also see that Belle's nature may have had roots earlier that the hardships she has faced, hinting at an element of nature vs nurture.

Belle's story is part of historical record, so what happens is no secret, however provides ample fodder for Bruce's imagination. Yet for one of the most notorious female serial killers, Gunness hasn't been mythologised in the same way as her male counterparts, and so readers may come to her story without knowing the mystery that surrounds it. The way Bruce handles this ending is clever, and almost makes you root for her macabre anti-heroine. Almost.

Trifler's Need Not Apply is a clever and much needed imagining of a lesser known figure in crime and murder mythology. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted but crime and historical crime lovers will adore this dark thriller. I can't wait to see what Bruce does next.

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I mustn't have read the full description, as it wasn't until I got to the author's note that I realised that this novel was based on a true story.

If I had realised this beforehand, it would have made sense as to how there was so much story being told, across so many years.

At first I couldn't quite get to grips with the amount of time passing between chapters, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed. And upon completion i can see that this was definitely a good way to keep the story interesting.

The book was really well written, so much so that the murder committing main character actually comes across as being quite likeable (on occasion) and you really do believe her perspective on how she has been scorned by her suitors.

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Love historical fiction, love true crime, do not gore and horror..!

Personal preference I think this book was a bit much for me, but objectively it’s written well, it’s interesting and it shed’s a light on one of history’s most prolific female serial killers.

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I started this book after seeing many good reviews on social media. I didn’t have much idea what it was about at all.

The book starts off in 19th century Norway, introducing Little Brynhild, who has dreams of moving to America like her sister. She’s had a rough time in Norway and a fresh start is what she needs. Finally, she has enough money to move and live with her sister and her family. She changes her name to Bella and eventually marries Mads. He’s unwell for many years and dies suddenly. Bella’s sister suspects she was involved in making her husband so ill. A string of men visit Bella, and most are never seen again.

Initially, I found the story quite interesting and readable, but unfortunately it became very slow and tedious for me. The pace slows right down and every little thing is described.

I didn’t warm to any of the characters and I think this added to the story dragging on. For the latter part, I was just reading to get it finished and had stopped enjoying the story which is a shame.

Once I got to the end and read the author’s note, I learnt that Bella Sorensen was a real serial killer, but very little was known about her and her victims. The author has tried to work out what Bella was like and given her a story.

Unfortunately for me I lost interest in the book and it was just too dragged out. If it was a more concise book, I think it would have been better.

2.5 stars rounded to 2.

Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for a copy to review.

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I so wish I had picked this book up and read it sooner. It was fabulous, and one I genuinely didn't want to put down. And what made it better was that it was based on real people and real murders.

The character building was great and I couldn't decide if I sympathised with Belle for her past or disliked her for her selfishness. This uncertainty I think is a sign of a realistic character.

Not for the faint hearted as it can be a little graphic in places, but a rea page turner.

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Bella Sorensen is quite an unlikeable character. I wouldn't say it was interesting per se but it certainly was something to see, as the pages turn, how things spiral can spiral out of control during a spiteful quest for revenge. This was a chilling tale of a serial killer in the early 20th century and it's hard to believe it's based on a true story.

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Well, it’s hard to know where to start with this book and central character, Brynhild/Bella. The book is set in the late 1800s, initially in Norway, then moving to America when our protagonist does.
There is no doubting the incredible hardship and cruelty which the young Brynhild faces with her parents, and when serving as a kitchen maid for a local farm. Such treatment certainly is very damaging during these formative years.
The move to America, sadly isn’t quite what her older sister Nellie had hoped for; after her and her husband had scrimped to help pay for her passage on the long steamer journey.

I think it’s ironic that one of the things that upset Bella so much, the inequality of women against men, was a saving grace for her. Most thought women were incapable of such violence and cruelty, despite an overwhelming level of circumstantial evidence.
Modern day psychiatrists would have their work cut out trying to unpick Bella’s twisted mind. She certainly had deep rooted issues which took seed in her childhood, though that is not excusing her life choices.

It’s hard to say I actually enjoyed this book, but it is certainly jaw dropping. It is a chilling, dark book, documenting a woman whose take on equality is not in line with mine, and hopefully yours too. She certainly is a woman that you should not underestimate, cross her at your peril.
For me, I felt the book dragged on, with a lot of repetition of the same behaviour in Bella and Nellie. I constantly felt frustrated that her apparent ease to carry on, without consequences.
There are many who have loved this book, but I’m afraid I didn’t. I skimmed the last 15% to reach the end. For me I found it tedious and repetitive in the end, just 3⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Based on the real-life serial killer, Belle Gunness, this tells the story of Belle, who discovers early on that the world caters for men in every way. Bella sees what others miss; that men are weak, and after a gruelling journey to America to live with her sister Nellie, Belle is ready to have her revenge

This book was a surprise - I was expecting blood and guts but was surprised to find that this story centred around the breaking psyche of a woman in her darkest hour as she comes to terms with her lack of remorse for her crimes. It is a great mesh of fact and fiction, with the terror level raised to 10 from the start of the book.

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3.5 stars rounded up.
Triflers Need Not Apply is a dark and grusome novel based on the true story of Belle Gunness, a serial killer in 1900's Chicago.

This book follows Bella from her younger years in Norway, through her immigration to the States and her murderous rampage in America.

Whilst I had heard of Belle Gunness and what she did, it was interesting to read the fictionalisation about events leading up to that.

The story is told through Bella and her sister Nellie. I thoroughly enjoyed having another voice to the story and it definitely adds a great dimension rather than distracting from the story. As Bella descends into her sordid life, Nellie slowly begins to realise what her sister is doing. The struggle of Nellie and her worries really grips you.

Learning about life in 1900s Norway and America, especially for women, is quite fascinating. I really loved the descriptions of the houses and foods.

Parts of the novel are quite gruesome and some are downright shocking and horrifying. One scene in particular I did find hard to read.

Despite this I was gripped and couldn't put it down until I had finished it all.

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Gory as hell and just fabulous!!!! What can I say, a fantastic true life read full of all the good stuff I love to read about, just brilliant what a treat

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