A critical, comparative history of five notorious women branded icons of evil. Why do certain women become icons of evil? This book offers the first comparative, non-sensationalist account of five of the most reviled women in the modern Anglophone world: Myra Hindley, Rosemary West, Aileen Wuornos, Karla Homolka, and Karla Faye Tucker. It examines their lives, crimes, and cultural reception in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada, asking how violence committed by women is understood, judged, and remembered. Going beyond moral outrage or tabloid headlines, the book explores how concepts of “evil” are shaped by history, belief systems, and social context. Through historical and ethical reflections, it offers a deeper, more critical engagement with female violence and considers how society should respond to those who commit acts of unimaginable harm.
Joanna BourkeOBE is professor emerita of history at Birkbeck, University of London, and a fellow of the British Academy. She is also professor of rhetoric at Gresham College. Her many books include
Disgrace: Global Reflections on Sexual Violence, also published by Reaktion Books.
The Best True Crime Books of the Month: June 2026
InFive Evil Women, Bourke turns her fearless gaze towards the subject of female violence. . . . [An] intriguing book.
"This is a remarkably interesting book. It explores, in a clear-headed way, why some women turn to violence and why, in doing so, they are regarded with special disdain. Written with great lucidity by a truly distinguished scholar,Five Evil Womenbreaks new ground in the study of gender and criminality."
"Another brilliant, thought-provoking book by Bourke. In her riveting stories about the crimes of five reviled female murderers she analyses responses of experts and the public, and convincingly argues that the concept of the 'evil woman' is inappropriate."
![Five Evil Women: Hindley, West, Wuornos, Homolka, Tucker [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/1/8/0/2_7280781.jpg "Five Evil Women: Hindley, West, Wuornos, Homolka, Tucker [Hardcover]")