Five Evil Women : Hindley, West, Wuornos, Homolka, Tucker

Author: Joanna Bourke

20th century

Published on 1 March 2026 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 344 pages, 11 illustrations
166 x 245 x 35 | 670g

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 UK, USA 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.