{"product_id":"martha-needle-brian-williams-9781921024955","title":"Martha Needle: The spellbinding story of Australia's most infamous femme fatale","description":"The extraordinary Martha Needle was not only the most treacherous \u003cbr\u003epoisoner in Australian history - she clearly stands out as one of the \u003cbr\u003enation's worst murderesses of all time. And from an international \u003cbr\u003eperspective, she still ranks among the world's most prolific female \u003cbr\u003ekillers.In her day, Martha was as big as Ned Kelly - and she even shared\u003cbr\u003e the same pugnacious lawyer. Throughout late 1894, her epic tale kept \u003cbr\u003ethe Australian community transfixed and was dramatically reported around\u003cbr\u003e the globe as 'the story of the century'. Even in more modern times, the\u003cbr\u003e story of Martha Needle continues to be widely chronicled as one of the \u003cbr\u003emost mind-boggling poisoning cases in the annals of crime and she \u003cbr\u003eremains a polarising figure in Australian history.Luridly dubbed the \u003cbr\u003e'Black Widow' by the world's press, this manipulating young woman \u003cbr\u003edeviously used arsenic to exterminate all those around her who stood in \u003cbr\u003ethe way of her personal ambitions - which ultimately even included her \u003cbr\u003eown children.\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Martha Needle story had it all: family conflict, betrayal, \u003cbr\u003egruesomeness, a media frenzy, shattered societal expectations, dodgy \u003cbr\u003elawyers, guileless doctors, questionable police, a mysterious and \u003cbr\u003eattractive accused, romance, and even a hint of sexual scandal.Although \u003cbr\u003eshe was officially only convicted of one murder, Martha paid the \u003cbr\u003eultimate price for her deeds. After a landmark investigation and trial, \u003cbr\u003eshe was hanged at the gallows- even though many members of society were \u003cbr\u003eoutraged by the state-endorsed execution of a woman.But amid such an \u003cbr\u003eemotional outcry, a multitude of scandalous secrets also fell through \u003cbr\u003ethe well-oiled trap door with the tight-lipped poisoner on that grim \u003cbr\u003efateful morning. It was readily accepted at the time of her early demise\u003cbr\u003e that she had left other victims in her wake.Whilst awaiting her murder \u003cbr\u003etrial in this grisly case, Martha sat passively by whilst four bodies - \u003cbr\u003eall ultimately found to contain arsenic - were exhumed from their \u003cbr\u003erespective graves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompelling new evidence is now fully examined for the very first \u003cbr\u003etime, firmly placing Martha Needle in the frame for a string of at least\u003cbr\u003e five further murders and two attempted killings. It is now time to \u003cbr\u003eanswer these haunting mysteries, and for the astonishing story of \u003cbr\u003eAustralia's legendary Femme Fatale to finally be told.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Brian Williams\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 192102495X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781921024955\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e New Holland Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/15\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 402\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.36lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.89d","brand":"Brian Williams","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48453957681407,"sku":"9781921024955","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_13144bac-ccf5-4939-aeb4-0e50a96e3af0.jpg?v=1777303273","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/martha-needle-brian-williams-9781921024955","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}