LADY OR THE TIGER

An infamous “murderess” dazzles audiences on both sides of the Atlantic as a singer who alludes to her intensely gruesome crimes on stage—and ultimately turns herself in to law enforcement.

Nineteen-year-old Belle King is known to the world as the Seamstress because she removes her male victims’ hearts, replaces them with diamonds, and expertly sutures the corpses’ wounds. As she’s awaiting trial in jail, her supposedly dead, abusive ex-husband, federal marshal Reginald Salinger, arrives to rescue her from public hanging. A flashback to Belle’s mother’s tragic murder shows how the stage was set for Belle’s desperate marriage to Reginald—her way of escaping the trauma of being involuntarily committed to the Eastern Kentucky Lunatic Asylum after she was left alone in the world. Herrman’s sophisticated exploration of the impact of men’s abuse of power is chilling; throughout the story, the women rarely have agency, but Belle’s individual strength and continued resistance prove inspirational. The nonlinear timeline enhances the larger-than-life vignettes that are reminiscent of tall tales, maintaining a quick pace and adding tension to each dramatic beat. Untrustworthy news sources share misinformation, and issues like abortion, animal cruelty, and violence against women are handled realistically and compassionately. Most characters read white.

Intense hardship and adventure compellingly intertwine in this Old West feminist journey.