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  • Black Widow: The True Story of Giggling Granny Nannie Doss

  • By: Ryan Green
  • Narrated by: Steve White
  • Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (51 ratings)
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Black Widow: The True Story of Giggling Granny Nannie Doss cover art

Black Widow: The True Story of Giggling Granny Nannie Doss

By: Ryan Green
Narrated by: Steve White
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Summary

In 1927, Charley Braggs arrived home to find two of his children dead. The doctor who observed the children in their last moments diagnosed food poisoning as the cause. There was no need for an autopsy. His wife, Nannie, blamed tainted grains as the source, but Charley wasn’t convinced.
 

Charley didn’t feel safe around his wife. In the middle of the night, he took his eldest daughter and ran for his life.
 

The outpouring of sympathy doubled for Nannie when they discovered her husband’s treachery. To her community, she was a sweet lady renowned for her cheerful disposition. But behind the facade was a much darker and sinister reality. A truth that four of her future husbands, two of her sisters, her mother, her mother-in-law, her nephew and her grandson would perilously discover.
 

Black Widow is a dramatic and chilling account of one of the most shocking true crime stories in American history. Ryan Green’s riveting narrative draws the listener into the real-live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller. 

Caution: This book contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to listen to this audiobook.

©2019 Ryan Green (P)2019 Ryan Green

What listeners say about Black Widow: The True Story of Giggling Granny Nannie Doss

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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best true crime books that I've read!

Thank you to Ryan Green for providing me with this audiobook free of charge in return for an honest review.

Nannie Doss is a serial killer that I’d never heard of before, but the meak and mild-looking woman on the cover really piqued my interest. After reading Green’s story to Nannie’s life and crimes, I think that she’s actually turned into one of the most interesting criminals that I’ve ever read about.

As always, Green tells Nannie’s story in a good tempo, starting from parental backgrounds and working up to Nannie’s early life and possible triggers that turned her to kill. Green’s books are so informative and interesting as if he has any opinions or bias about the people that he is writing about, it never shows. He is simply stating what he knows of the events and how it likely made people feel.

If I’d watched Nannie Doss’ story on the television or film, I would have believed it to be a completely fictional piece. It’s incredible how one woman can kill so many people close to her and be considered the victim. How she is not a more well-known serial killer is beyond me. She is absolutely fascinating.

I’ve mentioned before how much I love the way that Green writes his stories. When reading true crime, I often find myself drifting or struggling to envision what I’m being told, but Green really sets the scene and paints the perfect picture. This book was a lot shorter than some of his other works that I’ve listened to, but by no means is it less interesting or informative. In fact, I think it’s my favourite so far.

Narrator, Steve White also does a fabulous job, making a grim subject a very easy and enjoyable listen. I put this on while doing some mind-numbing tasks at work one day and couldn’t actually stop listening to it.

I’d 100% recommend this to any true crime fan.

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Really good

Explains every aspect of ‘Nannie’s’ life and the potential reasons behind some of her crimes. Well narrated and thorough, although I wonder if some of the most intimate thoughts and moments came from Nannie or were artistic license, in which case I wonder about the other sides of the story from other perspectives. It is a difficult listen at times, especially when children are harmed but you can’t gloss over it, the crimes were cruel and heinous. It would be interesting to know how the head injury in Nannie’s early life affected her as I know other people who have committed crimes such as Fred West also suffered brain trauma in their early lives.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Listener received this title free

It's OK.

Really good narration. Story is alright. Just like listening to a Mr. Ballen video on YouTube but longer. Get it if it's cheap.

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Very Good

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I really liked this audiobook. Sometimes, I do struggle with Ryan Green's style of writing, but this book tended to be more fact than emotion, and it read very well, obviously helped by the brilliant narration of Steve White. For the case itself, there isn't much to say that won't be more of a spoiler than the title of the book, but a reminder of the years that things were happening would have helped because it tended to jump a little, and I wouldn't be sure when it was, or what the rough age of the people involved were.

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interesting and entertaining

I had not heard of this case before, stumbled across the book by accident.
Theres alot of coverage for the well known male serial killers, so when looking for something new to read in true crime, it was refreshing to come across this story.
Wow, what a cold and selfish woman she was.
Despite the rubbish childhood she had, I didn't feel any empathy for her, she was very calculated and I don't think her upbringing was a true motivation for her crimes.
The narrator was brilliant! not heavy going at all, he and the author made the story quite entertaining.
I would recommend this book

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Excellent

A really interesting story, not for the fainthearted, highly recommend. Hadn't heard of this lady but definitely won't forget her after this story!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

enjoyable

The narration has been very well executed and the storyline nicely edited. Overall, aside from the topic, a very enjoyable listen.

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A fantastic listen

Another great story from Ryan, which I enjoy immensely. As always superbly narrated by Steve. Highly recommended.

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fantastic read!

This book was fantastic! Ryan has done a fabulous job! It was detailed, and he tells the story beautifully! I would recommend this, true crime enthusiasts wont be disappointed!

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Exactly how a true crime book should be

I have a guilty pleasure for true crime stories but to be perfectly honest I had never heard about this case until I came across this novel. From the offset it becomes highly apparent to just how much in depth research the author has carried out and the passion for giving the reader all of the information came across in abundance. I was shocked about the length of the book as it is quite short but yet I feel that I had learnt so much within such a short time . It is full of information about this vile and evil human being. Overall a very haunting and thought provoking case which is wonderfully written. i was given this book by the author/narrator in return for an honest and unbiased review

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