Starvation Heights

Dangerous Women: True Crime Stories

By: Gregg Olsen

Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski

The shocking true-crime story of two orphaned sisters who arrived at a health retreat as patients – but only one would ever make it out alive… An extraordinary and gripping account of the starvation doctor from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If You Tell.

In 1911 two British heiresses, Claire and Dora Williamson, read a brochure about a revolutionary fasting treatment that promised a lifetime of good health. The sanatorium in the village of Olalla, west of Seattle, was surrounded by a beautiful forest, sparkling waters and fresh air. The sisters agreed it sounded perfect and exactly the restorative holiday they needed.

But within a month of arriving, under the supervision of Doctor Linda Burfield Hazzard, Claire and Dora began to realise the frightening truth – they were not patients but prisoners at the isolated sanitorium.

Starved and on the edge of death, the sisters made several desperate attempts to escape. But only one would ever make it out alive.

Chilling and harrowing, Starvation Heights is a story of two vulnerable sisters, and how they were manipulated by a cunning and dangerous doctor into believing that her monstrous treatments would ‘cure’ them. Will totally hook fans of The Five and The Devil in the White City.

©2005, 2012, 2023 Gregg Olsen (P)2023 Thread, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Critic reviews

“A fascinating turn-of-the-century story of medical malpractice and murder. If you liked The Alienist, you'll find Starvation Heights all the more gripping because this story is true.” (Michael Connelly)

“An engrossing and compelling look at a shocking crime in another era. Olsen’s deft touch takes us back to the early 1900s so cleverly that reading Starvation Heights is akin to stepping into a time machine.” (Ann Rule)

Must Listen!

One of the best story’s and performance! Unbelievable story I had never heard of before. Love Gregg Olson’s work!

Well done.

Gregg Olson is a good writer. My first. He drew you in tho I have no idea what the last 6 or so minutes were all about

That it isn’t fiction

I found it to be highly interesting, kept my interest. I thought the details of the treatment ,were just enough. It did however leave me feeling disturbed,but also enlightened. I would recommend it to others.

Good listen

Started out slow so was going to stop listening but then it got pretty interesting and kept going. Crazy story tho

I really enjoyed this narrator.

The story was good but the narrator is really what keeps you listening. Her use of subtle accent differences really helped keep the story together in my head.

Excellent listening

So captivating it was hard to stop listening each day. I normally watch true crime movies but I’ll have to say this was a great listen!

The audacity of this women thinking it’s ok to starve people and when they die it’s ok

The book was a little long and drawn out but all in all it was good

What a story!

The story was very interesting and intriguing. The narrator was very good. The combination made for an amazing book.

Early doctor death serial killer

Much longer than it needed to be although some timeline gaps esp ending. Too repetitive and i had to skip some parts like the courtroom scenes. Very well researched from court documents and early newspaper reports. Clever examination of social mores, status, and prejudices of a century ago. Most victims had only themselves to blame by putting their trust in a quack - the “doctor” title allowed Hazzard to get away with countless murders. Only caught when she killed a rich heiress so not much justice here. But - obsessions with true crime and fad diets are still relevant today.

why did no one stop her?!

this book captured my attention for true crime. I stayed and gladly finished because Dora's life story. I will never understand why no one stopped this woman though!