What do you think?
Rate this book
Hell Hath No Fury: A True Story of Wealth and Passion, Love and Envy, and a Woman Driven to the Ultimate Revenge
Dan Broderick was one of California's most successful attorneys; his wife, Betty, a beautiful socialite. But when Betty discovered Dan's hidden life, the façade of LaJolla's golden couple was shattered. What followed was a vicious five-year battle that finally ended in a shocking double-murder.A Harvard Law School graduate, Dan manipulated the law to strip Betty of everything she her home, her friends--even her children. When she frantically tried to fight back, he had her committed to a mental hospital. His new wife, Linda, even sent the once-beautiful Betty wrinkle cream ads and weight loss pamphlets.Consumed by hatred and thoughts of revenge, Betty's rage exploded on the night of November 5, 1989. Before the sun rose the next day, Dan Broderick and his gorgeous new wife were dead--their bullet-riddled bodies wrapped in the blood-soaked sheets of their bed.Hell Hath No Fury is a shocking story of wealth, passion, revenge, and a woman driven to murder.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1992
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 4, 2012
Interesting true story. I love real life crime/homicide novels. But the writing in this was bland and very repetitive.
January 28, 2018
4.5 stars
August 3, 2021
3.5 Stars. The writing isn’t really that impressive. It’s not bad in and of itself, but there’s a lot of commentary like ‘She wore an electric blue dress which seemed to shout hopefulness’. What color signifies rolling my eyes? Based on that, I’d rate this one even lower, but I read a lot of trashy true crime novels and this is better, for the most part. The story itself is horrible. Having just finished watching the Betty Broderick season of Dirty John, I was excited to delve more into this case, but there are enough minor discrepancies throughout that I still feel like I don’t really have enough information to form an opinion. I mean, I know she killed him, and I know why. But the show makes her somewhat sympathetic, and the book has me wondering why no one could see how desperate she was for psychiatric intervention. My overall impression is that two horrible humans married, had four kids, then proceeded to ruin each other’s lives and the lives of their children, before divorcing and really getting down to the business of being awful. I feel terrible for the children and for Linda’s family. I feel bad for Linda, though she may have been just involved in poking the bear as Dan. I only feel bad for Betty to the extent that it baffles me how no one could see she was on the verge. I feel like Dan was either trying to push her into another suicide attempt, or he was truly the most oblivious and self-centered human ever born. The children are really the only victims here, though. It seems like their lives were never great.
August 24, 2011
Okay - so this is a pulpy book about Betty Broderick. And the writing was, well, . . . basic. Like written for a sixth-grade reading level audience. However, I could NOT put this book down. The story is so horrible, so sad. Betty Broderick is your worse nightmare -- but her husband was a bizarre, legal-wrangling control freak as well.
To my married friends . . . read this and it will really make you feel great about your marriage, . . . I guarantee it.
Book is out of print -- so just ask me to loan it to you if you can't buy it cheap on Amazon used.
To my married friends . . . read this and it will really make you feel great about your marriage, . . . I guarantee it.
Book is out of print -- so just ask me to loan it to you if you can't buy it cheap on Amazon used.
May 16, 2017
This story did not have the build up to the crime. It's a bit difficult to read and very slow. I was not impressed with the conclusions at the end nor how long it took to reach them.
October 14, 2022
3.5. A little repetitive. I get it. She called Linda a c—t on the answering machine a lot. We didn’t need to hear about it over and over.
December 6, 2023
3.5 stars. Middle of the road true crime. Biggest complaint is the disagreement between the title and the tone of the book. I think the author portrayed Betty as a sympathetic character as opposed to furious woman on a rampage.
April 24, 2021
Unintended consequences - Dan Broderick paid the ultimate price
I can relate to the heartbreak & rage of being left with five sons for another woman. Even though he left her after only seven years the pain remained. Our sons remained distantly in his life, but his closeness was with his third wife’s children & her grandchildren. He died two years ago. The woman he originally left me for died a few years earlier. I moved on & survived them all. I’m glad I didn’t buy the gun I set out to, and I am sorry that Betty Broderick didn’t do the same.
I can relate to the heartbreak & rage of being left with five sons for another woman. Even though he left her after only seven years the pain remained. Our sons remained distantly in his life, but his closeness was with his third wife’s children & her grandchildren. He died two years ago. The woman he originally left me for died a few years earlier. I moved on & survived them all. I’m glad I didn’t buy the gun I set out to, and I am sorry that Betty Broderick didn’t do the same.
December 26, 2020
An apologetic for narcissist double-murderer Betty Broderick.
October 27, 2022
This book is extremely frustrating. Dan certainly wasn't a loving and supportive husband like he should have been, but the witnesses and evidence support that Betty was both emotionally and physically abusive even before the affair. Dan and his 2nd wife were the ones that were killed but the whole book tries so hard to make Betty the victim. She put her rejection above her own children and used them as a way to hurt Dan. I feel no sympathy for ANYONE in this except the poor children. The author should have remained impartial.
Here is one paragraph that is an example:
"Legally Dan had every right to restrict his contact with Betty, but a history of nearly twenty years and nine pregnancies would seem to call for a larger effort in his part."
This comes right after multiple paragraphs explaining that when Dan did try to communicate with Betty one on one, she would do nothing but scream obscenities and even jump on his car when he tried to leave! I don't care about their past, if I were him I wouldn't have had contact with her either!
The author feels far too much sympathy for an emotionally unstable, selfish, jealous murderer.
Here is one paragraph that is an example:
"Legally Dan had every right to restrict his contact with Betty, but a history of nearly twenty years and nine pregnancies would seem to call for a larger effort in his part."
This comes right after multiple paragraphs explaining that when Dan did try to communicate with Betty one on one, she would do nothing but scream obscenities and even jump on his car when he tried to leave! I don't care about their past, if I were him I wouldn't have had contact with her either!
The author feels far too much sympathy for an emotionally unstable, selfish, jealous murderer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2024
Intriguing account of how betrayal, jealousy, and deception culminates in the murder of an ex-husband in San Diego in the late 1980s. It is a cautionary tale of what not to do on both sides. It is my opinion that they both did not choose wisely, nor treat kindly.
I chose the book as I am in the legal profession in the same San Diego community as to where this preventable crime occurred, and found it both sad and interesting in the psychology sense of what drove the ex-wife (Betty) to kill her ex-husband and new wife.
I chose the book as I am in the legal profession in the same San Diego community as to where this preventable crime occurred, and found it both sad and interesting in the psychology sense of what drove the ex-wife (Betty) to kill her ex-husband and new wife.
June 6, 2020
Great book!
This was really a well-written book. The pace was just right. It was very thorough and you really got a good picture of Betty and Dan Broderick. Not so much Linda. Anyway I remember this case but was much younger than and was much too busy to really follow it (I didn't even follow the O.J. trial). But now that it's on USA I wanted to read up on it. Again, great book. Highly recommend!
This was really a well-written book. The pace was just right. It was very thorough and you really got a good picture of Betty and Dan Broderick. Not so much Linda. Anyway I remember this case but was much younger than and was much too busy to really follow it (I didn't even follow the O.J. trial). But now that it's on USA I wanted to read up on it. Again, great book. Highly recommend!
March 26, 2023
If you don’t know the story of Betty and Dan Broderick, this is a good starter novel. As with most true crime stories, there are repetitions in the storyline. Betty’s vulgar language is not hidden. There are other books out there and of course, TV series that cover this story and they are probably better in a sense but this novel is good for those who don’t know the story or know very little.
September 23, 2023
I understand why the woman was upset. But the adults in this case were acting like children.
But being upset does not justify murder or the treatment of the kids.
This book seems like it’s trying to justify the murder of two people, and the weaponization of kids in a divorce.
But being upset does not justify murder or the treatment of the kids.
This book seems like it’s trying to justify the murder of two people, and the weaponization of kids in a divorce.
August 5, 2021
Audio Book - fascinating story and disturbing
August 12, 2021
The title should end with a question!
If this story is true, it's a shame what Betty Broderick went through. She was abused and demeaned, which is purely evil!
If this story is true, it's a shame what Betty Broderick went through. She was abused and demeaned, which is purely evil!
August 19, 2021
Really repetitive. But i learned a few new things.
April 16, 2022
Many inaccuracies in the book. Book was hastily made to profit from case. Lots of mistakes. Do not recommend the book to anyone.
Bland book and trashy.
Bland book and trashy.
March 6, 2023
Yeah I don’t believe her for a second. She broke into their house with a firearm and shot at five in the morning. Nah, she guilty af.
April 23, 2023
A very detailed account of the 2 murders committed by Betty Broderick. At times, I felt sorry for her, but in my opinion, the jury made the right decision.
June 10, 2023
A good book nothing new in regards to the case, but still good.
July 18, 2024
Wow. This woman was completely insane. What a crazy book. The story was well researched and well written. The story was... messed up.
November 9, 2012
Interesting story that I had never heard of. Betty was pure evil. She smiled when the victims names were called after the verdict was read. That says it all.
I also found it interesting that it took place in San Diego. I recognized many of the locations that were named in the book.
I also found it interesting that it took place in San Diego. I recognized many of the locations that were named in the book.
Read
March 29, 2021Crazy and Evil
No matter how you spin this she is crazy! I be!I've she is a liar and a murderer. Dan could have been a better husband and been more gracious during the divorce but his death and Linda's was not justified. Well written and objectively presented.
No matter how you spin this she is crazy! I be!I've she is a liar and a murderer. Dan could have been a better husband and been more gracious during the divorce but his death and Linda's was not justified. Well written and objectively presented.
August 10, 2009
About the trial. First part good, middle somewhat boring (having a hard time getting through.) Didn't like how she ended it (particularly last sentence).
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews