The Confessions of an American Black Widow : A True Story of Greed, Lust and a Murderous Wife (Confessions of Black Widow) [Mass Market Paperback]

Gregg Olsen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Confessions of Black Widow | Publication Date: June 15, 1998

When the body of 45-year-old Glen Harrelson was found in his Denver home, police tried to contact his wife, but soon they made a startling realization. She had played the part of grieving widow once before: her previous husband also had died a mysterious accidental death...

In a true story as shocking as any fiction, The Confessions of an American Black Widow is the amazing account of Sharon Lynn Nelson, a wild, beautiful preacher's wife who couldn't get enough-enough sex, enough money, or enough of her rugged "Mountain Man" lover, Gary Adams. Nelson was so consumed by greed that she convinced Adams to killed two of her three husbands in order to cash in on their insurance policies.

Here is a compelling portrait of a woman driven by the darkest forces to mate, then kill--an American black widow who ultimately got snared in her own twisted web...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

True-crime author Olsen (Salt of the Earth) tells how Sharon Nelson, a Colorado woman, had her lover Gary Adams murder two of her three husbands, one in 1983 and one in 1988. But more interesting than the crime itself is Olsen's portrait of Nelson as a brash, trashy, manipulative sexpot who believed that she was entitled to?and got?everything and everyone she wanted: even her confession, given freely to police in a Pizza Hut in 1988, was anything but contrite. Moreover, Olsen records the recollections of many community members who saw Nelson for what she was, yet seemed oblivious to the adultery, theft and murder under their noses. The narrative does skip around a little, which can be confusing, but watching Nelson as she almost gets away with murder will fascinate long after the last page. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A very sexy book that is as disturbing as it is seductive."--Darcy O'Brien, Edgar Award-winning author of Power to Hurt and Two of a Kind

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; Ed edition (June 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312965036
• ISBN-13: 978-0312965037
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I live in rural Washington State (about a mile as the crow flies from Starvation Heights). I've wrapped up my fifth novel -- a serial killer thriller coming out in April 2011. It's called Closer Than Blood. I've been a guest on Dateline NBC, NPR, Good Morning America, The Early Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, Snapped, Deadly Women, William Shatner's Aftermath, and A&E's Biography.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confessions of an American Black Widow, December 27, 2000

By 

tina2cats "Tina W." (CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Confessions of an American Black Widow : A True Story of Greed, Lust and a Murderous Wife (Confessions of Black Widow) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a very fascinating true story of Sharon Nelson Harrelson, who was not only a Black Widow, but also a serial killer. Sharon would stop at nothing (money, sex, material possessions, etc.) to get what she wanted even when it meant murder. Sharon Nelson is a woman w/o any values, principles, or class; she used sex to get whatever she wanted. Everything about Sharon oozes sex. Sharon always put herself first, even ahead of her own children. Sharon is what you call a husband stealer, husband killer.

This is the second true crime book by Gregg Olsen that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. I've also read 'If Loving You is Wrong' and found that very fascinating. Olsen does such a wonderful job with his research from Sharon's upbringing to her three marriages (preacher, doctor, and fireman), to the murders of her doctor and fireman husbands, to her confessions. We learn a lot about Sharon Nelson and the type of person she is from her sister, Judy, her neighbors in Weston, family members and friends of the victims, and Perry Nelson's secretary.

Confessions of an American Black Widow is a must read.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great True Crime read! Fascinating woman!, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Confessions of an American Black Widow : A True Story of Greed, Lust and a Murderous Wife (Confessions of Black Widow) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is another great book by Gregg Olsen. Fantastic reading! This woman is not a Black Widow, she is a serial killer. It's amazing what this woman gets away with, all because she flaunted herself around town and lived up to her bad reputation. The author did a great job of researching this woman and her life before and during the crimes. I felt like I got some good insight from the sister and those close to the killer. The worst part, is that she has numerous children out there in the world who have been witness to some pretty horrible situations all because of their Mother.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "She Sat Like A Homecoming Queen Gone Bad....", February 18, 2007

By 

Kim Cantrell "Soap Box Bandit" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Confessions of an American Black Widow : A True Story of Greed, Lust and a Murderous Wife (Confessions of Black Widow) (Mass Market Paperback)

Sharon Fuller Nelson Harrelson is the epitomy of an American Black Widow. This oversexed beauty-queen-wannabe wrapped her finger around men's hearts so that she could sneak into their wallets. And when she had sucked the monetary life out of them, she had them killed by her on-again-off-again lover, Gary Adams. But in the end, the Nepho rolled over on her Mountain Man...and I don't mean she didn't it in the bedroom!

I am a huge fan of Gregg Olsen's work. He is number one on my list of my favorite true crime writers. What I particularly enjoy about this work is that he is able to make a story "a story." His books do not subject me to repetitious recounts taken straight from Court transcriptions, but puts those same aspects into an interesting story that is easily read and understood without lulling you into sleep (or skimming, as I so often do.)

Black Widow is particularly interesting to read as the whole book is a storilized form of Sharon Harrelson's confession to police about the deaths of her husbands, Perry Nelson and Glen Harrelson. From front to back, this is simply a story filled full of interesting recalls from Sharon herself and those who, unfortunately, knew her and was affected by her in some shape, form or fashion.

To date, this is my favorite true crime story. Excellent job, Gregg Olsen!