True crime's most decorated father-daughter debut arrives this autumn: Ordinary Wife, co-written by Gregg Olsen and his daughter Morgan Olsen, publishes on 27 October 2026, and according to a review at History Nerds United it tells the story of Lyda Trueblood — described there as one of America's forgotten serial killers.
The book's full subtitle, The True Story of America's Forgotten Serial Killer, is listed in Gregg Olsen's Wikipedia bibliography for 2026, confirming it as the headline release of what has already been a landmark year for the author.
Ordinary Wife and the Launch of a New True Crime Imprint
The book is also the inaugural title from Notorious Press, a brand-new true crime imprint. As Storm Publishing announced, Ordinary Wife will publish simultaneously in hardback, trade paperback, ebook and audio — and it marks the first collaboration between the father-daughter duo.
Storm Publishing confirmed that the hardback and trade paperback editions will be available in bookshops across the United States and Canada, a distribution footprint that underscores the ambition behind Notorious Press's launch.
The choice of Lyda Trueblood — nicknamed America's Lady Bluebeard in the book's promotional copy on Google Books — as the subject for a flagship launch title signals exactly what Notorious Press intends to do: excavate cases that mainstream true crime publishing has overlooked.
Notorious Press itself states that it is dedicated to uncovering forgotten crimes, untold stories, and the cases history nearly left behind — a mission statement that positions the imprint as something deliberately counter-programmed against the genre's tendency to recycle familiar names.
A Two-Time Edgar Nominee Takes Ordinary Wife on the Road
Gregg Olsen is no stranger to award attention: his Wikipedia page records that The Amish Wife received an Edgar Award nomination for Best Fact Crime in 2025, and Out of the Woods earned the same nomination in 2026 — making him a two-time Edgar nominee in consecutive years.
He is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 books, as People confirmed in a feature published around the book's release.
Even before the official publication date, Olsen was already presenting the material publicly: a Peninsula Daily News preview of a North Olympic Peninsula book festival lists a presentation by Gregg Olsen about Linda Hazzard and Lyda Trueblood in the Donna M. Morris Auditorium, with pre-release editions of Ordinary Wife available for signing.
That pairing — Hazzard alongside Trueblood — is telling context for readers of Olsen's back catalogue. Hazzard featured in his earlier true crime work Starvation Heights, selected by the Washington State Library for its annual Everybody Reads programme, as his Wikipedia entry notes.
Returning to the Pacific Northwest to discuss both women at a community festival suggests Olsen regards Trueblood as a figure of comparable historical weight.
Launching a new imprint with a co-authored debut is itself an unusual move in publishing, and the father-daughter angle adds a dimension rarely seen in serious true crime — Morgan Olsen's co-authorship credit is featured prominently on Audible's listing and across all formats, suggesting this is a genuine creative partnership rather than a marketing flourish.
Ordinary Wife tells the gripping true-crime story of Lyda Trueblood, a woman who passed through six husbands and left death in her wake — a case the Olsens argue deserves to stand alongside the genre's most infamous names.
Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen and Morgan Olsen is published on 27 October 2026 in hardback, trade paperback, ebook and audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen about?
Ordinary Wife: The True Story of America's Forgotten Serial Killer tells the true story of Lyda Trueblood, a woman who cycled through six husbands while leaving a trail of death behind her, earning the nickname America's Lady Bluebeard.
Who wrote Ordinary Wife?
Ordinary Wife is co-written by Gregg Olsen, the #1 New York Times bestselling true crime author, and his daughter Morgan Olsen — marking the first collaboration between the father-daughter pair.
When does Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen publish?
Ordinary Wife publishes on 27 October 2026, simultaneously in hardback, trade paperback, ebook and audio, and is available in bookshops across the United States and Canada.
Is Ordinary Wife worth buying for true crime fans?
If you are drawn to overlooked historical cases, Ordinary Wife promises to be a compelling read: it is the flagship title of a new imprint, Notorious Press, specifically dedicated to uncovering forgotten crimes and untold stories.
What is Notorious Press and how does Ordinary Wife fit in?
Notorious Press is a brand-new true crime imprint launched in October 2026 by Storm Publishing with Gregg Olsen, dedicated to uncovering cases history nearly left behind — and Ordinary Wife is its very first publication.
Who should read Ordinary Wife by Gregg Olsen?
Ordinary Wife will appeal to readers of narrative true crime, particularly those interested in historical cases involving female perpetrators that have slipped out of the public memory.
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