The author, who publishes regularly in New York Times, chose a strange event leading back to Hungarian history as her book’s topic – the true legend of the Tiszazug poison-mixers. During the horrid events taking place between 1911-1930, the wives living in Nagyréve caused the deaths of approximately 300 husbands. Hope Reese was informed of the story by an acquaintance in Budapest and it immediately piqued her interest. She spend the past two years collecting information and conducting interviews. She decided that it is time she created a book of the composite material. She was encouraged to write the book by her English agent so the residential period in Pécs is an important station in order for the first raw version to be born.