Killers of Roe

My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights

By: Amy Littlefield

Narrator: Kris Carr

Legacy Lit

ISBN: 9781538769041

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Legacy Lit Publication Date: 03/10/2026

Format: Other

My Rating: Currently Reading (ARC)

MAR 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

One reporter investigates the secret killers and hidden motives behind the death of abortion rights.

They are going to kill people, investigative reporter for The Nation Amy Littlefield knew, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After a decade covering abortion, she wanted to more deeply understand the motives, means, and opportunities behind the antiabortion movement’s victory. So she set out to investigate the murderers of Roe.

Killers of Roe chronicles Littlefield’s journey into the unexplored corners of the most successful social movement of our time. As in every good murder mystery, the killers turn out to be the people you least suspect. Plot twists lurk around every corner as Littlefield meets believers, opportunists, and complicated heroes. Along the way, she encounters surprising characters who shed light on how we got to this moment of authoritarian rule: from the former fetus keeper standing trial in Michigan to the antiabortion militant turned long shot presidential candidate to the pro-choice superfans at the Reagan Library. Throughout the book, Littlefield draws upon women’s stories and her own experience as a mother to reveal the life-and-death stakes of America’s abortion wars.

At once clever and poignant reportage, this abortion whodunit uncovers the deeper story of how we lost Roe—and how we will win back so much more.

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My Review

In KILLERS OF ROE: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights, Amy Littlefield, a skillful investigative journalist, employs her "sharp wit" and the stylistic elements of a murder mystery to unravel a complex political narrative, transforming it into a compelling and impactful "abortion whodunit."

Littlefield creates a diverse cast of real-world figures categorized into investigators, architects of the anti-abortion movement, and victims of legal rollbacks, making for an entertaining and thought-provoking read.

Amy Littlefield is the Investigator, the book's protagonist and narrator. As an investigative reporter for The Nation, she adopts the persona of a "gumshoe" sleuth, drawing on over a decade of reporting and her own experiences as a mother to investigate the "murder" of Roe v. Wade.

About...

In the wake of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, Littlefield dedicated over a decade to examining the intricacies of abortion rights, aiming to uncover the "secret killers" that threaten reproductive freedoms.

This investigative non-fiction work is masterfully framed as a "true-crime" narrative, diverging from a traditional storyline. The "plot points" consist of real-world events and figures that Littlefield scrutinizes to elucidate the factors leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She adeptly presents this pivotal moment as a crime in need of resolution, employing several mystery-inspired techniques:

~The "Gumshoe" Persona:

Littlefield embodies the role of a relentless investigator or "sleuth" to unveil hidden motives and the clandestine architects behind the anti-abortion movement. Her narrative style evokes comparisons to a "political thriller" or the cozy mystery protagonists of Agatha Christie, such as Miss Marple.

~Whodunit Tropes:

The investigation is structured around classic forensic inquiries—delving into the "motives, means, and opportunities" of those she identifies as the "killers" of reproductive rights.

~"Oddball" Cast of Characters:

With her incisive humor, Littlefield presents vivid, often amusing portraits of the "perps," shining a light on unexpected figures within the anti-abortion movement, including:

- Paul Haring:

A retired IRS attorney who initially proposed the concept that evolved into the Hyde Amendment, pitched it to Catholic bishops.

- Bob Bauman:

A former congressman who successfully urged Henry Hyde to sponsor the amendment, effectively limiting federal funding for abortion services.

~Eccentric Cast:

Littlefield encounters an array of characters that exemplify the shift towards authoritarian control, such as:

- A former "fetus keeper" currently on trial in Michigan.

- An anti-abortion militant who has emerged as a long-shot presidential candidate.

-"Pro-choice superfans" found at the Reagan Library.

Despite its clever framing, the book maintains a focus on the "life-and-death stakes," grounding its thriller-like style in the real-world suffering caused by the loss of reproductive rights.

My thoughts...

Through her meticulous investigation and engaging storytelling, Littlefield invites readers to explore the multifaceted and often hidden dynamics that have shaped the landscape of reproductive rights today.

She expertly infuses moments of humor and levity into her narrative, creating a balance against the weighty subject of documenting a significant rollback of rights. This clever wit not only humanizes the opposition but also reinforces her central message: these figures are not faceless villains; they are individuals who can be understood and ultimately challenged.

The author masterfully crafts a storyline filled with unexpected twists, revealing that the "killers" of reproductive rights often include those we least suspect—namely, liberal enablers who have compromised on early restrictive policies.

In her exploration, Littlefield examines how certain liberal figures and pro-choice organizations may have inadvertently contributed to the erosion of Roe by being overly accommodating or neglecting to contest early restrictive measures such as the Hyde Amendment.

On a deeply personal note, Littlefield intertwines her own experiences as a mother with the poignant stories of women affected by the loss of abortion access, underscoring the life-and-death stakes of the current legal landscape.

Rather than merely serving as an epitaph for Roe, the book concludes with a compelling "blueprint" for reclaiming reproductive freedom through collective action, transforming it into a powerful call to arms.

The book delves into several interrelated themes that encapsulate the legal and political degradation of reproductive freedom.

The narrative powerfully illustrates that the loss of Roe is not merely a legal abstraction but a pressing "life-and-death" reality. Through historical cases like Rosie Jimenez and Becky Bell, the book poignantly demonstrates how restrictive laws disproportionately impact the poor and marginalized.

By pinpointing the specific individuals—both the architects of the anti-abortion movement and the "quiet enablers" who failed to intervene—the pathway to reclaiming reproductive rights becomes clearer through collective action.

The significance of the title lies in its framing of political reportage as a "true-crime" investigation or "whodunit". The essential takeaway from KILLERS OF ROE (to be released on March 10, 2026) is that the decline of Roe v. Wade was not an inevitable legal evolution, but rather a calculated and human-driven outcome.

Despite the somber subject matter, the book stands as a "blueprint" and a rallying cry. The final message resonates strongly: the same human agency that facilitated the erosion of these rights can be mobilized to restore them, and even achieve more, through focused and organized resistance. The book concludes that the "murder mystery" is not fully solved, as the fight for abortion rights is ongoing, serving as a call to action for continued activism.

Anniversary...

As we commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade’s initial passage, January 22, 1973—a date that has become emblematic in the ongoing struggle for abortion rights—the post-Roe era offers a moment for readers to seek deeper context and fresh perspectives on how we arrived at this juncture.

Timely and essential, this compelling narrative will resonate with fans of true crime and mystery, as well as those who are passionate about defending women's constitutional rights to make deeply personal decisions free from political interference.

I enthusiastically endorse this extraordinary literary masterpiece, which is both captivating and abundant in resources and historical insights for those who are keen to delve deeper. It serves as an excellent choice for any book club. This is undoubtedly one of the top books of 2026!

Special thanks to Grand Central Publishing, Literary Lit, and NetGalley for graciously providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

blog review posted @

JuditihDCollins.com

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars

Pub Date: Mar 10, 2026

Praise

"Channeling Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, a journalist explores who killed Roe v. Wade. In a departure from most detective novels, the killers seem ready to talk...This deep investigation reveals the nuances of anti-abortion politics and strategy. It also reveals that the fight for abortion rights isn’t over."―Kirkus

"A quirky yet hard-hitting inquiry into the overturning of Roe v. Wade. A fan of murder mysteries, the author frames her narrative as a whodunit in search of perpetrators… The result is a dogged pursual of those responsible for women’s deaths."―Publishers Weekly

"Haunting, riveting, and built around some of the most complex characters you'll ever meet, Amy Littlefield's Killers of Roe reads like a political murder mystery while providing the invaluable history of people and politics that were always knottier and more twisted than many of us know. A true gift to anyone who cares about the past or future of politics, families, and abortion care in the United States."―Rebecca Traister, New York Times bestselling author of Good and Mad and All the Single Ladies

"Killers of Roe offers a vital glimpse into the hidden machinery of power, politics, and abortion. Amy Littlefield’s detective work here is searing and necessary."

―Jessica Valenti, New York Times bestselling author of Sex Object and Abortion

"The death of abortion rights is not just a legal story about the revocation of a constitutional right. It’s a human tragedy that’s resulted in death for vulnerable women. Amy Littlefield shines a light on the culprits, and gives them the attention they deserve."

―Elie Mystal, New York Times bestselling author of Allow Me to Retort and Bad Law

"Amy Littlefield’s Killers of Roe is essential reading. Her gripping reporting on the re-criminalization of abortion in the United States exposes, in clear and at times deeply personal prose, how right wing and religious operatives throttled reproductive freedom in the US – often enabled by liberals too willing to compromise. With a keen eye, sharp wit, and a deep well of compassion, she never loses focus on the true victims, those injured and killed by a system that allows, and even celebrates, the denial of care to those in need."

―Amy Goodman, host, Democracy Now!

"In an electrifying book that reads like a real-life whodunit, Amy Littlefield exposes the secret history of the demise of Roe v. Wade and tracks its deadly impact. Her nuanced, portrait-driven study of the assault on women's reproductive rights and health shows that the end of Roe is just the beginning—unless we act collectively to stop it."

―Katherine Stewart, author of instant New York Times bestseller Money, Lies, and God

"Amy Littlefield is one of the best journalists reporting on abortion and her sleuthing shines in Killers of Roe. Littlefield's curiosity and gumshoe reporting unfolds an interesting cast of characters as she uncovers the complicated questions surrounding the fall of Roe. Killers of Roe is a perfect read for true crime readers, cozy mystery aficionados, and reproductive freedom activists alike."

―Renee Bracey Sherman, co-author of Liberating Abortion

"Killers of Roe is the true-crime story of our political moment. Amy Littlefield traces the hidden architects and quiet enablers behind the end of Roe v. Wade, revealing how power rearranges itself in plain sight. It’s gripping, furious, and deeply human—a story about what was stolen from us, and who’s still fighting to get it back."

―Samantha Leach, author of The Elissas

"Amy Littlefield connects history, politics, and humanity, showing how power, faith, and control collided to end a fundamental right. Deeply timely and a blueprint for how more rights could dissolve, this is a must-read for the moment."

―Clay Cane, New York Times bestselling author of The Grift

"Littlefield has written a gripping, must-read investigation into the secret architects and unlikely characters behind America’s greatest rollback of rights. Killers of Roe reads like a political thriller, but one with real material harms and life-and-death consequences."

―Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her and All We Want Is Everything

"Killers of Roe is not just a compelling whodunit; it's a searing call to arms. With curiosity and compassion, Amy Littlefield takes readers inside the movement that brought down Roe. She brings moments of humor and levity to this serious task and reminds us not to forget the suffering the anti-abortion movement's success has produced."

―Mary Ziegler, author of Personhood

About the Author

Amy Littlefield has reported on abortion rights for more than a decade. She is the abortion access correspondent for The Nation. She has contributed to The New York Times Opinion section and wrote the Times’ Sunday Review cover story “Where the Pro-Choice Movement Went Wrong.” She is a frequent commentator on abortion for TV and radio news outlets and podcasts, including MSNBC and Democracy Now! Littlefield was a lead reporter and narrator on episodes for Reveal, the national investigative journalism show. She lives in Boston with her family. WEBSITE