The Devil in the White City
I needed to fill the category of “A Micro-history” for my 2018 POPSUGAR reading challenge. I picked this book because the only thing I knew about it was that it documented the history of America’s first serial killer H. H. Holmes. What I ended up with was so much more interesting. Holmes set up what is referred to as his “murder castle” in Chicago at the same time that the 1893 World’s Fair was being constructed and conducted his murders until the fair closed. This book educates the reader on the precarious planning of the fair, and of Holmes’ rampage of killings.
I felt that both storylines were rather interesting as a whole. When reading about a micro-history, you get so many fine details that other books end up leaving out in order to quickly move the narrative along. I know more now about the World’s Fair and how close it was to being an utter disaster and a global embarrassment for the United States. With hard work, and a bit of luck, the event became a great success and introduced many of today’s common products (including the ferris wheel, Juicy Fruit gum, Pabsts Blue Ribbon beer, zippers, and Cracker Jacks). The alternating storyline is just as in depth and absorbing. Dr. Holmes is the definition of a con man. He “purchases” a building that takes up an entire block, and systematically turns the rooms into killing chambers and the basement into a body disposal chamber. He then spends years attracting unsuspecting victims, using them, and then disposing of them. I will say, however, there are times that both of these plots ran into dull moments. I think it is to be expected when delving so deeply into a small time period. There are details that needed added that were not necessarily interesting, but were useful information further in the story.
I don’t think this book would be up everyone’s alley, but for those of you who like history and/or architecture (and those who are twisted like me and like murder mysteries and serial killer movies)…then I think you might find this comprehensive history captivating.
Malia's Pizza Rating
It’s gross, but how do you not think of an oven-baked pizza while reading about Holmes’ body disposals. Sorry, not sorry.