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fyoosha's review
4.0
This short book is a fascinating exploration of a murder investigation in 1887 Philadelphia. The crime itself is lurid and fascinating - a torso, just a torso, is discovered in a town just outside Philadelphia. The racial ambiguity of said torso led to a dedicated investigation determined to trace the torso's origin story, which led back to Hannah Mary Tabbs and a strange tale of adultery, extramarital sex, and passionate jealousy.
Gross explores this crime through the lends of late 19th-century America. That is, she provides context for the issues she explores. When introducing the detectives who would investigate this case, she gives a brief history of the police in Philadelphia. When introducing Hannah Mary Tabbs and explaining her upbringing, Gross delves into slavery in Maryland. She also talks about the politics of race and passing. It's also just a fascinating look at the criminal justice system in 1887 in general.
It's an intriguing exploration of an intriguing crime, and Gross walks us through it with aplomb. Rather than give away the game in her introduction, she walks us through the investigation step by step, so we are following it in nearly the same way those in 1887 would have been. I can easily see this being adapted into a historical miniseries, because it's all drama and intrigue.
Gross explores this crime through the lends of late 19th-century America. That is, she provides context for the issues she explores. When introducing the detectives who would investigate this case, she gives a brief history of the police in Philadelphia. When introducing Hannah Mary Tabbs and explaining her upbringing, Gross delves into slavery in Maryland. She also talks about the politics of race and passing. It's also just a fascinating look at the criminal justice system in 1887 in general.
It's an intriguing exploration of an intriguing crime, and Gross walks us through it with aplomb. Rather than give away the game in her introduction, she walks us through the investigation step by step, so we are following it in nearly the same way those in 1887 would have been. I can easily see this being adapted into a historical miniseries, because it's all drama and intrigue.
beergeekgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting look at racial and gender politics in the justice system.
bethsiekierawalker's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look at a particularly grisly crime in Philadelphia, 1887. While I appreciated how well researched the story was, and I was actually drawn to the promise of the discussion of how gender and particularly race played into the court case, the book read like a thesis. The language was a bit stiff, and although I read this in an afternoon, it was not quite as riveting as I would have hoped.
That being said, I would recommend this book as a look at what the author rightly introduced as a subject and set of circumstances that is unique for this period in time, namely the narrative of a black woman and her relationships with men and society that bucked the usual social norms.
That being said, I would recommend this book as a look at what the author rightly introduced as a subject and set of circumstances that is unique for this period in time, namely the narrative of a black woman and her relationships with men and society that bucked the usual social norms.
chaotic_wholesome's review against another edition
5.0
The similarities between society nearly 140 years ago and now make this book absolutely vital -- if somewhat depressing -- reading.
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