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posies23's review against another edition
3.0
This is the true story of the killer who was fictionalized in DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY. He was pretty twisted, but the book is only so-so.
jo_moyes's review against another edition
2.0
In only giving this book two stars, I'm not trying to suggest that there's something wrong with it, just that it's not for me. It's an exceptionally comprehensive look at the life of its subject, it's just a bit too sensationalistic for my tastes. The author did a great job at giving a detailed account of everything related to Holmes, I think I just like my true crime a little more dry and to the point.
theduchess93's review against another edition
4.0
That sure was a lot of info about insurance fraud, yesiree. Very well-written though.
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up after seeing an H.H.Holmes-themed episode of Supernatural. Well-researched, well-written, doesn't make you feel like a giant weirdo for reading about serial killers. :-)
donnakaye64's review against another edition
4.0
I love true crime books and this one held my interest. It led me down the path of not only the killer , but also the dedicated men who searched for the truth. It was interesting to read the steps taken by the police in a time before electronics. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about true crimes.
princesszinza's review against another edition
4.0
I became interested in H. H. Holmes by reading "Devil in the White City", his story being the most interesting part of that book. I then saw a well-done documentary on H. H. Holmes which featured the author of this book. This is a thoroughly researched account of a psychopathic serial killer whose sensational crimes enthralled turn-of-the-century America. Anyone interested in true crime should be fascinated with Schechter's book. I did wonder what happened to Holmes' wives and the children of his murdered assistant in the years after Holmes execution.
GoodReads Recommendation Experiment: If you want to really creep yourself out, add this book as your only "currently reading" selection on Goodreads and then go to your recommendations. The currently reading selections there are guaranteed to give you the mega-heebie-jeebies. My favorite grotesque cover was "Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders" **shudder**. I'm so glad to be finished with this book so I won't be scared of my recommendation page anymore!!!
GoodReads Recommendation Experiment: If you want to really creep yourself out, add this book as your only "currently reading" selection on Goodreads and then go to your recommendations. The currently reading selections there are guaranteed to give you the mega-heebie-jeebies. My favorite grotesque cover was "Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders" **shudder**. I'm so glad to be finished with this book so I won't be scared of my recommendation page anymore!!!
knitsandnovels's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Murder, Child abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
lizziea229's review against another edition
5.0
CW This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted. I love a bit of gore, and even this had moments I found difficult to get through.
Bloody loved this. Perfect balance of fact and dramatization. You get no sense that the author has hammed things up for effect, which often makes me cringe in true crime. I'm amazed at how relatable Schechter made 1890's America.. I felt completely immersed in the community.
There were moments I thought the author was 'sparing us' from gory details towards the beginning, or leaving gaps. Never fear, by the end it is all wrapped up perfectly.
I will endeavour to read the rest of Schechter's true crime series as this just transformed my understanding of the H. H. Holmes case. Brilliant.
Bloody loved this. Perfect balance of fact and dramatization. You get no sense that the author has hammed things up for effect, which often makes me cringe in true crime. I'm amazed at how relatable Schechter made 1890's America.. I felt completely immersed in the community.
There were moments I thought the author was 'sparing us' from gory details towards the beginning, or leaving gaps. Never fear, by the end it is all wrapped up perfectly.
I will endeavour to read the rest of Schechter's true crime series as this just transformed my understanding of the H. H. Holmes case. Brilliant.