You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
9.3k reviews for:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Erik Larson
3.87 AVERAGE
9.3k reviews for:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Erik Larson
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
tense
slow-paced
This novel parallels the stories of two men: Daniel Burnham, the architect who brought the dream of the World Fair to life in Chicago, and H.H. Holmes, the charming serial killer who uses the Fair to reel in a number of victims to rival nearly any other murderer in history. The chapters alternate so naturally between Holmes and Burnham that I never felt myself growing bored with one character and yearning to move on to the other, as often happens with a book that has multiple narrators or points of view. Burnham's passion for his buildings and his dreams of the Fair are just as gripping and fascinating as reading about Holmes' desire to manipulate and dominate the people around him until he has no further need of them. The balance between the architect and the serial killer is horrifyingly perfect; the two men are matched in their passions and their drives to see their dreams accomplished.
The real talent of this book is that it keeps you enthralled even when you already know what is going to happen. It is stated at the beginning that the Chicago World's Fair pulls through in the end and Holmes is a killer who gets away with countless murders for years. Even with this knowledge known from the start, you still can't help but cringe with each new blow to the development of the Fair and wonder how they can possibly overcome this new impossible obstacle; you can't stop yourself from gasping at each new horrific act Holmes carries out on his victims and pray for someone to catch him in the act.
The detail of the writing is incredible, especially for the scenes of Holmes and his victims. When he is described in his normal charming way, it is hard to imagine that he could possibly be a serial killer. But the horrifying details Larson commits to the pages of his novel about the various victims find new ways to make the reader cringe and call Jack the Ripper tame by comparison.
A fantastic book. I can't recommend it enough!
The real talent of this book is that it keeps you enthralled even when you already know what is going to happen. It is stated at the beginning that the Chicago World's Fair pulls through in the end and Holmes is a killer who gets away with countless murders for years. Even with this knowledge known from the start, you still can't help but cringe with each new blow to the development of the Fair and wonder how they can possibly overcome this new impossible obstacle; you can't stop yourself from gasping at each new horrific act Holmes carries out on his victims and pray for someone to catch him in the act.
The detail of the writing is incredible, especially for the scenes of Holmes and his victims. When he is described in his normal charming way, it is hard to imagine that he could possibly be a serial killer. But the horrifying details Larson commits to the pages of his novel about the various victims find new ways to make the reader cringe and call Jack the Ripper tame by comparison.
A fantastic book. I can't recommend it enough!
Really interesting story. So much I didn't know. Read the epilogues.
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
I liked the end of the novel most of all, not because I wanted to be done with it, but because it was at the end that I was truly invested in reading more. It's too bad that is took me about 250 pages to be that way.
I rapidly switched the subplot I was more interested in; at the beginning the details of the architects' planning seemed tedious and overdone, the mystery and murder much more intriguing. However, as the novel progressed, the fair itself seemed more fascinating than the serial killer; it was much more unexpected at the very least. For the murders were always the same, the same methods used over and over again, the victims the same. For most of the novel, each chapter featured a different person who was unfortunate enough to be taken in by a serial killer. And each time, it featured the words of people who knew the victim well. It bothered me how, each time, those people had their misgivings, but did nothing, nothing at all.
And that was when the fair became so much more interesting. There was a story about how a calm man who suddenly became afraid of heights on the ferris wheel, information about a princess who visited the fair, a day when the total attendance was over 700,000, a side show that stole the fair, and a battle by the bankers during the last three of the fair to make it a financial success.
And then at the very end, my allegiance switched to the mystery, but then again, the fair subplot was completely over. It was then an actual mystery. It followed a detective as he tried to find three missing children. And then, the serial killer was hanged and it briefly explored how he affected people even after his death. That was most fascinating.
Overall, I give the book four stars. While I was reading, it at first was two, then three, and I gave it four because it ended with a spectacular finish. Then back to three, just because. Although more accurately, it was 3.5 stars because even though I applauded the investigative journalism, but didn't like the writing as much. The two subplots were constantly at odds with each other; they were so different, one about the making of a fair and the other featuring the making of a serial killer. I kept waiting for the two subplots to merge, and then...... they never did.
I would still recommend this novel to everyone, especially those who love memoirs and biographies. It was a most intriguing and informational read. There are twists at each chapter.
I rapidly switched the subplot I was more interested in; at the beginning the details of the architects' planning seemed tedious and overdone, the mystery and murder much more intriguing. However, as the novel progressed, the fair itself seemed more fascinating than the serial killer; it was much more unexpected at the very least. For the murders were always the same, the same methods used over and over again, the victims the same. For most of the novel, each chapter featured a different person who was unfortunate enough to be taken in by a serial killer. And each time, it featured the words of people who knew the victim well. It bothered me how, each time, those people had their misgivings, but did nothing, nothing at all.
And that was when the fair became so much more interesting. There was a story about how a calm man who suddenly became afraid of heights on the ferris wheel, information about a princess who visited the fair, a day when the total attendance was over 700,000, a side show that stole the fair, and a battle by the bankers during the last three of the fair to make it a financial success.
And then at the very end, my allegiance switched to the mystery, but then again, the fair subplot was completely over. It was then an actual mystery. It followed a detective as he tried to find three missing children. And then, the serial killer was hanged and it briefly explored how he affected people even after his death. That was most fascinating.
Overall, I give the book four stars. While I was reading, it at first was two, then three, and I gave it four because it ended with a spectacular finish. Then back to three, just because. Although more accurately, it was 3.5 stars because even though I applauded the investigative journalism, but didn't like the writing as much. The two subplots were constantly at odds with each other; they were so different, one about the making of a fair and the other featuring the making of a serial killer. I kept waiting for the two subplots to merge, and then...... they never did.
I would still recommend this novel to everyone, especially those who love memoirs and biographies. It was a most intriguing and informational read. There are twists at each chapter.
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
dark
informative
inspiring
medium-paced