You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
9.34k reviews for:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Erik Larson
3.87 AVERAGE
9.34k reviews for:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Erik Larson
3.87 AVERAGE
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
This was very interesting! Learned a lot about the world's fair and a fair bit of Chicago history (turns out there are SO many more interesting graves at Graceland cemetery than I thought!), and I liked the connections made between stuff from back then to structures and places that still exist (and the threads connected to other people like Walt Disney and Frank Lloyd Wright, among others. It felt like fun cameos). I'm always gonna love a history book, that's always going to be my vibe. I deducted a star because sometimes the threads took a little *too* long to come together, like the whole Pendergrast arc, and there were points in the beginning where I was kind of lost in the flurry of names. It did come together though and was quite engaging, would recommend.
I can understand the criticism many of the reviewers have for the book - it does come across, at times, as two separate books smashed together somewhat haphazardly. However, I was fascinated by both, so I didn't mind. I was especially delighted by the details and politics of the Chicago world's fair. I certainly don't agree with anyone who found either account boring, so I would recommend giving it a read for yourself. ;)
Insanely interesting and connected to almost everything American.
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
H H Holmes is both fascinating and repugnant. Larson does a great job of taking the reader through the steps of Holmes' life, killings, and frauds. It is almost inconceivable that no one suspected him and so few parents filed police reports for their missing daughters or that both the police and private detectives would not connect Holmes to the disappearances for so many years. Juxtaposed to Holmes dark crimes is the bright hope that the Worlds Fair gave to not only Chicago, but the U.S. Its amazing that in just two years Jackson Park was changed from a barren bit of land to the White City that inspired Disney World. Even with the faster communication abilities and power tools of today I seriously doubt such an achievement could be produced today. I need a TARDIS so I can travel to Chicago and see the Worlds Fair.
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Murder
This book has been on our bookshelf for years, but it hadn't even crossed my mind. The other day I was listening to an interview with Erik Larson and The Devil in the White City came up and I thought it sounded pretty interesting. Holy smokes. I hesitate to say "I enjoyed it" because the story of H.H. Holmes is just terrifying. The book is remarkably written, the detail and history of the efforts and expense that went into the production of the Chicago World's Fair is fascinating. Really well written and wonderfully constructed as a tapestry of a time and place, and chilling to realize the resemblance to crime and economic disparity that persists over 100 years later in our country.
dark
informative
medium-paced
This book is much less about murder that I expected it to be. However, It's very well written and the history it's exploring is incredibly interesting. I definitely be open to reading more from Larson in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Murder
It's true crime and historical nonfiction so it's about as messed up as you'd expect.