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A review by emily_kayser
Death in the Air: The True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of a City by Kate Winkler Dawson
1.0
Oh man, this book.
If it had just been a story about the smog, it would have been ... fine. I'd love to learn more about this era of British history, but I don't want to hear it from Dawson. Her research seemed confined to a handful of people she happened across as opposed to a curated list of witnesses who could provide multiple perspectives, and I wanted a lot more about the historical conditions and austerity measures that led to these events - as well as a more thorough examination of its aftermath.
But the piece of the book about the serial killer is just appallingly bad. First, let's be clear: there is NO connection between this story and the smog, other than that they happened at roughly the same time and place. And second, the author allows him to voice his reprehensible views without challenge. There's almost nothing about the women he killed, or the lives they led. It's borderline irresponsible.
And, to add insult to injury, the book is riddled with typos. Stuff so obvious that a simple spell check should have caught it.
My recommendation? Read pretty much anything other than this.
If it had just been a story about the smog, it would have been ... fine. I'd love to learn more about this era of British history, but I don't want to hear it from Dawson. Her research seemed confined to a handful of people she happened across as opposed to a curated list of witnesses who could provide multiple perspectives, and I wanted a lot more about the historical conditions and austerity measures that led to these events - as well as a more thorough examination of its aftermath.
But the piece of the book about the serial killer is just appallingly bad. First, let's be clear: there is NO connection between this story and the smog, other than that they happened at roughly the same time and place. And second, the author allows him to voice his reprehensible views without challenge. There's almost nothing about the women he killed, or the lives they led. It's borderline irresponsible.
And, to add insult to injury, the book is riddled with typos. Stuff so obvious that a simple spell check should have caught it.
My recommendation? Read pretty much anything other than this.