katmystery 's review for:

4.0
dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

If you want to learn a lot about the world's first confirmed serial killer, the 1893 Chicago world fair, drama between high society architects, and 19th-century project management, in that order, and think a book which is a hodgepodge of all these things sounds fascinating, look no further.

I'm usually not one for true crime- I prefer my murders fictional- but I gave this one a go since I'm trying to expand my nonfiction horizons. Larson crafts a compelling narrative, making even the driest facts in here interesting, and making the most lurid parts so graphic you feel complicit in the murders. So if you prefer your true crime non-gory and not disturbing and not nightmare fuel, I'd skip this one.