David's Reviews > H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil

Holmes is often cited as America's first known seriel killer. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence incriminating him in multiple murders, but in the end he was hanged and executed for one murder. His guilt in other crimes was likely true, as he was a big-time swindler and the circumstantial details indicate that he likely killed to prevent being exposed for his crimes. He lived in an oddly built building full of strange passages, doors to nowhere, and even oddly built tanks within the basement.

The best part of this book is the extensive research the author has poured into this book. He has looked at this story from every possible angle. However, at times, his research slows the pacing of the book a bit. For example, he points out the newspaper stories of the day and examines them against one another, trying to clarify the contradictions and even outrageous lies and exaggerations being published. He does a fine job of saying things are probable or improbable and backing them up with his research. However, from time to time, this just becomes a bit much.

Meanwhile, the reader becomes involved in this man's desipicable life and his outrageous schemes. The disappearance of individuals finally caught up with him, but primarily because he tried to commit what appears to be insurance fraud by seeking to subsitute bodies for people who were actually living. The fact that he apparently murdered (and got away with) his business partner, sought to make it appear to be a suicide began his downfall.

This is a good book, but really hard to read. The author gets some really good quotes and doesn't really want to speculate much. It's a good story.