Another good read for history fans, especially crime history buffs, as well as fans of the musical "Chicago." The story concentrates on Maurine Watkins, a young, conservative woman from Indiana who moves to Chicago to learn about life and to become a police and courts reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Her stage play, the Broadway hit "Chicago," was a result of her real-life experiences in covering several high-profile murder cases of that age. Fans of "Chicago" will easily see the inspirations behind the characters in such real-life personages like Belva Gaertner, Beulah Annan, Kitty Malm and Sabella Nitti. There's even more than a passing mention of the Leopold and Loeb murder trial (which almost feels out of place here, but is a good read). It also illustrates for those who bemoan the current state of our judicial system that really money and looks being the ticket out of jail has always existed. Indeed, as I read about some of the theatrics in the courtroom and the coverage in the papers, I kept thinking "I can't imagine this happening today." Mind you, part of is the attitudes towards women. In the mid 1920s, it was nearly impossible to get a serious charge to stick on women, particularly if that woman was wealthy and attractive. In my readings, this phenomenon extended beyond Chicago. We're not talking reduced sentences, either, but full-out acquittals. Now, while good looks and money do play a part (especially money), the Victorian chivalry that allowed an attractive woman to get out of jail is all but gone. Watkins' role in covering the trials is an interesting one. From her pictures, she looks like a demure, shy and conservative lady. In many ways she was. But her writing had a bite to it, an acid and sarcastic quality as she observed the media circus that prevailed around the women murderers of her day. Her demure ways got her the stories and quotes many others could not; Watkins looked harmless and the inmates trusted her.