From the Bookshelf of The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

The Devil in the White City
by
Start date
December 1, 2009
Finish date
December 30, 2009

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What Members Thought

Joanie
Sep 02, 2007 rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction
This book was definitely interesting, especially since I had no idea about the events that surrounded the Chicago World Fair or about the murders committed by Holmes. It just wasn't totally my thing I guess, still well done though. ...more
akaellen
Very interesting read. The chapters alternate between the fair (architecture, etc) and the true-crime portion (serial killer Holmes - who is horrific especially for the times).
Highly recommended. Plus it made me wish there was still a World's Fair!
...more
Marty
Jun 30, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Excellent, very well written, and I was unable to put it down.
Erin
Dec 11, 2007 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Amazing book. I love Larson's choice to alternate between the story of the World's Fair and the macabre serial killer. It gives the reader a chance to breath. His attention to historical detail is jaw-dropping to me. One of many details I enjoy about this book is that any time he quotes someone or includes dialogue, he's only including what was actually said by those people--pulling from sources such as articles, interviews, journal entries, etc. (Knowing this makes it especially eerie when H. H ...more
Lianna
Jul 03, 2008 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: history, secret-santa
5 stars for two great, true stories. Now I want to go to a World's Fair! The story of the architecture, all the different inventions that debuted and 1890's Chicago are so interesting. And how has the serial killer story not been made into a movie ever? It's way cooler than Jack the Ripper or Zodiac. I just saw The Illusionist and Ed Norton in a bowler hat and porkchop sideburns looked just like Holmes.

Minus 1 star for the author including every detail ever, Olmsted whining non-stop about his te
...more
Julianne
Oct 21, 2008 rated it liked it
It was good. I was more interested in the H.H.Holmes story than Birnham's story, though I was intrigued to learn the history of the World Columbian Exposition. Though the things I really wanted to know can be found on Wikipedia (firsts at the fair, etc).

If this hadn't been an audiobook, I'm almost certain I wouldn't have been able to finish it.
...more
MJ
What more can you ask for in a book - Murder and the Worlds Fair. The fact that it is a true story only makes it creepier.
Deb
Oct 20, 2007 rated it liked it
Fascinating look at the Chicago world's Fair and a mass murderer. I learned alot about Chicago.




...more
Beth
Aug 30, 2007 rated it it was amazing
Amanda
Oct 08, 2007 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: non-fiction
Shary
Jan 22, 2008 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: books-i-own
Kristi
Feb 06, 2008 rated it really liked it
Pam
Jul 09, 2008 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: history, true-crime
Kelly Lamb
Dec 09, 2018 rated it really liked it
Shelves: nonfiction
Sharon
Jan 22, 2011 marked it as to-read
Kenneth
Mar 11, 2011 marked it as to-read
Shelves: ebooks
Celeste
Dec 10, 2011 rated it did not like it
Katy
Jan 07, 2012 marked it as to-read
Bita
Feb 16, 2012 rated it really liked it
Cynthia
May 05, 2012 rated it really liked it
Donna
Jul 13, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Peggy
Aug 05, 2013 rated it liked it
Anna
Oct 15, 2013 marked it as to-read
Christa
Jun 16, 2015 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Jamie
Jan 10, 2017 marked it as to-read
Laurel
Feb 28, 2018 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
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