The entire time I was reading this, I thought I was reading a biography of Herman Mudgett, alias Dr. Henry Holmes, the notorious serial killer (one of this country's first) who supposedly killed over 130 people throughout the latter half of the 19th century. The non-fiction book, DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY (which is a better book than this one) is based partly on the murders Holmes committed in Chicago before and during the 1893 World's Fair.
This book, however, is actually a novel based on fact. It reads like a case history or biography though. Having learned it was actually a novel, I thought less of it. Some liberties are taken with Holmes' inner thoughts and of course, conversations that witnesses never heard, but I feel they could have been handled in a more intimate, creative way than those details are handled in this book. The book again, reads like a case history, and therefore, it's tone is very dry and completely chronological.
Other than that, Holmes' = who basically made his living swindling people, then killed many of them - including their children, just for kicks - story is a fascinating, albeit highly disturbing one. I actually stayed up late a couple of nights reading this.
However, I only recommend this to hardcore fans of serial killers, or late 19th century crime stories. Read DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larsen instead. The latter is truly a fascinating, rich book.
