miss_cat's review against another edition
3.0
Great for true crime history buffs. A fun, very well-researched read.
ohheyitsalexis's review against another edition
3.0
Grisly, and a little interesting as far as Austin's local history, but it's a whole lot of fluff. Of course it just fizzles without any sense of completion, but what else would you expect with an unsolved crime?
altoid's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute must-read for any book-reading Austinite. A fascinating snapshot of the early history of Austin, revolving around an elusive serial killer who preyed on several women in and around the city. It's utter nonsense that this story is not more broadly known by Texans and Austinites, as well as at a more broad level, being at the forefront of a new type of psychopath which emerged at the end of the 19th century. While it's filled with a few grisly moments, Hollandsworth is surprisingly sparse on the gore, and relies more on the impact and reaction to the harrowing events, making for a much more enjoyable and empathetic take on the standard 'whodunit' tale.
mleetm's review against another edition
4.0
I found this both fascinating and educational without being too focused on the author's bias. I would never have known about this series of events otherwise.
slhandy45's review against another edition
4.0
Nine years in Austin and I never heard anything about these murders, nor their role in the erection of the moonlight towers. A fun true-crime read, with lots of 1880's Austin atmosphere.
laurenpedersen's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. It was ok as a true crime story but it wasn’t as engaging as others I’ve read and not as satisfying since the killer still hasn’t been confirmed.
grazanne's review against another edition
3.0
If you love Austin in any way and can stomach the grotesque, this book about America's first serial killer striking women in Austin in the late 1800s is a fascinating, well researched slice of history.
Unfortunately the reason I am giving it 3 starts speaks to an exact quote in the book: "There is no dramatic last-act revaluation, no drum roll finale. Everything ends up precisely where it started, in a gray limbo of unknowing. The trail of clues just stops, like bewildered bloodhounds baying in the night.".
Who was the Midnight Assassin? We will never know!
Unfortunately the reason I am giving it 3 starts speaks to an exact quote in the book: "There is no dramatic last-act revaluation, no drum roll finale. Everything ends up precisely where it started, in a gray limbo of unknowing. The trail of clues just stops, like bewildered bloodhounds baying in the night.".
Who was the Midnight Assassin? We will never know!
smemmott's review against another edition
3.0
A decent read, but ultimately frustrating. What I found most interesting were the insights into the criminal "justice" system and race relations in the developing city of Austin, Texas, in the 1880s. It's not the author's fault that there is no resolution - the evidence just isn't available. Consider whether you will enjoy reading about a completely inconclusive cold case before picking this up.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A 2016 staff favorite recommended by Becky.
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__SThe%20Midnight%20Assassin%3A%20Panic%2C%20Scandal%2C%20and%20the%20Hunt%20for%20America's%20First%20Serial%20Killer%20__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__SThe%20Midnight%20Assassin%3A%20Panic%2C%20Scandal%2C%20and%20the%20Hunt%20for%20America's%20First%20Serial%20Killer%20__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold