A review by ajnewsom
Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-Of-The-Century Chicago by Harold Schechter
4.0
The story of America's first serial killer will be familiar to those who have read Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City". Although best known for his "Murder Castle" in Chicago during the 1893 World's Fair, author Harold Schechter delves deeper into the background and additional murders performed by Herman Webster Mudgett (aka H.H. Holmes) not only in Chicago but throughout the US during the 1880s up until his capture in 1894.
The author takes the reader from Holmes's early days growing up in New Hampshire, through his time building his elaborate "castle" in Chicago, to his schemes and the murders he deemed necessary to complete the money making ventures he put together. All of this culminates with his capture, sensational trials, and conviction of killing he co-conspirator.
At the end of his life, Holmes's admitted to killing 27 people, although many believe the number to be much greater.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the psyche of a true serial killer.
The author takes the reader from Holmes's early days growing up in New Hampshire, through his time building his elaborate "castle" in Chicago, to his schemes and the murders he deemed necessary to complete the money making ventures he put together. All of this culminates with his capture, sensational trials, and conviction of killing he co-conspirator.
At the end of his life, Holmes's admitted to killing 27 people, although many believe the number to be much greater.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the psyche of a true serial killer.