Showing posts with label 1890s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1890s. Show all posts

Dark Hearts of Chicago Review

Dark Hearts of Chicago
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Dark Hearts of Chicago ReviewI bought this book because of William Horwood. Books like the Stonor Eagles, or the Skallagrigg, are utterly special experiences and I will look for him regularly to see whether he will lead me into new places, either of emotion or of adventure, with a new tale.

This is totally different from any work I have read from him, but excellent.
The setting is very real, Chicago in 1893 is well told, I can imagine it from the short and vivid descriptions. I hate too much telling of places and smells and flowers and shapes, but the way it is handled here is very well done, short and yet I could really feel where we were.
The short chapters are simply told, very stark, nearly just facts, and still, the tension mounts, the various strands flow together, the resolution develops step by step. Soon, I could not stop reading because the mystery that was being unveiled, the small and big cogs coming together was so gripping.
The persons were well drawn, I could get involved with them emotionally, although there is a bit of distance, somehow, as if I were also a journalist following a story. There is no comparison with the deeply emotional tales Horwood has written before, where faith and feelings and inner callings were so very important.
The partially horrific settings (madhouse, slums) are not overdone, I was frightened at moments that there might be too much horror, but it was always just enough for the story, no violence for violence's sake, and no obsession with the sick minds of some of the characters. Again, just enough to be vivid and to make the story very very clear, also in its darkness.
Finally, the telling from the women's point of view was a bonus. Not only did the women seem real for the time (no 21st century heroines put by chance in a long skirt), but to see the limitations and the courage and strength of them, and the first steps towards equality that were taken then, it was a true bonus. Never overwhelmed the story, but gave an extra dimension I enjoyed a lot.
I will read anything by these two authors again.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, who likes a well done realistic historical setting, and who still wants to be very well entertained.
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Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago (Pocket Star Books True Crime) Review

Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago (Pocket Star Books True Crime)
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Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago (Pocket Star Books True Crime) ReviewAfter reading "The Devil in the White City", I was curious to learn more about H.H. Holmes/Herman Mudgett. Being familiar with some of his other work, Harold Schechter seemed to be a logical choice for the best book on Holmes. While the book was very thorough, some aspects of it left me with mixed emotions.
Parallel to the 1893 World's Fair hosted in Chicago, Holmes began a prolific killing spree. Inhabiting a large building known as the Castle, Holmes seemed to be an outstanding citizen. His charm allowed him to con insurance companies and other businesses. With bigamous marriages and several mistress, he also easily charmed women in a much more conservative time. Behind closed doors is when Holmes became a monster. Often through slow means such as poisoning and suffocation, Holmes disposed of his victims even after he left his house of horrors known as The Castle.
The major complaint I have with the book is that it tends to run a little long-winded at times. Section 3 is the documentation of Holmes fleeing Chicago and criss-crossing the country on various schemes. This is recounted in its entirety in Section 4 as investigators track the steps of Holmes.
This flaw is compensated by the details of Holmes' trial which created some humerous scenarios. The epilogue which discusses the "Holmes Curse" is also quite interesting.
While the two are not directly comparable, I enjoyed "The Devil in the White City" more than "Depraved". However the details of Holmes' life make this a solid read for those interested. Just skip the 4th section.Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago (Pocket Star Books True Crime) Overview

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