I had no knowledge of the 1893 fair and all the innovations that it gave the world... and to think that there was this serial killer using it as a farming ground for victims... WOW. Holmes/Mudget blows Jack the Ripper out of the water, and I'd never heard of him until now. This is a must read!

For three days I found myself engrossed in Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City" - a real life tale about architecture and murder in 1890's Chicago. The great thing about this non-fiction book is that Larson perused his research materials and documentations by interweaving facts into a story so compelling that you find it almost impossible to put down (it reminds me so much of Capote's "In Cold Blood").

The book's main characters are Daniel Burnham, the chief architect of the White City (Chicago's World Fair), and H.H. Holmes, the sociopath killer who preyed on women coming to see the fair. Although the two men never met, their stories work so well together and their contrast - beauty and evil - makes this book very well written. The fact that it is also informative is an added bonus, and lets not forget the cast of characters - Buffalo Bill, Thomas Edison, Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Astor, just to name a few. I have to admit however that if it wasn't for the murder story, the book wouldn't be as intriguing and enjoyable.

This book was wonderfully written about such an amazing event in history. I heard about this book before my recent vacation to Chicago and made sure I picked up a copy while I was there. I could not put it down! I loved reading how interconnected all the events and people were. I could visualize everything like a movie. It was also especially thrilling for me since I was just in Chicago!

This is really two stories in one: it is partially about the building of the "White City" for the World's Fair which is a fascinating story involving fires (the White City was mostly made of wood), architectural feats of impossibility, and fights across. different levels of bureaucracy.

At the same time, a serial killer is using the convergence of people on Chicago for the World's Fair to find multiple victims whom he lures and then murders in shockingly horrific ways.

All of this sounds like the book is fiction, however it is actually based on real events.

And, while it sounds like I've given away the whole book, trust me this is a fantastic book. If you enjoy history, mysteries, suspense or Americana you will enjoy The Devil in the White City

Erik Larson has done an incredible amount of research to depict the history of the Chicago World Fair and what an impact it had on architecture, society and commerce at-large. Larson carefully characterizes the good intentions and dedication of the team of architects who diligently worked in creating the memorable monument. He then contrasts the inspiring team with a portrait of a doctor - a serial killer - who, unlike the architects, saw the Fair as a means to attract his victims.
"The Devil in the White City" builds slowly but becomes hard to put down as both the Fair, and the doctor's crimes progress rapidly. Larson weaves the black and white, dark and light, in a tight narrative with special attention to historical facts that must have, at one point, left him in the same awe and disbelief he expresses to his reader. Truly, a great book.

With its sprawling story and cast of famous historical figures, "The Devil In The White City" is reminiscent of E.L. Doctorow's turn-of-the-century novel "Ragtime" -- but "Devil" is in many ways better than Doctorow's masterpiece because the events it describes are true! A spellbinding account of how high -- and low -- the human species can go.

Absolutely fascinating...Everyone I have recommended Devil in the White City to has throughly enjoyed it.

This book is great for people who love to get a sense of an era. The focus seems to be primarily on the 1893 World's Fair with a side drama of serial murder. I loved how the author contrasted the fair and the murderer down the street. While these two elements were in contrast, the link between them is rock solid. I was surprised by the link to Toronto though. It is scary that this isn't far removed from today's headlines.