Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

The Devil in the White City:  Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
reviewed Reads like a great fictional novel on
Helpful Score: 2


This was the first book I rated a 10 out of 10 in my bookclub. The author weaves so much detail into this story and in such an easy to read and suspenseful way, that I couldn't believe it was non-fiction. The story of the serial killer is fascinating and reported in such detail that, again, it is hard to believe these events actually happened. Contrasting that subplot is another that describes the triumph of architecture and cultural pride that was the World's Fair in Chicago. Anyone who has an interest in architecture, Chicago, or early 20th century history will thoroughly enjoy this book. It made such an impression on me that when I traveled to Chicago for a conference a few months after I read it, I took an architectural boat tour so I could see up close the few remaining Burnham buildings and appreciate the skyline of the city described so articulately in this book.