Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Tells the parallel stories of Daniel Burnham, the main architect of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and serial killer Henry H. Holmes, discussing the challenges Burnham faced in creating the hugely successful White City, and looking at how Holmes used the opportunities afforded by the fair to lure victims to their deaths.

Liz says:

“This is perhaps one of the best examples of narrative non-fiction I’ve ever read. Larson masterfully weaves fact (including many direct quotes) with dialogue and atmospheric descriptions which bring to life the city of Chicago and the fascinating characters which abound. While some people prefer the chapters that provide the architectural history of the fair, others prefer the descriptions of Holmes’ murderous ways. I actually loved both! (In this vein, I also recommend Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and Caleb Carr’s The Alienist).”