The Devil in the White City

What made the experience of listening to The Devil in the White City the most enjoyable?The story is irresistable, the writing is fineWhat was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?Any time Scott Brick stopped using his habitually snarky intonation -- which was rareWould you be willing to try another one of Scott Brick’s performances?In a Nelson DeMille or Lee Child book sure.In non-fiction, only because I have no choiceIf you could give The Devil in the White City a new subtitle, what would it be?The Devil who makes publishers continue to use Scott Brick for everything regardless of suitabilityAny additional comments?Have I made myself clear:Scott Brick has exactly one gear:snark overdrive.Fine when called for by the content, ridiculous for 90% of what he is currently used for.

I downloaded this book because I am a great fan of Scott Brick and because of the great initial reviews.However, I find myself "zoning out" due to long winded repetitve descriptions of everything.How many hours does it take to establish that the Chicago project is going to be difficult if not impossible?First book I couldn't finishand first negative review.

As with most of the online reviews, I concur that this is a tale of two tales ... either one of which stands on its own --- and COULD be published separately.The story of murder surrounded by the world's fair ... utterly fascinating.I want to find out more about HH Holmes AND the fair ... and after reading this complete account on both ... that is saying something.Highly recommended! And the narration is just right.Scott Brick sounds very much like Edward Hermann and has the same enjoyable tones and inflections in his reading.

Seldom does an Audible choice provide such a complete package: great writing, outstanding reader, and a story based on real events that reads like fiction. Larson brings characters from the Gilded Age to life. They'd all - even Holmes! - be very pleased with Larson's "resurrection." Four stars.

Not only is this book a great read but it is incredibly informative. The parrallel story flows like water. I have recommeded it to several of my friends and they loved it.

I ordered this book because my daughter recommended it.I was so glad that I did.Although I have advanced degrees and had studied some American history, I knew nothing about the Chicago World's Fair.Considering the influence this event had on our culture, including such people as Frank Lloyd Wright and Walt Disney, I think it's important to know about it.The White City sounds incredible, and I've enjoyed looking it up on Google.The remainder of the plot, although somewhat gruesome, brought interest to the storyline.I found the book fascinating and highly recommend it.

The book is great, and well worth the time.The story and the writing really take you to the time and place-- more credit to Mr. Larson for his style and scholarship.Fascinating book. To me, the audiobook was a mixed bag, though.The narrator over-emotes every sentence, and until the drama really heated up, I considered dropping the book-- I kept getting distracted by Mr. Brick's inappropriate, superior, and generally irritating tone.That being said, he seems to be some people's cup of tea, and if you like (or just dont mind) him as a reader, the book will not disappoint.

Every writer deserves a fighting chance.This one almost lost the fight with me.If not for the reader, I would have not finished the book.I feel like I was at a party trying to get away from a long winded boring guest.WAY too much detail about the building of the fair and just when I was about to ZONE OUT, the writer saved the moment with some of what the killer was up to keeping me interested until the next 3 hours of the fair building again and so it went.... Interesting but I think could have been shorter.The effort that went into writing the book and the research alone is mind boggling.For that alone my hat off to writer.

The first half of this book was mildly interesting, but since I had never heard of the White City before, held little interest for me. The passages about Holmes, the psychopath of the tale, were morbidly fascinating, and kept me going through the stretches of getting the City gardens just so. By the second half, I was getting more interested in the City. It was actually sounding pretty good, and had some excitement with the setbacks encountered along the way. By the time the closing of the Exposition was chronicled, I wished I could somehow visit it and see the City and all its wonders for myself.The Holmes investigation at the end was very creepy. It was night and dark in my house, and I had to take a break until daylight! Very good and all the better for being non-fiction. The abridged version may have been better for me if it keeps all the Holmes sections, yet still captures the wonder of the Exposition.

This book was fascinating!As a life long resident of Chicago, I found this book to be a must read.It lead to a wealth of emotions from pride in the "Chicago spirit" which accomplished and continues to accomplish great things to the disgust at the lax manner in which human life was treated at that time.Contrary to what some reviewers wrote, I found the detail to paint a rich and deep picture of that time that reflected the spirit and mood of the Era, not only in Chicago, but the country as well.Highly recommended!