The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America's First Serial Killer
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.10 (607 Votes) |
| Asin | : | B01COJYL7W |
| Format Type | : | |
| Number of Pages | : | 418 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-06-07 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
With vivid historical detail and novelistic flair, Texas Monthly journalist Skip Hollandsworth brings this terrifying saga to life. At the time the concept of a serial killer was unthinkable, but the murders continued, the killer became more brazen, and the citizens' panic reached a fever pitch. Before it was all over, at least a dozen men would be arrested in connection with the murders, and the crimes would expose what a newspaper described as "the most extensive and profound scandal ever known in Austin". But beginning in December 1884, Austin was terrorized by someone equally as vicious and, in some ways, far more diabolical than London's infamous Jack the Ripper. For almost exactly one year, the Midnight Assassin crisscrossed the entire city, striking on moonlit nights, using axes, knives, and long steel rods to rip apart women from every race and class. In the late 1800s, the city of Austin, Texas, was on the cusp of emerging from an isolated western outpost into a truly cosmopolitan metropolis. And yes, when Jack the Ripper began his attacks in 1888, London police investigators did wonder if the killer from Austin had crossed the ocean to terrorize their own city. A sweeping narrative history of a terrifying serial killer - America's first - who stalked Austin, Texas, in 1885. The introduction and epilogue are read by the author.
"3 Stars In depth history of one of America's first (or possibly the first) serial killer set in 1880's Austin, TX.The book, while mostly interesting, reads really almost more like a research paper or a dissertation than a book. More time was spent describing events, styles and general happenings in 1885 Austin than dissecting the actual murders and their aftermath. I understand that the author had to work with the limited information available to him, but I felt more like a was reading a book about the politics of Austin, the building of the . Stars" according to Kindle Customer. In depth history of one of America's first (or possibly the first) serial killer set in 1880's Austin, TX.The book, while mostly interesting, reads really almost more like a research paper or a dissertation than a book. More time was spent describing events, styles and general happenings in 1885 Austin than dissecting the actual murders and their aftermath. I understand that the author had to work with the limited information available to him, but I felt more like a was reading a book about the politics of Austin, the building of the . ABSORBING STUDY OF A CRIME AND A CITY Anthony McGill Engrossing, painstakingly researched true crime history of America's first serial killer; crimes still unsolved to this day.Author Skip Hollandsworth has brilliantly captured the time and place in his re-creation of the hunt for an unknown killer with the burgeoning growth of Austin, Texas from frontier town to the bustling metropolis of a state capital. A fascinating study which combines all the fear generated by crimes of appalling depravity, investigative incompetence by "Town Hall", racial intolerance and political shenanigans in . The prejudices of the time were on display but the inability of authorities to do anything led to political careers being ruined Riveting & informative read about a new kind of killer--a serial murderer--terrorizing Austin, Texas, from December 188The prejudices of the time were on display but the inability of authorities to do anything led to political careers being ruined Gary Page Riveting & informative read about a new kind of killer--a serial murderer--terrorizing Austin, Texas, from December 1884 through December 1885 in the days before forensic science. The police force had no clue how to catch this fiend or stop the reign of terror. Although many men were arrested and three prosecuted the killer of several women in grusome fashion was never identified or apprehended. When Jack the Ripper started killing prostitutes in 1888 in London many wondered if the Midnight Assassin of Austin had gone to London & star. through December 1885 in the days before forensic science. The police force had no clue how to catch this fiend or stop the reign of terror. Although many men were arrested and three prosecuted the killer of several women in grusome fashion was never identified or apprehended. When Jack the Ripper started killing prostitutes in 1888 in London many wondered if the Midnight Assassin of Austin had gone to London & star