A City Doomed by the Devil by Jesus Benitez

On May 1, 1983 the World’s Fair not only opened its door to the people, but also to a gruesome and vicious serial killer. In the non-fiction book, Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America (2003), by the author Erik Larson, it describes the horrendous acts of murder committed by H.H. Holmes as he tortured, mutilated, and killed dozens of people throughout Chicago’s World Fair. Though more importantly, Larson addresses the juxtaposition of two very distinct men, Daniel H. Burnham, the architect in charge of the World Fair project, and H.H. Holmes one of the first serial killers in America. Both men are very ambitious and are prideful of their works. Larson touches on the themes of good vs. evil, but more importantly that wherever there is good there is going to be evil present. Overall, The Devil in The White City deserves four out of five stars due to Larson’s astonishing use of description throughout the book, and the invigorating narration that intensifies the read. Ultimately young adults who are interested in a book with historic value and want to experience a series of murders from the eyes of a killer, will value Larson work.