Murder by Gaslight

Dead Men Do Tell Tales

By: Troy Taylor

Narrated by: Charles Huddleston

MURDER BY GASLIGHT:
THE AUTHENTICATED HISTORY OF DR. H.H. HOLMES, HIS INSIDIOUS MURDER CASTLE, THE 1893 WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION AND THE HORRORS OF GASLIGHT ERA CHICAGO

Chicago during the Gaslight Era was a place that embodied both the elegance of America’s Gilded Age and the vice, crime and sin of the most corrupt city in the country. During the 1880s and early 1890s, Chicago was home to killers, thieves, gamblers, con artists and whores – and hosted perhaps the greatest World’s Fair in our nation’s history. It was to this place that a man named H.H. Holmes was drawn like a moth to the flame and Chicago embraced him as one of its own. Charming and dapper, Holmes soon slashed his way into American history with devious schemes, unconscionable swindles – and bloody murders. Killing for profit and convenience, he claimed an unknown number of victims with his infamous “Castle” on Chicago’s South Side, a grandiose monstrosity that was filled with trapdoors, winding passages, secret doors and staircases, torture chambers a crematorium and worse.

Then, finally on the run from the law, he left a trail of corpses behind him before his past crimes finally caught up with him and led to what the newspapers called the “Trial of the Century.”

In this spellbinding book, author Troy Taylor tackles the chilling tale of H.H. Holmes, cutting through the myths and exaggerations that have plagued the strange story for years and presenting a clear and concise account of Holmes’ murders, his swindles, his confessions and the myriad of lies that effortlessly spilled from his lips. How many people did Holmes really kill? Who was the intrepid detective that finally brought about his downfall? And did a supernatural curse really surround those who sent Holmes to the gallows? You’ll find out in one of the author’s best books so far!"

©2013 Troy Taylor (P)2022 Troy Taylor

Listen with the lights out . . .

I enjoyed this format…the story sprinkled with music from the time period. The narrator voice was perfect for this. Low and slow! I liked listening to this at night in the dark! Really set the mood!

One of My Less-Reputable Cousins

True Crime is something I have been fascinated with for a long time, and especially this one. Once I found out that HH Holmes was a cousin of mine, I've listened to every version of the story that I can find and this one is right up there with the best. I had a little trouble warming up to the narrator's voice in the beginning, and I generally don't like it when they try too hard with character voices, but in the end his enthusiasm won me over.

Excellent Book, Mush-Mouthed Narrator

This is one great book, especially for those familiar with the city of Chicago. It doesn't get too depressing before interspersing more light-hearted fare. There is a great amount of detail, so much so that one wonders how the author could know all of that. But what ruined it for me was the narrator. He has a slurry, loose-lipped narration technique that makes him sound as if he's had a shot of novocaine or he's falling asleep. Almost to the point of drooling. He'd start a new chapter with crisp inflection and enunciation, only to slough off and begin slurring as he continued. He pronounced "important" as "imporant," without the second "t." I loved the book and tried hard to finish it, but the narration made it necessary to take frequent breaks.

Overly detailed, but fascinating

Exhaustive and somewhat exhausting as Taylor starts off by introducing us to the 19th Century Chicago, then takes us to the Murder Castle of Dr. H. H. Holmes, serial killer and fraudster, after which we follow the horrific, bloody exploits of this awful sociopath, whose trail of death made Jack The Ripper look like a slacker. It's fascinating, yet tedious in its fine detail.

Psychopath until the end.

Although this has a kind of slow start with a history of patent medicines included, it’s a riveting tale of a psychopath’s life. The tell of person’s tragically entangled in his life with many losing their battle. Holmes doesn’t give up on his own life while having blatant disregard for others. The narrator has a way with telling the story that keeps the listener very engaged.