Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H.H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago [Paperback]

 

 

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I do agree with some of the things said before, one may be slightly disappointed by the book, but that is if you expect much about the "Castle" and the other stuff Holmes is known for. On the other hand you can hardly blame Schechter for it, he does a most excellent job of research, as usual, and I guess that book must have been and endless maze to write. Holmes' frauds and manipulations and lies become so messy that it's hard to follow all acurately even as a reader.
The weak spot of the book, in my experience of it, is that there is a whole part of it that, according to me, is maybe too "novelised", that would be the trips with the children and family on which some reader had some complains to make. I never had that impression before on a Schechter book but maybe this time the "novelisation" goes too far and there might be too much direct speech and other such things. It's not bad but it may surprise readers as the passage extends in its number of page.
Hopefully, this doesn't last till the end of the book and soon enough you're back to Schechter at his best. The rest of the book is as excellent as could be. Again, Harold Schechter has done the best job one could possibly make on the matter.
Now, as far as the killer is concerned, I do despise him a great deal, as any serial killer should, but Holmes was really some soulless machine. Even Albert Fish would get more sympathy from me, at least he was "passionate", he didn't sleep well at night, which never seems like Holmes' case. He's like the incarnation of materialism and utilitarism's dark side. A capitalist to the core (and to the core of others). He's most despisable because he is totally unreliable and lies constantly till the bitter end. Odds are you will be more shocked at his mean tricks than at his "Castle". The latter which is not dealt much with in the book, although it was not possible to do more about it, so again don't blame Schechter, he's innocent!
Personally, Holmes is not the most interesting serial killer I read about so far. Not that he is devoid of interest, but he seems so inhuman, in the sense of a machine. I mean, you can have sympathy for even a monstrous psychopath like Fish, because even in his incredible deeds there was still something human, too human maybe, about it. But Holmes! He is capitalism's terminator. He'd insure on your life, kill you, sell your bones, steal your jewels to sell them afterwards, same with your clothes, and when he's cornered he'll write a book of his life, not without tonloands of lies and fabrications.
It is a very good book, apart from the weak spot I mentionned earlier, although I don't think everyone would agree with me on that. Schechter again did a great job, considering the matter he dealt with, however, if you never read a Schechter book before, I'd advise another one to start with, like Deviant, or even Deranged.

I do agree with some of the things said before, one may be slightly disappointed by the book, but that is if you expect much about the "Castle" and the other stuff Holmes is known for. On the other hand you can hardly blame Schechter for it, he does a most excellent job of research, as usual, and I guess that book must have been and endless maze to write. Holmes' frauds and manipulations and lies become so messy that it's hard to follow all acurately even as a reader.

The weak spot of the book, in my experience of it, is that there is a whole part of it that, according to me, is maybe too "novelised", that would be the trips with the children and family on which some reader had some complains to make. I never had that impression before on a Schechter book but maybe this time the "novelisation" goes too far and there might be too much direct speech and other such things. It's not bad but it may surprise readers as the passage extends in its number of page.
Hopefully, this doesn't last till the end of the book and soon enough you're back to Schechter at his best. The rest of the book is as excellent as could be. Again, Harold Schechter has done the best job one could possibly make on the matter.

Now, as far as the killer is concerned, I do despise him a great deal, as any serial killer should, but Holmes was really some soulless machine. Even Albert Fish would get more sympathy from me, at least he was "passionate", he didn't sleep well at night, which never seems like Holmes' case. He's like the incarnation of materialism and utilitarism's dark side. A capitalist to the core (and to the core of others). He's most despisable because he is totally unreliable and lies constantly till the bitter end. Odds are you will be more shocked at his mean tricks than at his "Castle". The latter which is not dealt much with in the book, although it was not possible to do more about it, so again don't blame Schechter, he's innocent!

Personally, Holmes is not the most interesting serial killer I read about so far. Not that he is devoid of interest, but he seems so inhuman, in the sense of a machine. I mean, you can have sympathy for even a monstrous psychopath like Fish, because even in his incredible deeds there was still something human, too human maybe, about it. But Holmes! He is capitalism's terminator. He'd insure on your life, kill you, sell your bones, steal your jewels to sell them afterwards, same with your clothes, and when he's cornered he'll write a book of his life, not without tonloads of lies and fabrications.

It is a very good book, apart from the weak spot I mentionned earlier, although I don't think everyone would agree with me on that. Schechter again did a great job, considering the matter he dealt with, however, if you never read a Schechter book before, I'd advise another one to start with, like Deviant, or even Deranged.

Schechter focuses on the provable crimes, only hinting at the most sensational POSSIBILITES of his life. Schechter is a historian. He concentrates on the provable, not the possibly false and certainly sensational.

Well-written, well-researched review of an excellent early example of the 'organised' offender. Background detail helps with the profiling exercise.

The marketing was sensationalistic, but I assume that was the decision of the publisher...

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3.0 out of 5 stars nice but not great
This book doesnt give you what it promisses. Although it's a good read i think it gives to much attention to uninterresting subjects. Read more

Published on Mar 1 2003 by kramer mc

2.0 out of 5 stars America's SEVENTH serial killer
This account is untrustworthy simply because it calls Herman Webster Mudgett, AKA H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer. There were a least six before him. Read more

Published on Nov 7 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Think Seriel Killers Are Caused By TV? Think Again
The Green Goblin visited me while I was reading this book; she picked it off my reading table and literally could not put it down. She finished it in a day. It's that good. Read more

Published on July 18 2002 by The Orange Duke

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting tale of serial killing in the "Good Old Days"
"Depraved" tells the story of the first serial killer in American history, Herman Mudgett. Mudgett, through cunning and sadistic genius, murdered perhaps as many as 200 people in... Read more

Published on July 8 2002 by Bobby Dillard

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the first by far, but still a good one.
When I first read this book, I didn't like it all that much. But I read it again and liked it much more after that. H. H. Read more

Published on Aug 9 2001 by Meaghan Good

4.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD READ!
First of all I'd like to say that Mudgett (H. H. Holmes) killed his partner and 3 of his children in that demented insurance fraud. Two of the previous reviewers got it wrong. Read more

Published on Feb 25 2001 by Margaret G

5.0 out of 5 stars What a mysterious world...
I love this book. H. H. Holmes is by far my favorite serial killer. That sounds strange but he is the most fascinating in my opinion. Read more

Published on Nov 16 2000 by Mary A. Copus

5.0 out of 5 stars Strap yourself in for a loooooooooong ride!
I have read many books out there about serial killers, mass murders, as well as being a criminal justice major. Read more

Published on Mar 28 2000 by Tempestuous1

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