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Neddy Suidek's life changed the day she saw the eyes of a calculating killer. She had just discovered her friend's murdered body and almost fell prey to her killer. Up until then, her day had begun with promise, as she had made the acquaintance of renowned Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and discussed the upcoming World's Fair in Chicago. Her dwindling opportunities, along with the risk of encountering the killer, lead her to travel to Chicago. Neddy is gambling that a reintroduction to Burnham will allow her to charm her way into a job. Little does Neddy know that she is sitting on the train with a killer, a man who relies on wit and disarming charm in seducing more than a few victims. Once in Chicago, she will gain the job of her dreams while a nightmare threatens to swallow her future.
The construction of the Chicago World's Fair and the shocking crimes of one of America's first serial killers are at the forefront of this beguiling and intelligent suspense-thriller novel. The cleverness of the narrative comes with a protagonist who matches wits with the diabolical con man and killer known as H.H. Holmes. Oneida "Neddy" Suidek is a young woman who refuses to be a victim, whether to her lecherous boss or to the charismatic but predatory Holmes. The story unfolds in a way that makes Neddy's character stronger with each chapter, taking agency over her life and becoming more assertive. The plot's tension steadily rises with each chapter and comes to a head with a magnificent denouement that is surprising but satisfying. An engrossing read with a strong heroine, this book is a brilliant work of historical fiction reminiscent of The Alienist.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review