Heinous
About
Dive into the shadowy corners of a tumultuous decade where crime reigned supreme and sensationalism ruled the headlines: the dark and gritty world of the 1910s.
In Heinous: Forgotten Murders From the 1910s, journey back to a time when forensics was in its infancy, police departments cast a wide net over “idiots and morons” and journalists played detective. It also was a decade when experts blamed crime on everything from immigration to lax parenting.
This compelling true-crime collection unearths 17 chilling tales of murder and mysterious deaths that will haunt your thoughts long after you turn the last page.
The people you’ll meet include Hans Schmidt, a priest who believed his crime was divinely inspired; Russell Pethrick, a grocery delivery boy whose fate hinges on the revolutionary science of fingerprint analysis; Thomas Fitzgerald, a pedophile who enjoyed showing little girls “pretty” pictures of dead people; and Nathan Swartz, whose desperate flight from the law left his family grappling with shame.
As an enticing bonus, delve into the enduring mystery surrounding Dorothy Arnold, a glamorous socialite whose baffling disappearance captivated the nation and remains unsolved to this day.
With richly detailed narratives and a keen eye for the cultural dynamics of the era, Heinous is a haunting journey through forgotten headlines and unsolved mysteries, perfect for true crime enthusiasts eager to explore the roots of modern criminal investigation and sensational storytelling.
Praise for this book
Highly recommended for fans of true crime or history.
The first part of the book where the author looked at the facts and opinions of the day was first rate.
This was an interesting book that kept my attention thanks to the engaging writing.
I highly recommend this book for all mystery, and true crime fans. You won’t be disappointed.
A must for any true crime lover!
I was intrigued by the subject matter and immediately wanted to dive into the stories Heinous offered but Melina Druga’s note and the information that followed gave me pause. It was an eye-opener. Yes, I was certainly one of those who assumed people were better behaved in the previous century. However, the truth was astounding. So this is what it was like in the old days! The knowledge I gained under the chapter The Moron Problem was just as surprising; who knew that the word 'moron' was a term used by psychiatrists to describe adults with limited brain functionality? The amount of time and effort Melina took to research the victims and their backstories is admirable and I am grateful to have read her well-thought-out work. I recommend Heinous: Forgotten Murders From The 1910s to true crime buffs and those curious about how things were in the past. It is guaranteed to be an interesting read.
I rarely read true crime, but was lucky to stumble upon this gem. The writing is superb. The author presents the facts in a straightforward fashion. These are mysteries without melodrama. Each makes you wonder and want to know what happens next. Her ability to tell a story clearly and simply just draws you in. Truly compelling.
Very well written with not a wasted word. Read it and become an armchair Sherlock Holmes.
This is a book I had trouble putting down. It is filled with tales of murder in the 1910's. I was not sure what I would find, it was almost like watching an accident you cannot look away from. The book is well written and objective.
I thought this book to be morbidly fascinating. I was totally captivated by these dark and dangerous killers. I finished this book in an afternoon.
This was an interesting book that kept my attention thanks to the engaging writing. Most of these are murders that I have either never heard of or have forgotten about. This was well written and easy to read.