Skip Hollandsworth

Update:
I gave the hardcover copy to my Dad for his birthday. The bound copy is full of goodies, like maps and photos, and contains a reference index. My dad, a native Austinite, is a history buff who particularly loves the late 1800s, and was so delighted with this book that he also sent a copy to his brother.

Original Review:
It seems amazing that I’ve never heard of this string of attacks and murders in Austin, although I seem to recall hearing of the legend of the mysterious woman in white (apparently the ghost of the murdered Eula) when I was a student at UT. Or maybe from my visits to my grandparents in Austin as a kid?

The author does an excellent job of presenting the events and his research findings objectively. The narrative is not at all dry – it’s engaging while paying the reader the compliment of avoiding sensationalism and emotional manipulation. I was as fascinated by the story of historical Austin, its people and growth and politics and race relations, as I was by the mystery of the attacks. The insight into the process (and limits) of 19th century forensics, law enforcement, and justice, was compelling as well.

Audiobook, borrowed from my public library via Overdrive. Clint Jordan provides an excellent performance with an authentic regional voice, although his mispronunciation of a few place names was a little distracting. For example, Seguin is “suh-GEEN”, not “SEG-win”. The author reads the afterword in his own voice, which is even more authentically, delightfully, regional.

… (meer)

Like many readers of history and historical fiction, I've encountered serial killers (only in books and movies, thankfully) like Jack the Ripper before, but the connections between the infamous London killer and a murderer who hunted the city of Austin, Texas, are intriguing. As this book points out, the two killers are almost certainly different people, but close time span when they were active led contemporaries to suppose that they might be the same person. Many mysteries remain about this illusive murderer and many of the scenes recounted made me wish modern forensics could have been used. The discussion of how law enforcement rounded up suspects, often black men, and even arrested them with no evidence, made for frustrating reading. Overall, a good read about a serial killer I previously knew nothing about.… (meer)