I'd heard good things about this book for years but put off reading it because I've never been a fan of non-fiction crime (or fictional crime). Sure enough, much of it takes a chapter-by-chapter structure to describe the Chicago fair of 1893 and the serial killing of H. H. Holmes in Chicago and elsewhere during that period.
 I liked the parts about the fair for its depictions of the times. People then thought they were living in as modern an era as we do. They were right, of course, as people of any time are, and it makes the differences more striking. Dead horses in the streets, ridiculously high crime rates, garbage everywhere, zero job security or safety nets and about a quarter of the people you meet probably have an awful toothache.
 I haven't read any of Larson's later works. I hope they don't rely on teases to keep readers reading. His excellent research, hard work and clear writing style is enough to keep readers engrossed.