| Title | : | The Devil's City |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781734811506 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 90 |
| Publication | : | First published May 23, 2020 |
The bustle of the World’s Expo hid an appalling snake in the grass, Mr. Herman Webster Mudgett, aka Dr Henry Howard Holmes. Holmes would become infamous as America’s first serial killer and proprietor of The Murder Castle. He confessed to 27 murders, and was purported to have killed as many as 200 victims before his capture. Some believed he may have been Jack the Ripper. Others knew him as a devil.
The Devil's City Reviews
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Thank you to Matthew Corely & Sara Tantlinger for sharing ARCs of their novella, THE DEVIL'S CITY with the Night Worms Review Team for review consideration.
"I can't seem to face up to the facts
I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax
I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire
Don't touch me I'm a real live wire
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est"
I don't know about all horror readers but this horror reader is fascinated with the lives of natural-born serial killers like the infamous, H. H. Holmes.
Several years ago, I read the historical fiction book, DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larson and enjoyed learning about The World's Fair in Chicago in 1893 and the madman (Holmes) who stalked and killed during the chaos surrounding that event.
Last year, I read the Bram Stoker winning collection of poems inspired by H. H. Holmes written by Sara Tantlinger and it blew my mind--opening my eyes to the way that fiction can tap into the psyche of a madman.
Her poems imagined the encounters Holmes' victims must have had with him, giving them a voice so that we could share in their frightening last moments.
For The Devil's City, Tantlinger is co-authoring this novella with Corley who is a pharmacist (as was Holmes). Their combined levels of expertise, knowledge, and storytelling voices make for a compulsive and disturbing read.
Chapter headings are titled with an individual's name just above a diary entry from H. H. Holmes.
From there, a personal account unfolds leading to an encounter with a serial killer.
Peppered throughout are gorgeous illustrations to enhance the reading experience.
Towards the end, Tantlinger and Corley take a deep dive into what actually happened to the victims in the laboratory of Holmes' Murder Castle. Pretty grisly and gruesome.
This novella is a companion piece to a much larger project involving an RPG tabletop game. If that sounds of interest to you, there's a Kickstarter explaining everything:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
But this review is just for the novella as a standalone story and I enjoyed it. -
“The cattle in the stockyards know more of their fate than the strumpets who drawn to the web of comfort I’ve created, and the oblivion I sell in each bottle of my medicines.”
I have been fascinated with the infamous serial killer, H.H. Holmes ever since I read Erik Larson’s novelistic-style true crime book, Devil in the White City. Also, last year I read Tantlinger’s brilliant book of poetry, The Devil’s Dreamland, which left me hungry for more.
THE DEVIL’S CITY novella is a companion book to the HORROR IN THE WINDY CITY role-playing game campaign, currently being funded through a Kickstarter campaign. Everything about this project draws me in. A book with a game that will ultimately immerse you into the dark, disturbing underworld of H.H. Holmes and his Murder Castle...what’s not to like?!
A little background: H.H. Holmes is considered America’s first modern-day serial killer. He lured his victims into his elaborately constructed Murder Castle during the chaos of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. He was a pharmacist, a swindler, and a con artist, who managed to devise and execute all manner of wicked ways in which to kill his victims. It is still undetermined his exact number of victims.
The style in which authors Tantlinger and Corley write this story gives you an intimate sense of the goings-on inside of Holmes’ Murder Castle. And at just under 100 pages, I devoured this novella as each compulsive chapter is titled after a character’s name and contains a passage from Holmes’ diary. It’s an excellent character study of the people who unfortunately crossed Holmes’ path, with the exact right amount of gore.
Thank you so much to Sadie and the authors for my free copy. -
What is it about serial killers that makes for such compelling reading? I’m such a squeamish person in real life, but I never seem to shy away from reading about the things that some of the more depraved members of society have done to other people. While THE DEVIL’S CITY novella is technically a companion to the Horror in the Windy City tabletop roleplaying game that’s seeking funding on Kickstarter right now, this little gem contains more than enough mayhem and Murder Castle hijinks to solidify this as a standalone on any true crime geek’s bookshelf.
Sara Tantlinger is a name you may recognize if you’ve been following my reviews for awhile, as she’s written both a poetry book and a novella unrelated to the Windy City that I’ve loved and written about here on my blog. She’s actually somewhat of an expert by now on the subject of THE DEVIL’S CITY actually – this is her second book focusing on the subject of H.H. Holmes’ murderous life, the first being a poetry collection that won a Bram Stoker award a couple of years back. Immersing yourself in such a dark world and character can’t be easy, but Sara does it with style and grace, creating a rich reading experience for the person diving into her writing that leaves the reader simultaneously repelled and wanting more.
Co-author Matt Corley specializes in bringing his creative visions and ideas to the tabletob gaming world, being the creative mind behind Saturday Morning Scenarios and co-creator of WHISPERS IN THE DARK, a “tabletop roleplaying game of investigative horror built around the 5e rules of the world’s most popular tabletop roleplaying game that you (likely) already know how to play”. Horror in the Windy City is the new WHISPERS campaign, and if a murder investigative tabletop roleplaying game sounds up your alley, I definitely suggest checking it out!
In THE DEVIL’S CITY novella, we meet a handful of characters including H.H. Holmes himself that will be playing a part in the tabletop game. Each chapter of the novella is devoted to one of a cast of characters that are varied both in backstory and in motivations. We learn about each character, what drove them to the Windy City, their hopes and desires. From architects married to unhappy wives to men with the mysterious gift of being able to locate hidden artifacts and objects, each character is fleshed out in a way that keeps the reader engaged and invested in what happens to them – which, as you’ll see, is usually pretty horrifying.
I love that this story didn’t really skimp on the gore, but didn’t rely too heavily on it either. Rather than only focusing on the grittiness of bloodshed, we’re privy to some of the inner workings of a madman’s thoughts. Consumed by his desire to know more and to push boundaries, inflicting pain on his subjects is just a bonus to what he feels is work that he’s being called upon to do by something bigger than himself. The thin line straddled between inquisitive scientist and bloodthirsty killer is conveyed so well even in just a short collection of individual character’s stories, and the author does an excellent job of letting you get into the murderer’s head.
I’m very eager to find out more about the characters, and to see them given life during a playthrough of the campaign. Having a novella tied to provide a bit more substance to the story – especially considering how easy it would be to turn a horror campaign into one more focused on shock value & gore than storytelling – is such a great addition, and I love that we have a window into the lives leading up to the events of the actual campaign.
If you’re a fan of horror, true crime, or tabletop gaming, definitely take a look at the Kickstarter for this one. It’s obvious that a lot of effort and hard work has gone into creating an incredibly immersive gaming experience, from the skilled writers to the incredibly talented artists all working on the project. I’m excited to see what’s in store for the future of Whispers in the Dark, and hope that it includes more amazing novellas like this one! -
As a murderino, I love reading fiction based on anything True Crime and The Devil's City by @inkychaotics @mattherdcorley didn't disappoint!
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭'𝘴 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 is a novella written to go with a role playing game all about the notorious H. H. Holmes. While, I can't speak for the game (it's not out yet, but you can check out the details on Kickstarter!) the book is amazing!
Previously, I've read and loved Sara Tantlinger's dark poetry collection inspired by Holmes and so I knew going in this would be good. However, I didn't expect such detail! 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐡,
𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 from this because your skin will crawl! I shuddered a few times and I live for gruesome stuff. 💉
Each short chapter introduces a new character who's wrapped up in Holmes' evil web and meets a grisly demise. The print copy will have illustrations and I can imagine they will be as beautiful as they are macabre!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
For this horrid delight that's well worth backing their Kickstarter for!
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭'𝘴 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 is out June 1st!
Thank you to @night_worms for my free review copy and for hosting this #nightwormsbookparty -
Thank you to Sara Tantlinger and Matthew Corley for sending copies of this book to the Night Worms group for review. This novella is part of a Kickstarter campaign that includes an RPG companion book that follows the story of H.H. Holmes and a group of people who fall victim to the monster.
I'm a huge fan of true crime, so I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I have not yet read THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larson. I only know the very basics about the psychopath Holmes and his murder castle that was built around the same time as the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Last year I read Tantlinger's excellent book of poetry about the murderer, THE DEVIL'S DREAMLAND, and that increased my desire to bump Larson's book up on my reading list. So when I saw this book show up in an email I was especially excited.
This short novella certainly packs a punch. Each chapter is about a different person who unfortunately ends up a victim in the murder castle. We see Chicago and Holmes from each of their eyes, in the very brief time between their first meeting with Holmes and their inevitable demise. After those chapters is a final chapter from the point of view of the murderer himself, and the grisly fantasies he plays out with his victims in the dungeon of his castle. Holmes was an exceptionally disturbed and twisted maniac, and his diabolical experiments are especially disturbing.
THE DEVIL'S CITY is a gory exploration of one of America's most notorious serial killers. Holmes carried out his evil deeds in a time distant enough to make it all the more intriguing. What went through the minds of his victims? What strange fantasies played out in the mind of the maniac himself? Tantlinger and Corley put themselves in the madman's shoes, and weave a tale of evil that I will not soon forget. -
I backed this book on kickstarter even though I had the privilege of reviewing an advanced electronic copy. Here was my review...
“The Devil’s City is a helluva thrill ride, delving deep into the sick history of serial killer HH Holmes, brutally peeling back the layers of his evil legacy through a series of surprising character studies, viciously unraveling Holmes' evil blood lust, victim after victim, until it reveals an unexpected core lurking behind it all. Holmes experts Sara Tantlinger and Matthew Corley have built a whole new underworld around the killer's infamous Murder Castle at turn of the century Chicago, and this book takes you straight down into the twisted intricacies its darkest abyss. LOVED IT.” -- Michael Arnzen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Play Dead -
The Devil's City is a novella that is a companion to the Horror in the Windy City tabletop roleplaying game. currently seeking funding on Kickstarter right now! For those intrigued with stories of serial killers and especially that of H.H. Holmes, this is a fun read to get further into his story while learning about the characters for this game.
In 90 pages, we get the stories of various characters that have met their demise at the hand of Holmes and his treacherous castle. We learn how they get involved with him and what happens when they make this fatal mistake. As someone who has read a ton about H.H. Holmes, it is a pleasure to get a more behind the scenes look into the minds and feelings of those who met their match. What's even more intriguing is learning what he also gained from them during his own unorthodox and gruesome process. In short, there's a lot of everything put into under 100 pages of horrific fascination.
Remember as you read that this isn't a start to finish plot type of read but rather a learning of the characters within Holmes's realm and of him himself. As a person who has played tabletop games back in the day and love this genre.... quite frankly, that's good enough for me. -
Let's go back to the late 1800s and hang out with H.H. Holmes and his murder castle! For those who do not know, Holmes was an infamous con artist and has been labeled America's first serial killer. There have been documentaries and books about him, the most popular probably being The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. But what we do not get a chance to hear are the voices of his victims. All of those men and women he killed had their light snuffed out too early and they were seemingly gone without a trace. This novella explores some of those victims and we get to see their actions leading up to their untimely demise. The chapters/stories end suddenly - the same way their lives ended. We get a glimpse into their last moments before Holmes takes everything from them.
Sara Tantlinger and Matthew Corely really have something special with this novella as it is part of a Kickstarter campaign that includes an RPG companion book. Their Kickstarter was a success, and you can learn more about the entire operation here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Be on the lookout for this! If you enjoy reading about serial killers then you definitely need this one! A huge thanks to Sara Tantlinger and Matthew Corley for sending copies to the Night Worms group for our book party review! -
A well written, imaginitive look into the hunting of H.H. Holmes. This is a quick and brutal read, with Tantlinger bringing her customary gift for prose and working seamlessly with Corley to bring alive a cast of doomed characters. Both authors did an amazing job with this take on Holmes. I loved the eerie descriptions of the murder hotel, and the imagery is superb. I can't wait to get my physical copy - the art is incredible!
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Thank you to Matthew Corely and Sara Tantlinger for providing an ARC of your novella, The Devil's City and to Nightworms for hosting a BookParty with a KICK...starter that is!
This 90 page Novella is a companion guide to, Horror in the Windy City; the Sourcebook for the RPG Expansion game Whispers in the Dark.
Terms such as companion guide or sourcebook may be forgien to some, but I am no stranger to RPGs or Role Playing Games. They are a fantastic, geeky way to bring books and television shows to life for super fans creating their own fandoms.
Herman Webster Mudgett, better known to true crime lovers as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or simply H.H. Holmes was a notorious American serial killer in mid 19th Century. A great deal of question clouds his murder count but that certainly does not stop the intrigue he holds for many. So who wouldn't want to assume the role of Murderer or victim? For many this might seem like and odd thing to do- for me its Monday. But this is important to note that this reads more like a character build than a novel. You are essentially choosing your path/player. Building your character depth and understanding your backstory. If you read it like that, it'll be more palatable. If you go in this expecting a beginning, middle, end kinda story you'll be left scratching your head.
This novella tackles a variety of tales from multiple victims that were absorbed between the walls of the World's Fair Hotel aka Murder Castle. As we are engulfed in darkness in gritty Chicago we are given a chilling look into the mind of a murderer. Each tale begins with a diary entry of a madman; that truly was my favorite part. I seem to resonate more with the killer than his victims as the walls of the castle offer a warm embrace.
There is a great deal of potential here for those that have a fascination for true crime, serial killers, H. H. Holmes alone, or are looking for a fresh idea for an RPG. If you're interested in backing this kickstarter campaign please refer to the link at the end which runs through 04/29/20
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/... -
Really enjoyed this novella. While I always knew who HH Holmes was, I never really dove deep into his story. I knew the basics and that’s it. After reading this, I WANT ALL THE HOLMES! I own a few books on him, and I think the time has come to familiarize myself more with his sick story.
Now, back to THE DEVIL’S CITY. I love how this is equal parts gore and storytelling. I found myself a tiny bit confused towards the beginning of the story but that quickly fixes itself as you dive deeper. Like I said before this really leaves you wanting more, in the best way possible! And I wouldn’t of been mad if this was longer. Nonetheless, it’s a fast, easy, and gripping read. HIGHLY recommend.
Thank you so much to the authors and also to Night Worms for my review ebook. -
Big shout outs to Sara Tantlinger and Matt Corley for the Advance Review Copy of The Devil’s City, thank you.
The Devil’s City is a fantastical take on the legend of serial Killer H.H. Holmes and his romps around the time of the World Fair, told through a series of gnarly vignettes. The man Holmes was a sick, twisted individual, and as you’d expect, the material here inspired by the monster is just as sick and twisted. Tantlinger & Corley have crafted some grisly interconnected shorts, forming a larger narrative of mayhem and madness. A solid writing style kept me involved and entertained and when we get to the brass tacks of the bloodletting, the book shines.
And now for the hurdles. I find the business of H.H. Holmes fascinating. The way he conducted his “business” was visionary, not to put a glamour to it or give him a pat on the back. And the legends that have sprouted from the confessions that couldn’t be proven or debunked, even more fascinating. So I feel the fantastical take to the material actually lessens the glamour of the history a bit. And I get it. There’s a ton of Holmes inspired fiction out there, so something different is needed. But for me, the fictional will never outdo the reality. Secondly, the disjointed presentation/ delivery of these vignettes threw me off a little bit and made for an uneven enjoyment experience. I would have liked a little more payoff, a little earlier on.
There you go. All in all, The Devil’s City is an interesting and enjoyable bit of quick fiction. At 90 pages it’s definitely a one sitting read. Preferably on a dark and stormy night.
#DevilsCityWorms -
I feel like this book was made for me. I read Devil in the White city last year and while reading this I instantly felt this is how I wished that book had been. There’s not page after page of filler, what we have here are deadly cat and mouse games between Holmes and numerous victims of his.
The Devil’s City follows numerous point of views for a short period of time, all with one thing in common. At some point, they have a run in with America’s first serial killer. If you’ve read Tantlingers work before you know that you can expect beautiful passages alongside disturbing gore, so fans of the author with be in for a treat.
When I finished reading this, I couldn’t help but wish Tantlinger would return to The Devil’s City in the future for a longer walk through his streets. Sign me up. -
Oddly enough, I didnt know much about HH Holmes until I read Sara's poetry collection The Devil's Dreamland in November 2019. From there my fascination grew so when I found out about this HH Holmes inspired novella and RPG game being created by Sara Tantlinger and Matt Corley, I knew i needed it!!
A fictionalized version of HH Holmes and his murder castle, The Devil's City is a binge worthy novella. The unique spin on it makes it fun for anyone especially if you think you know everything there is to know about HH Holmes. There were some scenes that honestly hurt my eyeballs but did I stop reading? Never! -
Sara Tantlinger was kind enough to send me a signed copy of this beautiful hardcover novella that she and Matt Corley created. It instantly reminded me of the fun and spooky books I used to get in the library as a kid that had cartoonish but haunting covers, with pictures included inside. The pictures in this book were much more intricate, beautiful, and memorable though. It brought back that feeling of being excited to see how the next picture will complement the storyline, and it certainly did not disappoint.
Feeling like I was equipped with more information from having read Sara Tantlinger's "The Devil's Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes" last year, I was ready to delve deeper into the mind and story of H.H. Holmes. This novella is a bit more of a light sweeping than the in-depth book of poetry, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
The chapters were initiated with quotes from H.H. Holmes' diary that were fascinating in their narcissistic tendencies. A scientific method of presentation then offers insights into the people surrounding Holmes, how they caught his eye, and then later his surgical weapons. It felt like this novella spent the first while creating a gap between the reader and H.H. Holmes, like this mysterious anomaly of a sociopath with icy blue eyes could not be captured fully, even in words. This made the humanity of the victims clearer. With a stirring climax, there is brief yet intimate look at him and his thoughts that bridges that gap and takes you from the perspective of his victims into the madness that is his own mind.
The interest that this lunatic holds for me is only surmounted by the creativity that Sara Tantlinger, and now Matt Corley, draw from his disturbing inspiration. I recommend this sickly sweet little read. -
I made it to about 25% and I’m just not hooked. The writing is okay and I really think others might enjoy it, but I couldn’t get invested in the characters or the story. I wish, man do I wish, it would’ve been different. I love the history surrounding Holmes and I’ve read Tantlinger’s poetry (LOVE IT), but it’s not happening for me with this one. I think it’s a case of not all books are for all readers.
Thanks to Matt Corley for sending this my way to check out. -
(Review to come soon)
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A tale of short tales some from the victim of HH Holmes. Beautiful art work.
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Fun read! Very spooky. Good primer for my upcoming DnD campaign set in Chicago during the 1890s.
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Sara Tantlinger and Matt Corley bring us into a mid-19th century Chicago. Our main character is America’s first serial killer – H.H. Holmes. Although, we see the city through the eyes of five point-of-view characters that ultimately become Holme’s victims. Each POV character comes from a different walk of life, ranging from a very strong woman that puts on unbelievable shows which display her strength, to a man that traveled from a land far far away.
The atmosphere comes off like it was designed by Holmes himself – eerie and slightly off by a few degrees. It’s almost like the authors made that a metaphor for his architectural enigma of a hotel, where it’s almost dream-like. There’s a façade to what the surface layers have to offer. An evil under-layer of horror and torment.
And death.
Holmes is a great character to explore. Even if you don’t know much about him, chances are you’ve witnessed art – in various formats – that has been heavily influenced by him. So before this book was even written, they were looking at a challenge to present something different.
The Devil’s City had moments of unique twists. I say moments because the book, the chapters, and scenes are all short. I’m not opposed to anything short, or long, a story is whatever its length is supposed to be, however, the bursts of chapters come as a disservice in this case. I didn’t get to know each POV character well enough to really care about them. Sure you can empathize for them, but it was more like a meet and greet, where I get to know a few things someone likes, and then they’re gone.
How they die is interesting, but ultimately the stories felt rushed. There was no buildup and I wanted to feel their pain. To feel their terror. We were shown a lot of really interesting things outside of Holmes’ hotel, as well as within the hotel – my personal favorite room within the hotel being the pharmacy – but I never felt the characters jump out of the page at me.
Another thing that did not work for me was in two instances, there were supernatural elements about our killer that were mentioned in a jarring manner. There was no foreshadowing in any way, which is why they were so jarring for me. They were really interesting sides to Holmes that I wish were explored further, but they were merely used as a tool to achieve an act of mending Holmes’ problems. The last thing that did not work for me was the ending. It didn’t fill my tummy. I was still hungry. It felt like I got a small tasty appetizer with a need for an entrée. Something to sink my teeth into.
Tantlinger and Corley are both clearly good writers. It’s evident in this story. I know this book is illustrated, I’ve seen those illustrations after I read this. They are truly beautiful pieces of art. There are also maps for the different floors of the hotel, which made a great visual to see where events from the stories took place. Also something worth noting, this novella is associated with a role-playing board game, Whispers In The Dark. I’m curious if this would have been more satisfying if I had played the game.
Even though this story didn’t work for me, I would not discourage anyone from reading it. Holmes’ is an interesting person, and for anyone that’s a fan of him and wants another story about him, this could be another great book to add to your collection. -
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭'𝘴 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 is a horror novella about HH Holmes and his murder castle. For those that don't know HH Holmes, he was America's first serial killer. He built a hotel in Chicago specifically designed to help him trap and kill his victims. This book focuses on Holmes's victims and how they came to be on his radar. As these characters are killed and dragged into the depths of the hell that Holmes created, we learn exactly what it is he does with his victims.
The writing in this little novella is very good. The descriptions of the murders are interesting and disturbing. But the real star of this book is the setting. The inner workings of The Murder Castle are so interesting to me and I hope that the authors revisits this subject for a full length novel because I could read their take on Holmes all day.
