I enjoyed learning the history of the World’s Fair in Chicago, but I found the two stories the book told, of H.H. Holmes and of Burnham and his Fair to be almost completely separate. To tell two stories without a converging plot or analysis drawing them together felt lazy and forced.

I also found Larson’s tone annoying and a bit grating at times. Lines like “the architect’s name was Frank Lloyd Wright” are more annoying than revealing, and suggest a snarkiness that I didn’t like.

My mother and I together have three copies of this book, which I think is about 2.5 more than we need.