The Devil in the White CityThe Devil in the White City
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1893 Chicago held a World's Fair, and the architect Daniel Burnham raced against impossible deadlines to build a glittering 'White City' that drew millions of visitors. At the same time, a few miles away, a charming doctor named H. H. Holmes built a hotel designed to murder his guests. Erik Larson tells both true stories side by side.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a National Book Award finalist. It's the book that made Larson famous, a true story that reads like a novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Demon of Unrest
In Cold Blood
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIGood to know
Holmes's murders are described, though not in gory detail. There's a lot of architecture and fair history.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics28 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller78 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #126 of the 198 history books we rank
- #470 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #905 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Gripping, Dark
More by Erik Larson
The Splendid and the VileThe Demon of Unrest
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
In the Garden of BeastsIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
The Forgotten Garden
Midnight in the Garden of Good and EvilExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Devil in the White City worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a National Book Award finalist. It ranks #905 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Devil in the White City about?
In 1893 Chicago held a World's Fair, and the architect Daniel Burnham raced against impossible deadlines to build a glittering 'White City' that drew millions of visitors. At the same time, a few miles away, a charming doctor named H. H. Holmes built a hotel designed to murder his guests. Erik Larson tells both true stories side by side.
How long does it take to read The Devil in the White City?
About 11 hours (447 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Devil in the White City?
If you liked it, try The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote or Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann.