The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America's First Serial Killer

Reader Jordon's calm, clear narration sets the perfect tone for Hollandsworth's true crime historical thriller. From 1884 to 1885, a series of grisly murders galvanized the city of Austin, Tex. Over that time, seven women from all walks of life were killed by an unknown assailant who would come to be known as "the Midnight Assassin." The series of deaths stymied the local police as well as detectives brought in from outside the state to work on the case. Jordan keeps his reading serious with just the right amount of dramatic emphasis to keep the listener involved. His use of character voices is fitting in the context of the story and never distracts from the descriptive narrative. Almost as interesting as this historical whodunit is Hollandsworth's introduction and afterword, where the author tells how he became aware of the murders and his obsession with uncovering the identity of the killer. Hearing him recount his digging through old newspapers and police reports, looking at crumbling photographs, and interviewing the aging relatives of those who were alive at the time of the killings is as fascinating as the story itself. Together, Jordon and Hollandsworth do an excellent job of relaying this engrossing story of America's own Jack the Ripper. A Holt hardcover. (Apr.)