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Giles Fowler

Auteur de Deaths on Pleasant Street

1 oeuvres 19 utilisateurs 3 critiques

Œuvres de Giles Fowler

Deaths on Pleasant Street (2009) 19 exemplaires

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A recounting of the deaths in the Swope family and the part Dr Hyde played. A very interesting of a family from Independence, MO.
 
Signalé
bentstoker | 2 autres critiques | Jan 26, 2024 |
A true crime book with victims and criminals that I only had a vague hint of - which is a rarity for this true crime nut!

In 1909, when Colonel Thomas Swope dies and then others in his family start falling sick, with some dying as well, suspicion falls on a family doctor who also happens to be the son-in-law of the Colonel's daughter-in-law. Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde is eventually accused of killing the Colonel with strychnine, a nephew with the same weapon, a niece who comes close to dying and almost an entire family is sickened with typhoid fevers.

Fowler claims this is the first full-length book on the trials in Independence Missouri that gripped the entire state of Missouri early this century. While trying to present the facts as given Fowler admits to falling in the camp of "guilty" but not entirely comfortable with that conclusion. He goes to all the primary sources, court records, grand jury testimony, interviews with the primary witnesses and the Dr.'s own testimony as well as that of his wife, mother-in-law and various doctor's, lawyers and nurse's. Then there is all the secondary sources, the newspapers, magazine articles and stories from people who "heard it from ____, who was there". An amazing job of sorting through lots of information to create a fairly short but well-written summary of a pretty complex series of crimes.

Anyone who likes true crime or old, historical medical mysteries will love this book.
… (plus d'informations)
 
Signalé
bookswoman | 2 autres critiques | Mar 31, 2013 |
DO NOT miss your opportunity to read this spectacular book. This is a true story of murder and mystery from Independence, Missouri, where a doctor is accused of killing off his wife's family for - what else - money.
The story itself is intriguing, filled with unresolved questions and a cast of characters worthy of their own daily soap opera. But the real treat here is Fowler's writing, from his brilliant details (like the man who loved passing out gumdrops to children) to his wicked sense of humor.
I ignored everything while I read this book. A tidal wave could have swept through my home and I wouldn't have noticed.
… (plus d'informations)
 
Signalé
Eliz12 | 2 autres critiques | Aug 12, 2010 |

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Statistiques

Œuvres
1
Membres
19
Popularité
#609,294
Évaluation
3.8
Critiques
3
ISBN
3