Devil in the White City

My first semester book choice is the Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson.  This book is placed in the 1800's as a predator stalks young, mostley poorer women, whom have flocked to Chicago in search of jobs.The city adopts an exhilarated yet uncanny atmosphere as chaos ensues in the city due to the frequent freak-accident deaths of decapitation, fires and murders. In the midst of this chaos of overpopulation and under qualified police force, America attempts to boast of its economic and political power and influence by striving to dominate France's famous World Fair. On a smaller scale, Chicago competes with the popular state of New York to have the privilege to host the event.
Famous architect, Daniel Hudson Burnham, is put in charge of the demanding job of designing and creating the most anticipated event of the decade. While he puts his talents together with a fellow architect genius, John Root, H. H. Holmes, the evil-doer of the story,is introduced into the setting of chicago, whom is described to have the eyes of a murderer and the ears of a satyre. Yet, women adore him due to his looks, his seamingly romantic side and the air he carries of confidence and wealth. So far in the story, Holmes expressed how much he detested the field if medicine with its cadavers and skeletons but once coerced to face his fears, he grew and interest for the subject and began his practice in medicine and profession.