Wicked Grand Rapids

by Amberrose Hammond

Investigate the citizens of Grand Rapids, even those above suspicion, with author and local history enthusiast Amberrose Hammond as she uncovers a seedy cast of characters from the city's past. Meet career criminals like Clem Blood, who tore off all his clothes during sentencing, only to be presented with a new suit at public expense. Open a love letter from Grand Rapids' own Lonely Hearts killer, who lured his victims by direct mail. Unseal the habeas corpus proceedings for the gruesome details of what the Grand Rapids Press" called "the most cold blooded crime in the history of the city." Stay out of the shadows, keep your doors locked and enjoy delving into the wicked side of the Furniture City."

Genres: Nonfiction, History

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

Amberrose Hammond has been interested in the strange and unusual since she was a little kid, reading and watching everything that had to do with ghosts, mysteries, legends and all things out of the ordinary. Amberrose has been actively researching legends, ghost stories, haunted places and unusual and macabre topics in Michigan history since 2000. She earned a B.A. in English from Grand Valley State University in 2005 and in 2006 her pursuits into the paranormal and strange history led her to develop Michigan’s Otherside, a website delving into the unusual and mysterious worlds of Michigan, past and present.

Amberrose is also an avid cemetery and local history enthusiast. She is a member of the Dusty Dozen’s, a private group of local history aficionados and enthusiasts in the West Michigan area. Her first book published with The History Press in 2009 was Ghosts & Legends of Michigan’s West Coast, and her second book, Wicked Ottawa County, Michigan, was published in 2011. Her newest is Wicked Grand Rapids, and came out in May 2014. She has a passion for sharing Michigan’s strange, wicked, unusual and spooky history in an entertaining and fun way.

Reviews

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Grand Rapids is a fun read for true crime lovers, history lovers, and those who enjoy digging a little deeper into a city's past. Grand Rapids gets a reputation for being a highly religious community, but we've still had our fair share of seedy characters. Hammond digs into many of those characters--and the stories and victims they left behind--with well-researched reporting. It was fun to picture where in the city these events took place, and I'm grateful for her descriptions and updates on changed street names and locales.

The final chapter, dealing with the Scarlet Sisterhood of brothels, madams, and ladies of the night in Grand Rapids, is a true highlight. Even though it covers several women and is more sparse on details, the reader can sense Hammond's connection to these women and commitment to ensuring that their stories are not as lost as many of them were.

[Luke Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in the city where the stories take place really adds a lot of depth to them. Several times throughout the book, I would read a street name and go, "Oh, yeah! I know where that is."

Even without that element, though, I think that it's still a really great read. Hammond had compiled a lot of fascinating stories and presents them in a way that is easily understood and yet still very informative.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love true crime and West Michigan, so I really enjoyed this book!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading Ms. Hammond's books immensely. Her latest: "Wicked Grand Rapids" offers up more murder, mayhem, and madness. The books stories are filled with jealousy, greed, and avarice aplenty. The authors last story - "The Scarlet Sisterhood of Grand Rapids" really shines, and is an outstanding tale of the history of Grand Rapids prostitution, Madams and the misery these unfortunate women endured. Overall, a great read.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hammond has a knack for taking bits and pieces of a story that she finds through researching newspapers and archives and turning them into a fun story. She did it again in this new book. This book contains stories of murder and mayhem with some prostitution thrown in. An interesting side to Grand Rapids past that you don't read in standard histories. Another good one from Hammond.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am impressed by the research that it must have taken to write this book. Many of the stories are told in great detail. Very interesting read for me as I'm from GR originally. Even discovered an Alderman in one case that could possibly be a relative!

[Bailey]

A collection of little known true crime stories from in Grand Rapids'. A quick and interesting read.

[Karen Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting quick read about criminals & investigators in the late 1800s & early 1900s.

[Emmy Groendyke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Amberrose Hammond's Haunted Michigan books much more, She does know her Grand Rapids history though! Fun read!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Quick read.