Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City

by Pat Hendrix

Perhaps Charlestonian James Louis Petigru said it best when he declared in 1861 that "South Carolina is too small for a republic, but too large for an insane asylum." South Carolina has consistently been one of the most violent places in American history, and Charleston has served as much a hotbed of criminal mayhem as a "holy" city. While many books explore the illustrious past of this national treasure, few delve into this darker and equally fascinating side of its past. With this new book, historian Pat Hendrix takes a look at the history of crime in the Holy City. Starting with a war that nearly extinguished the fledgling city, he moves through the centuries, bringing to light such sordid tales as the Six Mile House murders, the Dutartre family cult, the murder of newspaper publisher Frank Dawson and the horrific discovery of South Carolina's first serial killer. Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City is an eye-opening foray into Charleston's underworld that calls into question the sanitized, celebrated history often told today and offers an enjoyable romp through more than three centuries of human drama.

Genres: True Crime, History

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok review of some historical misdeeds in Charleston, but overall it is not that impressive. The writing is decent, but the illustrations were for the most part either weak or botched. The quick essay on Pee Wee Gaskins is good.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok book, but not really anything to write home about. I read the book and when my bookmark slipped, I had to read the whole thing over again because I couldn't remember any of the stories. Note, the bookmark slipped in the middle of the book and I had only started reading it that day. It was a little weird.