A Competent Witness : Georgiana Yoke and the Trial of H. H. Holmes

by Judith Nickels

All the young men at the Siegel Cooper department store admire Georgiana Yoke, the charming new clerk just arrived in Chicago ahead of the 1893 World’s Fair. They wager it won’t take long for some lucky fellow to lure her away from her job, and they’re right. After a brief and heady courtship, she marries a charismatic, wealthy entrepreneur.
A happy ending, but for one catch. Georgiana’s affectionate new husband, Dr. Henry H. Holmes, is also a swindler, a kidnapper, and will one day be known as America’s first serial killer.
Carefully researched and closely based on real events, A Competent Witness recasts the infamous story of H. H. Holmes as it unfolded to the woman he cruelly deceived.

Genres: Historical Fiction

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 23, 2014

Reviews

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

H. H. Holmes wasn’t only America’s first serial killer, he was also a master con artist. He duped insurance companies, business partners, construction workers, and many unfortunate women. One of them was the young Georgiana Yoke, who became Holmes third wife (while he was still married to the first two) and eventually the star witness at his trial. This short book takes a speculative look at her time with him, the outlandish stories he told her and the cross country trips he took her on, all to cover his tracks and hide his victims. It’s very readable, thoroughly believable, and not lurid or graphic in any way - just right for anyone (like me) who found the Holmes story in The Devil in the White City a bit lean.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Park Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book, but perhaps for different reasons than most readers - as a great source for my family history! It's really not a book about Holmes - its about Georgiana Yolk and all her family members before, during and after her brief time with him. As Nickles notes, the elders were secretive about Georgiana's first marriage, so we never heard about this, & could never get a clear answer from my grandma about the MASSIVE diamond she had. Still, I'd heard stories about these people in other contexts — but they really came to life in this book. It was a fun way to learn more about my great great & great great great grandparents.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Devil in the White City and I was intrigued by the connection to Johnson County. H.H. Holmes last wife was from Edinburgh and her family lived in Franklin, so there were a lot of familiar sites in the book. I liked seeing the story from her perspective. It was eerie to see how easy it was for him to pull the wool over her eyes to what a monster he was. I would have liked to have seen a bit more evidence of the author's historic research in the book.

[Addy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Won from Goodreads giveaway. This was an ok book. I already knew of Homes because of my eccentric fascination with serial killers, but didn't know of Georgiana. Speculative fiction..I found her naïviete a bit unbelievable.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although much of it is fictionalized, it is based on true people and events and makes an interesting companion to "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.

I found it completely refreshing to get so much perspective on the H.H. Holmes case through the truly fascinating lens of a near-victim, his "wife" Georgiana Yoke. While other books linger on his evil deeds, this work shows us how one woman was able to survive her relationship and the aftermath of his capture while maintaining dignity and keeping her heart open just enough to still attain happiness after so much tragedy.

The author, Judith Nickels, completely won me over with her loving treatment of a true survivor who can now, through this true crime novel, can inspire other women to remain undefined by past mistakes in relationships. She has shown how, if Georgiana can survive and move past the "Devil in the White City", we all have the ability to take control of our own destinies as well. Bravo!

[Jk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free Kindle copy of this book via the Goodreads Giveaways program and would like to thank anyone who helped make that possible!

This is a very well done speculative fiction novel about the crimes of H. H. Holmes from the perspective of his "wife" Georgiana Yoke. This was very well researched and plausible and it was very interesting to read about her life and how she survived Holmes and was eventually able to move on and have a happy life.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since this is fiction, fleshed around known facts, I can't say it added much to Holmes/Mudgett's story. I'm not sure how believable Georgiana's ignorance would be to someone who hasn't experienced being conned. Since I have unfortunately been through that horror of deception myself, I did identify with her. The author appears to have that insight as well when she depicts Georgiana quoting the lines from "Paradise Lost": "His words replete with guile/Into her heart too easy entrance won."

[DTom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one really dragged on and on. I read it after the Devil in the White City to find out more about the woman who married the killer, Holmes but I had to put the book down several times because it was boring and when I did pick it up, I skipped chapters. I would not be inclined to recommend it to others.

[Nancy Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has read "The Devil in the White City" about Chicago's 1993 World's Fair will remember, with horror the tale of H.H. Holmes. A physician, inventor, swindler, bigamist, and kidnapper he was America's first famous serial killer. This is the fictionalized account of the young Georgiana Yoke who left her home and job as a schoolteacher in Indiana for the excitement of Chicago and the Fair. Swept off her feet by the charismatic Holmes, they soon marry and so begins her peripatetic journeys around the U.S., oblivious to the crimes and deceptions left in their wake. When Henry is arrested for murder in Philadelphia, she is incredulous, then shattered, and ultimately a most competent witness for the prosecution.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice follow up to a book that I really loved, "The Devil in the White City", that I read some time ago. It's based on the story of H.H. Holmes' third wife (legal or not) and her experiences with him before and after his arrest. It is a hard thing for me to believe that she was so completely taken in by all his lies and cons but apparently she did. Not a bad read but the real story is about him rather than her.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very familiar with H.H. Holmes, but

This is the first historical fiction based on fact book I've read about one of Holmes' wives. It was interesting but often sad. After Holmes was convicted of the murders of Benjamin Pretzel and three of his children, and hung, Georgiana married a decent man she had worked with in Chicago and had a happy life. Bibliography was included at the end of the book. This was a Goodreads win and I would highly recommend it.

[Cami Eslick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of HH Holmes has always interested me. The timing with the World's Fair in Chicago and his ability to swindle so many people. I loved reading this story as told from his wife's point of view. While much of the dialogue is made up, I cannot imagine what this woman went through when she learned just how truly evil the man she married was. If you read Devil in the White City you should definitely read this!!!

[Matthew Jankiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique perspective told from the point of view of H.H. Holme's third wife, Georgiana Yoke. The author's thorough research is evident in the details of her descriptions from life on the Yoke farm to the handkerchiefs and other goods sold at the department store. I especially enjoyed the ending of the book, which beautifully captures the aftermath of Georgiana's ordeal in the courtroom.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice speculative fiction based on real-life serial killer H.H. Holmes. As a former Hoosier and tour guide of the Irvington, IN house it was nice to read a story that was from a different perspective, rather than solely focusing on Holmes. Georgiana can be almost too naive, however, Holmes was a master manipulator. A nice supplemental read to other works about this unusual man.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Competent Witness was an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with compelling characters and a story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The writing was immersive, and I loved the way it made me feel completely transported into its world!

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! I love that I read several nonfiction books on HH Holmes before reading this one. Great to read a different perspective from a different point of view. Good read if you like the story of H H Holmes!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a work of fiction but based from real events in the life of H.H. Holmes and his wife, Georgiana Yoke. He was a notorious manipulative con man that had kept Georgiana in the dark as he did crimes across the country. It starts in Chicago with the World's fair.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. Loved it!!

[Patrick Muldowney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good piece of speculative fiction which gives the characters lives and delves into their backstories that other books don't do as well with

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story based on the wife of H. H. Holmes, who she was and how she was taken in and very nearly killed by him.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw a lot of myself in the main character, who wants to believe the best in people. The book was a quick read, and I enjoyed the twists of the plot, the setting (Chicago during the World Fair), and the character development.

[Linda Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is written as a novel even though it is nonfiction. Knowing the outcome did not take away the suspense. I would recommend this book.

[Pimpam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting story of young woman's travails dealing with city life and a charismatic con man. Not necessary to read Devil In The White City to understand this. Enjoyed the book.

[Jacquelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an enjoyable historical read. I could truly identify with the plight of the duped main character. My interest was piqued throughout and I loved the ending, wrapping up loose ends.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable historical read! If you have read Devil In The White City, this book follows the evil trail of H.H.Holmes from his wife's perspective.

[Maren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I read about HH Holmes before reading this book, and liked the perspective of his wife. Great read!