What do you think?
Rate this book
Holmes' Own Story: Confessed 27 Murders, Lied Then Died
A fascinating look into the mind of one of America's first serial killers! Featuring the confessions, death, and unusual concrete burial of H. H. Holmes. Eighty-seven (87) rare historical illustrations with sources!
H. H. Holmes was a diabolical killer made famous in the popular Erik Larson book, The Devil in the White City. He built a three story Murder Castle in Chicago in the 19th century with death on his mind and lured unsuspecting victims into secret rooms, vaults and gas chambers and made use of a dissection table in his basement. Holmes preyed on travelers that came to the Chicago World's Fair (World's Columbian Exposition) in 1893. He advertised rooms for rent and offered employment opportunities in his Murder Castle, often called Holmes Castle and World's Fair Hotel.
Holmes killed his business partner and friend, Benjamin Pitezel, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But he didn't stop there. The heartless serial killer took three of Benjamin Pitezel's children on a cross-country trip. Philadelphia Detective Frank P. Geyer followed H. H. Holmes murderous trail into Canada with devastating results. No doubt about it, HH Holmes earned despicable nicknames such as Arch Fiend, Butcher, Modern Bluebeard, Swindler, Moral Degenerate, and more. Holmes was a monster in disguise as a doctor, a perfect ruse to lure victims.
In Holmes' Own, you will learn the personality and thought process of H. H. Holmes, straight from the mind of the diabolical killer himself. The three-part book
H. H. Holmes memoir, Holmes' Own Story (1895), written by the serial killer while he awaited trial Moyamensing Prison diary H. H. Holmes confession of twenty-seven murders (1896) Judgement day with details about Holmes' death by hanging at Moyamensing Prison Unusual concrete burial at historic Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania Odd story H. H. Holmes told about his planned reincarnation as a dog An interview with Philadelphia Detective Frank P. Geyer about his belief Holmes' planned to murder his third wife, Georgiana Yoke An interview with Mrs. Benjamin Pitezel after Holmes' execution 87 rare historical illustrations including Herman Webster Mudgett's birth and death certificates Sources, Illustration Credits, and Bibliography Clickable Table of Contents, List of Illustrations, and Notes Index
H. H. Holmes was a diabolical killer made famous in the popular Erik Larson book, The Devil in the White City. He built a three story Murder Castle in Chicago in the 19th century with death on his mind and lured unsuspecting victims into secret rooms, vaults and gas chambers and made use of a dissection table in his basement. Holmes preyed on travelers that came to the Chicago World's Fair (World's Columbian Exposition) in 1893. He advertised rooms for rent and offered employment opportunities in his Murder Castle, often called Holmes Castle and World's Fair Hotel.
Holmes killed his business partner and friend, Benjamin Pitezel, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But he didn't stop there. The heartless serial killer took three of Benjamin Pitezel's children on a cross-country trip. Philadelphia Detective Frank P. Geyer followed H. H. Holmes murderous trail into Canada with devastating results. No doubt about it, HH Holmes earned despicable nicknames such as Arch Fiend, Butcher, Modern Bluebeard, Swindler, Moral Degenerate, and more. Holmes was a monster in disguise as a doctor, a perfect ruse to lure victims.
In Holmes' Own, you will learn the personality and thought process of H. H. Holmes, straight from the mind of the diabolical killer himself. The three-part book
H. H. Holmes memoir, Holmes' Own Story (1895), written by the serial killer while he awaited trial Moyamensing Prison diary H. H. Holmes confession of twenty-seven murders (1896) Judgement day with details about Holmes' death by hanging at Moyamensing Prison Unusual concrete burial at historic Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania Odd story H. H. Holmes told about his planned reincarnation as a dog An interview with Philadelphia Detective Frank P. Geyer about his belief Holmes' planned to murder his third wife, Georgiana Yoke An interview with Mrs. Benjamin Pitezel after Holmes' execution 87 rare historical illustrations including Herman Webster Mudgett's birth and death certificates Sources, Illustration Credits, and Bibliography Clickable Table of Contents, List of Illustrations, and Notes Index
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2016
38 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Crighton
2 books9 followersJD is the author of Detective in the White City: The Real Story of Frank Geyer and Holmes' Own Story: Confessed 27 Murders, Lied The Died. A retired Emergency Management professional, JD writes in the biography, history, true crime, and thriller genres and is a member of Biographers International Organization, Nonfiction Authors Association, and International Thriller Writers.
Praise for Detective in the White City:
"Crighton's narrative stays true to the time period, leaving the reader submerged in the late 1800's, from start to finish."
"19th Century Masterpiece!"
"History Lover's Dream"
"Noteworthy history of one of America's oldest police departments"
Connect with JD at:
web: www.jdcrighton.com
email: jd@jdcrighton.com
Twitter: @jdcrighton
Pinterest: jdcrighton
Praise for Detective in the White City:
"Crighton's narrative stays true to the time period, leaving the reader submerged in the late 1800's, from start to finish."
"19th Century Masterpiece!"
"History Lover's Dream"
"Noteworthy history of one of America's oldest police departments"
Connect with JD at:
web: www.jdcrighton.com
email: jd@jdcrighton.com
Twitter: @jdcrighton
Pinterest: jdcrighton
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 5, 2022
This book was unbelievably boring. Holmes sure loved to talk and nothing meaningful came out of his mouth. You lose interest quickly, because he was so full of it. The only thing interesting was the day of his execution and his comment to an unnamed news reporter about reincarnation.
January 19, 2019
Impressively insane
There is little doubt Holmes was a calculating killer who reveled in his endeavors. To read his own statements and see the extent of his manipulation is intriguing. His refutation at the beginning seems only to serve his ego for conning others and his desire to be free to kill again. If he were freed, one wonders who his next victim would have been. His wife, Mrs. Pritezel, or a stranger. Most certainly Holmes would have ceased to exist and a new identity been born. A remarkable man, in the most vile of ways.
Thanks to J.D. Crichton for taking the time to compile this narrative.
There is little doubt Holmes was a calculating killer who reveled in his endeavors. To read his own statements and see the extent of his manipulation is intriguing. His refutation at the beginning seems only to serve his ego for conning others and his desire to be free to kill again. If he were freed, one wonders who his next victim would have been. His wife, Mrs. Pritezel, or a stranger. Most certainly Holmes would have ceased to exist and a new identity been born. A remarkable man, in the most vile of ways.
Thanks to J.D. Crichton for taking the time to compile this narrative.
March 25, 2023
Chilling
September 10, 2023
Man this was not good. Holmes dribbles a lot.
June 18, 2024
It was hard to read because of the wording used. Interesting though.
February 12, 2025
Great follow up book after reading Devil in the White City. Not for the faint of heart, especially the Confessions.
December 13, 2017
"And here I cannot say finis - it is not the end - for besides doing this there is also the work of bringing to justice those for whose wrong-doings I am to-day suffering, and this not to prolong or save my own life, for since the day I heard of the Toronto horror I have not cared to live; but that to those who have looked up to and honored me in the past it shall not in the future be said that I suffered the ignominious death of a murderer."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews