Self Portrait of a Serial Killer: H. H. Holmes in His Own Words

by H.H. Holmes, Herman Mudgett, Henry Howard

H.H. Holmes was a doctor, real estate speculator, pharmacist, bigamist, swindler, and America's first media superstar serial killer. As he awaited trial, he put out a series of autobiographical documents, press releases, and interviews that revealed his sociopathic tendencies--and lied about his crimes. The infamous killer of the Chicago World's Fair published a memoir and a confession, both of which conceal more than they reveal of the truth. Then he gave a speech at his hanging that recanted everything. This series of documents is edited into a seamless narrative with newspaper clippings that shows the dark but charming side of a man who had nine confirmed kills and who claimed to have killed 27. This edition ends with a description by Matt Lake, author of Weird Pennsylvania, of the strange secret burial of the hanged Holmes, and recent exhumation that calls into question everything we thought we knew about Holmes's last days.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2019

About the author

Pseudonym of Anthony Boucher.

Reviews

[Pip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was crazy. I won’t lie, I went into it not knowing all that much about Holmes, so for 90% of it I was like, “why is this all about insurance fraud? I thought he was a murderer?” and I legit checked the front cover several times in case I’d somehow picked up the wrong book. THEN the last few chapters he’s like, “Okay, that was all bull, here’s what actually happened,” and I was sitting there, slack jawed because of all the letters and journals he’d written over the years were nothing but lies. Absolutely crazy.

[Debra Barstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating take on a serial killer telling his take on his crimes. Some sick sick individuals walking around in the world.

[M Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting segue to The Devil in White City. H. H. Holmes was on messed up dude!