No Place Like Murder: True Crime in the Midwest

by Janis Thornton, Larry Sweazy (Foreword), Ray E. Boomhower (Foreword)

“This engrossing collection of historical Midwest murders reads like a thriller. True crime at its best. I couldn’t put it down.” —Susan Furlong, author of the Bone Gap Travellers novelsA modern retelling of 20 sensational true crimes, No Place Like Murder reveals the inside details behind nefarious acts that shocked the Midwest between 1869 and 1950. The stories chronicle the misdeeds, examining the perpetrators’ mindsets, motives, lives, apprehensions, and trials, as well as what became of them long after.True crime author Janis Thornton profiles notorious murderers such as Frankie Miller, who was fed up when her fiancé stood her up for another woman. As fans of the song “Frankie and Johnny” already know, Frankie met her former lover at the door with a shotgun.Thornton’s tales reveal the darker side of life in the Midwest, including the account of Isabelle Messmer, a plucky young woman who dreamed of escaping her quiet farm-town life. After she nearly took down two tough Pittsburgh policemen in 1933, she was dubbed “Gun Girl” and went on to make headlines from coast to coast. In 1942, however, after a murder conviction in Texas, she vowed to do her time and go straight. Full of intrigue and revelations, No Place Like Murder also features such folks as Chirka and Rasico, the first two Hoosier men to die in the electric chair after they brutally murdered their wives in 1913. The two didn’t meet until their fateful last night.An enthralling and chilling collection, No Place Like Murder is sure to thrill true crime lovers.“Thornton wittily describes heretofore unheralded true crime stories from Indiana’s small towns.” —Keven McQueen, author of Horror in the Heartland

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2020

About the author

Janis Thornton is an Indiana-based author of history, mystery, and true crime. Her most recent book, “No Place Like Murder: True Crime in the Midwest,” from Indiana University Press, is a collection of 20 sensational true crimes that shook Indiana from 1869 through 1950.

Coming next is “The 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes in Indiana,” published by History Press.

Her previous true crime work, “Too Good a Girl: Remembering Olene Emberton and the Mystery of Her Death,” tells the story of the 1965 Tipton, Indiana, murder of Janis' high school classmate.

Janis’ fiction works include the paranormal-romantic mystery, “Love, Lies & Azure Eyes”; and two cozy mysteries in the Elmwood Confidential series — “Dust Bunnies & Dead Bodies” and “Dead Air & Double Dares.” She also is the author of three local history books, “Images of America: Elwood,” “Images of America: Tipton County” and “Images of America: Frankfort”; and contributor to “Undeniably Indiana” and “Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul 2.”

She is a member of the national and Indianapolis chapter of Sisters in Crime, the Authors Guild, Indianapolis Writers Center, and the historical society of her hometown, Tipton Indiana. Her cozy mysteries were finalists in the East Texas Writers Guild’s First Chapter Book Award contests in 2015 and 2016. She was a 2009 Midwest Writers Workshop Fellow and was a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier contest the same year. Her newspaper feature stories have been recognized by Women in Communications (Lafayette, Indiana chapter), Smiles Unlimited, and the Hoosier State Press Association.

You may contact/follow/like her at www.janis-thornton.com, Twitter (@JanisThornton), and Facebook (facebook.com/janisthorntonauthor).

Reviews

[Gary Sosniecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a safe bet that not many true-crime books published in 2020 contain the word "uxoricide." I wrote one of them. Janis Thornton wrote another. Both of our books involve Indiana murders. My book is about a single horrific murder: my great-grandmother's brutal death by her jealous second husband. Janis' book is a collection of horrific murder cases between 1869 and 1950 similar in style to the collections written by the late Ann Rule. "No Place Like Murder: True Crime in the Midwest" is an excellent read. I enjoyed the author's writing style. My only disappointment is that she recreated murder scenes, including what people were thinking at the time, with no sourcing other than a bibliography. I would have liked to see some endnotes. (By the way, "uxoricide" means the killing of one's wife, or a man who kills his wife.)

[Kayleen Reusser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched book of little-known stories of murder, jealousy, rage among citizens from the last century. The author has spent much time detailing the events that affected small communities throughout mostly the central part of the state. Small towns might be considered safer to live in, but this compilation defies that belief. I’ll look for this author’s other works.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating tales of crime from long ago. Interesting.

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating true crime!

This book details the murders of several people throughout Indiana at various times. The victims were both male and female as well as young and old. The reasons for the murders included revenge and jealousy. Unfortunately not all of the cases included in the book were solved. I highly recommend this book to other true crime readers.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of true crime cases based on contemporaneous news accounts. The stories are from the following years: 1869, 1876, 1881, 1898, 1901, 1903 (2), 1906, 1907, 1908 (2), 1911, 1913, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1933, 1941, 1950 (2).

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My local library put this book out in their New Nonfiction section, and I picked it up on a whim. This is really interesting collection of true crime stories, mostly based in Indiana, that have taken place since the 1800s. Midwesterners have all heard of Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, the Clutter family massacre, and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, but these lesser-known stories are just as fascinating.

Janis Thornton's research is thorough, and you can tell that she wrote this book to honor the victims and keep their stories alive. Local historians are so important, especially in smaller towns, because it's so easy for stories from big cities to overtake what else is going on at the same time. These cases took place decades ago, sometimes way back in the late 1800s, and not a single story feels stale or boring. Thornton's writing is engaging from beginning to end, and she tells the stories of heinous crimes taken against innocent victims and even some crooked characters alike. I think anyone interested in true crime history should pick this one up.

[Randy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Readable Collection Of True Crime Stories

Focusing on tales of murder in the Midwest (and especially Indiana) from the late 1800s until 1950, the author has brought together a very interesting collection of true crime stories. Most of the killings were big news at the time, either locally or nationally, but are largely forgotten now. The killers range from jealous lovers to angry neighbors to those who seemed to kill for no reason at all. We are given the basics of the crime, short bios of the killers and their victims, and coverage of the trial (if there was one) and its results. The writing is clear and concise, which is perfect for this type of storytelling. Any fan of true crime should enjoy this book.

[Stephen Terrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an outstanding bedside table book, telling the story of historical Hoosier murders that captured the attention of the State from 1900 through 1950. The length of each of the 20 tales is perfect for the true crime reader who wants to read just a bit before falling asleep

The stories reflect an amazing trek through history, and a lesson that crimes of passion and greed are not a modern invention, and that, just as now, the criminal justice system doesn't always work as it does in the civics books.

Well researched and well written, this is a wonderful book for any true crime or history buff.

[Eydie sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I didn't read the last two cases, I skimmed them and know how they turned out, so I'm finished. Quite frankly, most of the murderers who even got convicted got off way too easy and I was under the impression that no one got off a murder charge in that era, but apparently, they did. In fact, I got so tired of not seeing killers get what was coming to them, that led me to the skimming of the last two cases. However, the book is very well written and the author is very talented. If all the murderers had gotten what was coming to them, which is why I read murder mysteries, it would have been five stars.

[Stephanie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Indiana, I had not heard of any of the crimes detailed in Thornton's book. I'm amazed that I never heard these stories before: husbands killing wives, a man killing his two toddlers, another man killing five members of his wife's family. Some of the crimes taking place close to my hometown. I am a fan of true crime, and this book did not disappoint. Thornton's obvious research into these crimes is evident and impressive. I would recommend this book to any reader of true crime and especially fellow Hoosiers. 4.5/5 stars

[K.N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thorough research and vivid storytelling, this author takes the reader back in time to delve into notorious Indiana murders. Her details quickly remind the reader that crime investigation has come a long way! So has society’s understanding of mental illness and how the lack of supports and resources can result in dark situations. The culprits range from outright cold-blooded criminals to cunning, colorful characters.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime with some liberties as to what the victims may have thought in their last moments. Easy to understand how people can get caught up in True Crime as a hobby, and this set of stories reads rather like fiction in parts (see aforementioned liberties).
The subtitle should be Indiana specifically not Midwest generally though, as it’s all Indiana.

[Darel Krieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read if you like history, crime etc. These case go from the late 1860's to the 1950's. Most take place in central Indiana. Being as this is where I have lived for many years it was especially intresting for me. Highly recommend.

[Angela Stillson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really good recap of crimes in Indiana that I have never heard of. The only issue I had was that it focused on the Tipton, Elwood, Frankfort, and Indy area. I would have liked more cases in my area.

[Sara Pritzl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Emily Duchon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was free on Libby and did it’s job of keeping me entertained.

[크리스티 (Kristy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not crimes of the Midwest just Indiana... disappointed it wasn't all Midwest or selected stories but still decently written and to the point on the facts.

[Donna Cronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing research and unique crimes herald this true crime romp through time. Janis is unmatched in her pursuit of the stories behind the headlines of major Hoosier-state murders.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was full of true crime stories mostly in Indiana. Each chapter was just a few pages long, and most were stories I'd never heard of before. It was a quick read.

[Katie Ragan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always had a fascination with true crime but do wish I had picked a book that took place in my home state instead of Indiana.

[Wendell Zetterberg jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janis Thornton does an amazing job at researching and telling these forgotten murders in Indiana history.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately interesting, but many stories are very old. Also, I’m from the Midwest and I haven’t heard of a lot of these places….

[Baby Muffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good and informative. I learned a lot about murders from the Midwest and plenty of places that are fairly close to me.

[Linda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was so good! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime stories. It was a page turner that had me flying through the stories in no time. I will definitely be reading other books by this author.