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Cold Heart: The Great Unsolved Mystery of Turn of the Century Buffalo
1903, Buffalo, New York. Ed Burdick, a wealthy manufacturer known for his kindness and generosity, and his wife Alice had a life few could imagine. The couple had three lovely daughters, a beautiful home, and they were fixtures in the elite Elmwood Avenue set. Despite rumors of trouble in the Burdick marriage, few believed it until Ed ordered his wife out of their home and filed for divorce. The whispers about their separation abruptly ended when Ed Burdick was found murdered in his den while his family slept upstairs. The police found a mosaic of conflicting clues at the crime scene. The investigation uncovered shocking information about the Buffalo tycoon’s life, and no shortage of suspects with a motive for murder.
The murder of Ed Burdick is the true story of the great unsolved mystery of turn of the century Buffalo and a terrible wrong that was never put right.
The murder of Ed Burdick is the true story of the great unsolved mystery of turn of the century Buffalo and a terrible wrong that was never put right.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2020
425 people are currently reading
2032 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Tilley
4 books100 followersKimberly Tilley unearths fascinating, forgotten crimes from the early twentieth century and brings them to today's readers. Her books, Grievous Deeds: Four Years of Fury in Chattanooga, Tennessee (2023); Has it Come to This? The Mysterious, Unsolved Murder of Frank Richardson (2022), Cold Heart: The Great Unsolved Mystery of Turn of the Century Buffalo (2020), and The Poisoned Glass (2019) were Amazon category best-sellers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Visit Kimberly's website, Old Spirituals, to read more of her work, enter drawings and contests, and interact with the author and other readers on the discussion pages!
Kimberly is the co-founder of Pivot Talent Development LLC. We design and deliver genuine learning experiences that provide clarity, drive engagement, and empower individuals to unlock their potential through workshops and coaching.
Kimberly is the co-founder of Pivot Talent Development LLC. We design and deliver genuine learning experiences that provide clarity, drive engagement, and empower individuals to unlock their potential through workshops and coaching.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 11, 2021
4 stars for a well done reconstruction of a murder of a wealthy man in 1903, Buffalo, NY. The author uses letters, diaries and journals of the people involved in the murder, either as witnesses to discovery of the body or friends/acquaintances of the the victim. Edwin Burdick was murdered in February 1903. The author also has an extensive account of the police investigation and the inquest into his murder. The person blamed for the murder was Arthur Pennell, who was having a torrid affair with Alice Burdick, Edwin's wife. Pennell was killed in an auto accident before he could be charged. The author presents convincing evidence that he may not have been the killer.
This was an Amazon purchase.
This was an Amazon purchase.
September 10, 2021
Cold Heart recounts the story of the 1903 murder of Edwin Burdick, a wealthy and successful 40-year-old businessman in Buffalo, New York. Burdick’s murder garnered a lot of attention in the press. The case was never solved, and Burdick’s murder remains a mystery more than a century later.
Burdick and his wife, Alice, were part of a Buffalo social set that the newspapers referred to as the “Elmwood Avenue Set.” The group was made up of about 20 couples who belonged to the same clubs and socialized frequently with one another. Among the other couples were lawyer Arthur Pennell and his wife, Carrie. At a party on New Year’s Day 1901, Carrie told Ed that Arthur and Alice were having an affair. Ed confronted Alice and learned that what Carrie had told him was true.
After separating for a while and thinking things over, Ed decided to file for divorce. But for the next two years, Ed’s determination to go through with it waxed and waned. For much of this time, Alice lived in a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, while Ed remained in the family home with their three young daughters and Alice’s mother, Mrs. Hull. In early 1903, Ed finally went ahead with the divorce proceedings, charging Alice with adultery and naming Arthur Pennell as a correspondent.
But on Friday morning, February 27, 1903, just days before the divorce was to become final, Ed was found brutally murdered in the den of his home. The divorce was now moot, of course, and Alice returned to live in the house. Arthur Pennell was naturally considered a prime suspect, either acting alone or in concert with Alice, but it was far from an open and shut case. Then a week later, Arthur died in an automobile accident that some suspected was suicide. The court held an inquest into Ed Burdick’s murder. After all the evidence was presented, the judge expressed some views about who was at fault, but he did not issue a determination. Officially, the murder remained unsolved.
The Burdick murder makes for a very interesting story, and Kimberly Tilley does a very good job of telling it. She has clearly done extensive research, primarily using contemporary newspaper accounts. Her narrative style is straightforward, presenting the facts as they unfolded. I did feel that at some points the story became a little repetitious, with the same events being described first in connection with the police investigation and then again at the inquest proceedings. But overall, the technique worked for the story and kept me interested.
Tilley shares her own views of the case at the end of the book. Some of her conclusions are at odds with those of the judge. Other readers may reach different conclusions, but I’m inclined to agree with her.
Burdick and his wife, Alice, were part of a Buffalo social set that the newspapers referred to as the “Elmwood Avenue Set.” The group was made up of about 20 couples who belonged to the same clubs and socialized frequently with one another. Among the other couples were lawyer Arthur Pennell and his wife, Carrie. At a party on New Year’s Day 1901, Carrie told Ed that Arthur and Alice were having an affair. Ed confronted Alice and learned that what Carrie had told him was true.
After separating for a while and thinking things over, Ed decided to file for divorce. But for the next two years, Ed’s determination to go through with it waxed and waned. For much of this time, Alice lived in a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, while Ed remained in the family home with their three young daughters and Alice’s mother, Mrs. Hull. In early 1903, Ed finally went ahead with the divorce proceedings, charging Alice with adultery and naming Arthur Pennell as a correspondent.
But on Friday morning, February 27, 1903, just days before the divorce was to become final, Ed was found brutally murdered in the den of his home. The divorce was now moot, of course, and Alice returned to live in the house. Arthur Pennell was naturally considered a prime suspect, either acting alone or in concert with Alice, but it was far from an open and shut case. Then a week later, Arthur died in an automobile accident that some suspected was suicide. The court held an inquest into Ed Burdick’s murder. After all the evidence was presented, the judge expressed some views about who was at fault, but he did not issue a determination. Officially, the murder remained unsolved.
The Burdick murder makes for a very interesting story, and Kimberly Tilley does a very good job of telling it. She has clearly done extensive research, primarily using contemporary newspaper accounts. Her narrative style is straightforward, presenting the facts as they unfolded. I did feel that at some points the story became a little repetitious, with the same events being described first in connection with the police investigation and then again at the inquest proceedings. But overall, the technique worked for the story and kept me interested.
Tilley shares her own views of the case at the end of the book. Some of her conclusions are at odds with those of the judge. Other readers may reach different conclusions, but I’m inclined to agree with her.
March 23, 2021
Books about unsolved cases often have a built-in disappointment factor since there's no denouement, but this one is worth reading because it's so well researched.
February 5, 2021
An excellent and entertaining book. Very well researched and written with lots of photos. I couldn’t put this one down
January 3, 2023
This book surprised me in the best way possible. It could have been a rather dull account of an old unsolved murder in turn-of-the century Buffalo, NY but the author does an exceptional job of using first-hand accounts, detective reports, newspaper accounts, etc. and really breathes life into this tale of an ill-fated affair.
After finishing this book, it lived in my head for quite some time as I tried to figure out who was the killer. We sometimes forget in our world of 24/7 true crime that detectives didn't always have fingerprints, DNA, CCTV and the like to solve crimes with surgical precision. There are no answers, just some titillating possibilities.
4.5 stars. I really recommend this book (now available on Kindle Unlimited)!
After finishing this book, it lived in my head for quite some time as I tried to figure out who was the killer. We sometimes forget in our world of 24/7 true crime that detectives didn't always have fingerprints, DNA, CCTV and the like to solve crimes with surgical precision. There are no answers, just some titillating possibilities.
4.5 stars. I really recommend this book (now available on Kindle Unlimited)!
December 6, 2022
Cold Heart tells of the murder of a man in Buffalo in 1902. Ed Burdick was a successful businessman who made an extremely bad choice in life by marrying Alice, a diminutive woman with a wandering eye.
The couple befriended Arthur and Carrie Pennell, fellow members of the local country club. Arthur was a well respected attorney who fell for Alice. The pair were outed to Ed by Carrie.
Burdick evicted Alice on more than one occasion until by the third time had finally begun divorce proceedings with evidence of his beloved wife's affair. Letters exchanged by the adulterous lovebirds were to become public.
Eddie was discovered bloody and beaten to a pulp by a golf putting iron. Arthur and Alice were both out of town and the police were baffled by the case. No one was ever connected to the murder and that is the problem for me. Although the book is well written, I need a solid conclusion.
The couple befriended Arthur and Carrie Pennell, fellow members of the local country club. Arthur was a well respected attorney who fell for Alice. The pair were outed to Ed by Carrie.
Burdick evicted Alice on more than one occasion until by the third time had finally begun divorce proceedings with evidence of his beloved wife's affair. Letters exchanged by the adulterous lovebirds were to become public.
Eddie was discovered bloody and beaten to a pulp by a golf putting iron. Arthur and Alice were both out of town and the police were baffled by the case. No one was ever connected to the murder and that is the problem for me. Although the book is well written, I need a solid conclusion.
October 23, 2024
Book club selection. Very interesting book. Good, succinct writing style. I was enthralled in this story from the first pages. I was left with theories about who was the murderer, but also felt an awareness of the culture of the early 1900s. The development of forensic science since then has been astounding. Accepting that women could be perpetrators has expanded the crime solving process. Very good book.
March 13, 2021
Who dunnit?
Excellent research and storytelling of a crime that has never been solved. This story has it all. Story also includes many pictures that only serves to enrich it even more. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Excellent research and storytelling of a crime that has never been solved. This story has it all. Story also includes many pictures that only serves to enrich it even more. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
May 6, 2021
Gaslight mystery
It was Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick.
This is an unsolved crime that took place in Buffalo in the early 1900s. All of the cast is adequately described. I can imagine how shocking the details were to the public of that time. Alice and Arthur are engaged in a long-running affair -- we're talking years. Alice's husband, Arthur's wife, and most of their friends are fully aware.
Skipping to the main event, Alice's husband Ed is brutally murdered in his home. Who dunnit?
If you enjoy vintage crime, you won't want to miss this one.
It was Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick.
This is an unsolved crime that took place in Buffalo in the early 1900s. All of the cast is adequately described. I can imagine how shocking the details were to the public of that time. Alice and Arthur are engaged in a long-running affair -- we're talking years. Alice's husband, Arthur's wife, and most of their friends are fully aware.
Skipping to the main event, Alice's husband Ed is brutally murdered in his home. Who dunnit?
If you enjoy vintage crime, you won't want to miss this one.
April 26, 2023
Fun read
Well researched exploration of an interesting unsolved murder. If you enjoy historical murder mysteries this one is well worth your time.
Well researched exploration of an interesting unsolved murder. If you enjoy historical murder mysteries this one is well worth your time.
December 12, 2021
Being from Buffalo- I found this especially interesting. Nothing like a good mystery.
April 21, 2023
Very interesting
Starts out a tad slow, yet suddenly gripes you. Reads much like a courtroom dictating, relying heavily in facts with little speculation, leaving the conclusions to the reader. Enjoyable for sure.
Starts out a tad slow, yet suddenly gripes you. Reads much like a courtroom dictating, relying heavily in facts with little speculation, leaving the conclusions to the reader. Enjoyable for sure.
September 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this long forgotten true crime story. Human nature was the same, even in 1901 and cold hearts never change. This is a well written story that kept my interest.
April 9, 2021
Couldn't put it down. I am from Buffalo NY so I knew all the houses .... It would be a good read even if you never lived there. The author definitely did a lot of research.
October 15, 2021
Very interesting true story. A shame the murder was never solved.
February 2, 2021
This meticulous true crime re-telling of the 1903 murder of Buffalo businessman Ed Burdick reads like a procedural cop novel, complete with perceived villains, dubious muckraking newspaper reporters, cheating husbands and wives and old fashioned early 20th century police work.
Though we know beforehand that the murder remains unsolved, the book is written in such a sleuthy manner and with so many factual twists and turns that it’s easy to remain curious and forge ahead with this carefully researched narrative from an author who seems to be at the top of her game.
Maybe best of all, Kimberly Tilley gives us a reliable look at how murder investigations worked more than a century ago, before DNA testing, reliable fingerprints and modern forensic science became routine.
Apart from some brief speculation later in the book in which the author puts some of the case facts and court testimony into perspective, Tilley hardly inserts herself into the story. Instead, the factual narrative proceeds with a relentless and steady pace that makes it often seem like you’re reading fiction instead of facts.
With its sense of immediacy, flawed and dramatically portrayed characters, no dreamed-up tale could have entertained me more.
Though we know beforehand that the murder remains unsolved, the book is written in such a sleuthy manner and with so many factual twists and turns that it’s easy to remain curious and forge ahead with this carefully researched narrative from an author who seems to be at the top of her game.
Maybe best of all, Kimberly Tilley gives us a reliable look at how murder investigations worked more than a century ago, before DNA testing, reliable fingerprints and modern forensic science became routine.
Apart from some brief speculation later in the book in which the author puts some of the case facts and court testimony into perspective, Tilley hardly inserts herself into the story. Instead, the factual narrative proceeds with a relentless and steady pace that makes it often seem like you’re reading fiction instead of facts.
With its sense of immediacy, flawed and dramatically portrayed characters, no dreamed-up tale could have entertained me more.
January 29, 2021
This author put together a really well-researched and detailed retelling of a shocking unsolved murder of an affluent Buffalo NY businessman in 1903. I enjoyed this as much if not more than many bestselling novels (for which I paid many times the money more to read.) It was hard to put down, with many intriguing details. I love learning about earlier time periods and this mystery gives you both suspenseful twists and ample period details to allow the reader to experience life in early 20th century New York - especially from the perspective of a police investigation. I think the author also might have missed her calling as a sleuth. Highly recommend.
March 22, 2021
Outstanding literally could not put down read in one day
Unlike so many mysteries this is true. Extremely well written. Excellent use of source material. Photos and newspaper graphics very interesting. This book is worth a dozen fictional mysteries.
Unlike so many mysteries this is true. Extremely well written. Excellent use of source material. Photos and newspaper graphics very interesting. This book is worth a dozen fictional mysteries.
October 22, 2022
Meticulous research sat the foundation for a very well written & compelling story. I read a lot of true crime books but rarely of this quality. I can’t imagine how long it must have taken the author to compile all the information, organize it & make this early 20th c. unsolved case interesting to a 21st c. reader. Also, thanks for all photos of the principles involved and the newspaper articles. Great job, Kimberly Tilley.
December 24, 2020
Solid writing and research, bizarre, fascinating murder with an unexpected plot twist. I'm still trying to figure out who did it. Author, Kimberly Tilley, is a rising star in the true crime genre.
June 26, 2021
I Know Who Did It, lol
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more.
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely did her research.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more.
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely did her research.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Wow! Like a fine food or drink this story hit the spot.
I knew from the beginning the mystery would not be solved but I believe I know who did it.
The setting was perfect, 1901, the cusp of the beginning of so many discoveries, and so many already in use by the rich.
Liked that the author clued us in on how the value of the money then would equal our dollar amount now.
We had a good look into the life style of the rich and famous.
We had a good idea of how the characters interacted and about their status.
There were surprises for me along the way, which I appreciated! Twists in the story I didn't see coming.
Added photographs and drawings helped me visualize the characters.
Chapters broken down small enough to entice me to read just one more
A wonderful Kindle experience.
Will definitely read more by this author who definitely does her research. Kudos for a great job!
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
October 5, 2021
You Solve The Mystery!
In 1885 Edwin Burdick married Alice Hull. He was a self made man, having started as stenographer in an envelope manufacturing firm , and become an owner along with a partner when his employer retired. The Buffalo Envelope Company became the country’s largest manufacturer of envelopes.
The couple became involved in a social group dubbed “the Elmwood Avenue set”. It was made up of about 20 of Buffalo, New York’s wealthiest couples. They were the younger couples among Buffalo’s society set.
They were especially good friends with three other couples in the group: Seth and Gertrude Paine, J. B. and Helen Warren, and Arthur and Carrie Pennell.
Despite having three daughters Alice and Ed spent a lot of evenings away from home socializing which Ed didn’t enjoy as much as Alice did. Alice’s mother lived with them and cared for the girls.
Each of the couples would play a part in one of the great unsolved cases of the turn of the century, which began when one morning the Burdick’s cook, Maggie Murray, found the front door of the house and the kitchen window wide open! Read Cold Heart: The Great Unsolved Mystery of Turn of the Century Buffalo and see if you can solve the mystery after more than a century!
In 1885 Edwin Burdick married Alice Hull. He was a self made man, having started as stenographer in an envelope manufacturing firm , and become an owner along with a partner when his employer retired. The Buffalo Envelope Company became the country’s largest manufacturer of envelopes.
The couple became involved in a social group dubbed “the Elmwood Avenue set”. It was made up of about 20 of Buffalo, New York’s wealthiest couples. They were the younger couples among Buffalo’s society set.
They were especially good friends with three other couples in the group: Seth and Gertrude Paine, J. B. and Helen Warren, and Arthur and Carrie Pennell.
Despite having three daughters Alice and Ed spent a lot of evenings away from home socializing which Ed didn’t enjoy as much as Alice did. Alice’s mother lived with them and cared for the girls.
Each of the couples would play a part in one of the great unsolved cases of the turn of the century, which began when one morning the Burdick’s cook, Maggie Murray, found the front door of the house and the kitchen window wide open! Read Cold Heart: The Great Unsolved Mystery of Turn of the Century Buffalo and see if you can solve the mystery after more than a century!
November 25, 2024
This was a remarkable telling of the unsolved murder of wealthy Ed Burdick of Buffalo, NY. Betrayals, affairs, lies are among the elite social set of Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 1903. Several suspects and accessories. I've changed my mind on suspect may times. Did the cheating wife have knowledge of plot to kill her husband? Did her lover or her Mother do it? Detectives at one point, felt a woman was too weak to commit such a violent crime as beating a man to death with his golf club. LOL But a woman was suspected if not to commit the murder but to set the scene to direct police to another way of thinking! Kept me up late at night to finish this book!
May 14, 2021
Great but sad story
I thought this was a great book and read it faster than any other book because I could not wait to read what would come to light next. I would recommend this book to amateur sleuths or anyone the enjoys reading true crime. It may be unsolved but at the end you knew who do it and who was complicit
I thought this was a great book and read it faster than any other book because I could not wait to read what would come to light next. I would recommend this book to amateur sleuths or anyone the enjoys reading true crime. It may be unsolved but at the end you knew who do it and who was complicit
January 18, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's an unsolved mystery from 1903. I enjoyed discussing the facts and theories with my husband as if it was a current crime.
The author's style was very gripping. She gave the story the interest factor of well-crafted fiction, without adding too much fictitious detail. The characters seemed as real as possible without, again, adding a lot of speculation. A real page-turner.
I'll be looking into other works by this author.
The author's style was very gripping. She gave the story the interest factor of well-crafted fiction, without adding too much fictitious detail. The characters seemed as real as possible without, again, adding a lot of speculation. A real page-turner.
I'll be looking into other works by this author.
March 4, 2023
This case just goes to show how unsolved murders can be just as fascinating. It’s been over 100 years since the murder of Ed Burdick.
While the inquest did name a suspect, he was not arrested because he’d just been killed in a suspicious “electric carriage” accident days after the murder.
I tend to agree with the author though that it was an inside job. While I concur that Mrs Hull is the most likely culprit, it didn’t seem as though the maids were given much thought.
While the inquest did name a suspect, he was not arrested because he’d just been killed in a suspicious “electric carriage” accident days after the murder.
I tend to agree with the author though that it was an inside job. While I concur that Mrs Hull is the most likely culprit, it didn’t seem as though the maids were given much thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2021
Strange Murder
Loved reading this book and the time this murder took place. It holds your interest to the last page. So interesting how the writer describes everyone and everything during the days of yesteryear. The author is very descriptive and includes pictures of all who were involved in this grim murder. If you enjoy crime books with a lot of intrigue, I know you will love this book.
Loved reading this book and the time this murder took place. It holds your interest to the last page. So interesting how the writer describes everyone and everything during the days of yesteryear. The author is very descriptive and includes pictures of all who were involved in this grim murder. If you enjoy crime books with a lot of intrigue, I know you will love this book.
June 22, 2021
True crime mystery from 1903
I love the historical background of this true crime mystery as well as the highly readable story. Interesting, informative and with an epilogue on what actually COULD have happened in this case.
I love the historical background of this true crime mystery as well as the highly readable story. Interesting, informative and with an epilogue on what actually COULD have happened in this case.
September 26, 2022
This is an interesting true crime story from turn of the century Buffalo. What stood out to me about this was how well researched it was and how the author was able to make the people involved more than just stodgy stereotypes. I also appreciated that the author waited until the end to give additional thoughts which allowed the reader a chance to try to figure it out. Turns out I was of the same mind about it!
September 16, 2021
Very interesting book
I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of true crimes throughout history. Very well written, and definitely worth the read.
I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of true crimes throughout history. Very well written, and definitely worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews