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Murder & Mayhem in Boise
Explore Boise's Bloody History!
Shortly after the nearby discovery of gold in 1862, outlaws and ruffians from all over began to congregate in newly platted Boise City. One of the city's only recorded pistol duels settled a dispute between a covetous husband and the lover of a young damsel--both happened to be lawyers. After getting busted running a long con, the King of Boise's Underworld was sent to the penitentiary. What could be called the area's first mass shooting occurred when an Alaskan gold miner sought revenge against the young woman who stood him up. A local postmaster found himself in a notorious case of a love triangle gone wrong. And, a death cult returned the mummy of one of its followers to Boise. Authors Mark Iverson and Jeff Wade go beyond the traditional histories to gain an appreciation for the lives often willfully removed from history's pages and thus forgotten.
Shortly after the nearby discovery of gold in 1862, outlaws and ruffians from all over began to congregate in newly platted Boise City. One of the city's only recorded pistol duels settled a dispute between a covetous husband and the lover of a young damsel--both happened to be lawyers. After getting busted running a long con, the King of Boise's Underworld was sent to the penitentiary. What could be called the area's first mass shooting occurred when an Alaskan gold miner sought revenge against the young woman who stood him up. A local postmaster found himself in a notorious case of a love triangle gone wrong. And, a death cult returned the mummy of one of its followers to Boise. Authors Mark Iverson and Jeff Wade go beyond the traditional histories to gain an appreciation for the lives often willfully removed from history's pages and thus forgotten.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2022
10 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 6, 2025
Written with skill by a person who among other things knows the town and relishes mayhem. Iverson gives walking tours in Boise.
Boise (Boise City early on) only dates from the mid 19th century and of course it started out a little rough around the edges. Iverson’s story starts with the town as a supply base for mining camps both north and south of the present capital of Idaho. Mining camps aren’t exactly where you look for civilization and early Boise took some of its color from those miners. It’s striking how many times Iverson mentions characters who were civil war veterans. They came from a rough time and knew how to use guns. Most of the book is chronologically arranged, but not all.
The book shows Boise’s wild side but at the same time it seems no different than any other upstart Western town. There were bad parts of town, prison breaks, people with psychiatric problems, thwarted lovers and boozy fighters. Some victims of mayhem were typical of their time—horse and buggy accidents, difficulty with new fangled technology and fires. Fun to read.
Boise (Boise City early on) only dates from the mid 19th century and of course it started out a little rough around the edges. Iverson’s story starts with the town as a supply base for mining camps both north and south of the present capital of Idaho. Mining camps aren’t exactly where you look for civilization and early Boise took some of its color from those miners. It’s striking how many times Iverson mentions characters who were civil war veterans. They came from a rough time and knew how to use guns. Most of the book is chronologically arranged, but not all.
The book shows Boise’s wild side but at the same time it seems no different than any other upstart Western town. There were bad parts of town, prison breaks, people with psychiatric problems, thwarted lovers and boozy fighters. Some victims of mayhem were typical of their time—horse and buggy accidents, difficulty with new fangled technology and fires. Fun to read.
November 14, 2023
Do you have an uncle that always tells you crazy history stories after a drink or two? You never know if he is telling the truth or just pulling your leg? If you don't have that crazy uncle, congratulations, you now know two you can pretend are yours...or at least until you finish the book.
The stories are short and include information of where you can experience the mayhem in person. An amazing teacher once said that the best way to experience history to walk around in it instead of just reading about it. The authors get that and that is what makes IdaHistory great. If you ever get to do one of their walking tours, you will get the most enthusiastic crazy history buff uncle just as you have in the book.
So enjoy you true crime nerds!
The stories are short and include information of where you can experience the mayhem in person. An amazing teacher once said that the best way to experience history to walk around in it instead of just reading about it. The authors get that and that is what makes IdaHistory great. If you ever get to do one of their walking tours, you will get the most enthusiastic crazy history buff uncle just as you have in the book.
So enjoy you true crime nerds!
September 30, 2023
Mark Iverson and Jeff Wade dig into the nitty-gritty of Boise’s buried history. They uncover the mystery and intrigue hidden beneath the clean facade of the city of trees. The stories within are both shocking and disturbing. Read at one’s own peril.
October 18, 2022
Well worth your time
Enjoy these colorful and grisly tales from Boise, Idaho's past. Great read. I am very much hoping for a sequel.
Enjoy these colorful and grisly tales from Boise, Idaho's past. Great read. I am very much hoping for a sequel.
January 10, 2024
Another book packed with history. Some interesting stories about the early days of Boise.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews