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Author James, Bill, 1949- author.

Title The man from the train : the solving of a century-old serial killer mystery / Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James.

Publication Info. New York : Scribner, c2017.

Copies

Location Call No. OPAC Message Status
 Axe 3rd Floor Stacks  364.1523209 J231m 2017    ---  Available
 Axe Kansas Collection  364.1523209 J231m 2017 c.2  ---  Lib Use Only
 Eureka Non-Fiction  364.1523 Jam    ---  Available
 FSCC Non-Fiction  364.1523 Jam    ---  Available
 Pittsburg 2nd Fl Non-Fiction  364.1523 Jam    ---  Available
1 copy being processed for Axe Acquisitions Order.
1 copy being processed for Axe Acquisitions Order.
Edition First Scribner hardcover edition September 2017.
Description xi, 464 pages ; 24 cm
Series Kansas Notable Book ; 2018.
Summary "Using unprecedented, dramatically compelling sleuthing techniques, legendary statistician and baseball writer Bill James applies his analytical acumen to crack an unsolved century-old mystery surrounding one of the deadliest serial killers in American history. Between 1898 and 1912, families across the country were bludgeoned in their sleep with the blunt side of an axe. Jewelry and valuables were left in plain sight, bodies were piled together, faces covered with cloth. Some of these cases, like the infamous Villasca, Iowa, murders, received national attention. But few people believed the crimes were related. And fewer still would realize that all of these families lived within walking distance to a train station. When celebrated baseball statistician and true crime expert Bill James first learned about these horrors, he began to investigate others that might fit the same pattern. Applying the same know-how he brings to his legendary baseball analysis, he empirically determined which crimes were committed by the same person. Then after sifting through thousands of local newspapers, court transcripts, and public records, he and his daughter Rachel made an astonishing discovery: they learned the true identity of this monstrous criminal. In turn, they uncovered one of the deadliest serial killers in America. Riveting and immersive, with writing as sharp as the cold side of an axe, The Man from the Train paints a vivid, psychologically perceptive portrait of America at the dawn of the twentieth century, when crime was regarded as a local problem, and opportunistic private detectives exploited a dysfunctional judicial system. James shows how these cultural factors enabled such an unspeakable series of crimes to occur, and his groundbreaking approach to true crime will convince skeptics, amaze aficionados, and change the way we view criminal history"-- Provided by publisher.
"Between 1898 and 1912, families across the country were bludgeoned in their sleep with the blunt side of an axe. Jewelry and valuables were left in plain sight, bodies were piled together, faces covered with cloth. Some of these cases, like the infamous Villasca, Iowa murders, received national attention. But few people believed the crimes were related. And fewer still would realize that all of these families lived within walking distance to a train station. When celebrated baseball statistician and true crime expert Bill James first learned about these crimes, he began to investigate others that might fit the same pattern. Applying the analytical acumen he brings to baseball analysis, he empirically determined which crimes were committed by the same person. Then after sifting through thousands of local newspapers, court transcripts and public records, he and his daughter Rachel made an astonishing discovery. They learned the true identity of this monstrous criminal, and in turn, uncovered one of the deadliest serial killers in American history. Riveting and immersive, with writing as sharp as the cold side of an axe, The Man From the Train is a groundbreaking approach to true crime that will convince skeptics, delight aficionados, and change the way we view criminal history"-- Provided by publisher.
Subject Serial murderers -- Iowa -- Villisca -- History.
Mass murder investigation -- Iowa -- Villisca -- History.
Mass murder -- Iowa -- Villisca -- History.
Serial murderers -- Middle West -- History.
Mass murder -- Middle West -- History.
Mass murder investigation -- Middle West -- History.
HISTORY / United States / 20th Century.
SOCIAL SCIENCE / Criminology.
TRUE CRIME / Murder / Serial Killers.
Added Author James, Rachel McCarthy, author.
Other Form: Online version: James, Bill, 1949- author. Man from the train New York : Scribner, 2017 9781476796277 (DLC) 2017023689
ISBN 9781476796253
9781476796260 (pbk.)

 
    
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