Detective in the White City: The Real Story of Frank Geyer

by JD Crighton

Overview

Large Print format. The remarkable true story of the uncompromising and relentless detective who investigated one of America's first serial killers, the man known as the 'Devil in the White City,' H. H. Holmes, and others like him.

This extraordinary historical biography provides a chronological account of Frank Geyer's life and features murder cases that made national headlines and the history of one of America's largest police departments, complete with 95 rare illustrations and photos!

"History like never before!"

Who was the world's famous detective who outsmarted criminals from the Gilded Age and whose wife and daughter never died in a fire, like scholars claimed?

Featuring:

• Geyer's incredible investigation of H. H. Holmes, death of Benjamin Pitezel, the horrific discovery of the missing Pitezel children, Holmes' trial, and a 'Devil in Him' chapter
• Mary Hannah Tabbs and the gruesome torso murder
• Modern Borgia killer, Sarah Jane Whiteling, the first woman hung in Philadelphia
• White Chapel Row
• Mrs. Annie Gaskin and the killer cat
• Top secret search in Rio de Janeiro
• Fake highwaymen murder for insurance, and plot to kill Detective Geyer
• Law enforcement and Philadelphia history
• Reuben Geyer in theCivil War, President Franklin Pierce, and Franks' hometown
• Truth about Geyer's wife and daughter
• with Sources, List of Illustrations and Credits, Bibliography, Notes, and Index
• 95 rare historical illustrations and photos, restored

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781946100023
Publisher:	RW Publishing House
Publication date:	06/12/2018
Pages:	434
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

JD Crighton is the author of Detective in the White City: The Real Story of Frank Geyer and Holmes' Own Story: Confessed 27 Murders, Lied The Died. JD is an Emergency Manager who writes in the biography, history, true crime, and thriller genres and is a member of Biographers International Organization, Nonfiction Authors Association, and International Thriller Writers.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Prologue: Profound Untruth

PART I - HOMETOWN

Chapter 1 - Franklin Pierce

Chapter 2 - American Civil War

Chapter 3 - Centennial Guard

Chapter 4 - Femur and Horses

PART II - BLOODY BAD

Chapter 5 - Bullitt

Chapter 6 - Bizarre Story of a Cat

Chapter 7 - A Mighty Gruesome Package

Chapter 8 - Modern Borgia

Chapter 9 - White Chapel Row

Chapter 10 - Send Flowers to My Funeral

Chapter 11 - Secret Search

Chapter 12 - Etched in Time

Chapter 13 - Where Are You?

PART III - DEVIL IN DISGUISE

Chapter 14 - Two Enemies

Chapter 15 - Suspicions Intensify

Chapter 16 - Sweet Innocence

Chapter 17 - Little Howard

Chapter 18 - Just Deserts

Chapter 19 - The Devil in Him

PART IV -A PLOT, A RIOT, AND LA GRIPPE

Chapter 20 - He Must Die

Chapter 21 - Regret to Inform You

Chapter 22 - Police Scandal

Chapter 23 - La Grippe

SUPPLEMENTAL PHOTOS

APPENDIX A: ADDITIONAL GEYER QUOTES

Acknowledgements

Bibliography

Notes

Index

Editorial Reviews

"This was an outstanding book! Set in the gilded age with wonderful details from that time, it is a historical, chronological account of Detective Frank Geyer with a sprinkling from his youth and his dad's civil war service and how his hometown was impacted . . . it really kicked into high gear when the detective started his law career and until his death when the world was slammed with Spanish flu . . . I appreciated the meticulous research . . . I would recommend this book to all history and true crime readers!"

"After reading in the Devil in the White City that Detective Geyer's family was killed in a fire, I was glad to learn that never happened. This book puts that terrible rumor to rest. From beginning to end, Crighton takes the reader back in time. I really liked learning about 19th century policing, Geyer's cases, especially the one's that made headlines at that time."

"Fantastic! Wonderful book . . . couldn't put it down when I started reading it. If you like detective novels or murder mysteries . . . you will love this real life account and pictures of his cases."

"After reading Larson's book about H. H. Holmes . . . I wanted to know more. Crighton chronologically covers the detective's life, police career, investigations, and of course, the H. H. Holmes investigation from Geyer's point of view."

". . . it did not disappoint. I loved reading about the era when the detective grew up and especially about his cases!"

"Noteworthy history of one of America's oldest police departments."

"That lying scoundrel Holmes was no match for Detective Geyer, who saw right through him!"

"19th century masterpiece!"

"History lovers dream!"

"Compelling read . . . history at its best"

"Loved the history of Detective Geyer and Philadelphia police most of all. The photos were great!"

"an interesting, intriguing and well written book"

From the Publisher