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The Man from the Train

By: Bill James, Rachel McCarthy James
Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
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Publisher's 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 20th 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.

©2017 Bill James & Rachel McCarthy James. All rights reserved. (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio. All rights reserved.

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Fascinating, scary story

This is a great book, very detailed and informative about the places and lives of the people involved, and so scary (the authors make clear the parts of the story where evidence isn’t available and they rely on conjecture).

Anyone interested in true crime or detective stories would probably enjoy this book.

Some of the language is out of date, unfortunately for sex workers the terms prostitute and hooker are used, and instead of sexual assault the term rape, is used.

The narration is clear but monotone, I fell asleep once or twice!

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Very interesting

I would have liked to have heard an account that didn't have so much sarcastic conjecture but it was otherwise an interesting story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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interesting

was a interesting story. was just as interesting hearing about the way of life in the early 1900s as the nasty murders.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

speculation is key

the performance put me to sleep a little. I think because his voice is so deep. the story had a lot of speculation because so much is unknown about it, and sometimes the tone of the writer seemed immature? but overall it's quite interesting if you take everything at face value. if you like true crime / unsolved murders you'd probably enjoy this.

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Very interesting but feels incomplete

Great story. Question. Why does the narrator skip some of the last chapter? I need to find a copy and read the last chapter.

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