Dick Kreck

Dick Kreck is an American journalist and author known for his non-fiction books about historical events in Colorado and the American West. He spent 38 years as a reporter and columnist for The Denver Post before retiring in 2007 to focus on writing books full-time. His most notable works include "Murder at the Brown Palace" (2003) which details a sensational 1911 murder case in Denver's landmark hotel, and "Hell on Wheels" (2013) which chronicles the lawless railroad towns that sprung up during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. These books demonstrate his focus on true crime and Western American history. Kreck's research methodology involves extensive use of historical records, newspapers, and firsthand accounts to reconstruct historical events in detail. His background in journalism is evident in his straightforward writing style and attention to factual accuracy. Many of his books explore the darker aspects of Colorado history, including "Anton Woode: The Boy Murderer" (2006) and "Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family" (2009). These works have helped preserve important stories from Colorado's past while shedding new light on historical events that shaped the region.

Readers appreciate Kreck's thorough historical research and detailed accounts of Western crime stories. Many note his journalistic approach makes complex historical events clear and engaging. What readers liked: - Deep dive into primary sources and newspaper archives - Local Colorado history details not found elsewhere - Clear, newspaper-style writing without sensationalism What readers disliked: - Some find the writing dry and academic - Occasional complaints about repetitive passages - A few readers wanted more historical context Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: Average 3.8/5 across his books - Murder at the Brown Palace: 3.9/5 (621 ratings) - Hell on Wheels: 3.7/5 (289 ratings) - Smaldone: 3.8/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: Average 4.2/5 - Most reviews praise the research but note "textbook-like" writing - Several mention it fills gaps in Colorado history knowledge "Great research but reads like a long newspaper article" is a common review theme. Readers seeking dramatic true crime narratives sometimes find his factual style underwhelming.

Murder at the Brown Palace (2003) - Documents the 1911 murder of Frank Henwood in Denver's Brown Palace Hotel and the ensuing scandal involving wealthy socialites.

Anton Woode: The Boy Murderer (2006) - Chronicles the true story of a 12-year-old who killed a man in Colorado in 1892 and became the youngest person sentenced to prison in the state.

Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family (2009) - Details the history of the Smaldone crime family who operated in Denver from the 1920s through the 1980s.

Hell on Wheels: Wicked Towns Along the Union Pacific Railroad (2013) - Examines the temporary towns that sprung up during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, focusing on their lawlessness and violence.

Rich People Behaving Badly (2015) - Compiles stories of scandals, murders, and misdeeds involving Denver's wealthy citizens from the 1800s to modern times.

Early Denver: From Mining Camp to Queen City (2000) - Traces Denver's development from its origins as a frontier mining settlement to its emergence as a major city.

Erik Larson writes narrative nonfiction focusing on true crime and historical events from the late 1800s through early 1900s. His research methods and storytelling approach mirror Kreck's style of bringing historical Denver crime stories to life.

Simon Baatz specializes in documenting criminal cases from America's past with detailed historical context and legal proceedings. His focus on high-profile murder trials and criminal justice in early American history aligns with Kreck's examination of frontier justice.

Harold Schechter chronicles American true crime cases from the 19th and early 20th centuries. His work incorporates newspaper accounts and trial transcripts to reconstruct historical murders similar to Kreck's methodology.

Karen Abbott writes about crime and society in American history with emphasis on the Victorian and Progressive eras. Her books examine both the criminal elements and the social context of historical periods, comparable to Kreck's exploration of old Denver.

Skip Hollandsworth investigates historical Texas crime cases using primary sources and archival research. His focus on Western frontier justice and reconstruction of historical murders parallels Kreck's examination of Colorado crime history.