Daniel Stashower

Daniel Stashower is an American author and journalist known for his biographical works and historical true crime books, particularly focusing on 19th century America. He has received multiple Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for his non-fiction works. His most acclaimed books include "The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War" and "The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder." He has also written extensively about Arthur Conan Doyle, publishing "Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle" and "Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters." Beyond his historical works, Stashower has authored a series of mystery novels featuring magician-detective Harry Houdini and his brother Dash. His journalism has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Smithsonian magazine. Stashower maintains strong connections to the mystery writing community, serving as a board member of the Mystery Writers of America and contributing to various anthologies in the genre. His work consistently demonstrates a focus on meticulous historical research combined with narrative storytelling.

Readers consistently note Stashower's thorough research and ability to weave historical details into engaging narratives. His writing style receives praise for clarity and accessibility while maintaining scholarly rigor. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex historical events - Balance between facts and storytelling - Inclusion of primary sources and photographs - Strong pacing in true crime works Disliked: - Some readers find early chapters contain excess background detail - A few note redundant information across chapters - Occasional complaints about timeline jumps being hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: - The Hour of Peril: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) - The Beautiful Cigar Girl: 3.7/5 (1,900+ ratings) - Teller of Tales: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.3/5 across titles, with readers specifically praising his Edgar Allan Poe research and Civil War era accounts. Multiple readers cite his books as "readable history that doesn't sacrifice accuracy for entertainment."

The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War A historical account of detective Allan Pinkerton's efforts to thwart an assassination attempt against president-elect Abraham Lincoln in 1861.

The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder A true crime narrative examining the 1841 murder of Mary Rogers and its influence on Edgar Allan Poe's detective fiction.

Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle A biography chronicling Arthur Conan Doyle's life, career, and the creation of Sherlock Holmes.

Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters A collection of Arthur Conan Doyle's personal correspondence providing insight into his thoughts and experiences.

The Adventure of the Ectoplasmic Man A mystery novel featuring Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes investigating supernatural phenomena in London.

The Boy Genius and the Mogul An account of Philo Farnsworth's invention of television and his patent battles with RCA's David Sarnoff.

The Houdini Specter A mystery novel following magician Harry Houdini and his brother Dash as they investigate a haunted house case.

Erik Larson His books combine deep historical research with narrative techniques to explore true crime and significant events from the past. He specializes in parallel storylines that weave together multiple historical threads, as seen in works like "The Devil in the White City" and "Dead Wake."

Harold Schechter He writes extensively about historical true crime cases from 19th century America with a focus on cultural context. His works include detailed research into primary sources and newspaper archives to reconstruct notorious criminal cases of the past.

David Grann He produces non-fiction works that investigate historical mysteries and crimes through archival research and reporting. His books like "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "The Lost City of Z" uncover forgotten historical events through detailed documentary evidence.

Kate Summerscale She writes narrative non-fiction focusing on Victorian-era crime cases and their social context. Her work relies heavily on period documents and court records to reconstruct historical mysteries and their impact on society.

Matthew Pearl He creates historical novels that blend literary figures with mystery plots set in 19th century America and Europe. His books incorporate extensive research about historical figures like Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens while constructing fictional narratives around real events.