Murder City

Murder City chronicles Chicago's homicides during 1929-1930 through the lens of police reports, court documents, and newspaper coverage from the Chicago Tribune. The book focuses on three main crime stories from this period when Chicago saw over 700 murders in two years. The central narrative follows Tribune crime photographer and reporter Charles Percy, who documented Chicago's criminal underworld during the Prohibition era. Through Percy's work and other primary sources, the book reconstructs not just the crimes but the social landscape of Chicago during a period of economic collapse and rampant violence. The author examines how newspapers of the era shaped public perception of crime and justice, particularly through their use of photographs and dramatic reporting styles. The interplay between journalism, law enforcement, and criminal activity emerges through detailed accounts drawn from multiple perspectives and sources. The book reveals deeper patterns about urban violence, media influence, and American society on the cusp of the Great Depression. Through its focus on specific crimes and characters, it presents a portrait of a city grappling with fundamental questions about law, order, and justice.

Readers found the book presented a raw, unflinching look at Chicago crime photography and journalism in the 1920s. Multiple reviewers noted the stark contrast between the glamorized gangster era and the brutal reality shown in the crime scene photos. Positives: - Detail-rich reporting from original source materials - Effective integration of photos with narrative - Clear portrayal of how newspapers shaped public perception - Strong research into lesser-known crimes and victims Negatives: - Writing style can be repetitive - Some sections feel disorganized - Too much focus on graphic details - Photo reproduction quality issues in some editions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (289 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (41 ratings) One reviewer called it "a fascinating glimpse into how modern crime reporting evolved," while another noted it was "sometimes overwhelming in its grimness." Several readers mentioned struggling with the graphic crime scene descriptions but appreciated the historical significance.

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🔍 Author Michael Lesy discovered the book's source material—thousands of crime scene photos from 1910-1930 Chicago—while researching his dissertation at Rutgers University. ⚖️ The photos used in "Murder City" were taken by professional police photographers who worked for the Chicago Police Department's Bureau of Identification, a groundbreaking forensic unit. 🗞️ The book reveals how Chicago newspapers of the era often paid criminals for exclusive interviews and photo opportunities, creating a strange symbiotic relationship between the press and the underworld. 🏛️ Many of the murder locations featured in the book still exist in modern Chicago, including the famous Palmer House Hotel where several high-profile crimes occurred. 📊 During the time period covered in the book (1920s-1930s), Chicago's murder rate was approximately 10 times higher than New York City's, despite having less than half the population.