A Treasury of Victorian Murder Compendium II

Gr 10 Up—With an amazing eye for detail, Geary chronicles five different Victorian-era murders previously published as individual volumes. They include the Borden Tragedy, Mary Rogers, the Bloody Benders, Madeleine Smith, and the assassination of President Lincoln. Geary so thoroughly researches each and every case that he is able to portray events from all sides. Backed by numerous sources, the murders chosen for this anthology are presented in such a way that readers can't help but become engrossed in the drama. The events prior to each murder are meticulously provided, as are the aftermaths. The stories unfold as if one were watching a classic black-and-white noir film. In the case of Madeleine Smith and her secret lover, Emile, the story is enhanced by bits and pieces of their actual correspondence. This full-picture coverage is seen in all the stories. The illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to these rather bleak and sordid moments in history and the use of pen and ink makes some of the content less graphic and more tolerable than if it were in color. For example, the scene where Lincoln's brain is removed for autopsy is only slightly disturbing and not as gory as it could've been with another media. History fans, true crime aficionados, and readers of nonfiction graphic novels will all find something quite enthralling in this collection.