American Demon

Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America's Jack the Ripper

By: Daniel Stashower

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

"Will Damron performs a meticulous, exact narration of Stashower’s work. He unpacks the background and history of the places and players with the calm and collected authority of an insider, yet exudes the excitement, confusion, and fear of outsiders when delivering numerous gruesome passages about the 13 dismembered murder victims." - Library Journal

New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winner Daniel Stashower returns with American Demon, a historical true crime starring legendary lawman Eliot Ness.

Boston had its Strangler. California had the Zodiac Killer. And in the depths of the Great Depression, Cleveland had the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run.

On September 5th, 1934, a young beachcomber made a gruesome discovery on the shores of Cleveland’s Lake Erie: the lower half of a female torso, neatly severed at the waist. The victim, dubbed “The Lady of the Lake,” was only the first of a butcher’s dozen. Over the next four years, twelve more bodies would be scattered across the city. The bodies were dismembered with surgical precision and drained of blood. Some were beheaded while still alive.

Terror gripped the city. Amid the growing uproar, Cleveland’s besieged mayor turned to his newly-appointed director of public safety: Eliot Ness. Ness had come to Cleveland fresh from his headline-grabbing exploits in Chicago, where he and his band of “Untouchables” led the frontline assault on Al Capone’s bootlegging empire. Now he would confront a case that would redefine his storied career.

Award-winning author Daniel Stashower shines a fresh light on one of the most notorious puzzles in the annals of crime, and uncovers the gripping story of Ness’s hunt for a sadistic killer who was as brilliant as he was cool and composed, a mastermind who was able to hide in plain sight. American Demon reconstructs this ultimate battle of wits between a hero and a madman.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

©2022 Daniel Stashower (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Liked it

Being from Cleveland and from 4 generations, it was interesting reading familiar locations about hometown.

Different than expected

Fascinating read re Elliott Ness, but left wondering about the murder, who was he?

A very good book.

Well written piece on Ness and the case in question. Detail oriented and engagingly presented. The narrator was stupendous.

Not Bad

It was ok mixed with Nesses personal life a little more then the murders but a descent listen

A pleasantly unpleasant listen

Excellent narration of rough subject matter; the author’s book on Poe is a bit better. Still, solid writing.

a good look at a scary time in Cleveland

i was surprised to learn that Eliot Ness spent so much time in Cleveland and i have lived here my whole life. There is an interesting twist to the Torso Murders. All in all, a good true crimes worl

Murder in Cleveland

The Torso Murders captured the Cleveland landscape, and Elliott Ness was wrapped up in the investigation. Rising politically, he had not had a misstep since his star started ascending. But no one was above public outcries, and Ness was about to find that not being able to solve this case would have devastating effects.

Great read! I enjoyed the facts and the story that was wound through these pages. I had read about Elliott Ness before, but this story zeroed in on one distinct aspect. A great read!

Was it Sweeney?

Having just finished and been somewhat disappointed with “Eliot Ness and The Mad Butcher:” I jumped into “American Demon”. Yes, this book gives you some background about Ness and his other work in Cleveland. However, this book gives you much more about the investigation into the hunt for the butcher. This book was worth the listen.

Maureen

Story of an ordinary doing extraordinary things amongst gangsters, politicians and murders. What a balance he endured. JEdgar as always could not allow Elliott Ness to shine.

I had no idea about this story. What a period in American history

Great slice of Americana and vicious murders. Sign me up. Well performed. Well researched I have no idea why this case isn’t more famous. Please do this one instead of Bundy or Dahmer number 45 next limited series