Butcher's Work

True Crime Tales of American Murder and Madness

By: Harold Schechter

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

A Civil War veteran who perpetrated one of the most ghastly mass slaughters in the annals of U.S. crime. A nineteenth-century female serial killer whose victims included three husbands and six of her own children. A Gilded Age “Bluebeard” who did away with as many as fifty wives throughout the country. A decorated World War I hero who orchestrated a murder that stunned Jazz Age America. While other infamous homicides from the same eras—the Lizzie Borden slayings, for example, or the “thrill killing” committed by Leopold and Loeb—have entered into our cultural mythology, these four equally sensational crimes have largely faded from public memory. A quartet of gripping historical true-crime narratives, Butcher’s Work restores these once-notorious cases to vivid, dramatic life.

©2022 Harold Schechter (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Harold Schechter is America’s dean of true crime, plundering the darkest corners of our history, and with this collection he delivers again. Taken together, these tales take on the quality of campfire ghost stories—absorbing, chilling, and hard to forget.”—Robert Kolker, New York Times bestselling author, Lost Girls

“Master of true crime, Harold Schechter offers a macabre smorgasbord of long-forgotten misdeeds. Each story—about a mass axe murderer, a ‘poison fiend,’ a prolific Bluebeard killer, and a scheming war veteran—shines a fascinating light on the darkest impulses of human nature. You’ll read this in one sitting, but keep the lights on.”—Abbott Kahler, author, The Ghosts of Eden Park

“Harold Schechter is among the top true-crime writers of our time. With this diverse collection, he demonstrates his skill once more at transforming historical chronicles into page-turning tales. He’s a master of research and storytelling.”—Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and author, How to Catch a Killer

Historical Story Line

interesting, references to others and social norms kept my attention. I liked it. Love A Books.

At times a tough read/listen but overall fascinating look at crimes in history

This would be a great book for a long car ride. Keeps your attention well

I got my tight pants on !!

I really enjoyed this book. narrative was good. kept my interest throughout. I would recommend this book.

Another necessary work by Schector

This is a great introduction to him as an author. I’ve only heard of one story in this collection, but they all provide the details of the crime, historical background, the personal history of the victims and perpetrators, and the trial/fallout. This may be a departure for true crime podcast listeners, but they won’t be disappointed.

good stuff

always an amazing read I recommend it to anyone who likes the old true crime stories