The Devil's Gentleman

Privilege, Poison, and the Trial That Ushered in the Twentieth Century

By: Harold Schechter

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

The wayward son of a revered Civil War general, Roland Molineux enjoyed good looks, status, and fortune - hardly the qualities of a prime suspect in a series of shocking, merciless cyanide killings. Molineux's subsequent indictment for murder led to two explosive trials and a sex-infused scandal that shocked the nation.

Bringing to life Manhattan's Gilded Age, Schechter captures all the colors of the tumultuous legal proceedings, gathering his own evidence and tackling subjects no one dared address at the time - all in hopes of answering a tantalizing question: what powerfully dark motives could drive the wealthy scion of an eminent New York family to murder?

©2007 Harold Schechter (P)2017 Tantor

Well Researched

I appreciate the author’s commitment to placing the events within the context of the era. It limits the reader’s/listener’s tendency to hang on to current mores instead of the values and standards of the time period.

Couldn't stop listening

Fascinating story! There's a lot of psychology related to poisoning, it's often known as a "feminine crime." Quite interesting to learn that the first "media driven case" of the century was a male poisoner.

Very interesting

I enjoyed learning how investigations were conducted in that day and time. without giving away spoilers they do let you know what happens to everyone after the conclusion of the trial and I really like learning about what happened in their lives because you get invested in the the people you are learning about.

A Book Without an Accompanying Wiki Page Is Always A Treat

True Crime fever has swept the nation and between podcasts and websites it's hard to find an American crime story that hasn't been rehashed a thousand times in as many ways.

The Devil's Gentleman is one exception. The information presented in this book can not be found as a whole elsewhere, only scraps of articles and legal documents. Schechter's research is extensive and presenting in an entertaining unbiased manner.

I can't recommend it enough to anyone who loved Starvation Heights, the Mad Sculptor, and anything by Erik Larson.

Narrative History Does Not Get Any Better.

Would you listen to The Devil's Gentleman again? Why?

Absolutely. Many subtle details I want to listen to again.

What other book might you compare The Devil's Gentleman to and why?

Devil in a White City. Not sure I have the title right.

What about Sean Runnette’s performance did you like?

The unhurried, melodic, contemplative, lilting pattern and register.

If you could give The Devil's Gentleman a new subtitle, what would it be?

No alternative title necessary. Perhaps, The Devil and his Disingenuous Mistress.

Any additional comments?

Superb listen. If the reader knows of one nearly as good, please post title in response to this review.