Confessions of the Serial Killer H.H. Holmes (Illustrated)

4 Books in 1 AND 2 of the books were written by the arch-fiend H.H. Holmes himself. The books were compiled by Fred Clarke, who also wrote the Forward. During the summers, Fred grew up two houses away from the same house where Holmes was born and lived as a child, and Fred frequently visited the Holmes house to play with friends who lived there.

There are many who claim Herman Mudgett (a.k.a. H.H. Holmes) was Jack the Ripper, including Mudgett's own great-great-grandson Jeff Mudgett. Some of the facts support the theory, while other's do not. No one can know the extent of Holmes gruesome crimes, but his own words and those of contemporary reporters provide a unique view into the mind of the man who is probably the most prolific serial killer of all time. While Holmes admitted to 27 murders, the number is likely far higher.

During the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 (frequently referred to as the Chicago World's Fair), Holmes ran a hotel which he had designed himself. The "Murder Castle" was filled with secret rooms and traps made to murder and dispose of his guests and his lovers. Soundproof rooms allowed him to torture his victims while the rest of the world passed his hotel unaware of the evil within. PIctures and drawings of the Murder Castle are included in the books.

After his arrest, H.H. Holmes wrote two confessions, both included in this book. In the first confession, he admits that he is a swindler but insists he is not a murderer. In the second, after his conviction, he admits to murdering 27 people, including business partners, lovers, and small children. For the first time in the 21st century, both confessions are now available to readers everywhere.

The confessions have been painstakingly transcribed for all to see the devious nature of this monster. It is unknown how many people Holmes killed in his murder hotel in Chicago and if his murderous behavior extended to England under the name Jack the Ripper. The detectives who searched the horror chambers were unable to get a true body count because Holmes had installed lime pits to dissolve the bodies. Some place the number of murders attributed to Holmes as high as 200.

The book now includes another historical book written shortly after the trial and execution of Holmes: Holmes, the Arch Fiend. This book provides a narrative that is not covered in the other texts, including possible conversations between Holmes and his victims.

A fourth book has been added to this series: The Holmes Castle. This contemporary account, written in 1895 prior to Holmes execution, describes more of the atrocities of Holmes and provides new names of people who simply disappeared after contacting Holmes.