Title: The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago
Author: Douglas Perry
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-0143119227
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, True Crime

“The true story of the murderesses who became media sensations and inspired the musical Chicago…” The full summery of the book may be read on the Publisher’s website.

My Review:

The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago by Douglas Perry gives a well-referenced account of the public circus that played out when a few infamous women were accused of murder during the 1920’s in Chicago.  Ultimately, these women would become the inspiration for the musical Chicago.  Perry takes readers through the time of prohibition in the gangland of Chicago where newspaper reporter, Maurine Watkins, has elevated two attractive women, Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan, from simply alleged murderers to media sensations.  Through meticulously documented accounts, Perry has captured important facts and details that he weaves into an exciting, entertaining, and refreshing look at the time so often associated with Al Capone, organized crime and bootlegging.  While most of the information provided in Perry’s account is cited, he does appear to take some liberties with some of the women’s thoughts that would not seem to be a matter of record.  Nonetheless, for history fans, The Girls of Murder City provides detailed accounts of the roaring 20’s of Chicago and brings to life an important time in American history where, for a small group of murderesses, beauty weighed in over justice.

To learn more about author Douglas Perry and his books, please visit his website douglasperry.net

I received a complimentary copy of The Girls of Murder City by Douglas Perry from Penguin/Viking Books. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.