Herman Holmes Mudgett, also known as H.H. Holmes, was a serial killer active in Chicago in the late 19th century. Holmes, a guy of charisma and intelligence who preyed on his victims, was born in 1861. He built a three-story structure he called the “Murder Castle,” complete with secret entrances, trapdoors, and chambers to commit his atrocities.

Holmes is suspected of killing scores of people, including colleagues, acquaintances, and women for the sake of insurance fraud. He convinced them to trust him, then took advantage of their weaknesses before killing them in cold blood.

Though no one knows for sure, many people believe that Holmes committed around 200 murders throughout his binge. He was arrested in 1894 and tried for the murder of his friend Benjamin Pitezel. The mystery surrounding Holmes’ crimes was deepened by his confession and then retraction of some of his comments.

True crime fans and historians alike continue to be fascinated by the H.H. Holmes case, which is one of the most notorious in American criminal history. Criminal psychology, the limitations of early forensic science, and the societal effects of sensational crimes can all be studied in this context. A book on this topic is a terrifying exploration of the shadowy corners of the human psyche and the search for right and wrong in the face of evil.