Customer Reviews

Deaths on Pleasant Street

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Hard to imagine that a report of deaths that happened a hundred years ago can result in a page-turner, but that exactly describes "Deaths on Pleasant Street," a compelling report of the suspicious death of one of Kansas City's most famous benefactors, the multi-millionaire Colonel Swope, whose generosity gave Kansas City its landmark Swope Park. Did Col. Swope die at the hands of his niece's husband, Bennett Clark Hyde, a well-regarded doctor who was scheduled to become the president of the county's medical society? Was Dr. Hyde responsible for the deaths of other relatives of Col. Swope? I stayed up far later than I should have, unable to put this book down until the end.

In the late 1800's, Colonlel Thomas Swope made his money in mining and moved to the Kansas City area in Missouri. His brother and sister-in-law, Maggie Swope, lived in Independence, MO., which at that time, was the large city and County seat. He bought a large parcel of farm land, sold it off into smaller parcels and made his fortune. This area became downtown Kansas City. He donated a large parcel to the city to become a park, Swope Park.

After the death of Maggie's husband, Col. Swope lived in the Swope mansion along with his cousin Hunton Moss, 62, and Maggie's children. Her oldest daughter, Francis, married Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde, against the family's wishes. Hyde had had questionable relationships previously with two divorced women whom he had borrowed money and not paid back. Maggie eventually welcomed him into the family after Hyde cared for her son, Thomas, after an accident.

On September 18, Hyde purchases cyanide capsules from the drug store. On October 1, 1909, Colonel Hunton Moss, age 62, dies of a brain hemorrhage. He was one of the executor's of Col. Swope's estate, and Hyde wants to be the new executor. He hears of Swope wanting to change his will so that more of his money would go to the poor of Kansas City and not his nieces and nephews. Swope planned on changing his will the following week. October 3, Col. Swope feels ill and Hyde gives him a capsule, saying it will help his stomach, having had gastric problems in the past. Within minutes, Swope has convulsions and is dead by the end of the day. By end November, another Swope family member is dead and many ill. Is this all circumstance or did Dr. Hyde murder and attempt murder on other family members for a larger piece of the inheritance?

The author, a previous KC Star reporter, does an amazing job recounting the saga of the Swope family. His extensive research and accurate depiction of facts puts you in the jury box.

I found this book absolutely fascinating--hard to put down even during the busy Christmas season! Full of interesting facts about Kansas City, Independence, and the celebrities of the day, Deaths on Pleasant Street is a true page-turner. Fowler brings characters and events to life and makes this 100 year old mystery as intriguing as any current event. A really good read!

I couldn't put this book down. The fact that these mysterious happenings took place 20 minutes from where I live made it much more visceral and charged with intrigue!

Arrived as promised and ahead of schedule! As a Kansas City resident this book was fasinating reading!

"Deaths on Pleasant Street" is a really interesting read. The author really brings the characters, who were real people, to life. He includes wonderful old photographs as well as artists' renderings of the trial as they appeared in the newspaper back in the early part of the 20th Century. The book was given to me as a gift, and I in turn purchased another copy for my uncle for Christmas. It has been a big hit in our family.

I read a lot of non-fiction books. This one kept me up all night which rarely happens
unless it is a very good, very well written and researched story that is also
entertaining too. Highly recommend. Hope the author writes another true story.

Kudos to the author for taking the facts of this true story and weaving them into a fantastic journey back in time. I felt like the proverbial fly on the wall!

Well written account of true crime. Readers familiar with Kansas City will especially enjoy the lively descriptions of the early city. They immerse you immediately into the story's time and place.

The author was able to take a real crime drama and make it a page turning jewel. The story itself was truly fasinating. The icing on the cake for me was the fact that this story happened right here in my home town. The family names are well known. Hyde Park. Swope Park. Swope Avenue. It was hard to put this book down.