Villisca [Paperback]

Roy Marshall (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1593300093 | ISBN-13: 978-1593300098 | Publication Date: March 6, 2003

In 1912 what was arguably the most violent crime, the darkest mystery, in Midwest history took place. Law enforcement officers encountered a scene of unimagined violence: eight victims, six of them children, bludgeoned to death with an ax while they slept. Everywhere there were clues. But inexperienced investigators failed, and private detectives took over. When Detective James Newton Wilkerson charged that a respected state senator had been motivated to the unthinkable by the promiscuity of his daughter-in-law, the community was drawn into a bitter and accelerating struggle between powerful men. And then a deranged and perverted minister confessed. . . .

Product Details

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Aventine Press (March 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593300093
• ISBN-13: 978-1593300098
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Villisca, July 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Villisca (Paperback)

Mr. Marshall has taken cold historical facts and written a book that weaves you into the mindsets and personalities of the investigators and the accused of this unsolved murder. The result is a book that contains enough content to satisfy the analytical historical mind as well as a story line that would delight those readers merely seeking a good mystery.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid account and decent read, January 30, 2004

By 

Mark C. Gibson "vonkeitz" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Villisca (Paperback)

I just finished this account of the unsolved mass murders in 1912 in Villisca Iowa after finding out a bit of the historic event in early Iowa on the Web. I found the account pretty well written and engaging though the narrative, at times, took a back seat to lengthy historical documentation. The entire book as a whole might have been improved by some reductions in places but the content was fine as is. I have to admit I was surprised NOT to find the "author's take" at the very end (or somewhere) on who he thought was behind it all, what person(s) committed the actual murders, was there a conspiracy, etc. After plowing through all that text, to not be provided this account might seem to make the book and author more credible, but I distinctly missed such an offering.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true story of a terrible crime, December 13, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Villisca (Paperback)

Ably researched and deftly written by Roy Marshall, Villisca is the true story of a terrible crime that took place in 1912 America. Eight victims, six of them children, were bludgeoned to death with an axe as they slept. Private investigators dissected the case after inexperienced police detectives failed, and scandals concerning public figures were drawn into the white-hot light of public scrutiny. A thoroughly researched and evenhandedly presented narrative, Villisca is a welcome and recommended addition to personal, and community library True Crime shelves, as well as academic Criminology Studies reference collections.