In the summer of 1897 a torso wrapped in oilcloth was pulled from the river off the Lower East Side by young boys. The discovery, followed by blueberry pickers finding wrapped limbs, set off a newspaper frenzy about this horrifying crime. Newspaper reporters raced to try to identify the body and stir up circulation, many times beating the police to clues. This case was mainly responsible for the creation of the tabloid as we know it today. This case had blood, sex, and lots of intrigue, everything needed to grasp the attention of not only New York but the whole country.
This nonfiction book was fascinating, not only giving a close-up view of New York police, but also the newspaper world at this pivotal time. Very well researched and written, a must read for true crime and American history buffs.
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