The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Random House)

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America is a bestselling nonfiction narrative by Erik Larson, published by Vintage Books (Random House). Set against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the book weaves together two remarkable true stories: the visionary architect Daniel H. Burnham's race to build the legendary "White City" — a stunning temporary metropolis on the shores of Lake Michigan — and the chilling tale of Dr. H. H. Holmes, a charming serial killer who constructed a hotel near the fairgrounds to lure and murder his victims.

Larson draws on historical records, diaries, and newspapers to recreate the era in vivid detail. Burnham marshaled the talents of luminaries including Frederick Law Olmsted, Louis Sullivan, and Charles McKim to transform a swampy lakeside site into a gleaming fairground that introduced Americans to wonders including alternating current electricity, the Ferris wheel, and modern urban planning. Meanwhile, Holmes exploited the anonymity the fair provided, preying on young women drawn to the city by its promise of opportunity.

Winner of the 2004 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime, the book has sold more than twelve million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as one of the finest works of narrative nonfiction of the past two decades. It has been adapted into an upcoming film and television project.