Overview
A chilling true story of murder, mystery, and injustice in early 20th-century New Orleans.Between 1910 and 1919, a brutal serial killer terrorized New Orleans. Known as the Axeman, he stalked the city's Italian grocers, leaving a trail of gruesome murders and public panic in his wake. This is the true story of the Axeman's reign of terror, the innocent men accused, and the dark secrets that haunted the Crescent City.
Miriam C. Davis expertly weaves together a historical narrative of the Axeman's crimes, the social and cultural context of early 20th-century New Orleans, and the gripping account of the wrongly accused Iorlando Jordano and his son Frank. Uncover the truth behind the legend, the real identity of the killer, and the shocking aftermath that continued long after the Axeman left New Orleans. For fans of true crime, New Orleans history, and tales of unsolved mysteries.
Reviews
"Fantastically detailed, thoroughly documented, frightening and fascinating. Ms. Davis's account of the Axeman is likely to be the final word on the subject.” —Keven McQueen, author of Gothic and Strange True Tales of the South
"Tackling one of the most perplexing serial killer cases in the annals of American homicide, Miriam Davis has produced an exemplary work of historical true crime. Exhaustively researched, crisply written, and as briskly paced as any fictional thriller, it is sure to stand as the definitive work on the subject. —Harold Schechter, author of The Serial Killer Files
“No American murders are stranger or more mysterious than those committed by the Axeman of New Orleans. And none are more desperately in need of the attentions of a first-rate writer and historian. Thankfully, Miriam Davis is both those things. Her account is original, revelatory—and also very exciting." —Mike Dash, author of The First Family and Satan’s Circus
“A riveting story of a serial-killer investigation in a time long before modern-day investigative techniques, or even the term ‘serial killer,’ was invented.” —Booklist, starred review
"Miriam Davis leaves no stone unturned in her study of a classic unsolved serial muder case, pursuing leads where no researcher has gone before and revealing previously unreported crimes, victims, and suspects. Those who think they 'know it all' about the Axeman are in for a thrilling surprise." —Michael Newton, author of The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers
“A superb read for those who love historical true crime writing, New Orleans history, and real-life tales of serial killers.” —Library Journal
“That’s how it reads: a page-turner of violence and skillful research.” —The New Orleans Advocate
“This book is distinctive in the canon of Axeman literature… Robert Tallant is a legend among New Orleans history and literature lovers, so it’s no small hurdle Davis clears when she discredits some of his assertions…” and “…the book reads like a modern-day thriller.” —Louisiana Life
Author Biography
Miriam C. Davis has a PhD in history and is the author of Dame Kathleen Kenyon, a life of the most important female archeologist of the twentieth century. She lectures for Smithsonian Journeys and lives in Montgomery, Alabama.
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