I'm not quite sure exactly what I thought of this book. It was interesting, it was terrifying, and it was well-written. I learned a lot about the Chicago World's Fair, and I was impressed with the determination of the people involved in bringing that seemingly impossible fair to life.The problem, I thought, was that the author was really telling two stories here. I understood that he was attempting to juxtapose darkness and light, creation and destruction, good and evil. But there really were two stories here, and while I felt the story of the fair was told very fully, I didn't think the story of H.H. Holmes was told nearly as well. The story of the fair got in the way of that story, and perhaps the story of Holmes could have benefited from its own book. Perhaps this was not feasible given the lack of resources available about this man, but I just didn't think that story sat well with the story of the fair.
The second problem I had was that while the book started out interesting, it rapidly became repetitive. Part way though I was thinking, "I got it, already! The fair wasn't easy to build!" I found myself reading the book not because I was enjoying it, but so I could finish it so I could move on to something else!
I guess in the end my review is a juxtaposition of thoughts. The story was interesting, but boring; well-told, but not well-told; good and bad. I don't regret reading it, but I'm glad I'm done with it.