Plot Summary

Midnight Assassin

Patricia L. Bryan
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Midnight Assassin

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2005

Book Brief

Patricia L. Bryan

Midnight Assassin

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2005
Book Details
Pages

296

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Iowa • 1900s

Publication Year

2005

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Midnight Assassin by Patricia L. Bryan and Thomas Wolf reveals the unsolved murder of John Hossack, an Iowa farmer, in 1900 and the subsequent arrest and trial of his wife, Margaret, who maintains her innocence. Using court transcripts, journals, and newspaper articles, the authors explore the legal proceedings, societal views on women, and domestic abuse in rural America, highlighting how the case influenced early American feminism.

Mysterious

Dark

Informative

Suspenseful

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.8

1,313 ratings

55%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Midnight Assassin by Patricia L. Bryan has garnered attention for its detailed research and engaging narration of a true crime case. Reviewers praise its historical accuracy and vivid storytelling. However, some found the pacing slow and the narrative occasionally heavy on minutiae. Overall, it is admired for its compelling reconstruction of early 20th-century rural America and its legal intrigues.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Midnight Assassin?

Readers who relish true crime mixed with historical intrigue would enjoy Midnight Assassin by Patricia L. Bryan. Fans of Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City or Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me will appreciate the meticulous research and gripping storytelling that bring a 1900 Iowa murder case to vivid life.

3.8

1,313 ratings

55%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

296

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Iowa • 1900s

Publication Year

2005

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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