Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson (Crown)…I’ve enjoyed Larson’s work for quite some time, especially The Devil in the White City, and this effort is his best yet. Larson skillfully interweaves two stories (the exploits of mad British murderder Hawley Crippen, and the electronic misadventures of radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi) into one broader narrative which illuminates a turning point in humanity’s ability to communicate and the authorities’ enhanced power to exact even greater control over the populace. Lots of good historical trivia; a well-written and engrossing book.