City of Scoundrels

The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago

By: Gary Krist

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

When 1919 began, the city of Chicago seemed on the verge of transformation. Modernizers had an audacious, expensive plan to turn the city from a brawling, unglamorous place into “the Metropolis of the World.” But just as the dream seemed within reach, pandemonium broke loose and the city’s highest ambitions were suddenly under attack by the same unbridled energies that had given birth to them in the first place.

It began on a balmy Monday afternoon when a blimp in flames crashed through the roof of a busy downtown bank, incinerating those inside. Within days, a racial incident at a hot, crowded South Side beach spiraled into one of the worst urban riots in American history, followed by a transit strike that paralyzed the city. Then, when it seemed as if things could get no worse, police searching for a six-year-old girl discovered her body in a dark North Side basement.

City of Scoundrels captures the tumultuous birth of the modern American city, with all of its light and dark aspects in vivid relief.

Critic reviews

"(An) eager narrative that delivers vivid reading." -- Kirkus Reviews

"The most compelling adventure yarn, full of crashing dirigibles, bloody riots, and classic crooks. Loved it." --Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent

"A lavishly intricate, well-paced account of a great city lashed to the breaking point by a political perfect storm." --New York Times

Appropriate for our times

Reminds me of Trump and his presidential start, why don't we learn from past mistakes?

Tough deciding between 3⭐ & 4⭐

Fantastic opening chapter. Bogs slightly while filling in the background. Then picks back up. Shapiro is a good reader, but not.. um, let's say not one makes his own mark on the story. Which, as I consider it, with non fiction, that's not a bad thing. Is the author's sub-title premise proven? Debatable. Still an interesting read /listen, not a waste of time.

Kind of a slow start but a big finish

I absolutely loved the story! It took a little bit to get to the meat of it but once it gets to the 12 days in the title it's a whirlwind of a story. Highly recommended read.

A Great Snapshot of Chicago at a Critical Moment in its History

This book depicts a fascinating yet problematic few days in the history of Chicago of which most lifelong residents, like myself, are probably unaware. I will never walk over the Michigan Avenue bridge again without thinking of Big Bill Thompson.

Excellent Listen. Detailed. Foundational.

Having been born in Cook County Illinois and raised elsewhere, listening to this audiobook helped bring to fore on the backstory of modern Chicago.

The first chapters of Part 1 detailing the July 1919 blimp crash disaster into a bank and then the foundation-laying stories of other events sets up nicely the gripping details of Part 2's riots, strikes, and political machinations over 12 days that indeed shape the city of Chicago as we see it has grown into. Although Part 1 can be a little tedious at times with details after the blimp disaster description, be patient as the payoff comes alive in Part 2.

This is the second book by Gary Krist I've read/listened to - the first being the excellent White Cascade. I am about to start Empire of Sin and look forward to more excellent documentary story telling. Highly recommend.