"Midnight Assassin" by Patricia L. Bryan is a true crime book that tells the story of the notorious serial killer, Austin's Servant Girl Annihilator, who terrorized Austin, Texas in the late 1800s. The killer, who was never caught, targeted young women, mostly African American or of mixed race, and committed a series of gruesome murders that shocked the city and the nation. Bryan uses primary sources, including newspaper accounts and court documents, to reconstruct the crimes and the investigations that followed, as well as the social and historical context of the era. She also examines the ways in which race, gender, and class played a role in the murders and the response to them. The book offers a fascinating and chilling glimpse into a dark chapter of American history and the enduring legacy of violence and prejudice.
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