The man from the train: Discovering America's most elusive serial killer

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Using groundbreaking sleuthing techniques, renowned statistician and baseball writer Bill James delves into a century-old mystery involving one of America's deadliest serial killers. Between 1898 and 1912, families were brutally bludgeoned in their sleep with an axe, yet valuables remained untouched, and the bodies were piled together with faces covered. Cases like the infamous Villisca, Iowa murders gained national attention, but few connected the dots between these seemingly unrelated crimes, all occurring near train stations. Upon discovering these horrors, James began investigating similar patterns, applying his analytical skills from baseball to identify linked crimes. After meticulously examining thousands of local newspapers, court documents, and public records, he and his daughter Rachel made a shocking revelation: they uncovered the true identity of this monstrous figure. Their findings reveal one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. With riveting prose, the narrative offers a psychologically insightful portrait of early 20th-century America, where crime was viewed as a local issue and opportunistic detectives exploited a flawed judicial system. James's innovative approach to true crime challenges skeptics and enthusiasts alike, reshaping our understanding of criminal history.