The Girls of Murder City by Douglas Perry 364.152 Per

I don't know how I missed this book when it was new in 2010, but what a pleasant surprise to find it while browsing the shelves.

The Girls of Murder City by Douglas Perry is the true account of the 1920s "gunner girls" of the Cook County jail.  If you've seen the musical Chicago, then you know the plot: in separate incidents, two beautiful women brazenly murder their boyfriends and then bask in the publicity.

"Beautiful Beulah" Annan and "Stylish Belva" Gaertner fascinated the press who interviewed them daily in their jail cells.  Smitten with their glamor, the journalists fawned sycophantically  ... all except reporter Maurine Watkins, who was covering her first big story.  

Watkins was disgusted with the accused murderesses and appalled by her fellow reporters and "sob sisters".  In contrast to other news accounts, Watkins' articles were sly and barbed, subtly poking fun at the spectacle.  Watkins soon had her own following of devoted readers. She later went on to write the play Chicago based on these stories. Years later her play was made into the musical.

The Girls of Murder City is a great book on two levels.  First, the story of the murders themselves is fascinating high drama.  And then there's the story of the Maurine Watkins, the lone reporter who could see through the Razzle Dazzle.

You can find this book on the nonfiction shelves under 364.152 Per