First off I wanted to say how much I enjoy this book. It is a unique way to view such a historical event. For example when you read a book similar it is either slightly dull at first or is very crime thriller-like, instead it’s like I’m reading the script to a history channel special. Anyways, I think to really answer the question about what I think is the most significant issue or tension, I would need to narrow it down. For the point I’m at there are few issues, the overlaying one has to be how buildings can just be erected with little political hurdles it seems to be. This gets me the most since at this time everything is a giant experiment with the skyscrapers, along with this, there is practically chaos in the streets. Along with this, there is prominent signs that the economy is near shambles with scams happening only adds to the issue. “Together the devised an elaborate life insurance fraud…” (42) this was Mudgett, later he would run a scam on construction workers as Holmes around page 66 or so.

For this book I like how it has two stories progressing at the same time. I think this was done for two reasons, first for story. Doing this helps progress the story and forever changing and allowing major character development. The second is to cause a bit of a dramatic irony which were the reader or observer knows more information than the characters causing the reader to stay tuned to see how to everything pans out.