MANIAC (2021)

Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer by Harold Schechter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know state history in the same way as a native Michigander, but I'd heard of the Bath Disaster since it has been revisited by the media every May 18 since 1927. Andrew Kehoe, a local farmer, blew up the school. Then when I read "Maniac", I discovered that he bought his 500 pounds of explosive Pyrotol in Jackson, Michigan where I have lived for many years. Bath Township is a mere 50 some miles away.

The world was changing and Andrew Kehoe was not pleased. Bath Township residents had been arguing about the need for a consolidated school for the area. But moving from one room school houses had a cost that some, like Andrew, thought unnecessary. Teachers would cost more. Transportation to a central school would have to be provided and taxes would be raised.

This was the issue that sparked Kehoe's long battle with School Supervisor Emory Huyck and ultimately the most horrific event of the time. Author Harold Schechter carefully and clearly establishes the events that culminated in the final murderous act.

Why has this tragedy passed into history? Several reasons are suggested including the fact that Lindbergh made his famous transatlantic flight on May 20 just two days later and overshadowed every other story.

When I picked up "Maniac", I meant to read a chapter or two but kept turning pages until I reached the end. The subject of this book is horrific, but the author does not exploit it. This is a well researched and told story; and although it happened in Michigan, it could have happened anywhere.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Little A/Net Galley for an honest review.

FOOTNOTE: https://bit.ly/3rK7CZb

Irene Dunham, stayed home with a sore throat on the day of the bombing, and is now the oldest resident in Michigan at the age of 114. She was interviewed as a follow up to this story (see link above) in the Lansing paper.

She and her mother heard the blast and drove to the scene. She described just a bit of what she saw and was still greatly affected by her memories of that day.

View all my reviews

Harold Schechter is an American true-crime writer who specializes in serial killers. Twice nominated for the Edgar Award, he is the author of a number of non-fiction books including the Washington Post bestseller Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men. He received his PhD in American literature from the State University of New York in Buffalo and is professor emeritus at Queens College. He is married to the poet Kimiko Hahn.

Publisher : Little A (March 9, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 239 pages
ISBN-10 : 154202532X
ISBN-13 : 978-1542025324