Our Take

Gary Krist, author of the acclaimed City of Scoundrels, brings his signature narrative flair to the spectacularly corrupt world of early twentieth-century New Orleans. Empire of Sin reads like a sprawling crime novel but delivers meticulously researched history about Storyville—the legal red-light district that became synonymous with vice, jazz, and the cultural ferment that made New Orleans legendary. Krist's genius lies in his ability to weave multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative: Tom Anderson's desperate efforts to maintain control of his vice empire, the Progressive Era reformers determined to clean up the city, the birth of jazz in the brothels and dance halls, and the terrifying presence of the Axeman serial killer who terrorized the city. The book never romanticizes the era's brutality—the exploitation of sex workers, racial violence, and political corruption—while still capturing what made this moment culturally explosive. Krist writes with the pacing of Erik Larson and the eye for colorful detail of David Grann, making historical figures leap off the page. Readers who loved Karen Abbott's Sin in the Second City or Luc Sante's Low Life will be captivated by Krist's portrait of a city at war with itself. For true crime fans and history buffs who appreciate narrative nonfiction that transports you to another time and place, Empire of Sin is irresistible.