Rating: 
Summary: 4 Stars--If You LikeTexas History
Review: I most enjoyed the verbal pictures of 19th-century Austin and some of its people, including O. Henry. The plot focuses on Austin's serial murders of the 1880s. These serial murders preceded those of "Jack the Ripper" and were among the first such murders in history.If you look for books that keep you riveted to each page, this book will disappoint you. Steven Saylor's writing was so uneven that at least 200 pages failed to hold my interest. If I had not been interested in Austin's history, I would not have finished the book. And I would have rated it lower--either two or three stars. Since I live in Austin and want to understand more about its history, I found this book worthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I thought I might not enjoy this as much as Saylor's Roman novels, but it totally blew me away. Unlike some other reviewers here, I found it a riveting page-turner. I loved the Texas history, and the ending came as a stunning surprise. I'm puzzled by the Amazon.com reviewer's saying the opening featured a great twist, while the end didn't. For me, the title of the opening section made clear what was happening (and I can't believe Saylor didn't realize it would). As for the end, I'd considered several possible suspects--it helped that I didn't know which characters were real and which fictional. But I never foresaw the thrilling finale. I could see on a rereading that there had been clues, questions about this character; but then, just as Saylor intended, I'd been given so many other things to think about that I'd forgotten how odd the person was. My one small regret was learning from the Notes that some details and characters I had hoped were real were fictional. But I'm glad Saylor played fair with readers by telling us.
Rating:
Summary: Was the Austin Slayer Jack the Ripper?
Review: I was fascinated by this book. Every so often, the Austin papers would throw out tantalizing tidbits of information about these 1880's murders. There were never many details given,probably because of the lurid nature of the crimes. They were so heinous, especially since that was considered a "gentler" time. They terrorized Austin and like the Ripper killings, suddenly stopped with no solution.
I am not a reader of Saylor's Roman series, so I can't make a comparison with his other works. His research was thorough, and I found the book hard to put down. I loved that he used many characters from that era, including my great-great uncle John Ireland. A previous reviewer criticized this book for showing off too much research and not fleshing out O. Henry more. I am a fan of Mr. Porter's, and I disagree. I liked the inclusion of Elisabet Ney, whose castle-like studio, Formosa, can be visited to this day.
Since the crimes were never solved, Saylor had to be a bit cagey with his ending. It would be nice if he tied up everything neatly with a bow, but that would not have been believable, given the amount of fact he included.
Rating: 
Summary: What Twist?
Review: I'm in a bit of quandary with this one. I did enjoy reading it, and thought the characters and setting were quite interesting. However, the writer doesn't make any secret of who the killers are, and I kept expecting some big O. Henry twist at the end in which the story would completely turn around and surprise me. Didn't happen; the story rambles along and ends up exactly where you expect it to. It was an entertaining ride: I just wish I hadn't been left with this "What's the point?" feeling...
Rating:
Summary: A Twist at the End: A novel of O. Henry
Review: I've long been a fan of Steven Saylor's Roman series, but I wasn't sure what a 19th Century novel would be like (especially since I'm not particularly interested in the setting). I needn't have worried. Mr. Saylor is an exceptionally good writer, and the story is engrossing, touching and facsinating. The more so because it's based on actual events. It's got everything: Romance, murder, tragedy, heroism, and a twist at the end... I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Rating:
Summary: interesting historical mystery
Review: In 1906, someone tries to blackmail William Sidney Porter for his role in the brutal murders of female servants of color two decades ago in Austin, Texas. Better known as O'Henry, the renowned author suffers nightmares while he sleeps and flashbacks to the vicious events of 1885 Austin. Back than, the indifferent Austin authorities blamed a Negro, but the incarceration of the "culprit" failed to end the bloody murders. William, working at the General Land Office, dubs the murderer as the "Servant Girl Annihilator." William wonders who the real killer is even as he debates with his office peers the merits of the Female Clerks Bill and dreams of spending time with the married Eula, though Porter too is married. A TWIST AT THE END is an interesting historical mystery based on a real but never identified serial killer stalking 1880's Austin. The story line is filled with intriguing subplots and many interesting tidbits about the era. However, these never fully intertwine with the prime story line, leaving non-historians to ask why their inclusion is in the tale. The motives of the characters never fully develops as talented Steven Saylor's novel is two togas short of his ancient Rome series and several pecks beneath the Mark Twain mysteries.
Rating: 
Summary: Worse Kind of Dribble!
Review: Murder, he wish he'd wrote...Saylor that is! This is the worse kind of dribble, but a great alternative for folks who can't take Valium to get to sleep nights. Like Saylor's Romanesque series, this one should be sacked and burned just like the decandent Empire Saylor is so oddly fond of. Stay clear of this dribble...at your pocketbook's peril!
Rating:
Summary: Boring Botch of a Great Idea
Review: My God, what a great idea--and my God, how thoroughly Saylor has botched it!
To begin with, Saylor doesn't stay on track at all. The narrative is constantly interrupted so that he can show off every single bit of research he's done for the novel. A good historical novelist uses research to flesh out and propel his narrative--Saylor uses it to slow the book down and make it bloated.
Second, the solution to the mystery--the trumpeted titular "twist"--is pedestrian in the extreme.
Third, the character of O. Henry, as presented in the novel, is not a character at all--he's a blank, a black hole at the book's center.
I have never read a more boring or disappointing thriller in my life.
Rating:
Summary: STICK TO ANCIENT ROME.....PLEASE!!
Review: Oh, how I love Saylor's ancient Roman murder mysteries! That's where his heart lies and that's where the talent really is. I have a passing acquaintamce with Saylor and was thrilled to learn from him that he'd written a novel set in Texas in the late 18th/early 20th century. In fact, I ran to the store that day and purchased a copy. From page 1 something bothered me about the story, the narrative, the book. It took me about 20 pages to discern that what bothered me was that it was all written in the present tense. Example (not from Saylor's book): "By this time, I'm hungry. I go to a sandwich shop and get a nice fat ham and cheese. I eat it so fast that I dribble mustard on my shirt. I run to get some water to clean it..." This drove me batty and I couldn't, despite many further attempts, finish this creaky, ill-conceived disaster. Again, let me state for all time what a genius Saylor is with his Roman work -- everyone should read them; they're all real page-turners. But let me also caution Mr. Saylor that, next time I meet you, I'd like to say how wonderful your last book was instead of what I think of this one.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book -- Not As Good as The Alienist
Review: Saylor's best known for his Roma Sub Rosa Series, detailing the fictional life of Gordianus The Finder; this latest work is a bit of a departure for him and for most of his readers. The book starts off a little slowly but is a good read once you start understanding the numerous subplots. The topic of the book is fascinating and any fan of good historical fiction should enjoy this -- it's not as good as The Alienist by Caleb Carr but better than the sequel to that book. All in all this book doesn't disappoint and tells a good story. Fans of ancient historical fiction should pick up Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series -- they were outstanding.
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