In Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City," a series of strange and tragic events unfold, casting a shadow over Detective Holmes's assertions of being the devil. These incidents include the severe illness of Detective Geyer and the tragic suicide of the warden at Moyamensing prison. Such occurrences raise unsettling questions about the nature of Holmes’s activities and the dark aura surrounding him.

Moreover, other startling events add to the atmosphere of mystery, like the bizarre electrocution of the jury foreman and the unexplained death of the priest who gave Holmes his last rites. Further tragedies involve Emeline Cigrand’s father, who was horrifyingly burned in a boiler explosion, and a fire that ravaged District Attorney George Graham's office, where only a photograph of Holmes remained unharmed. This string of misfortunes amplifies the sinister reputation that surrounds Holmes.