The Glistening of a Blade

The year 1885 ushered in dramatic changes for the utopic city of Austin. Dramatic racial lines blurred from the Civil War and the introduction of the railroad brought new challenges and excitement to those who ventured into the rolling hills of Texas. Yet, there was evil lurking, watching in the shadows, waiting to pounce on the defenseless. A homicidal executioner stalked the nights, dragging women and sometimes even children from their beds. The slaughter seemed as if it would never end. As citizens of Austin became prisoners in their own homes, the Servant Girl Killer mercilessly terrorized the southern town. Even today, the murders remain a fascinating and haunting tale in Texas history. A reminder of the fragility of life and the darkness that lurks in even the most sheltered settings.

Speculations and accusations surrounded the mysterious murders, resulting in the destruction of livelihoods and reputations, but one man who fit the description and a key physical deformity was never prosecuted. Even in death, Nathan Elgin, a restaurant cook in the busy downtown district, was not considered a suspect. His drunken carousing and regular aggressive acts were at no time considered enough to cast a discerning eye his way.

This book takes the opportunity to explore the rage that drove Nathan to his bitter end. Entertaining the possibility that he was indeed the killer sculpted from an abusive stepmother and the abandonment of his father. In this fictional portrayal of a malicious unrepentant murderer, a story is woven from the historical facts surrounding the Servant Girl Killer.