Murder in Chisago County: The Unsolved Johnson Family M… (2024)

Brian Johnson did an excellent and thorough job of researching this murder mystery. I can see how it raised more questions than it answered. He told the story in a very relate-able way. There was quite a bit of circular narration, but it's appreciated as it kept the people involved relevant. Hopefully, this book will create a break in the case as Alvira and her children deserve the closure.

I got to be a part of the process for this book as I interviewed Brian for the local newspaper after the initial meeting in Rush City. It has been great to hear the progress of the book and wonderful to be able to read the whole story in one place.

“In his new book, [Johnson] blends journalistic balance with his personal connections to the case. He gives voice to Albin’s defenders, who insist he either died in the fire or took his own life. But the author also injects his role as a relative of the victims, recalling childhood visits to the graves of the family. ... In rich detail, he lays out clue after clue — explaining how Albin’s father had just evicted the family from the house.” — From Curt Brown’s March 17 Minnesota History column in the Star Tribune.

Finished book 64 of the year over the weekend! This book was about the murder of an entire family in small town #Minnesota. I thought it would be way better than it was, but it wasn’t that good and the writing was clunky. It also introduced so many family members that my head was spinning - a family tree or some visual would have been SUPER helpful for this one.
I wasn’t a huge fan of this, but if you like true crime and want to read a kind of boring book about a #murder in small town Minnesota - pick this up - ¯\_(ツ)_/

Interesting book!

This book details the horrible deaths of a mother and her seven children in a farmhouse fire in rural Minnesota in April 1933. The woman's husband and father of the children was never accounted for after the fire was extinguished.
The author speculates on various scenarios about the origin of the fire and what could have happened to the missing man. It was truly a sad story. I highly recommend this book to not only true crime readers, but I also recommend it to those interested in history.

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Lots of good history and theory. Very interesting read. Especially interesting for Chisago Countians. Certainly will recommend this book to others

Interesting tale about the tragic deaths of 8 family members, and the mysteries that persist decades later.

Highly speculative. The writer has trouble keeping his views and emotions out of the writing but that would be understandable considering his family connection. I remember hearing about this case as a child and seeing Johnson’s picture every time I went into The Stugga. What a horrible tragedy! This book raises even more questions and makes it seem less likely that he got away with murder. Everyone involved with the investigation has passed away now. I feel like if I were part of the Johnson family I’d find this account to be very insulting of my ancestors. I’m hoping another edition will come out that is edited and perhaps has more information.

Honestly, a 3.5 star rating. The book was good and the research was well done. It held my attention for the most part. The author did a good job with everything he had not knowing what actually happened. I feel like the story was told in a round about way but still got to the point.

A sad part of Minnesota history I had never learned about. Well researched and written.

This is an interesting and quick read. Especially if you are from North Branch, Harris, Rush City or the surrounding areas...

Here is my conclusion:

Albin is 100% guilty. He poisoned/killed his family members. Why, I don't really know. Could have been out of distress, narcissism, anger, who knows what perplexed him, but from what I read, I think he is responsible.

Then, the brothers knew - how..I don't know - he told them, they noticed the farm packed up...whatever...and to serve justice toward Alvira and the children - they killed him. Justice served. And buried him in the field - that plowing at 5:30 AM...NO one plows that early. No sun is up that early. The dog circling, too...

I'm also believing the brothers lit the fire and it was their tire marks out of there.

And they told no one. Family secrets. Just the way it was.

Why would they have NO interest in their brother's house on fire? Why would they BOTH not stop over to help? Unless they already knew the whole story....

Does any of this matter now? No.

This is a quick read - interesting story if you are into true crime. I'd give it 3.5 stars.