A Must-Have Reference for Crime Historians
359760
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ROBBERIES, HEISTS AND CAPERS provides an engaging review of the world's most famous robberies, the felons who committed them, and the men and women who brought the criminals to justice. With more than 250 entries, 70 photographs and an extensive bibliography, this Encyclopedia is a must-have crime reference for students, crime historians, and crime buffs alike.

In this book you'll find many fascinating cases: The 1950 Brinks robbery in Boston, The 1978 Lufthansa airport robbery ( seen in the movie "Goodfellas" ), The 1965 Brinks robbery in New York, just to name a few. Also listed in this volume is the History of jewel theft ( all the important cases are listed ), Train robbery, Bank robbery, Skyjacking, and Art theft. In this book you'll find biographies of some of the most legendary names in history: John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Harvey John Bailey, Baby Face Nelson, D.B. Cooper, Frank Nash, and so many more. A lot of the entries are about Outlaws and gangs: Butch Cassidy, Jesse James, The Ma Barker gang, Joaquin Murrieta, and others. There's also a number of entries about lawmen, such as Melvin Purvis and J. Edgar Hoover. Other topics covered in this book are the Sacco and Vanzetti case, Vikings, Pirates, the link between Organized crime and robberies, Nazi looting of Europe, Terrorism and robberies, and more. This is a very impressive list of cases/biographies/topics, one of the best list I've seen in a long time.

This is another great Encyclopedia written and researched by Michael Newton. If, like me, you have a huge passion for Criminology then you must add this book to your library, your collection will never be complete without a copy of this book. As always Newton did a wonderful job researching the entries you'll find in this volume. This book is very addictive and a great read, I've learned a lot while reading this book. If you can buy this Encyclopedia for a decent price then go for it, you won't regret it. Highly recommended for anybody having a passion for crimes and Criminology. :)
1774462
Very, very interesting read with well-documented details and astute analysis, placing each crime within the social, political, and cultural context of its time, and shedding light on the role of the press (and social media) in America today.
4752812
3.75 stars. An encyclopedia of shady characters from New York City history, as compiled and written by your Italian uncle. :) Well, that's how it read. I quite enjoyed Mr. Bruno's less-than-dispassionate recounting of the more colorful underworld figures of the 1800's and early 1900's. The author includes an extensive bibliography if you're inclined to read more about these characters, and you probably will be, because these stories are real doozies! You can't make this stuff up.

This was the perfect book to read while I was watching season 3 of "Boardwalk Empire" on HBO. I knew for example that Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Al Capone were real, but had no idea how many other characters on the show were also drawn from real life, and I loved learning more about them.

Because the book is organized like an encyclopedia, there is some repetition among the entries; however, Mr. Bruno has skillfully edited his material to keep each entry fresh and to provide new tidbits of information, so that we almost get a "Rashomon"-like view of particular events. First you see it from one character's perspective, then you get it again from another's. Nicely done.

I would have liked to have had each entrant's birth year and death year listed right below their names so that I could more easily orient myself as to which time period we were in. Although this info is often given in the first few paragraphs, that is not always the case, so there were some points where I was lost for a while regarding where we were in time.

I also would have liked more thorough proofreading of the book, particularly in the last 25%, where the errors seemed to markedly increase. For example, errors like "trail" for "trial" and "McCarty" vs. "McCarthy" in one entry and the names "Dropper" and "Orgen" (if I recall correctly) being transposed in another entry tends to undermine my confidence in the accuracy of the source. I hold nonfiction to a very high standard, since less-than-stellar editing/attention to detail would seem to indicate possible mistakes with the facts themselves.

That said, I do believe the book is highly accurate and makes a fine reference for someone looking for an introduction to the subject; the massive bibliography is almost worth the price alone. This book clearly is a labor of love and must have taken years to compile. Well done, Mr. Bruno!
881575
As mystery and crime writers, we have an obligation, even in fiction, to adhere to the reality of life in our work. So it is with crime scene investigations. We've seen too many bad examples, which often make the reader turn off from the story itself. Accuracy is important, and when you can get it right, it makes a difference.
So we have resource material, like this book on Crime Scenes. The author is a long-time expert in his field, and provides valuable insider information to help a mystery writer make a more believable tale. Since so often the discovery of the perpetrator depends upon the evidence found, it's important to know what is really done and what isn't at a crime scene.
So add this book to your research library, and learn more about how crime scenes are run. Highly recommended.
913691
A masterful compilation of just about every Prohibition gangster in Chicago (and there were a lot) discussed in fine detail.  This is a thick tome since it covers more long-forgotten bad guys, and Binder has researched old newspapers, government documents, and interviews of people who were there.  The writing is academic, but that's okay since this isn't light reading.  This is the book you go to over and over again when you want the facts, so it is highly recommended for mob buffs, serious researchers, historians and libraries.
1865755
This tidy volume is a real prize. Everything you wanted to know about Wyoming's Outlaw Trail has been packaged with more than two hundred historic photographs and a lively narrative by cultural geographer Mac Blewer in Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series. His prodigious research and attention to detail provide a comprehensive and reliable overview of this volatile and violent period in Wyoming's past.
 Blewer outlines the various forces that led to the rise of the outlaws on the Outlaw Trail from the devastation of the winters of 1886 and 1887 to the Johnson County Invasion. Besides these background factors, Blewer offers us pictures of the inhospitable terrain appropriate for hiding out and treats us to sketches of the various "long riders" from Butch Cassidy and his younger brother, to women incarcerated for crimes ranging from arson and burglary to shooting a man in the throat.
 The thoroughness can't be beat as politicos and lawmen are not given a pass, and the end of the trail and the changing of the West are also up for discussion.
 A must for outlaw enthusiasts, those who love the West--Wyoming--and those sensitive to the way landscape affects an individual.

Nancy Coggeshall, author of Gila Country Legend
4460477
This book compiles the research of many authors regarding covert events and little-known history, centered around the JFK assassination and its designated patsy, Lee Harvey Oswald. Events are told in a chronological narrative. This first volume covers 1945 to 1987 (I hope someday Amazon gets this review straightened out and makes Volume 1 appear again in their search engine. Right now you can still find it by using Google.)

It's not just about the Kennedy assassination. It is the suppressed history of the United States since World War II. I haven't read it all yet, but I'm stunned at the amount of information Nash has compiled in this 700-page tome. I did notice a few editing errors (a few 1963 entries are in the 1962 section). Another error is his claim that Carlos Marcello testified before the Warren Commission. If you can overlook the occasional mistake, there is lot of worthwhile information here.

Volume 2 (covering 1988-2008) is more of the same. In all, the two volumes total 1400 pages. Unfortunately, there is no index, but many of the sources he used are mentioned in the body of the text. Again, I am amazed at the amount of work that went into these books.
4612907
This book is logically organized into different sections (victims, witnesses, police, etc.) & then alphabetically arranged within each section, so it's very easy to find what you're looking for, even without using the extensive index. Eddleston debunks many of the popular theories on who the killer may have been, & intelligently & concisely describes pros & cons for Jack the Ripper's possible victims (5 to 8 seems to be the most frequently cited range for the number of murders he committed). I disagree with certain of his conclusions (e.g., that Elizabeth Stride was probably not a victim), but more often than not, I feel that Eddleston is right on target. His discussion of Aaron Cohen & Nathan Kaminsky is interesting, as is his belief that George Hutchinson or "Unknown Male" (someone who has not come to light) are two of the most likely candidates. Good discussion of the Maybrick Diary. Even though some of his logic is faulty, I'd have to say that this is one of the three best Jack the Ripper books in my library (along with Philip Sugden's "The Complete Casebook of Jack the Ripper" & Paul Begg's, et. al., "The Jack the Ripper A-Z." It's high priced but well written & well made & worth the money.
178811
"When Brute Force Fails" is interesting, relevant, and informative on many levels. Mark Kleiman has a unique gift to explain the complex historical, economic and sociological aspects of crime research in a straightforward and concise manner. He first makes a strong case that crime is an extremely important and costly problem in America today. Drawing on decades of academic and policy experience he then manages to summarize the history and current state of the field in a fluent and succinct style. He concludes by constructing a convincing argument for his idea of concentrating law enforcement mechanisms in high crime areas as the most efficient means for decreasing the huge burden of crime on American society.  This argument is intertwined throughout with relevant data, case studies, and an eye to the practical aspects of crime control that are of interest to the academic, policy analyst, and lay person alike.
3811343
A person who has first-hand knowledge of Chicago's sordid underbelly is Ray Johnson, a former criminal investigator, historian, and genealogist who has written a remarkable book of intrigue and misadventure that reflect this great city's colorful past.  Johnson loves to solve problems, and in so-doing often asks more questions than can be answered.  But then, who among us does not get a kick out of a good mystery, especially if the mystery occurs right in Chicago's own back yard?  Johnson's tales capture our interest and his questions pique our interest.  Should we be afraid, or just curious?

If any improvements are needed, it would be to offer a more complete reference list for
4736048
As a Criminal Justice major, reference materials for best practices and effective procedures are invaluable assets. This book is no exception. I found it to be an easy read and a wonderful resource for the security industry. Reading as a quick-reference manual that can be easily understood by non-professionals, it provides a comprehensive overview of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) techniques for any area of focus. Using a proactive approach, suggested methods for public institutions, commercial properties, and residential communities are highlighted, as well as specific techniques for staving off various types of crimes. It is great to use as source material for criminal justice research essays or for use as a professional's field manual. I highly recommend this book to every Criminal Justice student, those who are in the security or law enforcement fields, or anyone, really, who has an interest in security and crime prevention. For the knowledge contained inside this book, it's at a great price-point, too. All around, a terrific bargain!
688038
I much recommend this work for anyone wanting to get to the bottom of the "crime of the century" - for America at least - a crime which scarred a nation and opened the way for the destruction now unraveling around us.  Jim Douglas' "JFK and the Unspeakable" opens supportive and complementary avenues - and I would also give his book a 5 star rating.  Farrell succinctly puts the pieces together, and you will not waste your time with this work.  One key, the "Permindex Corp." is revealed a link to an even more shadowy and unnamed group;  Johnson was also a key tool in their hands, not the master planner -- much like GHW Bush and Kissinger: visible nodes of a deeper evil.  If you are a researcher Farrell's well referenced style is most helpful, turning over all stones and giving multiple useful and corroborating clues.
442054
I wanted to read this book because I'm a writer and in one of the books that I'm working on the plot involves a bit of forensic probing into a computer. Rather than simply sound like a TV detective using cliche terms, I thought it would be useful and interesting to know how such work is really done and just how complex (and reliable) this type of forensic investigation can be. I can't say that I sat down and read the book cover to cover (though if you were a lawyer or someone studying criminology you would certainly get a lot out of reading it), but I've read the chapters that are pertinent to my story and I have to say I've found the writing interesting, entertaining and extremely useful. I think this is a book most lawyers (including prosecutors) should have on their shelf and if you happen to be a fiction writer or a crime writer, I think you'll find this book well worth the cover price.

The book goes well beyond the scope that I was expecting, too. It includes information on how digital forensics can be used with social media, finding files and photos files on computers that have been erased, how to hire the right expert to do the work for you (if you're an attorney, those pages alone are worth owning the book) and then takes you through preserving evidence, presenting it to get warrants, using the evidence in court, etc. It really is a fascinating book and I'm sure every writer in Hollywood will be buying a copy. It is an excellent writer's reference tool--and the only one like it that I could find.

A good read on a somewhat obscure subject and I'm sure it's destined to be the classic text on the subject. I just hope the publisher is willing to have it updated every few years--it's certainly worth the effort.
3147668
Over the decades there has been much incorrect information published on New York crime kingpins such as Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia, Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz. Allan May's GANGLAND GOTHAM, NEW YORK'S NOTORIOUS MOB BOSSES is a well-researched, well-written, straight-shooting examination of those men and others that dishes up the straight skinny. After reading GANGLAND GOTHAM, the reader will have a truer picture of the life and crimes of 10 organized crime bosses.

Along with the four men mentioned above, May chronicles Joe Adonis, Louis Buchalter, Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese, Arnold Rothstein and Abner Zwillman. Crime buffs looking for Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky will be disappointed, May dropping both because they skipped out of the Big Apple early in their careers and found fame - infamy? - elsewhere. The biographical chapters on the 10 bosses make for compelling reading. The chapters range in length from 22 to 34 pages. Each includes a small photograph of the boss in question.

Other criminals of note are covered in a chapter entitled 'Biographies of Other Prominent Figures Mentioned in the Text.' Herein can be found 'Joseph' Florino, Salvatore Marazano, 'Joe the Boss' Masseria, 'Niggy' Rutkin and others. And a final 'Appendix' touches upon various crime-related topics such as the 1957 Appalachin Summit, the 1930-31 Castellammarese War, the Night of Sicilian Vespers, etc.

All in all, GANGLAND GOTHAM is an informative, appealing expose of some Big Apple crime heavyweights. It's also horribly overpriced at $95.00. The price certainly doesn't reflect a wealth of illustrations since GANGLAND GOTHAM is almost totally lacking in photographs aside from the 10 tiny pix mentioned above. The book tops out at 426 pages but does that merit such a stiff price-tag? Methinks not. While I definitely recommend May's book, I'd suggest getting a copy from your local public library or waiting for a paperback edition.
4241405
This is a great book, and a must have for researchers. Additionally, this is also an important and insightful, and noteworthy book for anyone to have, particularly those interested in the criminal justice system and in criminal justice corrections. In sum, a superb, intelligent, yet exciting and enthralling book voluminously - and quite generously - brimming with information! Do not let this book slip your through library of information! I wholeheartedly recommend this insightful book to all.
2139712
I am a student at the undergraduate level studying the life, culture, power, and significance of the Lucchese crime family. I read this book hoping to learn more about the boldness and mentality of Lucchese members and associates. Wiseguy is a fascinating and captivating blend of information about organized crime and life for people who are a part of it. The book was written by Nicholas Pileggi, a dedicated journalist of organized crime, while working with Henry Hill, a Lucchese associate. Wiseguy is extremely detailed and funny, bringing readers to the edge of their seats. Pileggi masterfully weaves years of research and experience in crime journalism with Henry Hills own personal recollections to deliver 400 pages of a completely unfamiliar yet exciting new world. The best thing about this book is that it provides plenty of information for scholarly reading, but is easily followed by any reader. If you pick up this book, you are not going to want to put it down.
Pileggi, Nicholas. Wiseguy. New York: Pocket Books, 2010.
1824882
Books of this type are relatively rare (Jay Dix's Asphixia and Drowning book being one of them.. and a far inferior work at that), but after reading and owning this one for many years I can safely say that the author got it right with this one. The spiral bound book make for easy field reference and the information contained inside is invaluable for the investigator.

Everything it seems is covered; from infestation and destruction by postmortem scavengers, to court testimony, body recovery, report writing, and much much more. The full color photos and the haunting description of what happens to a drowning victim in the first chapter are alone WELL worth the price of admission.

This is an invaluable reference for law enforcement, but also for writers, public safety workers (fire and rescue), divers, and anyone else intrigued, interested, or working in a relevant field of the subject matter. Highly recommended.