5 comments about Deadly Stranger (Frightmares).

1. One day my teacher started reading this book to my class. Sheread like 1 or 2 chapters and I was hooked on the book it was so goodso after school I went and checked it out at the library and went home and read it all! I mean I couldn't put it down it was so interesting. Now it is probably one of my favorite books. So I recommend that you read the book, Deadly Stranger.



2. I liked this book because it never got boring!One of my favorite parts was when Shannon jumped out of the car the lunatic was driving!It was exciting and scary!I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, and to be scared.I really feel like reading it again and again!



3. I loved this book this is my favorite book in the world i love it. I want to buy it again and read it. It kept me wanting to read on on and on. It kept me in suspence. I kept thinking what's going to happen next. I writing a review on it i would never do that for any other book but this one and i hope on the one i going to buy next, from you. It was really a great book iloved it and enjoyed it dearly. Please come out with another book like it. Thank you



4. Deadly Stranger was an amazing book. I read this book for a school project, but I read it many more than one time. This book is very suspenseful and exciting, and I would definately recommend it to anyone in fifth to eighth grade.



5. I believe I was about 10 years old when I got this book from either a book fair or a relative. I am now 23 and still remember how much I enjoyed it. 'Deadly Strenger' actually got me pretty interested in psychology, and I am including a reference to it in my application to graduate school. I would definitely recommend it for many "young adult" readers. As silly as it sounds, there are even a few good study tips in this book, which includes a few ways to remember things easier.

5 comments about The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper.

1. Even though I haven't read this book in about 8 years, I still remember it as my favorite childhood library book and am currently traking down a copy to own. I read this book every Christmas for years and am very familiar with it. The story is magical and uplifting. A true classic.



2. Marvin the Magnificent, Raymond and Fats are three mice out to enjoy life ... in Macy's department store. When the toy department's Santa gets kidnapped they are on the case in the best manner of old-movie private eyes. But how can three mice track him down and rescue him before Christmas?

   Narrated by Marvin himself, this story is absolutely hilarious. Don't be stopped by the mice. It was one of my favourite books growing up and I still recall it with great fondness (and a vague sense of irritation that my children's books got sold a few years back).

   There are at least three other books about this mouse trio, and I think a couple of them are still in print. This one, however, is my favourite, and worth looking for in your local library/used book store.




3. When I was very little, my sister would read this story to me every Christmas. It was our little tradition. As we grew older, I came to read it on my own. I had two Macy's holiday traditions- The Thanksgiving Day Parade and this story about three lovable mice that take up living in a Macy's over Christmas and the mystery of a missing Santa. I have just found a copy of this book and I can't wait until my fiance have children to be able to read it to them every year. It's definitely a story worth handing down!



4. This is a really good book about rodents and they are determained to find the Santa that dissapeared in the Macy's store in New York



5. This is an excellent chapter book for children from 8-12. It is a sequel to two previouse books (The Great Cheese Capoer and The Great Rescue Operation)however, it does not require that the other books be read first. They all can be read independent of the others. There are 14 chapters in this book. When the Macy's Santa is missing who can solve the mystery. Three brave mice, of course! Children enjoy this book very much.

1 comments about Held Hostage: The True Story of a Mother and Daughter's Kidnapping.

1. I went to the book signing and was so moved by what Michelle Renee and retired detective Rudy Zamora had to say. I could not wait to get home and read Held Hostage. This book will draw you in as if you are living the crime and you will not want to put it down. It is a true story of strength and hope. If you are a victim of a crime, no matter the intensity, you need to buy this book. If you want to read a book that will draw you in and keep your attention from front to back than you need to buy this book. It is an amazing, true story of a women and her child abused by the system. You will not be disappointed.

3 comments about Boots and the Seven Leaguers: A Rock-and-Troll Novel.

1. Once again Jane Yolen creates a unique fantasy novel that left me reading it a second time. And a third. Not as complex as the "Pit Dragon" trilogy or as eerily poetic as the "Merlin" books, "Boots and the Seven Leaguers" is nonetheless good fun.

   Gog is an average teen - oh wait, he's also a troll who has trouble with magic. It's just a matter of days before the rock band "Boots and the Seven Leaguers" shows up, and Gog and his friend Pook don't have tickets. The two manage to magic themselves into the concert as roadies - only to lose Gog's younger brother, Magog. The two troll-teens set off to find Magog and encounter such colorful creatures as the Huntsmen, Weed King, and the White Wyrm.

   The characters are pretty much perfect. Any teen will see themselves in Gog, and his desperation both to find his little brother and to get back in time to see Boots perform. And who didn't have a best friend like Pook?

   Yolen's writing is as snappily descriptive as ever, managing to be concise while bringing images into the reader's mind. There is, also, a decidedly funny undertone. The viewpoint is just non-human enough to make us see how a troll thinks without losing the reader's interest.

   A fairly short but wonderfully-done book that I could read over and over.




2. This was a very creative book. It will keep you going with every page. I was amazed at how much imagination the author put into this book! You'll know what is going on because she creates a great picture in your mind.
   The charachters in this book are just a silly group of teenagers that are trying to go to a rock concert, but Magog, (Gog's)little brother gets stolen! Gog and his friend Pook have to save him from the White Wyrm. Find out who really stole Magog. Was it the big White Wyrm?
   The Author explained the setting of this book real well and I think that's great! Gog's life is just like regular life, except that he is a troll. The poetry is funny. The charachters in the New Forest are weird and probaly took alo of time for Jane Yolen to think of.The New Forest was my favorite setting because it's a spooky jungle that no troll or monster would dare go into, and the Wood Wife that lives in it has secret magic powers that make you fall in love with her.
   This book was great because it's not normal. It's abnormal. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes haunted houses, and funny, scary Halloween stories.



3. Boots and the Seven Leaguers by Jane Yolen is a fictional story of a teenage troll who discovers that his brother is missing. As he sets out to find him, many surprises await. Everybody in the kingdom loves the rock band Boots and the Seven Leaguers.
   
   I thought this book was alright, but it wasn't great. I like the fact that it has a rock and roll theme. The book has a good adventurous feel to it. I also like that there are a lot of different mythological creatures in the story.
   
   I don't like how the main character always says things in the moment just to prove his point like "all trolls are afraid of heights" or "all green-kids are tricksters." In my opinion, it wasn't focused enough on Boots and the Seven Leaguers to be named after them; in fact, they were hardly in the book at all. In addition, I found the book a little childish.

5 comments about The Missing Girls: A Shocking True Story of Abduction and Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. I picked this book up because I remembered the story of the two missing girls, but I never knew the outcome. I was very interested in what happened. Unfortunately this book is so poorly written I don't think I can finish it. Whoever was the editor/ghost writer for this book was either blind or an idiot. Don't waste your money or your time. I really hope a talented person or even semi-talented person decides to write this story over, anything would have to be better than this book.



2. I tackled this book with relish, but found that it was too drawn out alot of time, and should have been condensed a little. Ms. O'Neal, while to be admired for her efforts, did seem to overplay her role in this case. Also, being a family member, she was very "soft" on her comments on Ashley's mother, who should've never allowed her daughter to be near that man. At least the man was found and convicted, so the family has some closure. A recommended read if a true crime fan, but not for the reader just looking for a good story.



3. The entire narrative concentrates on how the author was the "only" one who was capable of finding the truth. In some deluded wanna be V. I. Warshawski way, writing with hind sight being 20/20, she was obviously correct and always on the right trail... Or maybe just cashing in on the fact that she lived in the area at the time that it occurred and therefore can claim some fame. It is a poorly written recap of news articles available to everyone.



4. This book was well-written and it gave good insight into the whole case of the murder of these two young girls,Miranda and Ashley. I read true crime often and I believe the best true crime stories present a solid background that explain things like family dynamics,environment,different types of social behaviors and things like that.
   
   The reason I say the book is disturbing is, of course the nature of the crime against these two children and how this evil man could do the things he did to them. Especially Ashley-someone needs to explain to me how her mother allowed her to go and live with this man, a man who eventually raped her and took her life. I also do NOT believe that a man as depraved as Weaver did not ever assault/molest his own daughter. I think she was scared to tell the truth-but it's either tell the truth and get counseling for what she endured-or suffer with the nightmares for the rest of her life. I just really hope the daughter got help, and as for Weaver I hope he got hell in prison.



5. I haven't finished this book yet but, with less than a hundred pages to go, I've read enough to get a very good sense of what its like.
   
   While this book has got the basis for a good story, I think Linda O'Neal should have left the telling of it to someone with better writing skills than her. Not to mention someone who could tell it a little more objectively than she. I don't know if I can completely blame her for this book, seeing as how she's just one of its three writers. What I do know is that her sections (which I assume were at least partially written by her, if not completely) are sloppily written. The narrative moves back and forth between the missing girls case and various unrelated events that occur in her day to day life. I don't know why all that info about her mother was included. Not that it was boring or anything. It could have been an interesting story if placed in the right book. It just didn't have anything to do with this one.
   
   This case is certainly interesting. And it's definitely a tragic story that deserves to be told. I bought this book so that I could read more about what went on in this case and I'm not really disappointed in that regard. I knew the very basics of this case but there was more that I wanted to know. And I did learn more about the case from this book, assuming that what I was told was fairly accurate. I realize that it's morbid curiousity that prompted me to buy this, not a desire for great literature. But still, this material could have been handled so much better. When the book goes out of Linda's head and into a sort of neutral perspective, it's better. In those sections, the story remains on track and doesn't veer off into reflections on food and mothers and cars named Marilyn and so on. This is why I feel it should have been written more objectively.
   
   Check this book out if you're looking for some more info on this 2002 case, but keep in mind that it's quite frustrating to get through. It could have easily been a hundred or so pages shorter. And even then, it would have still needed some heavy editing.
   
   You know, I got the feeling that there were times in the book when Linda O'Neal was trying to turn this into her own story when, really, the story is supposed to be about the crimes committed against those two little girls. Everything comes back to them and the way society failed them. It's not about Linda blowing her own horn about her hard work on the case, it's not about her loving husband or how she's related to Ashley Pond through her husband's ex-wife. The point is that what happened to Ashley and Miranda should never have happened in the first place. Linda does make this clear but that's really what she should have focused on when telling this story. She should have cut all the other stuff out. The whole idea behind this book just rubs me the wrong way. It just seems wrong to me that someone would help write a book about how her tireless efforts and fearless hard work saved the day. Yeah, I know that Ashley and Miranda are still dead, but anyone who reads this book can't deny that it feels like it's a celebration of Linda's work. I do think there are things to admire about her but I think that when a person writes about her own adventures in a flattering way, it's a recipe for disaster, especially if this woman doesn't seem to have much experience when it comes to writing well. It would have been best if the book had taken a more objective approach to the whole thing.

5 comments about The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride (Harlequin Presents).

1. I absolutely loved this book. It is one where you find yourself giving a wistful sigh as you finish it.
   
   Hero: the exotic "buccanner" described Prince Rafiq. Heroine: Belle, a fiercely independent & feisty career-oriented woman with an archaeological group, doing work in Prince Rafiq's arab kingdom.
   
   Storyline: Belle is kidnapped along with a male co-worker, as part of a political up-rising attempt. They are brutalized and left for dead on a spit of an island. Rafiq rescues her, but not until after she shows her fighting spirit, and he greatly respects & admires her from the beginning. Wait until you read the sexual chemistry these two have for each other---ooh, la-la! Unique situations really make the story sizzle. I don't think I'll be forgetting the beach storyline anytime soon.
   
   Both Belle & Rafiq respect each other highly throughout the entire story, and this was so refreshing & wonderful to read. Rafiq is not only described as a sexy dreamboat, he acts like one, too. *swoon* lol; he is definitely on my Top-10 Best Harlequin Heroes list.
   
   Another reviewer mentioned the peacock jewelry, and it is part of the story to understand that this little arab country is a new democracy with the country's people still believing many years of traditions & firm cultural beliefs; so they would have considered it a sign of political weakness for their prince to give in to the terrorists and relinquish the sacred jewels unless it was to save his beloved, so after experiencing the kind of terror Prince Rafiq's enemy creates first-hand, Belle makes a conscious choice to help the people in this nation by going along with their traditional beliefs until the terrorists are caught; otherwise they would continue their bombing raids. Essentially, Belle is helping Rafiq buy time for finding the terrorists.
   
   Belle is never, ever wimpy. She is a heroine that makes women cheer for her bravery. If you ever yelled at a tv or movie screen whenever a wimpy woman stood back & let her guy almost get killed instead of joining in the fight--this book is for you, because Annie West created a wonderful heroine for us.
   
   Annie West writes so beautifully, with rich descriptions of events, people, places & things--to the point where one can easily imagine themselves transported to this beautiful place. I could tell you more of the story but that would ruin it for you...and I hate to do that. Ms. West writes almost poetically, her descriptions of things are often so evocatively beautiful.
   
   So, bottom line: the hero & heroine both talk to & treat each other with great respect & caring, even when they don't say the "L" word yet. The chemistry between these two are sizzling, and anticipation makes the yearning these 2 characters have for each other all the sweeter. I hope no one passes up this book.
   
   I'm definitely reading more Annie West books!



2. This book is fantastic, Annie West's best so far. The characters have such reality and emotional depth and the love story is just breathtaking. Even if you're not into sheikhs, give this one a go. It's a great story and I bet you won't be able to put it down. I sure couldn't! Sexy, passionate, compelling, vivid. What a winner! Thank you, Ms West. Can't wait for the next one!



3. From the very beginning, I was captivated, intrigued and on edge as this story begins with a kidnapping, a ferocious storm and two very captivating characters Rafig (ruler and monarch) and Belle, a marine archaeologist who along with her co-worker was kidnapped and held for ransom. Immediately the stage is set as Belle and Rafig are thrown together, he her protector and Belle with everything she's been through, her strength and courage shows throughout in this desert tale.
   
   
   Belle's homeland was Australia; she and her sister were for the most part, raised by her mother. Belle is strong, beautiful, hard working and proud. She has come to Q'aroum to explore and excavate a sunken first century trading ship. She and her co-worker are kidnapped by Rafiq's cousin and the ransom demanded is the "Peacock's Eye" not only very valuable but of importance to the people of Q'aroim. For generations it has been the gift of the Sheikh to his bride and Rafiq has given it up in order to save Belle and her co-worker!
   
   Rafiq, is lilke no other sheikh or monarch.......his character ireminds me of something out of "The Arabian Nights". He's handsome, intelligent, fearsome and very proud and he wants Belle......he wants her for his bride! Sparks fly off of these two characters as they both fight their attraction to each other and along the way find their way into a romance you won't forget. A tale of East and West, two such different cultures and people who find a bond, mutual respect and love!
   
   This is Annie West's first "sheikh" book and I personally feel was exceptional, full of intrigue, chemistry and a wonderful love story set on a dessert isle.



4. Belle Winters and her colleague are kidnapped by rebels while visiting Q'aroum. Left to die in a broken down shack, they are rescued and ransomed by an unlikely savior. Belle is taken to his palace not knowing the price she is expected to pay. When Belle offers to pay the man back, she is informed of the expected payment. He wants her as his wife, in every way. Can she do as he asks and still keep her heart intact? What happens when she finds out that Rafiq is not pretending when he acts as if he cares for her? Can she walk away and return to her life as a marine archaeologist?
   
   Sheikh Rafiq Kamil Ibn Makram al Akhtar, Sovereign Price of Q'aroum rescues Belle only to find out that she is all that he's ever desired in a woman and more. She's tough and caring, but how will she react when he informs her that she is to become his wife in every sense of the word? When Belle is wounded by a bullet that was intended for him, he realizes he cannot live without her and will do everything possible to keep her by his side. Can he convince Belle that he truly loves her and would do anything for her?
   
   With THE SHEIKH'S RANSOMED BRIDE being Annie West's first foray into writing about Sheikh's, she did one heck of a job. I could not put the book down and even had to read it a second time. Belle and Rafiq are two characters who learn to give each other what is needed without sacrificing anything. I have to say that this book tops my list of favorites in the Sheikh's category. Of course I have always fantasized about a Sheikh kidnapping me. *deep dreamy sigh* Granted, I know it will never happen, but as long as authors like Annie West write so wonderfully about Sheikh's, I will continue to read and dream.
   
   Reviewer for Romance Junkies



5. This is a very exciting & interesting story line. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what's going to happen next, & then I feel sad that I finished it so quick. The story has so many twists & turns, actions & the `hot' love scenes are added bonuses. This is such a well thought & well written story. The author has described how the hero & heroine gradually fall in love, how they wanted to protect each other from harm ways, very endearing. I just love reading it and I am going to read it again, slower this time.

No comments about FBI Files on the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.

5 comments about Ransom: The Untold Story of International Kidnapping.

1. A while back I picked up Robert Pelton's absolutely fascinating "World's Most Dangerous Places, 4th edition". After reading his intrepid accounts of kidnapping in places like Colombia, I was intrigued & wanted to learn more. I bought "Ransom" expecting the same engrossing level of detail that W.M.D.P. provides. Instead, what I got was a patched together, overlong work that purports to give us the "inside scoop" on international kidnapping and instead is a series of chapters verging back and forth between fawning profiles of counter-kidnapping professionals (sans any real insight into what it is they *do*) and melodramatic tales of victims in Kashmir. I'm sure Auerbach meant well, but her book does not provide enough interesting information to be worthwhile; her style is overblown and windy, and her reporting is not up to par. If you're really interested in this subject, my advice is to save your money and pick up W.M.D.P. instead-- you'll be glad you did.



2. If Robert Ludlum wrote non-fiction, this would be his kind of book. Ann Hagedorn Auerbach gives us the inside story of the global kidnapping crisis. Despite what the tourism industry would have us believe, the problem is not limited to - or even done mainly by - political terrorists. Auerbach, who is quoted in this week's People cover story, shows us that most kidnappings are motivated by money. That fact tells us volumes about the growing gap between rich and poor. The globalists tell us that a WTO-dictated economy is raising all boats. But Auerbach - who, in Crichton-like fashion, weaves an action-packed story with a broader lesson - shows we are merely creating a small rich elite in third world countries. The chickens will come home to roost on all of us - world travelers or no - if we do not insist that rights for workers and small farmers, and our need to preserve our small planet's environment, become universally respected.



3. The romance of travel today is seriously threatened by the problem Auerbach's book details. People who follow their dreams to beautiful, isolated parts of the world sometimes become pawns in conflicts they had no part in. Auerbach's scrupulous research and moving descriptions form a memorable--and chilling--cautionary tale for globe-trotters and armchair travellers alike.



4. Auerbach's brilliant and prescient book shows us how terrorists-including Osama bin Laden-have been financing their operations all these years: kidnapping innocent tourists and businessmen in a now too-famous part of world. Auerbach's writing is wonderful; the book reads like a thriller. Her reporting is the best of journalism, sensitive and informative. She gets behind the scenes of the private kidnap consultants and the U.S. government that, for complicated political reasons, failed to protect and save Americans in that troubled region. And her message is very important. Your safety is your own reponsibility. No one may be able to warn you more specifically about these terrorists' intent or come to your rescue if you fall into their hands. Auerbach was ahead of her time. But now we all know how right she is. Read the book for your own protection. The kidnap problem is ongoing--and getting worse.



5. This book is just a jumble of disconnected thoughts in incoherent paragraphs, each having nothing to do with any other. I was so excited to begin reading this book. Then, after reading 100 pages, I was so excited to throw it away. Please, please, please don't buy this book. Not buying it will teach the erroneous editors that let it pass, that people want something better for their reading.

5 comments about The Birthday Party: A Memoir of Survival.

1. From the minute you pick up this book, you cannot put it down! The Birthday Party is about a most extraordinary tale of the kidnapping of a US Attorney the day before his birthday, and the events so bizarre, that it couldn't be anything but true. Stan is an instantly likeable character who is enjoying an ordinary evening in Manhattan, when in an instant his world is turned upside down as he faces the barrel of a gun and the reader is immersed at once in the story of his captivity at the hands of his kidnappers.
   
   It is a truly compelling account of what Stan's hours were like blindfolded and held at the mercy of men with guns. Stan's ability to remain calm and find the humor in some of his circumstances really made the book an enjoyable read. There were moments of genuine humor as well as details of the pain and fear that followed his ordeal. The poignancy with which he writes about what he learned and the life he leads is very inspiring. The details he remembers and explains to the reader assist in making you feel like you're living the roller coaster ride with him. And his recount of how the police found the guys who grabbed him and how they proceeded through the legal system was an interesting glimpse into the criminal justice system most of us know nothing about.
   
   There are many moments in the book where I felt like I was holding my breath waiting to see what would happen next. It was truly a great read. Stan's ability to relay the story really makes you feel like you're there with him and waiting for his safe return to his home, to his family, to his friends and to his very accomplished life. It's a great book and a very enjoyable read.



2. 
   others have used the words "annoyingly arrogant and apparently editor-less man" and i totally agree. how insecure must he be to continually bring up his wannabe dating habits? and if i was that lisa woman, i'd be pissed that he continually kept writing her full name, including middle initial. jerk. borrow this book from the library.



3. I was eager to read this book after hearing an interview with Stanley on the radio. After getting through the initial kidnapping and the first couple of hours he spent with the thugs, the book drags a bit. I commend Stanley for what he went through and how he survived this terrible ordeal and I mean no dissrespect at all to him, but the book was just a little dull for me. Granted, Stanley is a lawyer, but much of the legalistic writing in the later chapters tend to run together. Great, intriguing story, but I found myself bored by the end of the book. I will say...it's amazing the amount of detail Stanley recalls from this ordeal.



4. After hearing a great interview with the author on NPR, I ordered the book anticipating a great read. I'm sorry to say that I was sorely disappointed. The narrative drags, the protagonist's whining description of his predicament did not bring the natural empathy that the story surely deserves. His portrayal of his abductors never goes beyond the level of stick figure drawings and are filled with superficial stereotypes. I would recommend passing this one up.



5. I found the Birthday Party to be a very entertaining book, although the other reviewers are correct in their assertions that the author is full of himself. He is, but the experience that he describes is riveting. One thing that really stuck with me from this book is how the author talks about his belief that the death penalty is wrong. However, in the story it turns out that the biggest reason why he wasn't killed was the criminals' belief that if they killed government attorney they would be more likely to get the death penalty. Can we all get business cards with our profession listed as Federal Prosecutor so our chances of being murdered by the criminal element will drop to Stanley's?

5 comments about When Capone's Mob Murdered Roger Touhy: The Strange Case of "Jake the Barber" and the Kidnapping That Never Happened.

1. The Roger Touhy case has always fascinated me. I once firmly believed--back in my "armchair expert" days--in the innocence of Roger Touhy of the alleged Factor kidnapping, though, like author Tuohy, I was also skeptical of Touhy's own book The Stolen Years, which presented Roger as basically an "innocent bootlegger" rather than a real gangster. Mind you, I haven't necessarily changed my mind on this. Touhy may very well have been framed. It's just that there has always been a lot of evidence both for and against a frameup. Such as the wiretapped conversations between members of Touhy's gang and Jake "The Barber" Factor after Jake's release, threatening to kidnap him again unless further ransom was paid. Author Tuohy--no relation to Roger--neatly explains this by revealing that members of Touhy's gang were involved in the frameup. It's very believable but the credibility of the book is not enhanced by its numerous factual errors. Most deal with characters only marginally associated with the case but still undermine the book. Alvin Karpis was never a labor slugger for Capone. He was a bank robber and kidnapper whose only motivation to become involved in the Hamm kidnapping was pure profit. Karpis had no interest in framing Touhy for the Hamm job and certainly nothing to do with the Factor case. Karpis was, in fact, a friend of the Touhy gang and they had a mutual friend in "Baby Face" Nelson, whom Karpis introduced into the Dillinger gang. Melvin Purvis, who arrested Touhy for the Hamm job, which Touhy was subsequently acquitted of, was probably just another innocent dupe. Attached to the Chicago FBI office at the time was an Illinois highway patrolman, a so-called expert on the local underworld who seems to have actually been a double agent for Capone. It is curious that author Tuohy never stumbled upon this but he should have, as this was probably the "informant" who misdirected Purvis in Touhy's direction. Instead, the author implies that Purvis was part of the frameup, stating, erroneously, that Purvis knew through informants that Karpis had engineered the Hamm kidnapping. Purvis had no knowledge of this at the time. The FBI did not learn of the Barker-Karpis gang's involvement in the Hamm case until the following year, when they first heard of it from dying Dillinger gangster Eddie Green. The information on Gus Winkler (true name Winkeler) is also erroneous. Winkler was arrested for a million-dollar Lincoln, Nebraska bank robbery but he did not sell out his accomplices to beat to the rap. In fact, he was as innocent of this robbery as Touhy was of the Hamm and (probably) Factor kidnappings. Winkler simply bought back the stolen bonds from the actual robbers and returned them, beating the rap this way. None of the actual Lincoln bank robbers went to prison, through information from Winkler or any other way. No one--at least no one who's talking--knows why Winkler was killed but some evidence suggests it was just Frank Nitti consolidating his hold on the Capone empire by eliminating potential rivals, another of whom was North Side gangster Ted Newberry, a mutual friend of Touhy and Winkler. The connections of Touhy and Newberry to Mayor Cermak are well known but the case for Capone involvement in Cermak's murder, as presented here and elsewhere, is highly speculative at best. Personally, like many other researchers, I doubt that Capone or Nitti would have used a loser like Zangara for a hitman, or to have been stupid enough to have staged the assassination of Cermak while he was meeting the President-elect. Getting back to Touhy himself, the author does make a good case for Roger's innocence of kidnapping but his research strayed too far into other areas of gangster history in which his expertise is less than certain. Some source notes would have helped but the obvious errors detract from the author's equally obvious research. Still, someone--the Outfit? Jake the Barber? or both?--wanted Touhy out of the way in 1959. This book does go a long way toward explaining that. Despite its obvious faults, this book is a worthwhile addition to any gangster aficionado's library.



2. If you're into mafioso, read this! I loved it. Bought a copy for my brother to read for his birthday--good stuff.



3. Mob stories like Tuohy are a fascinating study in psychology of criminal deception. While criminal enterprises require a measure of loyalty. The question is always, loyalty to what, to whom, and for how long? Tuohy really understands the incredible gullibility to those who want to believe in surface appearances, while he keeps his eye on his own main chance. Unquestionable it takes the kind nerves of steel that only a sociopath has to be able to betray those around him to the extent that Tuohy (the con)does.

   Author John William Tuohy's startling account of Ken Lelek and StarNet is even more incredible. It must have required amazing personal courage - few people would have the guts it to do it and expect to get away with it.

   The "mob" world is not for the faint of heart, though. The moral of the Tuohy yarn is that in the end the ferryman expects his due.




4. An amazing story, I'm surprised it hasn't been turned in to film yet. Tuohy (The author) has tackled a difficult subject, an, considering the complexity of the issue has done well with it. Highly recommended



5. A complex tale of gangsters, political kickback, mob wars and corrupt politicians told with wit and humor at a good pace. Highly recommend this book.