Illinois Books

This truly is a wonderful book and the reviews so far have been right on the money but in case anyone's still looking to visit the exhibit, it now resides in The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. I'm privileged enough to work in the Lanzendorf Gallery (as well as the rest of the amazing Dinosphere area of the museum) and I can tell you that it's well worth a visit to see these beautiful pieces.

This is one of the finest dino-art books I've come across to date. Johns collection is by far amazingly complete in regard to his T-Rex's. Beatuful work by all the artists and excellent job of collecting them by John. Highly recommend this book for any collector.

...I had this man's collection! But, short of that impossible dream, this book is the next best thing. John Lanzendorf shares his more than impressive collection of dinosaur art with dinosaur lovers the world over. From some of the better know "paleo-artists" (James Gurney, Mark Hallett) to others I, personally, have only discovered thanks to this edition. It is an interesting expedition to discover the various interpretations of the same dinosaur by different artists; Tyrannosaurus, bulky or lean? Raptors with feathers? Amazing stuff...

Well,I did received this book for my birthday,and guess if I was happy!It is probably the best birthday gift I've ever received.
The title sounds exciting and suggestive,and so is the book itself. It features parts of the Lanzendorf Collection,which is the largest dinosaur art collection in the world. This 160-page book features about 20 per cent of the collection,but it is still amazingly much. Of course,it would be impossible to collect all dinosaur art beeing made today,but if anyone did,John Lanzendorf would be the one to do it. His apartment contains only dinosaur collectibles and artwork - no other decorations!That must be a really amazing home to live in!
With this book,I have the option to view some of the work hanging there. Although this book has some pictures of beautifull,triassic dinosaurs and jurassic ones as well,it focuses mainly on the cretaceous period,which is called "A Cretaceous End to A Lost World". And that is may be because most of the really fantastic dinosaurs lived during the mid-late cretaceous. There are a lot of pictures of T-rex,which is particulary my favorite dinosaur,and the most inspiring one in this book. Some of the other amazing dinosaurs featured here are Sinsauropteryx,Carnotaurus,Lambeosaurus,and many more.
It does have some inspiring,peacefull pictures of plant-eaters,although the pictures of theropods are the highlights.
Each artist has their own,unique style. John Sibbick has an immidiate sense of detail,and is one of the best. Luis Rey has a little sense of surrealism in his detailed,a little strange paintings. Mark Hallet has the classical style in dinosaur painting. John Bindon is the master of black/white dinosaur art.
Donna Braginetz always make it feel so real you believe they are really there!
Of course,the bronze sculptures makes a nice addition to the artwork,and they look very real. Must be nice decorations!
Over all,the combination of the artists`s different talents makes this book a wonderfull coffee-table book,and a unique collection of dinosaur art that should be a part of every paleontologist`s or dinosaur maniac`s library. I know it is quite expensive,but believe me,it`s worth every penny you spend on it!It has been very helpfull to me when learning to paint good dinosaurs,and the different talents makes me take little inspiration from every painting in the book.
So,if you like dinosaurs seriously,this is a must-have!No dinosaur artist should be without a copy of this book.

"Dinosaur Imagery: The Science of Lost Worlds and Jurassic Art" (The Lanzendorf Collection) photographed by Michael Tropea is a wonderful art collection book by John J. Lanzendorf, with the imagery of dinosaurs that are awe inspiring. Small as coffee table books go, but the art contained within its pages is rather breathtaking.

There is statuary, hanging art, and sculpture all depicting dinosaurs of museum quality artwork of different settings. If you like "dino-art" then you'll truly love this book as you get to see just a fraction of the John J. Lanzendorf collection. Lanzendorf has collected "dino-art" for decades and has amassed quite a collection. I've seen part of his collection exhibited at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois on a past visit to the "Windy City" and it is a sight to behold. This book does a good job at depicting the art in a favorable light.

But, if you ever get the chance to visit the Field Museum and they have the Lanzendorf collection on display it is worth taking a look. This book about the Lanzendorf Collection does an honorable job of displaying the art so the masses can see what is in the collection. There are numerous contributors to this book, far to many to mention ing the short review, but all of notarity. The book has four distinct chapters and they are as follows:

Extinct--but not Dinosaurs
"Fearfully Great Lizards" of the Triassic
Jurassic Art
A Creataceous End to and Lost World

There is an excellent epilogue and related references and credits and contact information contained in this book. All in all, I gave this book the full and strong 5 stars that is deserves for depicting excellent art and presentation.

Must rate this volume as the standard reference on the topic. This current edition supplants Ripley's "Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War." I actually own copies of the original and revised editions. There are a few notable updates, making the second purchase worth the expenditure. While I have found some minor omissions in the listings (particularly discussing some of the poorly documented Confederate gun makers), the authors seem to leave few stones unturned.

Book was not what I expected it to be. I anticipated a thorough study of specific artillery types with color plates and detailed drawings, and with specific histories, usage, success, etc. This is not what I received. It was a hugh disappointment, considering the high price I paid for this book.

A very concise and thorough (almost an encyclopedia) book of the weapons of the civil war.

"Field Artillery Weapons of the Civil War" is the definitive reference work for civil war cannon used in the field. Nothing else approaches its structured grouping and organization of the diverse and confused world of American Civil War field guns. However, this is not a book for everyone since it is quite focused on the specifications, manufacturing origins and methods of the tubes themselves, not on the tactical employment, range charts, the batteries, or the projectiles they fired. (Understandably, many readers will be shocked if they don't realize this before purchase--including me!)

It is hard to over emphasize what a fine job the authors have done in bringing order out of chaos. Their encyclopedic inclusion and explanation of all known types solves many riddles. The complexity and nuances will still require considerable study by the reader to reach a full understanding, but at last it is logically and rigorously catalogued.

The chapter list is as follows: 1. Fundamentals. 2. Federal 6-pounder Guns and 3.67" Rifles. 3. Confederate 6-pounder Guns and 3-inch Rifles. 4. Federal 12-pounder Field Howitzers. 5. Confederate 12-pounder Field Howitzers. 6. Federal Napoleon Guns. 7. Confederate Napoleon Guns. 8. Parrott Rifles. 9. 3-inch Ordnance Rifles. 10. False Napoleons and Gettysburg Replicas. 11. The Small Ones. 12. Boat Howitzers. 13. James Smoothbores and Rifles. 14. The Rare Ones. 15. Too Big for the Field. 16. British Rifled Cannon. 17. Carriages. 18. Conclusions.

The chapters are well illustrated with photographs and schematics of the gun tubes. There are also detailed dimensional specification tables, and some estimated production counts of various types. Following the main text is an extensive set of appendices that serve as a catalog of known foundries, inspectors, designations, foundry numbers, weights, and locations of known survivors,

I highly recommend this work to anyone who wants to be able to identify nearly any Civil War field gun he/she comes across. However, I don't recommend it as a detailed work on the employment of Civil War field artillery--that is not the objective or nature of the book.

Note: The companion work for the heavy artillery is "The Big Guns. Civil War Siege, Seacoast, and Naval Cannon" by Edwin Olmstead, Wayne E. Stark, and Spencer C. Tucker. It follows the same format and style, but its availability is limited.

A comprehensive source of information on the field guns used by both sides of the american civil war. Provides each weapon's history and statistics. Extremely informative.

No civil war library should be without it.

An excellent companion to other book The Big Guns by Omstead and Wayne E. Stark and Spencer C. Tucker which covers the big guns of the conflict.

I am an avid Ghosthunters fan (TAPS on SciFi). I purchased this book hoping it would give me specifics about paranormal investigations/haunted locations in Illinois. The book is interesting in that it provides several locations that are reputed to be haunted. However, it is more disappointing in that the book offers no evidence of any investigations or "hunts". In every site story that I have read so far, I see a lot of the word "maybe" and or "perhaps". The author has clearly visited the sites, but has not had any personal experiences himself to build on -- he merely repeats stories he has heard from locals.

I would like to have seen something more from this book -- but it does still make me curious.

I decided to try this book, as I seem to have almost every other book written about ghosts in the Chicagoland area. What I most enjoyed about this book, is that John lives in Ohio. So he was a visitor to our state, while researching stories for his book. It was very well written, with pictures he provided. I enjoyed his writing so much, that his book on Ohio ghosts is in my wish list and I purchased his recommendation on the Indiana ghosts. I also appreciated that he contacted other ghost hunters and referenced them in his book.

This is a fine book about ghosts. What is most important about the author's book is its straight-ahead, honest approach to the topic. His comments and thoughts on ghosts, and their locale, is refreshingly enjoyable. The writing is concise and entertaining. This is an excellent reference on Illinois ghosts. John Kachuba is a first rate writer with a keen sense of the macabre, and he knows how to write about the paranormal!

John Kachuba is really good at telling

the places that he visited. Each story is

fasinating and he gives some interesting history

on the haunted places


~SkUrVy

I decided to purchase this book on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised. Most paranormal location books offer little more than brief historical overviews of each location and then the associated ghost story. In "Ghosthunting Illinois," Kachuba takes a more hands-on approach in that he's visited the locations personally. His book offers some historical information, the associated ghost stories, and interviews with people associated with the location (owners, tenants, parishoners, etc.). Beyond that, he also describes his trek through these locations by expressing how he felt, what he saw, etc. An even more compelling reason to purchase this book is the fact that it's very well written which stands to reason considering the author is a "creative writing" professor. Additionally, the book holds your interest and the chapters are short so it's a great "quick chapter before bed" type of book.

I was transported back in time and thoroughly entertained along the way. the characters jump off the pages and came to life. Couldn't put it down. Great writing!!

The book is very entertaining and held my attention from start to finish. Mr. Coughlin weaves a mysterious plot line through several time periods involving a colorful cast of characters. His writing style is clear and concise with the talent to grab your attention and the wisdom to keep you wanting more. The account of the pioneer surveyors is especially compelling and sheds light on these largely unknown, and unsung, men of distinguished courage. This is a fun read that keeps you hanging on through the twists and turns of history, love and friendship - with a terrific cliffhanger. First novel or not, it's a thoroughly satisfying book.

If you enjoy a little bit of romance, a bit of comedy, a dash of mystery and a dose of history, you will love this book. I enjoyed it start to finish. Mr. Coughlin has created characters with personalities that jump from the pages. Have you ever read a book that you hate to see come to an end? If you have and you are seeking another to keep you intrigued, I would highly suggest this book. Mr. Coughlin, I can't wait to see more.

What an interesting story! You don't have to be a history buff to appreciate this book. I didn't want to put it down. It is a great book for all audiences whether you like comedy, action, history, fiction, mystery, or romance. It has it all!!! I can't wait to see what Mr. Coughlin comes up with next.

Living the Dream is a great read for anyone who loves small town living with a dab of history and a bit of romance to keep you intrigued. Each character you read about will remind you of someone you have known in your life giving you a feeling that are right in the book with them.

If you knew the author you would know what a feat he has accomplished with the writing of this book and "living his own dream". He is an inspiration to those around him.

This superb collection shows now-gone buildings and architectural treasures of our beloved city's past. These remarkable black-and-white photos show famous vanished bridges, churches, buildings and arenas, including the Colesium (nominating site of four Presidents). The City's downtown and surrounding areas were rebuildt after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, in the largest building boom in U.S. history. Wood gave way to brick, steel, and concrete - the fire led to strict building codes - and many structures rose as the city expanded from 320,000 people in 1871 to 3.4 million by 1930. Readers learn about our city's history, plus the valuable contributions from world-famous architects and planners like Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Miles Van De Roh, Mortimer Adler, and Daniel Burham. Today, many call Chicago the nation's architectural marvel - yet we also lost many famous structures as this superb book shows.

I'd have liked more photos of rail structures (Chicago was and probably remains the world's railroad capital), but it's a minor flaw. This is a superb book about a great city and its architectural past.

The well written story and photos of Chicago are great. It was amazing the number of outstanding architectural building that were built and torn down in such a short number of years.
Having grown up in Chicagoland during the 40' & 50's, I found myself depressed to see such destruction - only to be replaced by glass and aluminum boxes. Even efforts to save the outstanding and much beloved main lobby at the Chicago and Northwestern station failed in the name of the almighty dollar!

First of all...Mr. Lowe obviously has a deep rooted love for our wonderful city of Chicago. Most importantly...he is ensuring future generations and historians the ability to reference so many facts. This simply said...is an incredible work of love and a dedicated effort.
Thank You Mr. Lowe...my children's children will know what an important part that Chicago has played as our nation grew and prospered.

L. Curt Erler Author of "Southside Kid"

Stunning photos of a beautiful city. This book is truly a step back to a time when buildings were built to withstand centuries, although tragically these examples did not. Chicago has some of the most impressive examples of architecture in the country and this book is a powerful archive of not only what the city was, but what it is today. I wish there was a similar book on the buildings of Detroit, many of which are sadly slipping into oblivion.

There is much to enjoy here even if one does not have a special interest in architecture. As a lifelong Chicagoan, I especially liked the photo of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (p. 79) which occurs in the formerly Polish neighborhood that I grew up in. I also enjoyed the old maps of the Chicago area from the 1600's.

With the exception of Nietzsche, never has been philosophy been so much fun! Mist comes across to me as a romping Borges - by this I mean it is full of ideas and creative, as is Borges, but Miguel De Unamuno seems to have the almost girlish exuberance of the Spanish while the Argentinan stays more alof and academic.
Contemporary philosophy normally involves a trained vocabulary and historical understanding, but De Unamuno manages to make this an interesting story and throwing in bones for us to ponder. I often found myself pausing and chewing on my lip, lost in thought. Oh, and how I laughed! At one point the absent minded main character has fallen is asleep and is called to dinner by his servant. Wondering whether the voice was in his head or not he exclaims: "Psychological mysteries!"
It is a shame De Unamuno is not better known.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's about everything and nothing at the same time. It's a tragic love story, a philosophical quest, and a literary experiment all in one. An existential novel about how to write an existential novel! Unamuno's writing is both very funny and deeply insightful, and at the end, he has you questioning whether or not you yourself are alive. A mind-bending work, and one I have read again and again.

" Ni los recuerdos ni los suenos son tan efimeros como la NIEBLA"

This book deals with human emotions, thoughts and fears in a deep, meaningful and funny way. It has a little bit of everything, private conversations with God, the search for the true meaning of life, the quest to find an everlasting love, the fear of facing death, and the hardships that every single human faces during a lifetime.

I read it in Spanish, and I have to say it is one of the best written books I have read so far. Every single word is where it should be, and the story flows magnificently. Im sure that with a good translation this book won't lose its magic in English.

Although it deals with very serious topics, the story is simple, well written, funny, easy to read and with a very unexpected twist at the end...

It simply belongs to a class of its own.

Miguel de Unamuno was definitely ahead of his time. This is a wonderful book, full of great lines you'll be quoting (e.g., "The best mnemonic device is a notebook in your pocket."). The structure of this book is really unique, and the story is so unusual! The main character in the book wants to kill himself and the author won't let him, so the character argues with the author. Very twisted, very mind-bending, very wonderful. The writing is clever, the characters are familiar but I've never met them before, and the style is engaging. I'm off to read more Unamuno!

This is the typical novel that when in schooldays, the Teacher order the pupils to read it. And obviously, you do (or you pretend that you do) without paying very much attention on what you read. Sometimes this novel do not appear in the Compulsory Lecture Program, and you escape from it. This is what happened to me...
Later, a friend of yours (in my case it was my partner) recommends you to go over it again, and you discover a Gem.
There are very little things than can be said about the plot, the characters, the language... because I risk to spoil the whole experience of reading it. But I would not avoid saying that Unamuno was one of the most clever writers that ever existed in my country (everyone has heard of him here), and that in "Mist", mostly all things that worries the Human being, such as love, relationships between men and women, marriage, the Meaning of life, the aim of Literature itself... is within its pages, and that is exposed in a very surprising and entertaining way.
As every Masterpiece, it admits many different lectures and points of view, and it might be a very good piece of literature to be discussed in one of those Book Clubs that are so popular in the States.
Trust me: Read it and you won't be disappointed.

I just got done reading this book.Although I was skeptical at first because I get bored easy.I dont know if it was because I know the authors son or if it was Mr.Courtney's quick wit that kept me glued.I found myself asking the same question,"is Courtney going to ever take this war serious?"Through his faith in God and himself,I believe that is the reason he made it home.What I've learned from this book is that.Lifes a journey embrass it and live life to fullest.I will be keeping this book for my children to read.Thanks Kelly for the recommendation.And thank you Mr.Courtney for my freedom and my childrens:)

The thing that aways amazes me is how many really good memoirs have come out by veterans of WW2. The extraoridnary events that they lived through made such indelible impressions that very similiar stories can be told by countless story tellers and they always seem fresh. This is a very descriptive well written account and the author comes across as the kind of guy you'dove to meet. Highly recommended.

My father served in Co G, 104th Regiment 26th Infantry - a sister company to the author's. He refused to talk about the war. When he passed away in 1990, I found his short written memoirs penned during recuperation from wounds suffered in Germany while in an English hospital. Reading this book alongside his memoirs was an incredible experience for me. It filled in many blanks by being much more complete - yet was absolutely true in time, place, and tone with my father's notes. It was like he came back and finally decided to tell me his stories. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Richard D Courtney's 'Normandy to the Bulge' book is a well done account overall. Courtney was a Pfc with the Yankee Division (26th Infantry) in a 57mm gun platoon. Unfortunately the author does not go into too much detail on the various combat actions he was invloved in but there are a few tidbits I thought you might find interesting.

-The 57mm gun had removable gun shield extensions. He said most folks would take these off after awhile because the extra weight and having them bang around was annoying. They figured the thin metal wouldn'd help much against enemy fire anyway. Might be nice for some divirsity to have a few of your 57mm guns without shields.

-He talks a lot about the 'truck' that pulled the guns. He finally states it was a 1 1/4 ton truck. He never mentions half-tracks at all.

-Every enemy tank he mentions is a Tiger! I can't believe they all were so I wonder if this was just lack of detail on his part, foggy memory, or the old cliche that every American thought the German tank they were facing was a Tiger?!

-He notes the ineffectiveness of the 57mm gun against tanks and how they had to try and get side shots. They relied a lot on the TDs to do the real work. He was with the gun through the very end of the war. He talks about acting as infantry a lot with the guns left somewhere especially towards the end of the war.

-He mentions that the German AT guns were very well balanced and easy to move by just two guys. The 57mm gun he said was very unbalanced and very heavy and awkward to move even with four guys.

My dad was in M, Co. 104th Rgt. same as author. I lost him on Memorial Day 1969 before he ever had a chance to discuss his experiences as I was only 20. I have been searching for people who were there, and in finding this book, it showed me very clearly how proud I am of him. Thank you Richard for sharing this with all of us.

Cooper does a great job of detailing today's high school students' experience. Some parts of that experience are universal and regardless of the background of the reader, they will be able to identify with some portion of the protagonists' lives - whether they want to remember those high school days or not. At the same time, Cooper deftly notes what is new, not least of which is technology and Starbucks. These compelling stories are literally illustrated with Cooper's distinct and appealing artwork.

This book came across my desk and it took me a while to even open the cover. It's about high school after all - I was happy to have forgotten high school. I was surprised, however, to find myself enjoying the way Cooper presented the students' stories. They may be seventeen, but they're human. I enjoyed watching them struggle after already having gone through it. Though I think many of them have more grace than I ever did (still?). Short version - I liked the book and would recommend it.

Cooper follows up his witty "Crawling: A Father's First Year" with another gem. In "R/H/T/C", he entertains with the narrative of eight Chicago high school students through their senior year, capturing the challenges of self-absorbed adolescence as I had forgotten it. He shows these kids for who they are, avoidig tempting cliches, instead weaving in his trademark wit and analogisms. I often found myself laughing out loud. The book brought back memories of classmates of old, and a little bit of myself in one of the characters (but im not telling which one!). A really enjoyable read.

As an adult reading ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool, one can't but help to be taken back to the days in high school. And, to feel fairly relieved not to be there again. The excitement of having your whole life in front of you, but also the angst of an uncertain future and the peer pressure to underachieve, as well as the complications of being a youth in 2008 -- all these things come through via the subjects of Cooper's book, and Cooper does a great job of presenting them in a (fairly) dispassionate light so that the reader can more experience than judge the happenings. As a father of a <1 year old girl, I read ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool thinking all the while of what lies ahead for my little girl and thinking, "can I keep her a toddler all her life??" but also realizing that the enormity of the exciting experiences that await her!

I was riveted by this carte-blanche-access account of real teens in a real school. "American Teen" has nothing on Cooper! I highly recommend this alternately heartbreaking and hopeful story.

This is the newest release in the series. Recommend reading series from book 1, Chill in the Blood, as the series continues the story progressively with each book. Well written the books grab you from the first and keep you reading to find out what Jack, a vampire, encounters next either with his private detective work or the mob. I look forward to what Ms. Elrod has in store for Jack in his next book.

In the latest installment in the vampire files, P.N. Elrod continues the enthralling story of Jack Fleming and his constant battle with coming to terms with his undead nature. Song in the Dark picks up shortly after Cold Streets. If you haven't been reading through the series you will want to go in order, each books builds on the previous book. In this story Jack is coming to terms with his near 2nd death experience and the impact it has had on dealing with a trauma so brutal and serious, that a normal person would not have lived through. The book starts off on a high point and keeps building from there; it will hold you on your seat till the very last page. This book shows a new aspect to being an Undead vampire, the extreme trauma and how someone deals with going on night after night, after facing a foe and situation that would destroy a normal person and even destroy an indestructible vampire.

It took me a while to get around to reading this book because I'm too broke to buy the hardcover editions, and too busy to read much fiction anymore. P.N. Elrod's Jack Fleming series is one that I always make time for eventually, however. The Fleming books have gotten better with each entry, and *Song in the Dark* is the best yet. Jack's PTSD following his experiences in *Cold Streets,* and its effect on those close to him, often made for difficult reading--I wanted to *help* him, and he had very few places he could turn to for help, given his situation. This led me into several mini-crossover-fiction fantasies in which the characters in my books somehow manage to run into Jack and have a fruitful discussion with him. I'm making this embarrassing public confession to demonstrate how realistic and affecting the characters in the Fleming series have become by this point. I like the fact that Elrod is less cautious about letting her books be chapters in a series. The early Fleming novels tended to have a lot of explanation and backfill, which could be mildly annoying. Now the books just charge ahead, and Elrod isn't afraid to let loose ends dangle for future resolution. I'm a sucker for "the never ending story" and I don't think books in a series should, or have to, stand alone.

My only count against *Song in the Dark,* and it's a minor one, is that I saw one of the major plot twists coming as soon as the critical element of the twist was introduced, and I honestly couldn't understand why the other characters remained oblivious to it. This did not hamper my enjoyment of the story in any way, however, it just raised a small plausibility question.

P.N. Elrod announced on her LiveJournal that she has finished the next book in the series, and I'll be very eager to read it.

It appeals to me a lot, don't know about anyone else but it's about time our hero had something to worry about other than a little headache disappearing could cure when he dips into folks minds. But then maybe I'm a sadist, I love it when characters are in pain and somehow resolve it! (Knight Rider where Michael was poisoned, Star Trek where Kirk was stabbed come to mind as my favorite parts of the series)

I have yet to be disappointed with any of these Vampire Files books from P.N. Elrod.

They have continue to surprise me with the depth of research on the genre (Chicago gangs), the understanding and presentation of the various psychological issues -- especially in this latest book.

I don't give spoilers out its not fair in my opinion to those that haven't read the book yet. I was surprised more then once including at the end of the book.

A joy to read and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

I read True Detective after reading several of Collins' later Nathan Heller books. Collins writes this series as an amalgam of historical accuracy with his protaganist (current private eye, former Chicago police detective Nathan Heller) interacting with the real characters of the era depicted. In this one we are in Chicago and meet the likes of mobsters like Capone and Nitti, crooked cops, grafting politicians, and good guys like boxer Barney Ross and Elliot Ness to balance the score.

Collins knows how to tell a good story. The historical detail is accurate and adds to the feel of the tale. The pictures he paints of the World's Fair, the shantytowns, etc., put you in the book. The plotting is thorough, the situations believable, the dialogue true, and the characters feel real, especially Heller as he struggles to do the right thing in a world full amibiguous situations where "right" can be tough to figure out given the conflicting viewpoints.

To say that the characters feel true sounds odd given that most are public personalities. Yet, a less skilled writer could make them hackneyed and two-dimensional. Here they have depth enough to carry their roles naturally, without forcing situations. You learn enough about each of them to make sense of their motivations and behaviors, yet the story never gets lost in irrelevant details.

When I'm done with a novel of his I feel I've learned more about the characters from history and more about myself as I go through the moral rollercoaster with Heller. And before I forget, there's plenty of humor, sex and violence to keep things interesting.

Read the series, in order if you can. This is one of the best going.

True Detective is the first faction in the Nate Heller PI series-
which I think is in a class by itself;it's a crime that this series hasn't landed-at least as a TV series-forget that,it would make an incredible movie.But I still have a bone to pick with Collins;after the first few novels in the series(be sure to
read True Detective,True Crime & The Million Dollar Wound),just about my favorite real-life character-and Nate's best buddy-real
life Hall of Fame boxer/war hero Barney Ross is used less and less;I could punch Collins for that.

Max Allan Collins' first novel in his acclaimed Nathan Heller series, True Detective, is a stunning mix of fact and fiction. The setting is 1930s Chicago and Collins paints the city of that time with a bold brush. Heller is a city cop who gets roped into a messy situation by his fellow officers. When he ends up killing a man with the same gun Heller's father used to commit suicide, Nathan's own, that's the last straw that leads to Heller quitting the force, despite the efforts of the higher-ups to get him to reconsider.

But working as the president of your own detective agency (called "A-1" so it will appear first in the telephone directory) is by no means boring -- not when your best friend is Eliot Ness and you have connections to Frank Nitti, Al Capone, mayor Anton Cermak, Walter Winchell, George Raft, and a young future actor who goes by the name "Dutch" Reagan.

Collins took five years to research the place and time and this, combined with his immense storytelling skill, make True Detective an immersive experience. The World's Fair comes alive in his hands, as do the characters, who have never seemed so real (even in The Untouchables) as when they are dealing with the fictional Nathan Heller. I plan to repeat this experience soon with the sequel, True Crime, and I think I'm about to become very familiar with the exploits of Nathan Heller.

From the first few words, I knew that Max Allan Collins had written one of the best crime/detective novels I had ever read. Before long, I dropped "one of" and decided it is THE BEST! Characters rise off the pages into "real" life, while the action grabs you and carries you along. If you like the tough, but believable, private eye, this is a landmark book for you. Don't just read it. Buy it!

Collin's novel is the ultimate re-examination of the 1930s private detective. It is full of drama, action, and deep historical context.

Should be required reading for the human race.