New Jersey Books

The author was in New York in September 1981 and saw a TV show with Anna Hauptmann; after half a century she passionately declared her husband Richard was innocent of the crime. This impressed him enough to pick this subject for his next book. Other books were on miscarriages of justice. Kennedy is against the death penalty (but for euthanasia!?). He used the recently opened case archives in Trenton for this book. The 'Introduction' tells the reader what to expect from this very readable book.

Part One is a short biography of Charles Lindbergh. [It does not tell you that his Congressman father opposed the private banking cartel known as the Federal Reserve System.] Lindbergh's love of practical jokes suggests a flawed personality. Part Two tells of Richard Hauptmann. In the war he learned to do whatever it took to survive. Lawlessness increased after the war. Hauptmann burgled and robbed and was caught and sentenced. His adventures showed quick-witted daring. Hauptmann reported for work at 8 am, March 1, 1932. After work 5 pm he went home, then picked up his wife around 8 pm (p.80). Part Three explains what happened after the baby was kidnapped. Two sets of footprints were found leading from the ladder. The Lindberghs decided to stay over on Tuesday morning, so the kidnappers were either very lucky or had inside knowledge. After a ransom note arrived, $50,000 was given to a man in a Bronx cemetery. Then the body was found near the home. Part Four tells of the continuing investigation, and Hauptmann's life and friends. The Lindberghs lived as happily as possible. One of the ransom money bills led to the capture of Hauptmann.

Part Five notes the methods of the investigation of Hauptmann. Kennedy explains how a witness is prepared to identify a suspect (p.176), and criticizes their methods (p.177). But Hauptmann often lied (p.178). Pages 179-182 explain how the ransom note was forged: Hauptmann was forced to copy the note with its mistakes! There is implausibility in removing a plank from the attic (p.212). The fingerprints on the ransom note and ladder did not match Hauptmann; his shoe size did not match the footprints (pp.213-4). Page 216 tells how they found an eyewitness. Rail 16 was 1/16" thicker than the attic flooring (p.220)! Page 226 explains how evidence disappears when it challenges the prosecution's case. Part Six explains the actions of the Prosecution. Evidence was fabricated (p.242, 244). Defense lawyer Reilly was crooked or crazy (p.242). The trick with the ransom note is on page 276. The study of handwriting is an art, not a science (p.277). A chisel was removed to incriminate Hauptmann (p.295)! The "expert" witnesses impressed the jury. Part Seven tells of the efforts by the Defense lawyers. How could a professional carpenter make such a ramshackle ladder (p.309)? Page 314 tells how Wilentz threatened a defense witness. Rail 16 had "only one nail hole" after the kidnapping (p.317)! The other facts to prove it didn't come from the attic are on page 319. The jury found Hauptmann guilty in the first degree (p.344). Part Eight lists the efforts to overturn the sentence. Hauptmann's lawyers argued against the unreliable testimony of witnesses. The Court of Errors and Appeals affirmed the verdict. Given the evidence, the verdict was correct. Hauptmann "collected the ransom money and was therefore the kidnapper" (p.363). Governor Hoffman was advised that the trial was flawed, and Hauptmann was not guilty (p.366). Hauptmann pointed out the flaws in the case (p.367). The Court of Pardons would not commute his sentence (p.377). The evidence against guilt is on pages 383-384. There was a problem with Rail 16; it didn't fit (p.389)! The 'Epilogue' has the aftermath of the case. Page 409 tells of Lindbergh's gullibility on the German air force; or was it his fascist sympathy?

Kennedy says Hoffman "failed to win re-election as Governor in 1938" (p.408). Governors then were limited to one term of three years (as in most other states). The neighboring county is Warren, not "Warner" (p.241).

An extremely well written book covering the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. I actually felt like I was right there witnessing the whole thing unfold.

Ludovic Kennedy demonstrates that he posseses significant writing skills. He keeps the reader interested throughout. Of all the books putting forth a theory of Hauptmann's innocence, his is the best written.

However, from a historical perspective, it is actually quite disappointing. For example, Kennedy insists that Hauptmann was working on 3/1/32, the day of the crime. However, Hauptmann testified at trial that he was not working that day. There are also several bold statements offered without any source or footnote which are contradicted by original source materials from the New Jersey State Police Museum and Archives.

In summary, Sir Ludovic is an excellent writer with great literary skills, but his conclusions and research leave much to be desired.

The author was in New York in September 1981 and saw a TV show with Anna Hauptmann; after half a century she passionately declared her husband Richard was innocent of the crime. This impressed him enough to pick this subject for his next book. Other books were on miscarriages of justice. Kennedy is against the death penalty (but for euthanasia!?). He used the recently opened case archives in Trenton for this book. The 'Introduction' tells the reader what to expect from this very readable book.

Part One is a short biography of Charles Lindbergh. [It does not tell you that his Congressman father opposed the private banking cartel known as the Federal Reserve System.] Lindbergh's love of practical jokes suggests a flawed personality. Part Two tells of Richard Hauptmann. In the war he learned to do whatever it took to survive. Lawlessness increased after the war. Hauptmann burgled and robbed and was caught and sentenced. His adventures showed quick-witted daring. Hauptmann reported for work at 8 am, March 1, 1932. After work 5 pm he went home, then picked up his wife around 8 pm (p.80). Part Three explains what happened after the baby was kidnapped. Two sets of footprints were found leading from the ladder. The Lindberghs decided to stay over on Tuesday morning, so the kidnappers were either very lucky or had inside knowledge. After a ransom note arrived, $50,000 was given to a man in a Bronx cemetery. Then the body was found near the home. Part Four tells of the continuing investigation, and Hauptmann's life and friends. The Lindberghs lived as happily as possible. One of the ransom money bills led to the capture of Hauptmann.

Part Five notes the methods of the investigation of Hauptmann. Kennedy explains how a witness is prepared to identify a suspect (p.176), and criticizes their methods (p.177). But Hauptmann often lied (p.178). Pages 179-182 explain how the ransom note was forged: Hauptmann was forced to copy the note with its mistakes! There is implausibility in removing a plank from the attic (p.212). The fingerprints on the ransom note and ladder did not match Hauptmann; his shoe size did not match the footprints (pp.213-4). Page 216 tells how they found an eyewitness. Rail 16 was 1/16" thicker than the attic flooring (p.220)! Page 226 explains how evidence disappears when it challenges the prosecution's case. Part Six explains the actions of the Prosecution. Evidence was fabricated (p.242, 244). Defense lawyer Reilly was crooked or crazy (p.242). The trick with the ransom note is on page 276. The study of handwriting is an art, not a science (p.277). A chisel was removed to incriminate Hauptmann (p.295)! The "expert" witnesses impressed the jury. Part Seven tells of the efforts by the Defense lawyers. How could a professional carpenter make such a ramshackle ladder (p.309)? Page 314 tells how Wilentz threatened a defense witness. Rail 16 had "only one nail hole" after the kidnapping (p.317)! The other facts to prove it didn't come from the attic are on page 319. The jury found Hauptmann guilty in the first degree (p.344). Part Eight lists the efforts to overturn the sentence. Hauptmann's lawyers argued against the unreliable testimony of witnesses. The Court of Errors and Appeals affirmed the verdict. Given the evidence, the verdict was correct. Hauptmann "collected the ransom money and was therefore the kidnapper" (p.363). Governor Hoffman was advised that the trial was flawed, and Hauptmann was not guilty (p.366). Hauptmann pointed out the flaws in the case (p.367). The Court of Pardons would not commute his sentence (p.377). The evidence against guilt is on pages 383-384. There was a problem with Rail 16; it didn't fit (p.389)! The 'Epilogue' has the aftermath of the case. Page 409 tells of Lindbergh's gullibility on the German air force; or was it his fascist sympathy?

Kennedy says Hoffman "failed to win re-election as Governor in 1938" (p.408). Governors then were limited to one term of three years (as in most other states). The neighboring county is Warren, not "Warner" (p.241). One important clue in this case was the baby's pajamas; whoever had them took the baby. Where is this mentioned?

I have read several books about the Lindbergh kidnapping and the Trial of the Century. A friend recommended The Airman and The Carpenter: The Lindbergh Kidnapping and the Framing of Richard Hauptmann by Ludovic Kennedy. Whether or not you believe that Bruno Richard Hauptmann was guilty in the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, you can't help but be outraged over this historic trial.

Kennedy starts by giving a brief look at the backgrounds of Charles Lindbergh and Richard Hauptmann, as well as the period of time leading up to the kidnapping. Months after the baby was kidnapped and the ransom paid, the baby's remains were discovered four miles from the Lindbergh home. Marked ransom bills trickled into circulation, but it wasn't until over two years later that an astute gas station attendant wrote the license plate number of a patron who paid for his gas in marked gold certificates. This led police to the illegal German immigrant, Bruno Richard Hauptmann.

From the time of the arrest, the New Jersey State Police, led by Norman Schwartzkopf, Sr. latched onto Hauptmann and refused to consider any other scenario or suspect. Schwartzkopf was ill-prepared to handle such an important and high-profile case, having "never patrolled a beat or arrested a criminal." In fact, his only experience was as a floor-walker for a department store. He also refused to bring in the FBI (kidnapping was not a federal crime until after the Lindbergh kidnapping). Believing that Hauptmann was guilty but having only circumstantial evidence, the state police went to extremes to see that Hauptmann was convicted. They doctored employment records and confiscated others. They took his two ¾" chisels out of his toolbox, and then presented the toolbox in court--claiming that the chisel found at the crime scene belonged to Hauptmann. They suppressed evidence that showed that more than one person was involved, and that someone in the Lindbergh household may have provided inside information. They got two Lindbergh neighbors to lie and say they saw Lindbergh near the crime scene. They refused to allow the defense team to see Hauptmann's house or garage. This list goes on and on. And if it wasn't bad enough that the prosecution cheated and lied at every turn, his own lawyer was a big Lindbergh fan (had a photo of the aviator on his desk) and never believed in his client's innocence. The incompetent Edward J. Reilly was paid for by the Hearst Press and suffered from alcoholism and the final stages of syphilis. In four months time, he spent only 38 minutes with his client. One of Hauptmann's secondary attorneys claimed that "This is the greatest tragedy in the history of New Jersey. Time will never wash it out."

The major complaint that I have with The Airman and The Carpenter is that Kennedy gives us only a very superficial examination of the aftermath of the trial. Written in 1985, he certainly could have looked much farther than he did. While I am still not convinced that Hauptmann was totally innocent, I do believe a gross miscarriage of justice was done in that Flemington, NJ courthouse.

Anne Hardaway is out for her morning jog when she finds the body of a dead teen. She has no intension of investigating the girl's death until her good friend Delia asks for Anne's help. Her grandniece Tracy is missing and the dead girl was one of Tracy's best friends. The two teens had recently started a small coven, which will not be at all popular in the ultra religious Oceanside Heights community.

Meanwhile, Anne's latest ghostwriting project has turned into a nightmare as child raising authority Dr. Arlene Handelman has moved into her house so they can work on the book uninterrupted. However, with the deadline looming, all "Dr. A" seems interested in is shopping day after day.

I love this series; it always feels like taking a vacation. The characters seemed a little better developed this time around. I had worried about this book, but the author managed to portray the reaction of the community to the witchcraft without offending this Christian. The plot was a little disappointing to me, however, as it didn't seem quite as intricately plotted as normal for the series. Still, it kept me interested and confused until the end.

This is the fourth book in a great series with a fun location. This series isn't as progressive as some others I read, so pick up one today and enjoy a trip to a resort town.

It can be very frustrating to the reader to come into a series mid-way. This book, number 4 of a series called "A Jersey Shore Mystery" is so inviting and easy to read that I never found myself wondering what had happened in the earlier books. I enjoyed it so much, however, that I do intend to find out.

Set in Oceanside Heights, just a bit north of the famous Cape May, the ocean is an ever-present backdrop to the events that happen in Anne Hardaway's life. Anne is a 30-something ghostwriter, who inherited her small ocean-front home, and resides there with an elderly, one-eyed cat, Harry.

A lot seems to have happened in Anne's life since the first book (I've yet to read books two and three, but will remedy that lack very soon.) Thank goodness, there is a new policeman in charge--the handsome, enigmatic Mark Trasker. (This is a relationship to which I look forward with great anticipation., but you'll have to read the book to find out just exactly why.)

To find a grandmother caring for a grandchild or other young relative isn't exactly news any more, in today's world. Delia Graustark, the town librarian, has her teen-age niece Tracy, living with her; a typical cynical teen-ager who thinks no one in the world can understand her problems. When one of her friends is found dead, the aura of witchcraft quickly raises it's head, linking the two young women with others in town.

Anne is still supporting herself with her ghost-writing, and the current live pretend-author, Dr. Arlene, as she's known to her supposedly adoring public, is a self-help guru, particularly in the field of parenting. For reasons mostly known only to herself, Dr. A. descends on Annie for the duration--ostensibly to help with the book, but in reality, because Dr. A. has an entirely different agenda.

The two sets of stories are beautifully interwoven throughout the book. One set is Anne and Mark and the old-timers of the town who haven't forgotten Anne's mother, and aren't going to let Anne forget it either--and the other set is the loneliness and isolation of the teen-agers, set against the frantic Dr. A.

Wonderful. On every level, this is a terrific book. Highly recommended!

I've really enjoyed this series, but I felt this book in the series was by far the lamest.

The plot was very predictable and obvious. Though I didn't know exactly who the murderer was until the end, I felt that was more because I didn't try too hard to figure it out. Other aspects of the story were blatantly being set up for other purposes and I found myself trying to figure out what those were instead...and on those items, I was never wrong.

Still a very nice, easy summer read that only took me a few hours.

Anne Hardaway, the freelance writer living in the small New Jersey community of Oceanside Heights, returns in her fourth mystery.

This time the small town is rocked by the infestation of witches in the form of several of the local youths. Anne finds the body of a young girl lying on the beach. Nearby she also finds a piece of paper containing strange symbols and thus, she is unwillingly dragged into the world of witches and so-called black magic.

This is an enjoyable mystery that is set in what sounds like a beautiful location, with just a hint of danger sparked by the fear of the unknown.

Anne Hardaway was looking forward to summer on the Jersey Shore. She has a lucrative contract as a ghostwriter for a radio psychologist and life was boring, but going well. Then the psychologist, Dr Arlene, shows up on her doorstep, claiming to want to work more closely with her on the book, and her good friend Delia's ward, Tracy, disappears. Well, the publisher is angry because nothing seems to be going on with the book, Dr Arlene is shopping all the time, NOT working, and Tracy seems to be a member of a witches' coven. One of the members of that coven is found dead on the beach, by Anne of course. Anne and the very attractive Detective Mark Trasker are determined to solve the mystery.

I have only read one of the books in this series. I really enjoyed it and always meant to read another. I am glad that I did. There is alot going on in this mystery. Dr. Arlene has other issues than the book and there is more to the coven than meets the eye. I didn't guess the murderer until the author wanted me to, and that's getting harder to do, the more mysteries that I read. I am definitely going to read more of this series.

I have read the entire series and loved it funny, engaging and keeps you reading till the end. The book arrived quickly and in great condition.

"Hot on the Trail" fulfills all the criteria for a satisfying read: characters with distinct and engaging personalities, a suspect-filled plot that develops intriguing byways, witty dialogue to move the story forward while deepening the reader's understanding of the dynamics among the story's cast. While these characteristics are highly enjoyable in all of Jane Isenberg's delightful Bel Barrett series, "Hot on the Trail" also successfully and empathetically explores the processes of aging, cultural alterations, and the many definitions of family. Isenberg's selection of pigeon racing as a crucial background element of the story adds interesting detail that also illuminates some ingredients of a murder. An evening spent with "Hot on the Trail" offers many satisfactions, whether or not you have met Bel Barrett and company before. Enjoy!

I haven't really enjoyed this series for the past few installments. However, I did enjoy this one. And that's because the story wasn't overfilled with the annoying sidekicks, Illuminada and Betty.

Both characters have outworn themselves in this series, having turned into a couple of unlikeable, stereotypical caricatures. Illuminada, the impatient Cuban, can't get through a paragraph without throwing out a "chiquita" and looking at her watch. Betty, the controlling African-American, can't get through a paragraph without throwing out a "girlfriend" and barking out orders. These two got old a long time ago, and the series is just so much more enjoyable when Bel is interacting with Sol, Ma, Sofia, Wendy, her kids and her students.

Hopefully the author has realized this and the series will continue in a positive manner, as it did with this installment.

Hot on the Trail is an upbeat, fun read that brings me back to Hoboken,all those pigeons, two dead bodies, and that special brand of NJ politics! Finally, Bel and Sol get married and what a neat surprise the wedding is. Take this book on your next flight and enjoy!

Hot On The Trail is the eighth book in Jane Isenberg's Bel Barrett mystery series. Bel Barrett is a women in her fifties who works as a New Jersey community college professor. In this instalment she gets more than expected (but not really) when she agrees to teach an extra evening writing class for seniors.

Like previous instalments someone dies; in this case it turns out to be one of her students, racing pigeon master, 83 year old Dom Tomaselli. His body shows up frozen in the snow next to the house he shares with his children. An apparent accident. Dom's daughter, Flora (whose also one of Bel's students), doesn't think it was an accident and she's pretty sure her Uncle killed him over a long term debt. Bel soon finds out he is not the only suspect.

Bel doesn't work alone on her search for the killer. Her side kicks, I mean best friends Illuminada and Betty are there pretty much every step of the way. Occasionally, she calls on her fiancé Sol Hecht for back up. The characters didn't stop there and this is one of the regrets for this book. Lots of names are mentioned in the first ten pages. The swamp made it hard to keep them straight and to remember who is who. It didn't get any better as more and more names were introduced throughout. Each chapter started off with an email or an excerpt from one of her student's memoirs. This just added to the who is who confusion.

"Who cares?" was a common thought as I read through the chapter of her surprise wedding. I really didn't care who was sitting with who or knew who. It was a stagnant stop to what little momentum there was to the story.

When a book is compared to the likes of Evanovich's Plum series I expect it to be an easy, funny read with some suspense. This book had none of these qualities. It took me three weeks to read while Evanovich's are usually done within two days. This story was dry and drowned out with lifeless characters. The interesting facts about pigeon racing (like the fastest pigeon clocked was 92mph, 49 mph faster than the fastest horse) are lost and seem like they were just stuck in for prosperity's sake. This book is not high on my list for recommendation.

This Review was Originally Posted at www.linearreflections.com

Life al Dente has a few amusing moments with heartfelt memories by the author. The predominantly Southern Italian family memories are described directly and crassly, devoid of any flair, descriptive language, or writing style. Foul language accents this poorly written novel. The cover illustration and title are its only redeeming features.

Life al Dente is a wonderfully written and well-spun story that will take anyone back to their youth to remember the finer things in life. Gina Cascone reminds us that family, no matter how flawed, is a constant source of joy and strength. As a writer of a number of novels, I enjoyed the pace and flow of the story. It painted beautiful images in my mind that left me smiling chapter after chapter.

Oh my, I laughed so much reading this book...she nailed my family so well...thank you

Ah, to have the relatives, the wit, and the warm memories of a flawed but sincerely loving, close-knit Italian family such as Gina Cascone's. But even with the same material, few could render the experience of growing up Italian and female in suburbia as well as Cascone has done in this, her 2nd book. The eels! Omigod, the eels for Christmas dinner, first writhing in the bathtub, then writhing around your arm, then writhing on the chopping block, and STILL writhing as, cut into cross-sections, they were tossed into the saute pan! Now, that's a memory few can share. Funny, sad, sentimental, tolerant, it's everything you could want from a short little book. But the overwhelming feeling that comes through is Cascone's love and gratitude for her family.
Don't miss it.

Don't think you need to be a member of the family to enjoy this warm, loving and quite funny look at childhood. You can feel the warmth this author has for her zany family in every nook and cranny.The feelings are universal; love, loss, despair at your parent's behavior and the laughter that only family can share. Curl up with this book and remember what it was like to be a child.

As a former dean of students (back in the dark ages) and an author of two novels, I can identify with Dean Doug, the main character, and the author, Heath P. Boice. Through the author's excellent writing, I felt like I was walking the campus of Westmire College and experiencing the trials and tribulations of Dean Doug as he was thrown a multitude of curve balls, dealing with a passel of "unique" characters, and living the life many student services' professionals wake-up from nightmares about. Overall, a good and entertaining mystery. I look forward to the second book in the Mystery 101 series.

I finished this book in less than two days! It was such a fun, quick, and exciting read. Lots of great characters and great story make for a fantastic book. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series!

A thoroughly enjoyable book- interesting characters, intriguing plot, cool setting. I look forward to the next one!

I didn't know a mystery could be so humorous! Looking forward to Dean Doug's next adventure.

Sharon Codd
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ

This book has all the standard ingredients for a good modern cozy. The detective is not a professional, he's one of us. The characters are quirky. There are some nice chuckles. The detective gets into some personal danger--well done, that danger, but I won't say more. The detective, a Dean of Students at a private college, has uncommon traits. He is not angst-ridden because of a questionable past. He is not burdened with a difficult relationship. He loves his wife and kid who are warm and supportive. Kind of unique in the mystery genre, and it works. Yeah, there's a plot too but I never care about the plot in mysteries--I mean, someone had to have done it, right? Guardian Devils

levy has it all in this 2nd out of 4 books

life after world war two in the ike years
sports car racing in the 50's
a trip to 50's mexico
and the continuing life of the teenage buddy palumbo from passaic nj
while filling in the history of sports cars in the post war and some pre war years

great entertainment

I've just finished Montezuma's Ferrari and was plesantly surprised by it. It doesn't quite have the impact of The Last Open Road, the characters and locales now being familiar, but it's still has its own surprises, the trip to Mexico coming to mind. I'm looking forward to the other two books in the series.

If for no other reason, the Levy books are good for the early history of sports car racing in America, but they still deserve to stand on their own merits.

If you have read "The Last Open Road" and liked it, you'll like this. It has the same fun characters and starts where "Open Road" leaves off. If you haven't read "The Last Open Road" you may not enjoy this as much... but, in my opinion, "Montezuma's Ferrari" would stand on it's own. I'm looking foward to reading the next book in the series.

This book is Beatufiuly written and is very entertaining. If you have not read any thing by Mr. Levy you must read this book.Like catcher in the rye? Read this book. the advertising section is beautifully done . Come on be cool.NOW BUY THIS BOOK AND ENJOY IT!

The sequel to "The Last Open Road" it is a must read for readers who loved it. As a stand alone book it isn't quite as good and might not be appreciated as much if read by itself. "The Last Open Road" is multi-dimensional, it is a great car tale and also a coming of age story of a young man who wants to be a sportscar mechanic and is pursuing a girlfriend at the same time. All three threads are intertwined. The book is wonderfully evocative of time and place, you can smell and feel the summer nights which he describes. In "Montezuma's Ferrari" the protagonist is a successful mechanic and married so the focus is mostly on the car tales and the descriptions are not as engrossing but the book is still wonderful.

Weighing in at over 6 lbs and 1168 pages, including list of sources and index, this book is not well written but it is well that it was written at all.

If I have a real complaint about this book it is that it is typeset in Courier which compounds the reader's problems in keeping focused on the text.

A must for the Linburgh kidnapping completist.

There is no doubt that Mr. Jones thoroughly believed everything he wrote. He was a convinced believer in Hauptmann's innocence.

However, there are three substantial problems with this book. First, it is a tedious read at best. The writer rambles incessantly and one cannot read this book for more than fifteen to twenty minutes at a time without taking a break or screaming. The book is about 150 pages too long.

Second, there are enormous factual errors and inaccuracies throughout the book. Mr. Jones was clearly researching and writing with the express goal of finding Hauptmann innocent. Consequently, there is no objectivity.

Finally, Mr. Jones has printed numerous rumors and tabloid tales from the 1930's and cited them as fact. The equivolent would be for a writer seventy years from now to claim that aliens visited the Earth during the 1990's based upon citations to the World Weekly News and other supermarket tabloids.

Sad to report that Mr. Wayne Jones passed away on Saturday, July 4, 1998. Although at times this book is tedious reading and, when needed, repetitious, it is a book that must be read if one is interested in the true story of the Lindburg kidnapping.

While the author is redundant through-out the book, he has certainly brought to the public the oppor- tunity to look into the case of another "trial of the century". In taking the position that Richard Hauptman was wrongfully exicuted, Mr. Jones does show much evidence to demonstrate his claim, and I have been moved into the same opinion. The book is over 1200 pages, and at times tedious, but I found it to be well worth the time spent. Mr. Jones is into his eighties,and I think he should be commended for the accomplishment of his life's goal.

Jones documents more information in his book than any other thus far. While he presents his conclusions about who was responsible for the kidnapping, he leaves many avenues for other verdicts that may eventually come along. While the book is difficult to put down, there are times when the author presents needless details. On several occasions, he leads us through several pages that eventually go nowhere when a brief paragraph would have been sufficient. I have read dozens of books on the Lindbergh kidnapping case but this is the most complete so far. The book will make the reader very cautious concerning police and prosecuting practices in capital cases.

This book is one of my favs. I've read it 3 times because ive liked it so much. It's about this girl who has moved so many times because of her father. He has many problems that makes her life and her mothers really bad and hard. She is befriended by a man. and also a boy from her class. They become pretty good friends, but then something unexpected happens. I think that this book is geered toward 12-any age. If your younger than 12 i think that you should be a mature younger person cause to understand what is going on you have to know about it in the world. if that makes any sense, hope ive helped some people read this.

Carly Chambers is a 13 year old girl who lives with her father and mother in a 3 story house in Ocean Side. Her family has moved constantly because every buisness her father has, has always seemed to some how fail, or that is waht he tells Carly. Carly does not realy like her dad beccause of the simple fact that he abuses her. They have finaly moved to Ocean Side, right by the beach, which is something that Carly likes about this move. Their house is an old victorian house. Her dads runs a candy shop on the main floor of the house. Carlys father has a big secret that no one knows. Carly has no friends except for her next door neighbor Alieen. Alieen is in high school and is not the type of girl that Carlys dad wants her to be around, but Carlys dad doesnt want her ot be around no kid. Every day Carly runs arrons for her father and is times on them. When she is late she ends up in trouble, and it don't matter what the reason she was late is. Calry never knows what she delivers or whos weird house or building she delivers it to but she never likes it. That all changes one day when Carly decides to open one of the packages. She finds hundreds of dollars. Then she goes and talks to the only person she feels safe with and that is Nick. My opinion on this book is that is is one of the best books I've ever met. The book is very interesting, and I advise that you read it. Once you start you can't stop, but in the end it is all worth it.

Carly chambers is a 13 year old girl who is the nerd in her grade and is made fun of all the time. Her and her parents have lived at Oceanside, California for two years and Carly has only made one friend who is her neighbor, Aileen. Aileen is an adopted 16 year old who is quite different from everyone else. Carly only sees Aileen when she is delivering candy boxes to her dad's customers, this is the only time Carly is allowed out of the house. It seems that when she delivers the boxes Frankie always shows up. He makes fun of Carly, how she looks and dresses, but never has laid a hand on her. When she arrived home from the usual delivery her father yelled at her and sent her to get the newspaper. She was gone for at least 3 hours gazing at the ocean. Carly came in the door and realized that she forgot the paper and didn't have the time to go to get it so she faced the consequences, she was sent to her room. That night Carly climbed out the window and went to the board walk where she started working at a newspaper stand with an older man named Eddie. This went on for weeks and her parents never knew. On the board walk she met Nick, a boy that goes to her school and they become good friends. Then one delivery there is a man that is following her everywhere she goes and that makes her wonder what is in the boxes she is delivering? Carly has always just thought that they were filled with candy. Now that she saw him at the boardwalk following her, she knows that it isn't candy it must be something worse. So in the middle of the night she snuck down stairs into the cellar where her dad is to making candy. She gets the key that is hidden in the file cabinet and grabs a flshlight and goes. When she gets down there all that is there is boxes, everything is packed up. She remembered that last night her father told her that they were to move after he got off the phone with someone, he said that they were to move in a couple of days. This was hard to leave her friends that she had finally had and she didn't know why they need to go right off the bat. That mornign her father woke her up and shouted to her "what's this?" he was holding up the cards that that guy gave her when she met up with him. The guy that had been following her ended up working for the State Treasury Dept. He gave her a lot of cards because it was raining and they might of get wet and they had a number on them that she could call if she needed help. He was angry at her and was coming closer and closer to her so she tried to get out of the room through the window. And before she would use the tree but the night before a big storm hit and lightning struck the tree splitting it in half. Squeezing through the window she goes onto the roof and her dad follows. It was still raining and the tiles were slippery. Carly had been on the roof many times and knew that there were loose ones. She step over them and her dad was coming towards her and she warned him and didn't listen. Running straight towards the loose tiles at her........ Read the book to find out the rest!!!

I think this book is wonderful.
It was so good, I read from
chapter 9 to finishing the entire book!
I really enjoyed this book. I'm
glad my friend suggested that I read
"A Secret Within".

Theresa M. Golding has takin writing to a whole new level with The Secret Within. She shows how with just a little help from some unlikly friends you can over come your fears and stand up to your parents, friends, siblings, bullies, whatever is in your way. Her book shows how with a little help, love and a lot of courage, you can change things from as simple as telling your father no, to changing the world. We all look forward to more books from ms.Golding, but know that The Secret Within will stay in our hearts forever. Thank you, Kate H.

Mystery novel based on the Lindbergh kidnapping case, populated with real-life characters like Eliot Ness and Al Capone, as well as the Lindberghs.

Charles Lindbergh does not fair well here, with his micro-mismanaging of the investigation, and the New Jersey State Police come in for a fair share of abuse for their incompetence.

Collins assertion is that the kidnapping was masterminded by Al Capone from prison to give him the chance to "solve" the crime and earn his way out of prison. But when it didn't work, two groups of extortionists,neither of whom was involved in the kidnapping or knew where the boy was, started negotiating the ransom! In the end, Bruno Hauptmann was wrongly accused, convicted, and executed for the crime (in an attempt, again masterminded by Capone, to bring the case to a close and draw attention away from the baby), when in fact the the Lindbergh baby was adopted and raised by former mob parents on a farm in Michigan and then somewhere in the midwest, and still apparently alive at the time of the writing of the novel in 1991!

OK, so maybe it is mystery novel claptrap, but it appears to be fascinatingly plausible the way Collins tells it. And it passed my critical mass test with flying colors and bleary eyes: about half the way through the 593-book, I knew I would have to read it straight through to the end, which I did, finishing up about 1:45 am.

Just missed the What a classic! rating due to more PG-13 sex and R swearing than necessary.

Having read all of the Nathan Heller thrillers, I have to admit that none of them are as riveting as the first two: "True Crime" and "True Detective". They're spare, lean and elegantly written. Every detail packs a wallop. The later novels, while still excellent, tend to seem bloated and self-important by comparison. The same points are made over and over, historical characters are dragged in even if they're not intrinsic to the plots, some very dull fictional characters are given too much attention and Heller becomes more and more infallible.

But "Stolen Away" is still well worth reading. The background details are carefully researched and Collins does a masterful job of conjuring up the tense, post-kidnapping atmosphere of the Lindbergh home and the hysteria surrounding the investigation and the trial. Charles and Anne Lindbergh are drawn with skill and insight. And Collins presents his speculations about who was responsible for the kidnapping logically and intelligently.

But Heller's ultimate conclusions about the fate of the baby are ludicrous, illogical and completely unsubstantiated by any kind of evidence. Have adhered scrupulously to the facts while drawing his conclusions throughout the book, he veers off into irresponsible fantasy at the end. It's not playing fair to the reader. Also, Heller's affair with Evalyn Walsh MacLean is just silly and unbelieveable. But Heller always has to have sex with somebody in each book and I guess she was the best available choice. At least it wasn't Anne Lindbergh.

This makes it sound as though I didn't like the book, which isn't the case. I definately recommend it, with the warning that the pretension and over-writing that mar the later Heller novels make their first appearance here.

The best entry in the Nate Heller series. Collins Nate Heller novels are recommended for those who like hard boiled period pieces as well as lovers of true crime. There is good detail on the facts and people involved in the Lindberg kidnapping. Like all the Heller novels, Mr. Collins has his own theory on what really happened. His theory here is really wild. A great book.

This was the first of the "Nate Heller" detective series novels of Collins that I had read, and I must admit that I couldn't put it down. Not only is this tour de force a great mystery and suspense novel, it is also a wonderful historical novel; well researched and informative while grabbing and then not letting go of the reader's interest.

The story of how Chicago policeman Heller becomes involved in the case of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping is plausible enough. Once the wise cracking detective is admitted to the inner circle of the myriad investigators and con men (and women) involved in the infamous 1932 tragedy the excitement begins and continues without let-up. I was not that familiar with the details of the case until I started this novel, but Collins does a wonderful job of making each character (both those of historical record, and those who are fictional blendings of historical characters) belivable and memorable. One strong point of the book is that I finished it feeling that I knew more about the case that I did previously. Collins posts an afterword to the book that explains which parts are fictitious, conjecture, and historical. He also presents a detailed proposed reading list for those interested, along with his comments on the bias or worth of each author. I really appreciated this part of the book.

As for Heller himself, the Chicago lawman grows on you, even though Collins presents him as not always a shining knight, showing him "warts and all." The book is quite long, 593 pages in the paperback edition, including the afterword, but the complexities of the story make it a good read, well worth the time and effort.

A definite 5 stars, this one made me rush out and buy up other books in the Nate Heller series, as well as check out the facts of the historical case that inspired this story. My advice is for anyone who hasn't read this novel to do the same.

Another entry in the great Nathan Heller series from Collins. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Lindbergh kidnapping told in a tight story that is rich with real people of the time. This book discusses many of the theories behind one of the most infamous events of the 1930's. Get to know the scamsters who sought to profit from the kidnapping. All in all this is a rich well told tale that brings its own ideas forth. If you ever watched The Untouchables, and by the way Elliot Ness is in there, you will love this book.

Gave this book as a gift to my nephew who LOVES to surf cast for Striper off the New England coastal areas. I was a bit ambivalent about the age of the title, but it is regarded as a classic and was well received.

I loved this book, and have read it several times. All the sections are appropriately done and are close to perfect. The major problem I had with the book, however, is its "Locating Striper's" section. This is because only a cursory look at locating stripers was taken, meanwhile, that is the most important aspect of Surf Fishing! Not as much cursory, but the basic principals such as "what is a tiderip/bar/back eddie/dropoff.exc." were not covered. I think pictures of such structures would have been helpful in locating these structures in real life.

Also, some of the sections on lures were vauge. I mean this not as if they weren't long enough, but simple things beginners would like to know such as retrieve speed of bucktails and plugs weren't covered extensively, meanwhile, these are the most important parts of lure fishing. In fact, all the retrieve speeds for lures were vauge, and, with the exception of the Eel section, the rigs needed for other types of bait fishing weren't covered well.

All in all, a great book, but Daignault shouldn't simply say, "Look for stripers in back eddies and behing bars", before explaining what they are and how to locate them. Pictures would help. Don't read until you know all the Vocabulary of Surf Casting and how to apply it. Then, It will be one of the best books you have ever read

I've saved just about every article Frank wrote for SWS. He has the ability, as a writer, to make you feel as if you are in waders next to him at the surf's edge. His best book, which offered insight into a family that lived to fish, is "Twenty Years on the Cape" (hard to find, but a great read). This book is great if you want to spend your time (mostly your nights) chasing Roccus from the shore. This is invaluable whether you are just starting out, or have been fishing for years. I'd recommend this to the legions of saltwater fly rodders as well. Frank spends less time on locations to fish, and more on understanding striped bass. Thanks, Frank!

Striper Surf is a complete instructional reference on just that, surf fishing for striped bass. As an avid fisherman in many other areas, I wanted to give surf fishing a shot. I made this selection on the advice of an individual at a fishing show. He recommended it as a long time surf caster. The information is provided in an easy to read style which combines vast amounts of knowleged based on experiance and common sense. It's like going fishing with a new friend who really knows his quarry and produces routinely. The difference here is, this friend is will to share this "info" with you. I will say that this reading might be a little much for someone who has never made a cast. If you have a quest to land a LARGE Striped Bass, and you're searching for the EXTRA info not found in most run of the mill publications, look no further. This one covers every, any and all aspects of this unique and demanding sport. If preparation is 90 percent of the job, then after reading this book all you'll have to do is gear up as directed and find some surf.

Book is very well written. Two complaints:

1) there are no illustrations. The pictures were all black and white and very old. I would have liked to see illustrations of baiting techniques like a start to finish illustration of rigging a dead eel. Also no mention or review of using clams as bait? Would have liked a more in depth review of casting techniques ect.

2) About half the book is old fisherman stories. While somewhat entertaining this is not what I bought the book for.

All in all it is a good book. Worth the money but not more than the current selling price.