Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 8/31/2022 + 1183 more book reviews

This is the fifth book in Collins' Nate Heller historical crime novels. The book actually takes place in 1932, prior to the first book in the series, TRUE DETECTIVE, and then continues on past the events in the first three books to 1936 and beyond. This makes it a little difficult to read these books in chronological order but does not distract from the telling of a really interesting historical event. The novel tells the story of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping from the perspective of Heller who travels from Chicago to New Jersey at the behest of Charles Lindbergh after hearing that Heller had solved a kidnapping case in Chicago. Heller becomes involved in the details of the kidnapping, the ransom, psychics, scam artists, and connections with the mob. He travels to visit the psychic, Edgar Cayce, who does a reading on the kidnapping. He then gets involved with Evalyn Walsh McLean, a very rich socialite and the last private owner of the Hope Diamond, who is working with a scam artist who claims he is in contact with the kidnappers and persuades McLean to give them $100,000. In the mean time, Lindbergh is working with another group to provide $70,000 for the baby's return. Then hopes are dashed when the baby's remains are found in the woods. Or are they?

Four years later, Heller returns to New Jersey at the behest of the Governor to try to determine if the man charged with the kidnapping, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, is in fact guilty or is he just a patsy? So was the baby found in the woods actually the Lindbergh baby? How is the mob involved in the kidnapping? Was Hauptmann involved? And can Heller get to the bottom of what really happened in this very convoluted case?

I really enjoy the Heller crime novels and this one was no exception. I didn't really know a lot about the Lindbergh case prior to reading this but Collins really did his research. Most of what occurs in the novel really happened and most of the characters were real. After reading this, I do want to read more about the actual case but not sure when or if. I will definitely be reading more of the Heller novels, hopefully soon. I have the next several on my TBR stacks. High recommendation for this series!

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