Pre-CSI, pre-Miranda, pre-police procedural, even partly pre-mug shot, Ellis Parker was famous at the turn of the century for solving crimes in New Jersey. At one point, he was known as the American Sherlock Holmes. Of course, while some of the reputation was earned, much of it was carefully crafted and advertised by himself in order to garner an international reputation.

Ellis Parker was a man of considerable logical and psychological talent that had served him well throughout his career. Of course, as the Depression was in full swing and the Bureau of Investigation had the opportunity to declare Public Enemies, Parker began to run the risk of being eclipsed by so many other high-profile detectives that suddenly had the opportunity to collect many other less-talented but higher-cache criminals.

And then the crime of the century hit New Jersey with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. While Parker was not officially involved for two years, his involvement in the case was seen as inevitable by nearly everyone in the country. Reisinger traces Parker's career before and throughout the Lindbergh case and then concentrates the book on Parker's obsession with finding the real kidnapper.

It is clear that Reisinger has a love both for Parker's career and for Parker the person. So it is not unsurprising that he is unable to maintain an objective eye with the fallout from Parker's investigation. This hampers the book, as the constant need to defend Parker makes him appear far weaker than he most assuredly was in real life. On the upside, this early portraits of New Jersey politics and life as seen through Parker's investigations are well-told. ( )