Dillinger

In March of 1934, John Dillinger, arguably the most notorious criminal America has ever known, broke out of the escape proof Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana. On July 22, 1934, he was eventually found and shot dead by agents of the FBI outside the Biograph Movie Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Where Dillinger went and what he did during the period of time between March and July is a matter of speculation. There were reported sightings in Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, and even London. Jack Higgins account has Dillinger traveling to Mexico to lay low until the heat died down. This is not a history book. It is all speculation, and if anything might be classified as alternate history. But since nobody knows where Dillinger went show more or what he did, who's to say the events in this book didn't happen?

Dillinger is portrayed in this book as sort of a Robin Hood character. He stole from the greedy, evil bankers, who were getting rich foreclosing on delinquent properties, and gave to the more deserving. After his escape he gives a friend a substantial amount of money in order to prevent the bank from foreclosing on his farm. In an ironic twist, Dillinger stole the money from the very bank in question. Dillinger is also portrayed as never having killed anyone, just robbed banks. However, he does seem to know his way around weapons, including the Thompson machine gun. I guess if you are going to write an alternate history then it's fine to include an alternate personality.

The book is fun and action packed. Dillinger runs into problems in Mexico not uncommon for that time, as well as in our own time. Corrupt government officials, greedy land owners, unsafe working conditions, and lack of regard for anyone else are just a few of the things Dillinger faced. He also meets Rose, a half Chinese and half Mexican beauty, and they fall in love during the short time they spend together. But alas, their love is not meant to be as they realize that their lives diverge in two different paths.

If you are looking for a straight history with all the facts notated, do not get this book. If you are looking for a "what if" type of book that is fun and action packed, then this is the book for you. Sometimes we all wish history could be re-written, and this is one of those even Dillinger might like. show less

Dillinger was very good, except for all of the parts set in Mexico. Which, unfortunately, comprised 90 percent of the book. I confess that I had never read Jack Higgins, had never heard of this particular book, and only read it because the Kindle sample was cunningly took place entirely in Indiana and it was temporarily on sale for $1.99.

The book starts with a historically accurate rendition of John Dillinger‰ÃƒÂ›Ã‚ªs escape from an Indiana jail in 1934. It ends with a historically accurate coda referring to his being shot and killed by the FBI outside a movie theater in Chicago in 1935. And the bulk of the book is an entirely imagined episode largely consisting of a lengthy sojourn in Mexico where Dillinger encounters all manner of show more racial stereotype and embarks on an adventure somewhere between pedestrian and preposterous, none of which is linked to what came before it or comes after it. In the end, having rescued the child, overseen the death of the villain, and left the rather exotic girl, he returns to the United States to meet his fate. show less

In March of 1934, John Dillinger, arguably the most notorious criminal America has ever known, broke out of the escape proof Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana. On July 22, 1934, he was eventually found and shot dead by agents of the FBI outside the Biograph Movie Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Where Dillinger went and what he did during the period of time between March and July is a matter of speculation. There were reported sightings in Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, and even London. Jack Higgins account has Dillinger traveling to Mexico to lay low until the heat died down. This is not a history book. It is all speculation, and if anything might be classified as alternate history. But since nobody knows where Dillinger went show more or what he did, who's to say the events in this book didn't happen?

Dillinger is portrayed in this book as sort of a Robin Hood character. He stole from the greedy, evil bankers, who were getting rich foreclosing on delinquent properties, and gave to the more deserving. After his escape he gives a friend a substantial amount of money in order to prevent the bank from foreclosing on his farm. In an ironic twist, Dillinger stole the money from the very bank in question. Dillinger is also portrayed as never having killed anyone, just robbed banks. However, he does seem to know his way around weapons, including the Thompson machine gun. I guess if you are going to write an alternate history then it's fine to include an alternate personality.

The book is fun and action packed. Dillinger runs into problems in Mexico not uncommon for that time, as well as in our own time. Corrupt government officials, greedy land owners, unsafe working conditions, and lack of regard for anyone else are just a few of the things Dillinger faced. He also meets Rose, a half Chinese and half Mexican beauty, and they fall in love during the short time they spend together. But alas, their love is not meant to be as they realize that their lives diverge in two different paths.

If you are looking for a straight history with all the facts notated, do not get this book. If you are looking for a "what if" type of book that is fun and action packed, then this is the book for you. Sometimes we all wish history could be re-written, and this is one of those even Dillinger might like. show less

### Review

“Jack Higgins is the master.” —Tom Clancy

### Product Description

In March 1934, America's most notorious criminal makes his spectacular escape from jail. Three months later, John Dillinger, the last American outlaw, is gunned down by FBI officers outside a movie theatre in Chicago. But what really happened during Dillinger's final months of liberty?