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Pinkerton #6
The Expressman and the Detective
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2004
52 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Allan Pinkerton
172 books15 followersNotorious agency of Scottish-American detective Allan Pinkerton broke strikes and disrupted labor efforts to unionize.
People best know this spy for creating the national agency. In 1849, people in Chicago first appointed Pinkerton. In the 1850s, he partnered with Chicago attorney Edward Rucker in forming the northwestern police agency, later known nationally and still in existence today as Pinkerton consulting and investigations, a subsidiary of Securitas Aktiebolag.
Business insignia of Pinkerton included a wide open eye with the caption, "We never sleep."
People posthumously published exploits of his agents, perhaps some ghostwritten for promotion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_P...
People best know this spy for creating the national agency. In 1849, people in Chicago first appointed Pinkerton. In the 1850s, he partnered with Chicago attorney Edward Rucker in forming the northwestern police agency, later known nationally and still in existence today as Pinkerton consulting and investigations, a subsidiary of Securitas Aktiebolag.
Business insignia of Pinkerton included a wide open eye with the caption, "We never sleep."
People posthumously published exploits of his agents, perhaps some ghostwritten for promotion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_P...
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 4, 2017
Allan Pinkerton tells how his relatively small P.I. firm succeeded in this first big case.
Ten thousand dollars had gone missing, then forty thousand or so. The suspect was too smart for the police so the robbed company asked Pinkerton to step in. Nine detectives worked this case for ten months. The suspect did take them on a very long chase. And you will read it here in detail. I liked the snippets of life that don't have anything to do with the case. As for the case, I think Pinkerton chose his investigators well. Well, almost. De Forest didn't impress me, to put it mildly.
Some of these detective travelled miles and miles following the suspect while others followed his wife.
The Expressman and the Detective is not really a mystery since you know right from the beginning who the guilty party is. What you don't know is how the detectives Allan Pinkerton sent to investigate manage to find enough evidence.
It is interesting enough, but you have to be in the mood for a very detailed step by step police procedural. I appreciate it even more for not being a fictional account.
Ten thousand dollars had gone missing, then forty thousand or so. The suspect was too smart for the police so the robbed company asked Pinkerton to step in. Nine detectives worked this case for ten months. The suspect did take them on a very long chase. And you will read it here in detail. I liked the snippets of life that don't have anything to do with the case. As for the case, I think Pinkerton chose his investigators well. Well, almost. De Forest didn't impress me, to put it mildly.
Some of these detective travelled miles and miles following the suspect while others followed his wife.
The Expressman and the Detective is not really a mystery since you know right from the beginning who the guilty party is. What you don't know is how the detectives Allan Pinkerton sent to investigate manage to find enough evidence.
It is interesting enough, but you have to be in the mood for a very detailed step by step police procedural. I appreciate it even more for not being a fictional account.
June 8, 2015
Think: Dragnet meets Mission Impossible in 1859. Pinkerton—yes, that Pinkerton—alleges this is the true account of a major criminal investigation conducted by his agency in 1859. Even Otto Penzler in his 2014 introduction allows the cases were “highly sensationalized.” Despite that, we see here an early example of a genre which still thrives.
This particular saga, set in antebellum Montgomery, Alabama and the Northeast, revolves around a complex sting worked on the assumed culprit in a pair of inside express swindles netting $50,000. In today’s money that would be millions of dollars. Its style is similar to early detective works produced by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, but has the advantage of the titular author (the book may have been ghostwritten) being a pioneer of criminal detection and spy craft.
“Modern” technology (the telegraph) and a large cast of undercover agents, some of whom were ignorant of each other’s identity, contribute to a fast paced, complex plot
By today’s standards the narrative drags, but it endures as a period piece of antebellum social mores and human relations. Of course, since Pinkerton published the tale after the Civil War, many who might refute his story would be gone with the wind. A curious detail is that few blacks appear and little reference is made to slavery, beyond the authors vow that he abhorred the institution. The N-word pops up several times, usually referring to the second class car on trains where Pinkerton’s “shadows” hid in plain site from their quarry. No, none of his agents were black; German immigrants were treated as such (and ignored) by Southern whites. A few loose ends left dangling only add to the verisimilitude as a crafted story would have a more dramatic climax.
Not light reading, but an interesting tale.
This particular saga, set in antebellum Montgomery, Alabama and the Northeast, revolves around a complex sting worked on the assumed culprit in a pair of inside express swindles netting $50,000. In today’s money that would be millions of dollars. Its style is similar to early detective works produced by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, but has the advantage of the titular author (the book may have been ghostwritten) being a pioneer of criminal detection and spy craft.
“Modern” technology (the telegraph) and a large cast of undercover agents, some of whom were ignorant of each other’s identity, contribute to a fast paced, complex plot
By today’s standards the narrative drags, but it endures as a period piece of antebellum social mores and human relations. Of course, since Pinkerton published the tale after the Civil War, many who might refute his story would be gone with the wind. A curious detail is that few blacks appear and little reference is made to slavery, beyond the authors vow that he abhorred the institution. The N-word pops up several times, usually referring to the second class car on trains where Pinkerton’s “shadows” hid in plain site from their quarry. No, none of his agents were black; German immigrants were treated as such (and ignored) by Southern whites. A few loose ends left dangling only add to the verisimilitude as a crafted story would have a more dramatic climax.
Not light reading, but an interesting tale.
March 13, 2020
This is a very early detective novel, written by the man Allan Pinkerton himself -- the founder of the world's first detective agency. It is the alleged account of a detective operation before the US Civil War involving the theft of fifty thousand dollars from a delivery ("express") company.
The Pinkerton detective agency is consulted, and the man sets about investigating the man he finds most likely guilty of the theft. What follows is a complex long-term investigation involving a dozen or so operatives and most of the US southern and eastern states from Texas to New York.
The writing is somewhat dry at times, more an official report (with names changed) than fiction, but is occasionally surprisingly hilarious and the story does not really go anywhere you expect, as a real-life tale would tend to. Featured in a key element of the investigation is what Pinkerton describes as the first female detective professional who does an exceptionally fine job.
There's a lot of southern antebellum culture, and the curious state of US affairs in which private detectives were necessary for multi-state investigations because there was no official US federal police force to deal with that kind of case. The investigation also shows how cheap personnel was because running a nearly year-long investigation with this many detectives would easily cost more than the robbery these days even involving inflation.
The process has a lot of similarities to a very deep intelligence operation, isolating the target from former friends and allies, psychological warfare, embedded assets, and even use of the press to manipulate the target. I suspect that it is probably the first story-form example of this level of intelligence, if not a very early one.
Overall its very interesting in terms of a historical study but it all feels a bit like overkill to bust the guy when a bit of smarts and standard procedure (these days at least) would have handled it in a much shorter time period. I listened to this on Libra Vox audio format, and it might have been a bit of a chore reading text format.
The Pinkerton detective agency is consulted, and the man sets about investigating the man he finds most likely guilty of the theft. What follows is a complex long-term investigation involving a dozen or so operatives and most of the US southern and eastern states from Texas to New York.
The writing is somewhat dry at times, more an official report (with names changed) than fiction, but is occasionally surprisingly hilarious and the story does not really go anywhere you expect, as a real-life tale would tend to. Featured in a key element of the investigation is what Pinkerton describes as the first female detective professional who does an exceptionally fine job.
There's a lot of southern antebellum culture, and the curious state of US affairs in which private detectives were necessary for multi-state investigations because there was no official US federal police force to deal with that kind of case. The investigation also shows how cheap personnel was because running a nearly year-long investigation with this many detectives would easily cost more than the robbery these days even involving inflation.
The process has a lot of similarities to a very deep intelligence operation, isolating the target from former friends and allies, psychological warfare, embedded assets, and even use of the press to manipulate the target. I suspect that it is probably the first story-form example of this level of intelligence, if not a very early one.
Overall its very interesting in terms of a historical study but it all feels a bit like overkill to bust the guy when a bit of smarts and standard procedure (these days at least) would have handled it in a much shorter time period. I listened to this on Libra Vox audio format, and it might have been a bit of a chore reading text format.
November 30, 2022
A boring story, boringly told.
Not at all what I had been led to expect from the concise narratives in True Detective Stories.
Not at all what I had been led to expect from the concise narratives in True Detective Stories.
July 24, 2025
Who knew a robbery story from the 1800’s could be both boring and silly?
December 13, 2020
Allan Pinkerton had a public relations problem. The public believed that his operatives were criminals. His solution was to write dime novels showcasing his cases, lauding the professionalism of his detectives. This is the first book. The first 65% of the book suffers for lack of editing and certain language emblematic of the time is intolerable today whereas words like "deviled" are hinted at as
one tedious event after another is described; however, the story starts to move in the final 35% as the detectives close in and trap a railroad man who had stolen $50,000 from his employer. According to an online inflation calculator, that was equal to $1.4 million in today's dollars. If you're a student of history of that era, you might enjoy this book. If you like a good caper, skim through the beginning.
one tedious event after another is described; however, the story starts to move in the final 35% as the detectives close in and trap a railroad man who had stolen $50,000 from his employer. According to an online inflation calculator, that was equal to $1.4 million in today's dollars. If you're a student of history of that era, you might enjoy this book. If you like a good caper, skim through the beginning.
December 14, 2024
Fiction or fact, both. As we now say based on a true story. Did the robbery happen, yes, Was the Pinkerton Detective Agency involved yes. However, it's not Dragnet. The facts are there and the telling of the tale is entertaining It was written in different time so I'm sure that embellishments were encouraged, The base story is the theft of money and how the thief was caught. The telling involves everyone who worked the case and what they did to reveal the truth. In the end the criminal is brought to justice.
June 22, 2017
Pinkerton's writing is interesting but not so much that the book kept me enthralled. It took me some time to read the book because it was too easy to put down and forget for awhile. The story was interesting but told almost as a detective's report so it lost much of the excitement. A good book to read if you have no other handy.
July 14, 2019
Incredibly detailed account of undercover detectives working to solve a case in 1859 (this account was published fifteen years after the fact). The real hero of the fracas was Mrs. Kate Warne, a pioneering female detective. Pinkerton himself remarked at the denoument that 'she had the proud satisfaction that to a woman belonged the honors of the day.'
August 22, 2021
Excellent detective story
This is a fantastic account of how the Pinkerton worked. I had no idea the psychology and the amount of people involved in one case. Amazing!
This is a fantastic account of how the Pinkerton worked. I had no idea the psychology and the amount of people involved in one case. Amazing!
April 27, 2022
Very Insightful
It was extremely detailed but if you stick with it you will enjoy the story. It is great insight as to how the ‘Pinkerton’ Agency works. Amazing really!
It was extremely detailed but if you stick with it you will enjoy the story. It is great insight as to how the ‘Pinkerton’ Agency works. Amazing really!
February 9, 2017
Great detective story written by Allan Pinkerton himself. I enjoyed every page!
February 19, 2017
Interesting, but really puts the procedure in procedural, which made this feel as not as quick a read as I was hoping (it says it's equivalent to 165 pages).
A few things I found interesting:
1. After some Googling, I found that it appears Clarence Seward ("the Company's 'counsellor' in NY") was Wm. Seward's nephew of Seward's Purchase fame. Small world.
2. Pinkerton was anti-slavery.
3. First female detective, Kate Warne, hired by Pinkerton. Wish we knew more about her background/life.
A few things I found interesting:
1. After some Googling, I found that it appears Clarence Seward ("the Company's 'counsellor' in NY") was Wm. Seward's nephew of Seward's Purchase fame. Small world.
2. Pinkerton was anti-slavery.
3. First female detective, Kate Warne, hired by Pinkerton. Wish we knew more about her background/life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2016
This book is essentially a very early police procedural. We know from the beginning who did it, and the book is all about how they were brought to justice. The story concerns Nathan Maroney, a station agent for Adams Express, who is suspected of stealing $50,000 cash from his employer in two separate thefts, in 1859. Maroney is a very clever criminal, and it takes a team of detectives several months to corner him.
The cat and mouse game between Maroney and his wife, on the one hand, and Pinkerton's detectives and spies on the other, is interesting enough in itself. The book also provides a fascinating look into daily life in the US in the mid-nineteenth century, including the cultural divisions between north and south, the way the genders interacted, social mores, what rail travel was like, etc. Although the author had no intention of creating a cultural document, he couldn't help but do so in telling a story that spans several months, so many locations, and such a large number of characters.
The book is also interesting for its description of Kate Warne, probably America's first female detective, and how she gained the confidence of Maroney's wife, who was hiding the money.
As some other reviewers have noted, the plot, by the standards of today's commercial thrillers, doesn't exactly race along. But it moves well enough, and the characters are interesting enough to make you want to linger a while without just blindly racing through the pages. The book is well written, in what is, by 19th century standards, fairly straighforward prose.
If you want a whole summary, complete with spoilers and commentary, I wrote one at https://adiamond.me/2016/02/the-expressman-and-the-detective/.
The cat and mouse game between Maroney and his wife, on the one hand, and Pinkerton's detectives and spies on the other, is interesting enough in itself. The book also provides a fascinating look into daily life in the US in the mid-nineteenth century, including the cultural divisions between north and south, the way the genders interacted, social mores, what rail travel was like, etc. Although the author had no intention of creating a cultural document, he couldn't help but do so in telling a story that spans several months, so many locations, and such a large number of characters.
The book is also interesting for its description of Kate Warne, probably America's first female detective, and how she gained the confidence of Maroney's wife, who was hiding the money.
As some other reviewers have noted, the plot, by the standards of today's commercial thrillers, doesn't exactly race along. But it moves well enough, and the characters are interesting enough to make you want to linger a while without just blindly racing through the pages. The book is well written, in what is, by 19th century standards, fairly straighforward prose.
If you want a whole summary, complete with spoilers and commentary, I wrote one at https://adiamond.me/2016/02/the-expressman-and-the-detective/.
July 14, 2016
This 1859 story takes place for the most part in Alabama and in the Northeast. The Pinkerton Agency is employed to discover who stole the sum of $50,000 from Adams Express. Their chief suspect is Maroney, a trusted employee.
The Pinkertons employed a number of men and women detectives to “shadow” Maroney and his wife. Nathan Maroney, a station agent for Adams Express is quite clever and takes several precautions to make sure he is not being followed as he travels by train to one destinations after another with his large trunk. Pinkerton also employed female detectives to befriend Maroney’s wife who was in possession of the money. With so many undercover agents employed the Pinkertons prevailed.
It is a complex plot. It was interesting to learn how early detectives worked to bring this fellow to justice. At the end the author also reveals how Maroney was able to steal the money.
The Pinkertons employed a number of men and women detectives to “shadow” Maroney and his wife. Nathan Maroney, a station agent for Adams Express is quite clever and takes several precautions to make sure he is not being followed as he travels by train to one destinations after another with his large trunk. Pinkerton also employed female detectives to befriend Maroney’s wife who was in possession of the money. With so many undercover agents employed the Pinkertons prevailed.
It is a complex plot. It was interesting to learn how early detectives worked to bring this fellow to justice. At the end the author also reveals how Maroney was able to steal the money.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2021
I inspired to read this after watched the 1'st episode of Puppet History Season 2 on Youtube. The book is available (for free) on Project Gutenberg!
This is not an ordinary memoir, that's for sure. Most memoirs that I read these days are heavy on reflection and I adore it. Reading The Expressmen and The Detective however, is a different experience all together. It really reads like intriguing spy novel with a bunch of ensemble casts that work in harmony together.
A slow one, but a satisfying read nonetheless.
Book Blog | The StoryGraph | Saweria
This is not an ordinary memoir, that's for sure. Most memoirs that I read these days are heavy on reflection and I adore it. Reading The Expressmen and The Detective however, is a different experience all together. It really reads like intriguing spy novel with a bunch of ensemble casts that work in harmony together.
A slow one, but a satisfying read nonetheless.
Book Blog | The StoryGraph | Saweria
August 21, 2011
I have to admit a few chapters in I was ready to toss the book, as there was way too much telling and flowery prose that I didn't think this real life detective could effective retell one of the cases he was in charge of solving. This was also one of those mysteries where you know who done it but not how. However, as the story went along the author was able to captivate with the story. It's fascinating to hear how detectives worked in the 1860s.
May 21, 2015
Allen Pinkerton set this story in Atlanta with travels to Jenkintown, PA. I am more familiar with Jenkintown and Philadelphia in the 1880's. I love the term shadowing (following a suspect). He also has detectives going undercover.
To solve this case, he knew he would have to get a confession. It is an interesting story and I read it in one sitting.
To solve this case, he knew he would have to get a confession. It is an interesting story and I read it in one sitting.
June 4, 2011
Very much enjoyed it. Pinkerton is very much like that guy on TV's Mantracker, which is something to very much admire, especially in the 1800's.
Want to read
September 12, 2018Synopsis: published 1874. The pouch lock seemed undisturbed and the safe had been closed. Yet the contents were gone.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews