Tailspin: The Strange Case of Major Call

by Bernard F. Conners

A stunning photograph discovered by the son of Dr. Sam and Marilyn Sheppard in a family album propels the case against Major James Call even further since  The Strange Case of Major Call  was published in hardcover. Now on the cover of the latest edition of  Tailspin , the photograph shows Marilyn Sheppard at a sports car rally just days before her murder with a man who has been identified by associates as Call. A new section about the photograph and the process of identifying Call is included in the softcover edition.

Robert Sylvester, Call's closest friend since childhood, who was with Call a short time before the Sheppard homicide, stated in a letter to author Bernard F. Conners that the man in the picture was unquestionably Jim

"I would never believe it was anyone else for a hundred indefinable reasons - his posture, hair, conformation of his head, etc. The other reason was the watch he was wearing. I had lost the Curvex my folks gave me when I went into the service, and was into the market for a watch when Jim passed through Chicago on his way East. I saw the face of his with the black dial and I wanted one like it..."

Call was never charged with many of the crimes he committed, including the murder of Marilyn Sheppard. Former FBI Agent Conners chronicles with a captivating narrative a story of a hero gone horribly astray and his role in one of the most notorious murders of the 20th Century that inspired "The Fugitive."

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jim Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would have rated this a four-star if it was fiction. It's not a bad read. But the fact it's supposedly nonfiction, I gave it a one for all of the scenes the author made up.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really interesting due to the whole Lake Placid thing and I love reading about criminals b/c I'm weird, but I did not think it was as great as everyone said. The overall idea of the book held my attention but there was a lot of lag in my opinion. Sure it was a true story but before reading it everyone said the author added and made it so suspenseful. I got this at times throughout it, but again there was a lot of lagging in between.

[Faith Weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second Tailspin I read for book club. The time it was the correct book. Tailspin was a thoroughly researched accounting of the criminal career of Major James Call. Much of his activity took place in and around Lake Placid, NY so it was easy to picture the scenes the author described. It is difficult to imagine a mind that was as calculating as that of Major Call. I enjoyed the read.

[Tara Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I bought this not expecting much, boy was I wrong. I don't know if his theory is correct, but it's quite compelling and definitely worth researching. This book was hard to put down, and I highly recommend it!!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was terrific, really exceptional. Thoroughly researched, Bernard Conners does an excellent job weaving a chilling, true tale of intrigue.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book to convince me who the real killer of Marilyn Sheppard was.

[Millie Kennedy]

Loved it!

[Lenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Kept your attention through every page. You can't really ask more from an author then that!

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating read. Described the decline and fall of a Korean War flyboy hero type guy and his transformation into -- if the author is correct -- the true murderer of Marilyn Sheppard.