Better Dead

Nathan Heller #16

by Max Allan Collins

Nathan Heller tangles with Joe McCarthy in Max Allan Collins's thrilling novel Better Dead: "Collins combines the historical and the hard-boiled thriller into a new genre-uniquely American, and uniquely his own."--Andrew Vacchss

It's the early 1950's. Joe McCarthy is campaigning to rid America of the Red Menace. Nate Heller is doing legwork for the senator, though the Chicago detective is disheartened by McCarthy's witch-hunting tactics. He's made friends with a young staffer, Bobby Kennedy, while trading barbs with a potential enemy, the attorney Roy Cohn, who rubs Heller the wrong way. Not the least of which for successfully prosecuting the so-called Atomic Bomb spies, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. When famous mystery writer Dashiell Hammett comes to Heller representing a group of showbiz and literary leftists who are engaged in a last minute attempt to save the Rosenbergs, Heller decides to take on the case.

Heller will have to play both sides to do this, and when McCarthy also tasks Heller to find out what the CIA has on him, Heller reluctantly agrees. His main lead is an army scientist working for the C.I.A. who admits to Heller that he's been having misgivings about the work he's doing and elliptically referring to the Cold War making World War II look like a tea party.

And then the scientist goes missing.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read Collins' Nathan Heller series is to step back into Twentieth Century American history and actually live through events along with all the colorful characters. Heller is, of course, a fictional character - a sort of Sam Spade Chicago-based detective who finds himself linked to all kinds of historical figures including Frank Nitti (True Detective), Bugsy Siegel (Neon Mirage), The Lindbergh Baby (Stolen Away), Marilyn Monroe (Bye Bye Baby), JFK (Ask Not), and now Senator McCarthy (Better Dead).

This novel (which is really two interconnected novellas) drops Heller into the height of the McCarthy era, the Red scare, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and the Atom secrets, the Kefauver Commission, Roy Cohn, a young Robert Kennedy, and the CIA and its experiments with LSD.

Along the way, Heller pals around with Dashiell Hammett and does more than just pal around with sexy Bettie Page.

What's really irresistible about this series is how the characters from history are humanized with all their foibles. These are chapters of history not as well known today and many of the details about the hearings and the Rosenberg prosecutions are absolutely factual even if Heller's presence isn't. There is quite a lot to learn here, particularly when you look up the names and events and see how much of it really happened.

The book shines best when Heller goes into action, rescuing kidnapped damsels and pounding hoods and other tough guys.

Overall, the book depicts excesses of an era and the careers that were built on those excesses and those which were destroyed by them. But it doesn't loose sight of the fact that there were real Soviet spies and that there were real threats to freedom.

Heller may be a private eye but that is really just the vehicle for telling the story, not the central point of it. Thus, it's denser than most hardboiled PI fiction and it's not really about solving the case so much as traveling through the events.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…these days all anybody seems to know about the Rosenbergs is that they were guilty and really did deserve to die." Yep, that describes me to a great extent and that’s one reason why I enjoyed the research and plot of Collins’ 20th Nathan Heller thriller.

[Heller to Joesph McCarthy] "Like you, Joe, I’m in favor of the capitalist system.” A big off-white smile blossomed in the blue-jowled face.
“I was always impressed by your investigative abilities, Nate … and I got to feeling bad about how I’ve underutilized you of late. Ever since that bastard Pearson betrayed me.”
In 1953 retrospect, rabid Red hunter McCarthy and arch-liberal columnist Pearson seemed unlikely bedfellows. But in the early years of McCarthy’s first term, Joe and Drew had worked together ferreting out governmental corruption."

Nate Heller is working for Senator Joe McCarthy. This is 1954 and McCarthy has captured the front page of most USA newspapers with his “disclosures” of communists in the government. Joe has a need for Nate’s detective skills but there is a lot going on here. McCarthy’s office contains both Roy Cohn (yes, Donald Trump’s “mentor”) and Bobby Kennedy. The tension is palpable.

Nate has also been hired by Dashiell Hammett, that originator of the “Continental Op” as well as such characters as Sam Spade. One of the delights of Collins research into this era is his absolutely accurate portrayal of some of the famous places in DC and elsewhere. Here is a snippet of a conversation at that DC restaurant, Duke Ziebert’s: “Mr. Hammett, sir,” Duke said, grinning and pumping the author’s hand. “An honor. Tell me, if I may be so bold. What is Humphrey Bogart really like?” “Short,” Hammett said. Duke laughed and left"

And the focus of much of this is, of course, the Rosenberg case! (Heller to Julius Rosenberg) “You’ve been living this nightmare for a very long time,” I said, leaning forward, elbows on the table, hands clasped. “I’ve only just taken a crash course over the last several days. So I’m afraid I’ll be asking you some fairly rudimentary questions.” He lifted a shoulder and put it back down."

Nate is getting paid by more than one client to look into this espionage case before the Rosenbergs are executed. Besides, Hammett and his friends, there is Drew Pearson and Roy Cohn/Joe McCarthy who want Heller to be the mole inside this effort to uncover “the truth.”

This is a very well researched effort by Max Allan Collins that makes every effort to bring out the personalities who were so iconic in the 1950s. But remember that this is what Nate Heller offers: "I’m not sure I would trust anybody in my business who read private eye novels. Reading the “true detective” magazines was a different story, because there was always a chance you could place a case of yours there and get some publicity, or possibly a little dough if you split with a reporter or even wrote it up yourself."

There are plenty of famous (and infamous) people included and each is in his/her element. Here is a little about the hoodlum, Frank Costello: "The prettiest manicurist, a redhead, was in the last booth. That’s where Frank Costello, the so-called Prime Minister of the Underworld, was getting his nails done. Funny I hadn’t noticed those nails looking particularly nice when—during Senator Kefauver’s televised Crime Committee hearings—the focus was on the gangster’s nervous hands after Costello objected to being on camera. Otherwise Frank Costello had never conveyed public nervousness in his life, sporting the same cool demeanor and slicked-back good grooming of movie star George Raft, whose older, not-quite-as-handsome brother he might be. Costello’s apparel was Hollywood gangster, too—dark blue pin-striped suit more expensive than a week at this hotel, light blue shirt, blue-and-white striped tie, jeweled silver cuff links. I couldn’t see them, but it was a safe bet that his shoes had a mirror shine."

There are those who say our current President of the USA learned a lot of his style and values from Roy Cohn. If so, Heller (Collins) lets you know what he thinks of this guy. "Cohn was sitting opposite me, his suit dark blue like his boss’s but hardly ready-made. He was studying me with the expression of a sadistic kid looking through a magnifying glass at the ant he was roasting." And here is what Bobby Kennedy shares with Heller: "“Cohn again?” Another nod. “He’s a ruthless little prick, Nate. He railroaded those two. I’m not saying the Rosenbergs didn’t do what they were accused of—there was some talk around Justice that they were getting what they deserved, but—” “Nothing more specific?” He shook his head. “I can tell you for a fact that the, uh, FBI interviews with all three witnesses have almost no mention at all of the Rosenbergs. At that point Cohn and his U.S. attorney boss Saypol take over, and, uh, suddenly the Rosenbergs are the bad guys and the story gets rich with all this Eric Ambler spy melodrama.”

Heller is very pragmatic…..not a knight on a quest for the client. He may risk a lot to serve his sense of justice but he also wants to “live to fight another day.” He, like many other investigators has a cynical streak and he knows how to use a gun, though that is a tool that rarely comes into play. Women are a definite weakness, though he is rarely a victim. "She nodded a bunch of times. She was getting looped. And of course that was fine with me, as long as I could keep pace with her without getting as looped as she was."

Yet, Collins' research shines through this thriller and I found in it what I was looking for: a very good yarn; a great effort to “set history right;” and, fascinating characters that jumped right off the pages, not two-dimensional throw-ins. Let me know, when you read it, if you feel the same.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always I enjoyed spending time with my favorite fictional private eye Nathan Heller. Better Dead takes us on a hunt for Commies, because America always needs some boogie man to fear and in the 1950's of was Communist. We get to meet Joe McCarthy, Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, Bettie Page, and a young Bobby Kennedy.

I stumbled across this series a couple years ago and fell in love. Nathan Heller books are not for everybody, most people won't recognize the majority of people in these books but if you love history and historical fiction then I think you'll like it. I'm slowly working my way through the series( you don't have to read it in order) and look forward to the next book.

Popsugar Reading Challenge: Read an Espionage Thriller.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan Heller finds himself in murky circumstances when he goes to work for a committee headed by Dashiell Hammett to prove The Rosenbergs innocent, while at the same time working for Joe McCarthy to prove them guilty. Things keep getting murkier, when Heller encounters The CIA and the MK-Ultra program.

Of course, Heller sleeps around with Bettie Page.

On the whole a good book, but I don't necessarily agree with Collins's solution.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the correct edition. I'm listening to an audio book edition. I haven't read any in this series before & this is #20, so I wasn't hoping for a whole lot. Collins can spin a good tale, though. The first few Quarry books were great & most of the rest pretty good, although the last one or two were just OK. Heller seems to be an excellent character for his talents, though. I'd really like to read some of the earlier books, but my library doesn't have them in audio.

The setting is fascinating. According to the foreword, this is historically accurate in most ways. Certainly from what I've looked up, it seems to be. Of course, Heller & all the dialogue is fictional, but it was a great read.

In the first half, Heller is a detective doing an 11th hour investigation into the Rosenberg's espionage conviction which was a legal & political nightmare in the McCarthy era. If nothing else, this is a great reminder of why we have due process & so many laws protecting the defendant.

This story ended about half way through the book, but was tied to the second half by both time & several characters including McCarthy. It was more about the CIA operating inside the US & their drug trials with LSD. Again, interesting & awful.

Everything is summed up in a huge epilogue that brings us up to the present. It was all tell & no show, but still really interesting.

[Tim Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say, no Kennedys. So thank goodness for that. Well, okay, Bobby is here, but in a very supporting role. Because I was pretty tired of Heller dealing with Kennedys.

This is almost two novellas that are somewhat connected by theme and some supporting players. In the first half Heller is hired by an anonymous committee fronted by Dashiell Hammett to look for evidence to try to get a new trial for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. At the same time he's employed by Joe McCarthy to make sure that McCarthy and his aid Roy Cohn have access to the info that Heller obtains. Of course, Heller, being Heller, comes in contact with actual Communist cells in the Greenwich Village and the CIA...who are illegally operating in the U.S. And there's evidence that should have led to a new trial for the Rosenberg's...but it doesn't.

The second part finds Heller involved in the murder of Dr. Frank Olson and Project MKUltra. Of course this leads Heller deeper in to the CIA activities in the states...to the point he becomes an asset in order to save his life. And during the course he ends up dating the lovely and vivacious Bettie Page. And ends up with a secret file on McCarthy and Roy Cohn.

This was really high grade Heller. I was fairly aware of the Rosenberg case, but this sent me down rabbit-holes that fleshed that knowledge out. While it seems pretty clear after the release of the Venona decryptions that Julius Rosenberg was involved in espionage, it was pretty low-level and hardly damaging. He definitely didn't deserve the death penalty. And Ethel...well she was just outright murdered by prosecutorial misconduct by Irving Saypol and Roy Cohn, an overzealous judge and the ridiculous political climate in the U.S

I was really only vaguely aware of Project MKUltra and not at all about Frank Olson's death. So again...another rabbit hole. All I can really say is that McCarthy was somewhat right that there were dastardly deeds being done in the U.S. It was just mostly being done by the U.S. government.

Oh...and it reinforces that Roy Cohn was an utterly reprehensible hypocrite whose fall took far too long. And now we have one of his utterly reprehensible proteges about to come back in to power.

[Jeff P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one really rates a 3.5 stars, it's better than average. This is my second by this author and I am enjoying the use of a hard-boiled detective in historical fiction investigations. In this one, Nathan "Nate" Heller, Private Eye of the Stars, is enlisted by Dashiell Hammett and some friends to prove the innocence of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. He is also tied up with Senator Joe McCarthy in his investigation. It's not much of a spoiler alert that Heller wasn't able to save them.
In the second half of the book, Bettie Page (famous bikini and nudie model from Kingsport, TN.) enlists Heller to get McCarthy and some other Senator to back off with their investigation of some photographers that she worked with. That led to investigating bad stuff the CIA was doing on American soil.

[Kate Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, a 1950s Spade-like detective novel with authentic historical tidbits! Wonderful.

Nathan Heller, PI to the Stars, is hired by Dashiell Hammett and a group of Communist party members to look into the convictions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, on death row for conspiracy to commit espionage. At the same time, Sen. Jos. McCarthy hires Heller to report to him all the findings Heller reports to Hammett. While it may seem like the PI is playing both sides, he's honest enough to let them know what he's doing. Nice. Two paychecks! Of course, the playing gets rough, and we know the outcome of the Rosenberg case, going in.

That's the first half of the book. The second half sees Heller doing another job for McCarthy, this one a bit more personal, and it also involves some famous people. Loads of fun, action and witty dialogue.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Local, prolific author Max Allan Collins provides us another well-researched piece of American historical fiction with the sixteenth of the Nate Heller series...Heller is a sort of an American "noire," Chicago-based detective whose stories immerse the reader and the characters in important 20th Century events and their resultant important historical figures...In "Better Dead," Collins mixes Joe McCarthy, the Rosenberg's, the political Left's efforts for clemency for them, Bettie Paige, CIA LSD experiments, etc....Good Stuff!!!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Allan Collins is one of my favorite authors. I enjoy the Nolan books and of course I love the Quarry books, but Nate Heller is the best. Collins mixes in huge quantities of history with his cynical detective. There’s action aplenty and beautiful women.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have blamed Max Alan Collins for the dismal box office performance of The Shadow when it was remade in the modern era. That suggests that I confused the screenplay with the novelization. Frankly, I am even embarrassed that I blatantly told one of his publishers that I just didn’t like his work. I suggested that his graphic novel, Road to Perdition, must have been an anomaly and suggested rather ungraciously that his wonderful art book, The History of Mystery, must be precious to me more because of the fabulous art from old pulp novels than Collins curation. Fortunately, that publisher didn’t listen to me and I read the novels published in that line. Then, I found the Mickey Spillane book that he finished. I liked it. And then, I discovered that I had collected the run of an independent comic book he had written in collaboration with Spillane, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Danger. At the time I had ignored the Collins by-line and simply asked my comics guy why there weren’t more books like this.

By the time I discovered Collins’ historical mysteries and the cozy series he collaborates on with his wife, my opinion had reversed completely. With all that said, Better Dead is one of those historical mysteries, set slightly before but well within the milieu of Seduction of the Innocent (both the abomination by Dr. Fredric Wertham and the mystery parodying said doctor using the same title). I remember the Cold War cry of “Better Dead Than Red!” (Of course, that could be because the bitter rivals on my high school’s purple and gold clad warriors wore the “red” of the crosstown high school team and we appropriated the Cold War axiom for our pep rallies.) And I vaguely remember the black and white images of Congressional hearings on early ‘50s television. Unfortunately, I can’t remember whether those were the actual McCarthy hearings (which would be shocking since I was barely aware of how to walk at that time) or the Kefauver crime hearings (most likely).

Regardless of my memories, as fuzzy as the television images of those days were in general, they were vivid in my mind as I read this mystery where the fictional detective work of Collins’ iconic protagonist, Nathan Heller, is interwoven with the historical situation and consideration of the controversial results of the Rosenberg case. What I particularly love about these period pieces (both in the Nathan Heller series and those with other protagonists (Jack and Maggie Starr in mysteries related to the early comics industry, Eliot Ness in his fictional encounters, the Mallory and Nolan series, or the protagonists of the “Disaster” series (particularly The War of the Worlds Murder and The Hindenburg Murders)) is that it is often difficult to untangle the fact from the fiction as one is immersed in the story, but Collins’ afterwards brilliantly perform that task for the reader at the conclusion. If, like me, you quite enjoy the appearances of historical figures (and famous pin-up girl Betty Page had a very notable figure), you’ll enjoy the cameos of several (e.g. Betty, RFK, JFK, LBJ) and learn to despise attorney Roy Cohn (who would do anything to get a conviction—even if it was illegal and dishonest).

In Better Dead, Nathan Heller is hired by forces on both sides of the McCarthy hearings. In what could conceivably be a conflict of interest, Heller warns both sides that he will follow the evidence and let matters fall where they may. The investigation of the Rosenbergs leads to consideration of a series of murders. The horrors associated with these murders were, in real life, never completely unveiled until the modern era. Yet, Heller’s discoveries bring up some very interesting ethical conundrums with regard to the work of military intelligence and the shadowy deeds covered up in the name of national security—issues very relevant today.

At times, Better Dead is humorous (particularly the scene in the Senate Cafeteria where McCarthy is greeting more famous legislators who generally ignore him) and, at times, dead serious. I wish a lot of moderns who seem so willing to proffer their civil rights in the name of safety or political correctness could read this novel (and the historical citations at the back) and learn from the mistakes of the past. This may not be my favorite novel by Collins but it may well be the most significant.

[Andy Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Max Allan Collins Nate Heller book. Collins also does fantastic research, per usual. This is a great book featuring everyone from Joseph McCarthy to Bettie Page. Collins has joked that his private eye creation has more kills under his belt than Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger combined, and I think that's right. I think he shoots six people in this book alone. A great book with wonderful writing and fine detail. Bravo once again, Mr. Collins.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again we follow celebrity P.I., Nathan "Nate" Heller, as he rubs elbows with national celebrities, all of whom are personal acquaintances, as he continues his ongoing battle with crime and injustice. This time he signs on with communist hunting Senator Joe McCarthy in the 1950s and gets involved in investigating the conviction of the alleged Atomic Bomb traitors Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Nate's broad range of acquaintances are highly unlikely but the plots are historically accurate for the most part and the author's premise is fun.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Max Allan Collins and his Nathan Heller series. It's a unique combination of history/mystery that has taken on cases stretching from Capone to Kennedy.

But now that Heller has aged and has reminisced all the way through the deaths of Marilyn Monroe and JFK, the only avenue left is to go back and fill in the blanks between earlier cases.

This time around, Heller is working with Joe McCarthy and Bobby Kennedy during the Red Scare period, taking another look at the Rosenberg case and getting involved in the CIA's development and testing of chemical and biological warfare agents.

And the whole thing had a disjointed feel to it. The two cases didn't really come together, even though they shared common characters. And it was a bit difficult to jump back decades and remember exactly what cases this would have come between on the Heller time line.

While he does get to add Bettie Page to his long list of famous love interests, even that seemed a bit of an over-the-top stretch.

Color me rethinking the future books in this series.

[Bamboozlepig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always a fan of Nate Heller...Collins' series is one of my favorites. In this book, Heller takes on the Rosenberg case and McCarthy's Red Scare. Bettie Page makes an appearance as well. As always, the plot is a crackerjack one with crackling dialog and plenty of action. What I love about the Heller series is how MAC always comes up with a different take on a famous case (like the Lindbergh kidnapping and the Black Dahlia) and offers ideas that aren't always in line with the mainstream theories. Heller is always a treat to read...he's a cross between Raymond Chandler's philosophical Philip Marlowe and Spillane's coolly brutal Mike Hammer.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun to read. History is irretrievably intertwined with fiction as series star Nathan Heller investigates the case of the Rosenberg, a husband and wife executed as Russian agents in what has as long as I’ve been alive been considered a gross miscarriage of justice. Here I learned once again that fact is so much stranger than fiction. I was curious how much was fact versus speculation and the astounding epilogue answers all those questions. And I’ve only mentioned the first half of the book, in the second half Heller looks into the CIA’s Ultra experiments, that is next level. Can’t wait to read another Nathan Heller book.

[Casey Zvanut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max Collins weaves two intriguing stories together with only a few fictional characters. I enjoyed Nathan Heller's voice, as well as the nods to other famous fictional detectives like Hammit's thin man and Sam Spade.

The book was an interesting - and scary - look into the depths of government operations and operatives. Though I don't consider myself a big fan of mysteries and thrillers, I would read more of Collins' work.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Really liked the references to 1950's history and the "noir" aspects of the story and Nate Heller, the detective. Not sure who the graphic descriptions of brief sexual relationships were aimed at, but I found them distracting.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#16 in the Nathan Heller series of historical mysteries. This time around Heller investigates two cases: the Rosenberg treason investigation & allegations of LSD dosing by the CIA. Bettie Page assists in the latter case which is fun but a bit arbitrary.

[Dan Cotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical novel about the Rosenbergs, McCarthy, and others. First time I read this author but will check out other works by him. Really enjoyed this novel.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As unbelievable as they sometimes end up being, the Nathan Heller books have to be one of my favorites of all time. I've enjoyed each book.

[Michael Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best in the Heller series, but a gripping read none the less. Recommended.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the evocation of historical figures and events (Joe McCarthy, the Rosenbergs, etc).

[Theresa Sivelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting tale. Some of which I had heard before and some I had not. I'm glad that I picked this one up and a lark.

[Ronda Six Garnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting reading

[David Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt a little "formula" to me...with not as much history as say Bye Bye Baby or Ask Not

[Ben Shakey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you want in a Nate Heller story - Violence, Sex, Comically hardboiled patter, and pop culture cameos from the likes of The Rosenbergs, Dashiell Hammet. MK Ultra, and Betti Page.

[Andy Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is classic Nathan Heller! It has been three years since we have seen “The Private Eye To The Stars.” (The last time we saw him was in ASK NOT!) If you are wondering where BETTER DEAD fits into The Nathan Heller Chronology, I would have to say this story takes place in-between CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL and BYE, BYE BABY. In this novel, Heller encounters such famous historical figures as Dashiell Hammett, Bobby Kennedy, Roy Cohn, The Rosenbergs, Joe McCarthy, and even the notorious Bettie Page (hubba, hubba). It is fiction but it seems so real, it could have actually happened. I do hope that we don’t have to wait another three years before we see Nathan Heller again. I love these books. Even though in the books Heller “retires” in the 90’s, my hope is that one day we can see a novel where Nathan Heller come out of retirement to tackle 9/11

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nate Heller is one of those characters that stands alone or walks with the famous. In this book he is working for Joe McCarthy to run a scam on Dash Hammett. We have the Rosenbergs, Bob Kennedy, Drew Pearson, Bettie Page and others in two loosely related tales of the time we were hunting the 'Red Menace' at home and abroad. As with all the history tie ins that Collins does we have a very logical and readable premise where the real facts dovetail into the make believe and vice versa. Heller started after WWII in Chicago as a private eye. He has had big cases and splashy cases where the real world events are meshed with his efforts. He is after only a few years well known across the land and by the 1990s is linked to a lot of history. Many of the books follow the timeline but others do not so it is best to just read them as published and pick up data as you read.

[Cherie Waggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, you can't change history. I remember learning about the McCarthy witch trials, because that is actually what they were, in American History, something I don't think is even taught in school anymore. The two people involved in this particular "witch trial", the Rosenbergs were, and I have read up on them since reading this book, not tried fairly and everything was definitely unconstitutional. In these days, a trial like this would definitely have a different outcome. The rest of the story, interspersed with some fact, is another Nate Heller winner.