This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Fred “Killer” Burke by Chriss Lyon chronicles the violent crime spree and eventual capture of Fred Burke, a notorious gangster linked to major 1920s and 1930s crimes. Burke, born Thomas Amos Camp, operated with the Purple Gang and Al Capone’s Chicago syndicate and was involved in bootlegging, armed robbery, kidnappings, and multiple murders, including the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. After using plastic surgery and aliases to evade law enforcement, Burke was finally caught in Missouri in 1931 following a multi-state manhunt. His arrest exposed networks of gang hideouts, illegal arms trafficking, and corruption in Michigan and Illinois law enforcement. Burke was convicted of the murder of Officer Charles Skelly and sentenced to life imprisonment, denying involvement in other crimes until his death in 1940. Lyons details the scope of organized crime, forensic advances, and law enforcement issues during Prohibition’s violent era.
Fred "Killer" Burke: The Hunt for the Most Dangerous Man Alive by Chriss Lyon is a thoroughly researched and well-written account that really impressed me. The amount of details Lyon gives are extraordinary. The author digs into the documentation of gang activity in Michigan and the Midwest during the Prohibition and post-Prohibition era, revealing the operations of notorious criminals beyond just Fred Burke, and into the likes of the Barker-Karpis Gang. I was surprised to learn that Machine Gun Kelly was an actual historical figure, not just a modern rapper! Lyon goes a long way in showing us what law enforcement efforts, gangland violence, and the role of the Thompson submachine gun had on the era. It is interesting to see Lyon signpost the intricate connections between local crimes and larger syndicates, which are all backed by evidence from investigations, raids, and court cases. Overall, with meticulous research, clear prose, and a professional structure, this a truly enlightening read for those interested in American organized crime history. Very highly recommended.
