Jelly Bryce: The Legend Begins by Mike Conti is a fascinating historical account of Delf Bryce, also known as Jelly. The year that Oklahoma became the forty-sixth state, Delf Bryce was born. As an infant, Delf used his cousin's toy pistol for teething. His attachment to guns began at that moment. He always had a gun and said that he was uncomfortable without one. Delf was shooting at every opportunity and became an outstanding marksman at a very early age. On his way to enroll in college, Delf was diverted by a shooting competition. That shooting competition was a major turning point in Delf's life. The results of that impulsive decision helped launch him into a successful career. At the age of twenty-one and the first day on the job as a policeman, Delf shot and killed a dangerous criminal who had connections with gangsters from Chicago. He became an important member of the Oklahoma City Police Department and later Delf worked under J. Edgar Hoover in the newly established agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Jelly Bryce: The Legend Begins by Mike Conti is an interesting historical look into the life of Delf 'Jelly' Bryce. Jelly Bryce is a legend among law enforcement. He was an exceptional policeman who had a superb and deadly skill with a gun. Legend says that he could out-shoot Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Mike Conti did a marvelous job of portraying Jelly and giving the reader a perspective on his life. I grew up not too far away from Mountain View, Oklahoma. The description of the Wichita mountains and the Washita river where Delf grew up is beautifully depicted and how I remember it. This is a well-written and enjoyable historical book and I recommend it to those who love a historical account of an outstanding lawman. I do, however, add a word of caution. This book is more suited for readers over the age of thirteen, as there are a few swear words, some violence, and sexual innuendos.

Delf “Jelly” Bryce, a legendary figure in Oklahoma during the prohibition era, certainly lived an impressive life. Beginning with his childhood (including an unusual story about a teething episode), throughout his time as an Oklahoma City police officer and detective, and ending with his first years in the newly-formed Federal Bureau of Investigation, this book is highly informative and entertaining at the same time. Author Mike Conti’s book, Jelly Bryce: The Legend Begins, provides a factual account of the lawman’s expertise. Jelly Bryce was well-known for his fast-draw, accurate shooting skills. The story also includes how he became known as Jelly; as a criminal was dying from his gunshot wounds, he called Delf “jellybean,” a nickname for someone well-dressed during that era. Delf’s stylish dress and his penetrating blue eyes are noted frequently throughout the book.

This book is the first of a trilogy, and the reader will be motivated to read the next two in the series. In Jelly Bryce: The Legend Begins, author Mike Conti builds the fascinating character of this wild-west hero, and every reader will want to know what else Jelly achieves during his lifetime. Mike Conti writes a realistic way as he makes each scene easy to imagine; the reader can almost hear the gunshots, smell the flowing blood, and see the gangsters lying on the ground. He also adds a great deal of information about family life, fashion, the effects of prohibition, policing practices of the '20s and '30s and other aspects of life in the early twentieth century. An entertaining read!