Then this book is a must-have. Admittedly short on plot, this book does a great job of putting the reader at Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893. The characters are charming and give great insight into what experiences one would have when visiting the World's Fair. In addition, we learn about Bertha Palmer, philanthropist, and Jane Addams, social reformer: two important female historical figures in history. Reading this book is the best way to learn about one milestone event in Chicago's history.

Gritty and riveting. The author knows his way around the streets of Chicago and the underbelly of society. If he keeps this up Mr. Whittingham will attain the spot in the hard boiled crime genre that could have gone to the late Eugene Izzi.

Drummond, a reporter with CBS-owned Channel 2 in Chicago for many years, is best known for covering the "Outfit" in Chicago. As any Chicagoan can attest, he also covered many characters and other crooks, besides the big fish that hogged the headlines. Although there is a chapter on Tony "Big Tuna" Accardo, Drummond wisely focuses on the little guys that many of us forgot. This is a smart choice, for much is already written about the big guys like Accardo and if Drummond wanted to cover them right, he would of had to have written a separate book on several people. The only thing missing in the book is more on Drummond himself, for if you are a personal friend of his, as I am, you know that he is more interesting than any of the crooks and capers he ever covered. Read this book and try to learn as much as you can about John Drummond - a living Chicago legend and a journalism institution!

I'm an avowed Chicago history buff and found references in this book that simply cannot be found anywhere else. The bibliography alone has led to me several other books on the topic, which is appreciated. Really brought the city to life, and made you want to search out the street corners in question. I found myself asking older acquaintances if they ever met Richie Morrison.

However I have to say the publishers did not do their job here. This book is poorly edited, suffering from simple errors such as misspellings (it's ward heeler, not ward healer), and in general confusing to those of us unfamiliar with the arcane characters filling the pages. I often found myself having to backtrack to figure out who the author was referring to -- a problem compounded by the numerous Irish names and confusing nomenclature.

We have used the Transition Mathematics book at our school in 6th grade. The content explores different approaches to standard math exercises while maintaining an engaging foundation of math fundamentals. This is a wonderful book and has fit perfectly with the rest of our curriculum. Good job!

I have read all of the Nate Heller mysteries, and True Crime is the best of them. One of the most interesting touches to the series are the historical photographs showing the characters that Nate interacts with. True Crime is a good straightfoward read which draws you into the criminal world of Dillinger, Floyd, Barker, Karpis and others. The historical research appears to be excellent, (I'm no expert) and Collins fleshes out all of the characters satisfactorily. If you can, read True Detective first as it gives a good background to Nate Heller (and is a very good book as well).

This new 288 page book is packed with over 500 black and white photos (16 page color section). It provides over 2,200 realistic prices for the items. Major topics range from Arby's, Burger Chef, Hardees to McDonald's, Wendy's, White Castle and many more. Interesting and useful text is included with each major topic. You'll want to add this book to your collectibles library if fast food collectibles are in your collection.

Molly McQuade has assembled a fine collection of interviews/essays from some of the finest writers the University of Chicago has produced. Writers including Philip Roth, Susan Sontag, Richard Stern, Hayden Carruth, etc., give their thoughts on the art of the written word, and how Chicago (both the city and the school) has affected their careers and lives. The interviews have been converted to fluidly written essays which make for entertaining and often enlightening reading. From Carruth's words on his devotion to beauty in language, to Paul Carroll's essay on treasured teachers, religion, and censorship, this book will surely stir up a cauldron of ideas for anyone who has ever had ambitions of becoming a writer. I found myself nodding in agreement with many of the writers, while shaking my head as I read others. Though this book will likely have more relevance for readers who are connected to the University of Chicago, I think that any reader will find something to like about these essays. The topics considered include not only writing, but education and teaching, controversy, racism, history, and beyond. Underneath it all lies the idea that this one school was somehow different, somehow special among American institutions, allowing it to give to its students and professors a unique vision and insight. True to the title, the writers forego any maudlin nostalgia, and simply tell it like it is.

Vincent Starrett is remembered primarily for his contributions to Sherlockiana, but he was also an accomplished writer of detective stories for newspapers and the pulps, many of them featuring Chicago sleuth Jimmie Lavender. Pop-culture expert Peter Ruber has gathered together many forgotten stories from yellowing pages, and produced a vooume which captures the 1920's and 1930's. Well-worth the time of anyone who enjoys the leisurely unfolding of clues.

Well-written and good content. I learned a lot, and hope to visit Chicago soon to see for myself just how Chicago has evolved. A map would've been helpful. I look forward to more works from this author.