LAW & CRIME

Eliot Ness and the Mad Butcher: Hunting America’s Deadliest Unidentified Serial Killer at the Dawn of Modern Criminology

by Max Allan Collins & A. Brad Schwartz
Morrow. Aug. 2020. 400p. ISBN 9780062881977. $29.99. CRIME
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Collins and Schwartz (Scarface and the Untouchable) reunite to continue the story of law enforcement agent Eliot Ness, known for leading the Untouchables, the group famous for bringing down Al Capone. Ness moved on to serve as Cleveland’s public safety director during a tumultuous time in the city’s history following the Great Depression. He confronted various crime and political challenges, which are detailed within the book. The story is anchored by Ness’s efforts to identify the Mad Butcher, a serial killer who terrorized Cleveland and whose actions followed Ness until the end of his career. The book is thoroughly researched and well paced, a feat considering the breadth of Ness’s work.
VERDICT A successful blend of history and suspense, this volume will appeal to readers interested in true crime and law enforcement. Readers intrigued by the Mad Butcher may also enjoy James Jessen Badal’s In the Wake of the Butcher.
Reviewed by Kate Bellody, State Univ. of New York, New Paltz , Jul 01, 2020
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