Chief! [Paperback]

Albert A Seedman (Author), Peter Hellman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1975

"Fascinating! Seedman recounts with vividness and detail... crimes that were page one stories...Excellent." -The New York Times "A LIVING LEGEND" -NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 498 pages
• Publisher: Avon (1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380003589
• ISBN-13: 978-0380003587
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,346,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talent, Skill, and Hard Work, October 18, 2003

By 

Acute Observer (N. Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chief! (Hardcover)

This book tells of a few of the many cases of Detective Chief Albert H. Seedman of the NYPD, a force second in size to the FBI. The Introduction briefly covers his career, no detective chief had ever left such an imprint. His legend rested on his performance: so many investigations with such originality, intensity, or good results. Seedman obtained his solutions by using his intelligence on the mundane information available in a record-oriented society (p.5), and his eye for fine detail (p.6). In all his years Seedman never fired his weapon in action, the situation had never gotten out of control. Some of these cases were widely publicized, and some were not. (You can read between the lines in some of these stories.)

"The Belt Parkway Case" was solved by detective work; they found a needle in a haystack. "To A Gold Shield" tells of his early life. Seedman tells of a 71-year old Frenchman who picked up dots and dashes by "his inner ear"; I suspect a tooth filling resonant to the frequency. "Brass" tells of his continuing career and promotions. "The Fallon-Finnegan Case" tells of his political knowledge: Seedman would not provide a solution until his own boss was there. "The Johnson-Genovese Case" tells of the detective work that starts immediately after a body is found. People saw the attack on Kitty, but no one called the police ("that late at night they just go back to sleep"). Page 141 tells of the intricate politics of a major arrest. "The Mays Case" tells how a department store was swindled: the mob found an inside man. It describes how organized crime collects its taxes. "The Girls in a Box Case" was solved by relentless investigations, and a seance! "The Melville Case" is about the terrorists who set off bombs in 1969 New York. An undercover FBI informer who previously belonged to the right-wing Minutemen infiltrated their group ("he was full of plots"). Typical agent provocateur?

"The Townhouse Case" tells about the explosion and fire on March 1970 in Greenwich Village. The SDS-Weathermen group were destroyed by their bombs. These rebels were mostly from well-to-do or wealthy families and grew up in the 1950s. "The Jewish Connection" tells of the JDL protest bombs. When Seedman met Kahane he noticed something wrong by the look in his eyes (p.315). Again, an inside informant was developed. Page 323 tells of a plan to use a model airplane to bomb a building. Another plan was to set off a car bomb in an underground garage. An incendiary device filled Sol Hurok's offices with thick black smoke, and a young woman died. "The Colombo Case" tells of their meeting; Seedman wanted help in solving two murders (most mob exterminations go unsolved). Joe Colombo formed the Italian American Civil Rights League to protest discrimination, and picketed FBI headquarters. But Colombo began to lose support from former backers, and the fundraising attracted envy (p.350). Colombo was assassinated at a public rally, and so was the alleged assassin. They were never solved. "The Gallo Case" explains the investigation into the murder of Joey Gallo; he was thought to be responsible for the murder of Joe Colombo. This chapter covers the remainder of Seedman's career. One was the change to "detective specialization" (to even the work load). But Seedman was removed from his position. The year before he accepted a free meal at the NY Hilton (p.464-472). No other wrongs were found, and he was named Chief of Detectives again. Seedman retired in 1972, the last of the Depression-bred generation. The new system had all rules in writing, it was like the other Civil Service jobs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHEIF by AL SEEDMAN, September 23, 2011

By 

carlo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chief! (Hardcover)

The book is an amazing record of true NEW YORK ctime cases. Could not put it down. Unfortunately New York doesnt have a man like this here anymore. AMAZING READ.WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, most intelligent True Crime Book, September 16, 2011

By 

S. Lee "Sally" (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chief! (Hardcover)

I have read true crime books; I have read detective fictions. This is one of the best book I have read in years.

Do not miss this true classics.

This book is published in 1974, and I have had this book on my shelf all this time and I just read it last month, and I wanted to kick myself.

It has very good stories ( supposed to be true!) and very good writing to go with the great stories.