The Encyclopedia of Kidnappings [Paperback]

Michael Newton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Unfortunately, there have been enough abductions, hijackings and political hostage takings to necessitate The Encyclopedia of Kidnappings, a reference volume encompassing major (and sometimes minor) kidnappings throughout history. Michael Newton (Encyclopedia of Serial Killers) allots brief entries to victims, kidnappers, locations and relevant law enforcement bodies. The Iran hostage crisis, the Lindbergh baby, and Leopold and Loeb are covered, but the book also relates the 1855 kidnapping of an Arizona rancher's daughter by Mexican outlaws, the abduction and murder of Emmett Till, and numerous Eastern European "skyjackers" trying to flee the Soviet bloc. The four paragraphs on "DISAPPEARED, THE" covering Argentina, Chile and other countries can only suggest the grief and devastation wrought by thousands of political murders.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

A professional writer who has published more than 130 books since 1977 (e.g., The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, Hunting Humans), Newton explains that kidnapping has existed since the beginning of time, when the early Neanderthal carried off his chosen mate by force or stalked another human for his flesh during lean seasons. Not all kidnappings are as violent, and they are committed for a variety of reasons: profit, politics, religious beliefs, and reclaiming one's own child, as well as unknown causes. This encyclopedia is a collection of over 900 objectively written entries, complemented by 60 photographs. It recounts stories of desperate skyjackings, mass abductions, lost children, failed ransom attempts, and many other fascinating cases. Among the featured stories are the U.S. Embassy hostage situation in Teheran, Iran (1979), the Chowchilla school bus kidnapping (1976), and the JonBenet Ramsey (1996), Patricia Hearst (1974), and Charles Lindbergh Jr. (1932) cases. The book, which would seem to include every major kidnapping, is recommended for specialized collections in criminal justice and all large public libraries. Tim Delaney, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 373 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816044872
• ISBN-13: 978-0816044870
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,226,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A California native, Michael Newton has published 215 books under his own name and various pseudonyms since 1977. He began writing professionally as a "ghost" for author Don Pendleton on the best-selling Executioner series and continues his work on that series today. With 104 episodes published to date, Newton has nearly tripled the number of Mack Bolan novels completed by creator Pendleton himself.

Newton's first book under his own name was Monsters, Mysteries and Man (1979), a survey of unexplained phenomena for younger readers. While 156 of Newton's published books have been novels--including westerns, political thrillers and psychological suspense--he is best known for nonfiction, primarily true crime and reference books.

His firearms manual for writers, Armed and Dangerous (1990), remains a best-seller for Writer's Digest Books in its 8th printing. Newton's Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (Facts on File, 2000) is currently in its second edition. His history of the Florida Ku Klux Klan, The Invisible Empire (2001), won the Florida Historical Society's 2002 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History. His Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology was just named as one of twelve books on the American Library Association's 2006 List of Outstanding Reference Sources. Newton's shorter work includes horror fiction, true crime articles and case histories for Court TV's Crime Library online.

He is a member of several organizations, including the Centre for Fortean Zoology, the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club and Feral Cat Friends Inc.

His 24 upcoming books, scheduled for release through 2011, include 8 novels and 16 nonfiction works. He lives in Nashville, Indiana.