Customer Reviews

The Investigator's Little Black Book 3

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a licensed private investigator and college instructor of private investigation courses, I can personally attest that there are many great sources of information contained in this book... However, anyone experienced with online research (like myself) could most likely find the vast majority of this information via a simple Internet search. Heck, a simple Google query turned up the same results for many of the topics in this book.

I would highly recommend (emphasis added) performing online research over the use of any text simply because the Internet changes daily; as soon as a book like this goes to print, some of its content is already outdated. Stick with the Internet for the most up to date information.

Please be aware of what you are purchasing before you spend your hard earned money. This book contains no, nor does it claim to contain, information regarding private investigation techniques/procedures. It is simply a compilation of various information sources (emphasis added).

With that said, the information contained in this book is solid. It is obvious that the author spent a great deal of time and energy collecting and organizing the information contained within this text. Unfortunately, more than 90% of this information will never be of any use to the vast majority of those that purchase this title. In the entire time I have owned this book, I have yet to use it; and I am a very active practicing licensed private investigator.

If you are not Internet savvy, then this book might suit you perfectly; if you are Internet savvy, then you would probably be better suited spending you hard-earned money elsewhere.

As always, check with your local library or bookstore to see if you can read/review this or any title before deciding to make a purchase. This method has effectively allowed me to make the most of my investigative library budget.

I hope you found this review helpful. [...]

The information provided inside this reference book is ok; however many of the phone numbers and web site links are outdated. I noticed some info was provided with a notation at the bottom that "As of such and such date, this is no longer available" Why even print that info in the first place, if not to just fill in useless space. As a PI, your better off getting usufull info on a PI site. Just my $.02 worth.

I found the information in this book extensive, but for experienced Internet investigative P.I.'s this book is redundant.

Just for a test I sampled some items in the book and they were on the Interent, and easily found with keyword searches. It was also lacking good information on computer forensics investigator contacts, and how they support general practice PI's. "Digital Evidence" IS THE problem for the PI in the 21st Century.

Overall I was not impressed. Information on the majority of subjects covered, is readily available in either the phone book, dial-up directory, or by doing a simple internet search. It appears the author is trying to turn a subject worthy of a pamphlet into a novel. With each turn of the page I felt more the chump for having purchased this book. I am left to believe, the appendices must have been included for the benefit of the simple minded - so "elementary my dear, Watson" they are almost an insult. If a P.I. needs a book like this I probably wouldn't hire him. A recommendaton for Black Book 4 would be to include some of the ways P.I.'s really get information for their clients.

This is a book of phone numbers.

But it's a book of really useful phone numbers and other information if you are trying to investigate someone or something.

Did you know that if you have some money that got torn up or burned you can get it redeemed by the US Treasury?

Need to know who to contact for court records in any state? Want to know how to decipher a automobile's VIN number? Need the telephone number for the FBI Crime Lab?

All this and more is in this great little book. Well worth adding to your library.

Robert Scott has done it again. I have had each edition of this book, and am first in line when a new one is released. I am a private investigator, and have a huge amount of resources at my fingertips already, but I never fail to find enough new tips to make the book more than worthwhile. My only complaint is that I can easily spend hours exploring the possibilities contained in the Black Book. Non-PIs, don't waste your money on junk like the "Net Detective" when you can have the real thing from a professional, and at a fraction of the cost.

I'm no private investigator, but I found the information in this book a handy resource to have around the office. While it is true that someone who is experienced in finding information on the net could find most of this information by doing a little homework, I find that it is convenient to have it at my fingertips when I want it without having to spend time searching for different things. There are a multitude of reasons that this little book could come in handy. I think that this book is a great resource for everyone to keep around the house just in case. I found it very interesting and recommend it. It is packed full of interesting facts and information!

Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior

I think this is a must own of you are getting into skip tracing or PI.

Not that useful for the average joe...

Almost an overwhelming amount of information, It would have been a good idea to have put the info into sections of different types of info or at least have an index. Ther than that it is a very informative book, you just have to really hunt for the info you are really after.

Couldn't put it down.
Went online the first day I got it, using the links provided by the book. Six hours later I realized it was getting late and that I was only up to page 80 or so.

A fantastic source of hard to find info, with tons of URL's provided, when available.

If you are not someone that uses online research databases and such;
then a lot of this info may be interesting. You would probably think it's pretty neat stuff.
(AKA the "average Joe" that uses google and thinks they are uncovering all of life's deep dark secrets)

If you are an online researcher(or librarian or legal clerk or PI or law enforcement or such) and use such databases often; then I could see where you might think this is a ho-hum book, in regards to the data within.

The first book I have bought in several years, in which I feel I got the better end of the deal.
It provided much,much more value than the ...price.