Customer Reviews

The Vendetta: FBI Hero Melvin Purvis's War Against Crime, and J. Edgar Hoover's War Against Him

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A lot of books about John Dillinger, some good, some not so good. But Purvis? What about the guy who put a stop to the original Public Enemy Number 1?
It's not unusual to have not heard much about the guy who didn't win the pop culture contest over the long haul. Look at how many books are written about Napoleon compared to those written about the man who defeated him at Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington. For that matter, what about Frank Hamer--you know, the law officer who stopped Bonnie and Clyde.
This is a must read for historians and afficiandos of this period of American history, and a must read for those who want a better look at personality that shaped and controlled the FBI for a very long time. Purvis deserved better than he was treated in life, and deserves better than he has been given by history. This book is an excellent start toward rectifying that.
This is an excellent read, it's real history, not Hollywood, real people doing their jobs, not movie stars. If that's what you are looking for then buy this book. And if you think that the fact that it was written by his son automatically sets up a bias, then I dare you to read the book first before deciding.

This new book called "The Vendetta" by Alex Tresinowski (People magazine writer) and Alston Purvis (Son of FBI agent Melvin Purvis) finally gets to the truth of the matter. Melvin Purvis, once the FBI's once famous agent, tragically took his own life, several years after leaving the FBI. This new book tells of Hoover's 25-year smear campaign against his once right-hand man, who simply was getting more publicity than Hoover. Due to this tactic by Hoover, few people remember Melvin Purvis, according to his son. This book tells the story of Melvin's crime-figting career and details his manhunts of America's one time "Public Enemies," during the years of the "Great Depression." Most importantly the last hours of John Dillinger's life at the Biograph theatre in Chicago are described in detail. The authors write a fasinating story, which prepares the readers to accept the son's premise that Hoover's own jealously of Melvin Purvis haunted Purvis the rest of his life. This book finally gives Melvin Purvis the accolades he so richly deserves. I would recommend it to all readers.

Mike Koch, Author of "The Kimes Gang."

This is a candid, no-holds-barred, insider's expose of the search for and killing of America's most famous criminal of the Roaring Jazz Age by one of the sons of America's foremost G-Man. The critical and doomed relationship of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI's most famous Agent, Melvin Purvis, makes for a book that is difficult, if not impossible, to put down and, certainly, ever to forget.

J. Edgar Hoover's FBI made its reputation in the gang-busting days of the 1930s as, one-by-one, bank robbers like Dillinger and "Pretty Boy" Floyd were riddled with bullets and shorn of their false glamour and public sympathies were redirected to the forces of law and order. One of the most active, and certainly the best known, of the Justice Department sleuths was ace G-man Melvin Purvis. His popularity bruised the jealous ego of the Director, his former friend and mentor. Hoover drove Purvis from the Bureau, erased him from its official history, and spent the next twenty-five years sabotoging him in his post-FBI career and making his life miserable. This was how Hoover repaid the loyal service of the man he'd once promised, "Get Dillinger and the world is yours." Alston Purvis gives a wonderful personal account of his father's heroic life, in and out of the Bureau, enhanced by details from Melvin's own records, FBI reports, and the recollections of Doris Lockerman, Purvis's still-spritely secretary from the "Dillinger Days." More than a personal memoir, the gangster era is told in exciting and accurate detail and popular myths are disspelled. And at long last we have the likely truth behind the tragic mishap that cost Melvin Purvis his life.

I am a huge fan of the Dillinger myth (and the associated stories: the Barker-Karpis Gang, Bonnie and Clyde, etc.), and I love books about that time period of U.S. History. This book, written by a son about his famous father's prominent role in fighting the Public Enemies of the 1930s, does not add all that much to my understanding of the events, but it is fantastic in what it adds to an understanding of the inner workings of Hoover's FBI.

I had a vague sense from other books that Hoover resented Melvin Purvis' fame as the charismatic young agent hunted Dillinger and other gangsters in the early days of the FBI, but this book provides thorough and precise references to official correspondence and internal memos to show how petty, cruel, and far-reaching Hoover was in his vengeance for being accidentally upstaged in the public eye. I was shocked in the last chapters at Hoover's systematic efforts to block Purvis from any kind of meaningful employment after his retirement from the FBI, and I am thankful for this heartfelt investigation from Alston Purvis. While I don't trust Purvis' objectivity in some of his presentations of his father's role in history (in particular, he is more sympathetic than most other authors when it comes to how Purvis nearly botched the last encounter between Dillinger and law enforcement), I can completely trust his research and his need for accuracy.

I recommend this book for fans of the time period, anyone interested in the FBI, and anyone in need of a Father's Day present.

i always found it interesting to find out what was in the pockets of criminals when they were gunned down.in dillingers' case 7.70,not a lucky number for him but according to purvis,lucky for someone. the police who riffed through the pockets of dillingers' corpse,definitely hit the jackpot,and to leave an extra seven cents would be too obvious.Purvis gives a name of who probably ended up with dillingers' bankroll,and the book is loaded with insider type details like this. i was surprised at finding out the "shoestring budget" of the FBI,when it was originally founded,no wonder hoover was so edgy. J Edgar was trying to project the image of a FEDERAL MONOLITH backed up by 20th century science in the capture of dillinger. When little Mel Purvis pointed out that it was Ana Sage,an informer, who broke the case,Hoover hit the roof.After all,money and a woman was the oldest way of capturing a crook and used since time began.Mel---just not a team player---according to Hoover,although Alston Purvis proves pretty convincingly,that little mel was.Any leak to the press or headline stealer attempt was blamed on Purvis by Hoover.Hoover however was too quick to ignore the fact that the press doesn't take "no" for an answer and sometimes will even invent stories if they can't find one.It seemed that Hoover was trying to make the FBI,a mysterious powerful entity and he didn't want a "face" on it especially little mel's,but Hoovers tactics seem petty and vindictive.
There is also alot of insight into the private lives of police in this book.It is an honest look at an American family.

One of the finest biographies ever written! The author's writing style makes the book an even better read. So much is put in proper historical perspective, especially Hoover's personality and pettiness. My only regret is that this book was not better publicized. It certainly deserves a far greater audience.

An excellent book. Purvis's son gives us his father's history with an unblinking eye,and manages to give the reader insight into Purvis the man:a pariah who is forced to leave the F.B.I. by a vindictive Hoover,yet who still manages to be a hero.
Historically Alston Purvis is right on the mark and pulls no punches. I only wish that other authors would have been as responsible when writing about his famous father. This book is not hero-worship,but is stunning in it's grasp of history,and hard hitting in it's facts.
This book should not be left off the shelf of anyone interested in the F.B.I.'s early days and the desperados Purvis and his men hunted down. It is really something new!

I have read a few other books dealing with J. Edgar Hoover of the F.B.I. and this one by Alston Purvis reinforces my opinion regarding Hoover. To me, Hoover comes across as a very insecure man. In this case, jealous of the traits he sees in Melvin Purvis that he, Hoover, doesn't possess himself. In his relationship with Purvis, Hoover initially treats him as a friend. However, when he tires of this infatuation he turns on Purvis to make his life as an F.B.I. agent miserable. The recognition and glory that Hoover craves goes to Purvis after the deaths of John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. This was something the ego of Hoover was unable to deal with. Hoover saddled Purvis with petty infractions and finally got him to resign in frustration. Purvis, to his credit, never badmouthed Hoover after leaving the F.B.I. Tragedy stalked the Purvis family in later years as the only son left in the family, the author of this book, was left to tell the story of his father's life. After the funeral of Melvin Purvis, his wife sent a telegram to Hoover which read: "We are honored that you ignored Melvin's death. Your jealously hurt him very much but until the end I think he loved you." Hoover comes across in this book, as in others I have read, as a very vindictive man. He kept files on several famous individuals to use as a source of blackmail should the situation arise and would read them for his own entertainment. To have such a man in charge of the F.B.I. for so many years is frightening at worst and embarrassing at best. The book provides entertaining chapters on the demise of Dillinger, Floyd, and Baby Face Nelson as well as the fiasco that took place at the Little Bohemia lodge in northern Wisconsin. The book is entertaining, but also sad in what one person's power can do to another individual.

At first sight, you can easily conclude that the author is biased because Melvin Purivs is his father. Despite this,Alston Purvis draws enough on documentary sources so that the story of J. Edgar Hoover's vendetta against Melvin Purvis is clearly laid out.
At least two points remain controversial. One is Melvin Purvis's height. His son claims he was 5'9", but a photogrpah in the book of Purvis with Hoover shows that Purvis was definitely shorter than the 5'9" Hoover. Also, other sources list his height at 5'4".
The second point is whether Purvis's death by handgun was acciodental or suicide. His son states a case that it was accidental. However, he also admits that his father was depressed, and had previously undergone treatment for depression.
Overall, this book was interesting reading.