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

~ Alston Purvis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Purvis's fascinating story of his father, once internationally famous for his role in the violent takedown of John Dillinger and now an obscure figure, limns a true American tragedy. The senior Purvis's meteoric rise to prominence at the FBI, just coming into its own, placed the genteel lawyer at the center of the war on crime that gripped the nation in the early 1930s. His enthusiasm and dedication caught the notice of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who promoted him repeatedly and gave him more and more serious responsibilities. But Hoover's pettiness and paranoia led him to turn on his protégé, even reaching out decades after Purvis's departure from the Bureau to block him from other jobs. The book's impact is lessened somewhat by florid writing ("Something evil came to Wellsville in the dead of night"). Purvis (with People magazine writer Tresniowski) could have compensated for the existence of rival narratives such as Bryan Burrough's definitive Public Enemies by dwelling more on his own memories of his father, rather than giving details of manhunts for gangsters, but he succeeds in giving Melvin Purvis the accolades he deserves. Illus. not seen by PW.
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From Booklist

Melvin Purvis (whom the media dubbed "Nervous Purvis" for his self-described shaking during the long wait for John Dillinger to emerge from the Biograph Theater before Dillinger was gunned down) was celebrated during the Depression as America's hero in the War on Crime. Purvis was the FBI agent deemed most responsible for capturing "Public Enemies" Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Baby Face Nelson. Few people remember Purvis now, largely because, according to his son, Edgar Hoover directed a 25-year smear campaign against the right-hand man who outshone him. This argument's power stems from the care with which the authors delineate Purvis' crime-fighting career; the details of how Purvis hunted America's Public Enemies (especially Dillinger's last hours at the Biograph) are fascinating in themselves and prepare the reader to accept the son's premise that Hoover's jealousy haunted Purvis for the rest of his life. Gripping reading for true-crime fans. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: PublicAffairs; Stated 1st Edition edition (October 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586483013
• ISBN-13: 978-1586483012
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #731,060 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!! Finally the truth comes out!, November 1, 2005

By	M. Koch "Mike" (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

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."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Agent and His Son, December 29, 2005

By	Rick "Mad Dog" Mattix (Iowa) - See all my reviews

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars little mel redeemed, December 10, 2006

By	Douglas E. Libert - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.