Based on an actual kidnapping in Omaha, NE in the early 20th century, the story is told by the protagonist, Pat Crowe. Crowe was a poor man who worked in the meatpacking industry run by the wealthy Mr. Cudahy. After opening his own butcher stop along with a side kick, Crowe is forced out of business by thugs representing Cudahy.

After hearing of the Lindberg baby kidnapping, Crowe gets the idea to kidnap the sixteen year old son of Cudahy which he does. Cudahy delivers the money outside of Omaha as he was directed and the son was released unhurt after about 2-3 days. The story is basically his flight from the law: heading West and encountering all kids of types. At one point he boards a ship and sails to South Africa where he takes part in the Boer War fighting with the Boers. Throughout his life, Crowe is angered by the power of the wealthy.

Once captured he is actually found not guilty due to his defense attorney who portrays Crowe as a victim of Cudahy rather than the other way around. Crowe becomes a sort of hero.

I wasn't crazy about the chapter jumping around in time and there is a lot of emphasis on blood, dirt, smell, etc. Crowe does some terrible things himself and isn't what I would call a likeable even particularly interesting character. ( )

This fictionalized story based off the true life of Pat Crowe was an interesting and entertaining read. I really enjoyed the flow and layout. The story swaps from present day to past events and reads like a tale being recounted from old memories. Nicely written and well researched, it strikes a great balance between fiction and true crime. ( )

Very interesting story about Pat Crowe, the first man to kidnap a child for ransom. It does jump around to different parts of his life when a new chapter starts, which is SO confusing and hard to follow. I wish it had just gone in chronological order or made an indication at the beginning of the chapters. The writing is good but the set-up is horrible. I'm so glad I didn't listen to this as an audiobook or I would have stopped after one CD.

I received the book through the Penguin Random House First to Read Program. ( )

A fictionalized story of Tom Crowe an outlaw at the turn of the century in America. The story centers at the beginning in Omaha, Nebraska. where he works in a stockyard. He decides to go on his own and open a butcher shop. The stockyard owner (Cudahy) tries to close his business down as he "runs" the town. In revenge Crowe and an accomplice kidnap Mr. Cudahy's young son for ransom. This starts a thirty years run against the law that takes him all over the world but eventually back to Omaha. This is a well written epic tale chalk full of flashbacks. I really liked this one. ( )

Patrick Crowe was a very complicated man. He was raised right as a child to be hard working, straight forward, and honest. He was also raised to stand up for himself and what he believed. He labored hard in the stockyards and slaughter houses of Omaha trying to earn a decent living and got not much more than a sore back. Pat saved a down trodden, alcoholic co-worker, Billy, from a bad beating by some of the bullies at the slaughter house. Good intentions, bad idea. Pat took his butchering skills and tried to start a butcher shop. with Billy. In order to raise start up money, he asked the local political boss for a loan. Good intentions, bad idea. He gave credit to hard working but poor families, who needed food but earned a starving wage from, Mr. Cudahy the local owner of the slaughter house. Good intentions, bad idea. Pat was smitten by a lady with golden hair and a preference for big spenders. He promised himself to make her his wife. Good intentions, bad idea. Cudahy bought out Pat’s loan from the political boss and promptly called in the loan. Pat told him he had no intention of giving up his dream to some swindler. Good intention, bad idea. The clash would result in Pat loosing his business, his wife, his child, and his temper. Pat Crowe would pull off the successful kidnapping of Cudahy’s son, that would net him and his partner, Billy, $25,000 dollars in gold and a life on the run. Bad intentions, bad idea. The author is a true wordsmith. He can conjure up some of the most descriptive, colorful passages that you can imagine. A first rate story from a first rate writer. Book provided for review by Amazon Vine. ( )