Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness A Novel Mass Market Paperback – September 29, 2009

Packaged well and in great condition!

I'm intrigued by Eliot Ness, the prohibition agent around whom all sorts of legends have arisen, helped by his own book and by the 1959-1962 television series "The Untouchables," with Robert Stack giving his memorable (and Emmy-winning) performance as Ness. There also was a second series done with the same name, out of Canada, with Tom Amandes as Eliot Ness and the incomparable John Rhys-Davies as his right-hand man, and the Kevin Kostner movie, as well.This book is a work of fiction, centered on Ness's unfortunate encounter with the case of the Torso Murderer in Cleveland during the middle 1930s. The case was never officially solved, due to the prime suspect's family being very influential. In this novel, Bernhardt examines Ness through the lens of his failing marriage to Edna Staley, his first wife in real life, and of his political naivté, which caused him to lose his job as Public Safety director for the city of Cleveland. He also makes a good case against the individual who was most likely responsible for the murders.It is a riveting tale, and I read the book in a matter of a couple of days, while I was in the middle of my graduate classes at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg last year. Bernhardt's view of Ness rings true. The best thing about the book to me, a historian, is the source note that appears at the end, where he discusses the sources he consulted in building his portrait of Eliot Ness.Even if you are not a "Nessophile" like me, if you like a good story, if you like crime novels, you would do well to pick this one up. Just set aside the time to read it through, because I don't think you'll be able to put it down.

Thoroughly enjoyed Nemesis. Writing historical novels isn't easy and everyone has theirtake on the story and how the evidence should have been interpreted. Bernhardt's researchand conclusions on this part of Mr. Ness' life are first rate. I stayed up till the wee hoursto finish this book, so be sure and get plenty of rest before you start reading it.

An enjoyable work of fiction. My concern, as a biographer of Eliot Ness, is that the reader might accept this fictionalized version of certain actual events as fact. So much that has been written or portrayed on screen about Ness is fiction.

It held my attention. The writing was well crafted in its character development.

Great book except for one part near the end that kind of put a damper on the story that was a little farfetched. Would like to read other stories by the author. Love your selection of books, the prices and the prompt delivery.

Page turner kept me awake so I could finish it and move on to the next William Bernhardt mystery novel

This is a well researched and written book, detailing Ness' arrival in Cleveland in 1935 as the newly named Safety Director. He makes headlines and wins public acclaim by cleaning up the mob-run gambling parlors that had sprung up after the end of Prohibition. Concurrently, another storyline develops, with Det. Merylo on the trail of some kind of crazed killer who is leaving dismembered victims all around Kingsbury Run, a shantytown close to downtown where homeless and transients have converged for shelter in the Depression. The Torso Killer begins to taunt Ness, and the press urges him to take on the case, since it is the biggest public safety concern on anyone's mind. Ness, bullied into taking the killer on, fears his genuine work on public safety will be forgotten if he cannot put an end to the nation's first serial killer's work. (A note: although we get inside the killer's head and some murders are depicted, the writer refrains from gruesome, drawn-out scenes.) This book is based on facts in the case, and even though facts are conflated and conversations and scenes invented, Bernhardt argues pretty convincingly for a solution to the case. His fictional Ness catches his man, only to be thwarted from ever revealing it by the crooked political system of the time. The climactic showdown is pure fantasy, but makes sense in the story. The final fictional resolution of the case may be way closer to the truth than the public record allows. Ness's fears proved well founded - his `failure' to nail the Torso Killer is what people remember about his time in Cleveland. At least he did have some fame restored by "The Untouchables." This book is especially appealing to a native Clevelander who cannot help but be familiar with the notorious case.

I was disappointed in this as it just seemed to be a lot of idle conversation.Not what I had expected at all.