Description
Upon reading the first page, you'll be transported back to 1933 in this thrilling true crime story. "Kidnapping the Prince of Albany" is filled with darkness, shady characters, and mystery. The book serves as a reminder that our political leaders are far from perfect. In fact, in this story, a righteous politician may have been the worst villain of them all.
Much of the story's authenticity and conviction comes from its connection to the 20th century. The author masterfully implements slang terms prevalent in 1933 along with vintage photographs throughout the book.
The O'Connell clan ran Albany, New York from the 1920s through the 1950s, financed in large part by brewing both illegal, and later, legal beer. The clan was headed by Dan O'Connell, nicknamed "The King of Albany," and he kept an iron fist on the brewing of beer in the local area. He kept the criminals, mobsters, and other gangsters at bay through political maneuvers, because the clan controlled the issuance of brewing licenses and the local police. They didn't allow anyone to take "a piece of their action". O'Connell was probably responsible for other major crimes. A piece of skullduggery was later linked to the kidnapping of O'Connells nephew, known as the "Prince of Albany." Copies of the evidence and mug shots are included in the book. They answer the questions of how many were involved, how much planning took place, what happened to the ransom money, and show a junior detective how bad luck and unfortunate mistakes led to the demise of the kidnappers.