This was an interesting book to read I thought I knew a lot about this subject but was surprised at how much I learned I recommend to any crime reader

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for granting me early access to "On the Lam".

This book did top my favorite reads this year, however I'm currently in the middle of a major move, and will definitely come back at a later time and write out a full review and rating.

Thank you so much!

The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. There were many facts that I only discovered after reading this!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!!

If you're into true crime, this is a MUST read. It kept my interest from page one. I learned quite a book from this book as well.

The concept of this book is to look at how we have dealt with people who have been convicted of committing a crime and left the community before they could be imprisoned or had escaped from incarceration. We took our laws from those that developed over the years in England. When we broke away from the motherland, we had to decide how to revise rules created under a monarchy.

The main body of this book reflects on how you 'hold' someone while awaiting judgement in a court. Most people understand that bail is a way of financially people to ensure they show up at court. But when the accused decides to 'jump' bail and 'light out to places unknown', how do you bring them back for judgement? Under the old English rules, a Sheriff would be responsible for an area (usually a county or shire) to track down miscreants. In a time where strangers stood out like a 'sore' thumb, it wasn't that hard to pick out those who didn't belong.

The idea of a Sheriff (or someone of this style) was transported to the United Colonies/States. There were also appointed US Marshalls, who were empowered to capture escapees and criminals.
As America grew with the railroad, it became easier for criminals to hide from justice by changing their name and moving to a different state. Wanted posters with rewards was one way to inform the populace to be on the look out for so-and-so.

Justice was always a step behind the 'bad guys'. They learned how to hide in plain site and to do their activities in one area and live in another. The automobile gave criminals the ultimate getaway from where they were wanted. Over the years, agencies like the FBI, ATF, DEA, State Police were created to help the law deal with malefactors who worked in multiple jurisdictions.

That's the body of this book. Mostly it's very cogent and explains the law and changes to personal rights very well. My only complaint would be about his description of the FBI. Hoover wasn't some one who cared much about the law, Hoover just wanted to be praised and to get the bad guy. The FBI was notorious for creating evidence or placing criminals in situations where violence was the only answer. He never gave credit to an Special Agent, when he could take it for himself.

This book takes us from John Dillinger's criminal career leading directly to the FBI becoming what it is today, to chasing radical students three decades later, to the modern day. The reader will learn about fictional and real investigators and criminals and see how the first part of our justice system works.