This is an eye-opening piece of research and storytelling! If you have absolutely no knowledge of the Lindbergh kidnapping, this story will leave you with your mouth agape. If you do have any sort of understanding of the murder trial and/or what type of man Charles Lindbergh was, you will come away from this book aware that many things happened in and around this case that were crooked and unjust and it appears Charles was well aware. Shady cops & poor detective work is certainly nothing new but it remains incredibly shocking how easy it is to wrongly convict a man to death and seemingly without regret or any consciousness of wrongdoing. This book has left me feeling even more appreciative of the advances in science, forensics, and technology. Leaving me hopeful there will come a day that people will not be wrongfully convicted due to another mans pride or prejudice. This is a must read (or listen. Also available as an audiobook)!! True Crime, civil rights activists, or any type of law enthusiasts will appreciate all the extensive research the author went through to bring us a compelling story. There’s zero chance you won’t have an opinion about this trial after reading/listening to this enthralling page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this title in exchange for the opportunity to hear the audiobook.

A Talent to Deceive seeks to unravel the mystery behind one of the world's most infamous unsolved crimes: the kidnapping of the Lindberg baby. And for the most part, it is highly entertaining and informative along the way.

My issues with the book were minor ones, and it's hard to tell if they were writing gaffes, editorial misses, or just a brain-hiccup by the narrator. The one that most obviously comes to mind was the use of the phrase 'ransom note' to describe physical bills of money used to pay the ransom rather than, you know, the actual ransom note.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys unsolved mysteries and the true crime genre.

An interesting compelling audio book.
This true crime book on the Lindbergh kidnapping fascinated me , I admit that I was not totally up to speed with the case , but this book has thoroughly opened my eyes.
The narration was excellent and easy to listen to and the different accents for different people brought the account to life.
The book is well researched and engaging, and it is hard to comprehend that such wide spread corruption and conspiracy cost a man his life and I personally think an innocent man lost his life after listening to this book.

An excellent detailed, engaging and thoroughly investigated book, well worth a listen.

Thanks to NetGalley and CamCat Perspectives for this copy.

Book Review: A Talent To Deceive: ⭐⭐⭐

This is a book that claims to solve the Lindbergh mystery. First released in 2006, this revised edition adds additional details and information.

Obviously for a crime that happened almost 100 years ago, we will never know for sure what happened. Where this book stumbles is that he claims there was essentially a cover up in the trial (which admittedly was extremely unfair) but he makes the same mistake that he accuses others of. He has a predetermined idea of who actually committed the crime and then spins the narrative toward that end goal.

It is extremely well researched, but of course a lot of what must be included is hearsay because none of these people are alive to back it up. It certainly made me doubt that the convicted killer was at fault, but even some of his claims seem extremely improbable.

The obsession with Lindbergh blinded many people to his faults (and there were MANY) so most likely an innocent man was executed. If you are interested in historical true crime, I definitely think it is worth the read, but it is extremely lengthy for the amount of information included due to additional documents and such that are added into the already long narrative.

I received this audiobook of A Talent to Deceive from @netgalley.

I have always wondered about this case and learning more about this "trial" I am even more convinced Hauptmann was innocent. This book made me realize how badly they railroaded him.

This doesn’t give any new answers but leaves a lot of questions as to Hauptmanns guilt however the author does name someone the he believes was the actual culprit.

If you have ever wondered about this case and questioned Hauptmanns guilt you need to read this book, fans of true crime, innocence projects and the like should read this book!

This book was well researched and I feel like I did learn more about the case than I knew before and I have read many books and seen many docs on this case but there were still some things from the court transcript that really took me by surprise.

Tom Beyers narration was very well done.

I would really like to see this book in documentary form!

Highly recommend for true crime fans.

4 Stars

I received this book from the Publisher CamCat Perspectives and NetGalley for a fair and honest review

True crime stories are always heartbreaking to read. A Talent to Deceive is one of them. I can see that the story is well-researched and the chronology of events helped the readers to understand in which part of the investigation and negotiation did the people involved make a mistake.

Moreover, seeing how an innocent person suffers from the incompetence of the police and the baby's father broke my heart. The injustice of it all would make you wish that people treat it more with keen eyes and not act so reckless.

It is an eye-opening book. Listening to the audiobook is like listening to a podcast or a documentary. It was a good and informative reading experience. Highly recommend for true crime fans.

The narrator for A Talent to Deceive did a wonderful job. I did not know any particulars about the Lindbergh kidnapping until listening to this book. William Norris I felt did an astounding job in presenting facts and a great amount of research. Was the right man caught, convicted and given the death penalty? Or was the kidnapper/murderer never caught? Why did Charles Lindbergh insist of running the investigation and refuse the help of the FBI in locating his missing son? Intrigued like I was? Give it a listen or a read!

The length of this audiobook book almost discouraged me from choosing it. This is a well researched and very detailed look into the Lindbergh kidnapping, the arrest, trial and execution of Richard Hauptmann and the aftermath.
3.5 stars rounded up

A Talent to Deceive is William Norris’s well investigated account of the Lindbergh kidnapping. It is also his exploration into whether or not the right man was prosecuted and executed for the crime. The crime, investigation and trial are examined in detail as well as several other possible perpetrators.

I listened to this on audiobook and found it enjoyable and compelling. The narrator has a way with accents that that brings the characters to life.

It is clear that Norris has done years worth of research and I was fascinated with learning the backgrounds of many of the people surrounding the crime. This is one of those crimes for which the official facts have not added up and this books brings about more questions. Norris’s final verdict of what he thinks happened has a valid ring to it to say any more would deprive the reader of all the fun. Has Norris solved the crime of the century? I implore you to read it and find out!

Thank you to Netgalley and CamCat publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I've never heard from the Lindberghs before, but now I can say I do not sympathise with them.

The injustice from Hauptmann's trial left me fuming, I still can't believe a (probably) innocent man was killed just to feed some egos.

I can't give 5 stars because the narrative in the middle of the book was a bit dull, I often wondered "ok, the crime was covered, how is it possible there's still 60% of the book left?". I also did not like the way the author talks about himself, he sounds very presumptuous an it threw me off the narrative. Otherwise, it's a well researched book with an engaging tale.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and I must admit I was a little daunted when I saw how long it was. I didn't think the subject matter would cover that many hours.

I am so glad that it didn't put me off though, as the book as absolutely fascinating. I was familiar with the story of the Lindberg baby kidnapping, but not in any great detail. This book takes us through the basic facts at outset, what was surmised to have happened and then story of the German gentleman convicted of the baby's murder and the gross miscarriage of justice that resulted.

The story is backed up by letters and documents from the time, and a suggestion of who may have been really responsible and why, and indeed Lindberg's own possible involvement in the crime and his motives.

It really was incredibly well written and I was gripped throughout. The narration was goods, and again added to the story with numerous voices and accents to cover.

This book was a great surprise and I really enjoyed it.

I have a confession - I knew very little about the kidnapping and trial before listening to this audiobook. I knew of this event but few details. So I appreciate how well done this story was. Full of researched information easily laid out to understand, it starts with the crime and then tracking the meetings, the police and the ransom money. It goes all through the trial and then the appeals and aftermath. Of course, the author isn't coming to the story completely unbias. He definitely appears to have an idea who he thinks did it and, partially, how it all went down. But I found it well researched, detailed and explained. It spurred me to want to know more!

The audiobook was also great. The narrator (is this the author?) was well paced, changed inflection and tone to show when there was narration for someone and was easy to listen to. I really liked this one!

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

I was quickly obsessed with Norris' modern-day investigation of the true “crime of the century” or the Lindbergh kidnapping. Although I personally had no knowledge of the crime before picking up A Talend To Deceive Norris provides enough background information for all readers regardless of prior knowledge. I loved how Norris interspersed his modern findings throughout his sharing of the historical case giving the reader an ominous view while highlighting the 1939 perspective. Tom Beyers narration truly brought this book to life for me.

Although this case was considered “solved” you will be blown away by the bribery, fabricated evidence, and unjust treatment of the accused.

For those who love true crime, conspiracy, or an alternative look at the "crime of the century" this book is definitely for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars with a 14+ rating for nature subject matter.

Thanks to @netgalley and William Noros for the advanced reader copy.

In this book, author William Norris makes the case that the wrong man was convicted for the infamous kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby.

Charles Lindbergh was a military officer, inventor, and aviator who made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris in 1927. Lindbergh's daring trip made him an instant celebrity, and the aviator became an American hero who was fêted around the world.

Lindbergh then married Anne Morrow - of the immensely wealthy and powerful Morrow family - and the duo became 'the couple of the age.' In 1932, the Lindbergh's 20-month-old baby, Charles Lindbergh Jr., was kidnapped, and the incident was immediately dubbed 'the crime of the century.'

The abduction resulted in the arrest, conviction, and execution of German national Bruno Richard Hauptmann, but author William Norris is among the many people who believe Hauptmann was innocent. According to Norris, Lindbergh, who was worshipped in the law enforcement community, was permitted to control the kidnap investigation. Thus Lindbergh destroyed evidence, withheld information, and misled the police.

Lindbergh ostensibly did this because HE (AND HIS WIFE) KNEW the real kidnapper was Anne Morrow's illegitimate half-brother Dwight Morrow Jr., who was unacknowledged by the Morrow family. Needing money, and being denied funds by the Morrows, Dwight Jr. took the baby so he could demand a ransom. Lindbergh expected to pay the ransom and get the baby back, and he wanted to spare the Morrow family humiliation and scandal. Thus he 'covered up' the crime.

There were indeed ransom demands, and the ensuing 'negotiations' took months and involved many people, including gangsters, conmen, and self-aggrandizing narcissists. Eventually, the authorities came to suspect the kidnapping and the extortion were separate crimes.

Throughout, Lindbergh held off the FBI (kidnapping wasn't a federal crime at that time) and demanded the police not monitor any ransom drop sites or arrest any pick-up men. (How suspicious is that!? Right?)

Sadly, the baby's body was finally discovered, and the authorities determined little Charles Jr. was dead from the beginning, probably due to an accident. At this point the entire world went crazy, demanding someone pay the penalty for the horrific crime.

Enter Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who - because of an unfortunate set of circumstances - was actually in possession of some of the ransom money. Hauptmann in fact was at work at the time of the kidnapping - where many people saw him - but nefarious police and prosecutors, as well as the Lindbergh and Morrow families, conspired to falsify evidence, bribe and intimidate witnesses, suborn perjury, and so on. This, and the fact that the jury was in awe of Lindbergh, ensured that Hauptmann was executed for killing the Lindbergh baby.

There WERE righteous men, including New Jersey Governor Harold G. Hoffman, who tried to prove Hauptmann's innocence....to no avail. The horror of electrocuting an innocent man was heightened by the fact that Hauptmann had a loyal wife and baby, and a loving mother in Germany, all of whom were devastated by the proceedings. Mrs. Hauptmann went on trying to clear her husband's name for years, but most ears were closed to her pleas.

Norris makes an excellent case for Hauptmann's innocence, and gives Lindbergh and his collaborators a huge black eye in my opinion. Moreover, Lindbergh's star has dimmed considerably since the 1930s, because he was exposed as a serial adulterer and Nazi sympathizer.

I had heard of the Lindbergh kidnapping, but had no idea about the subsequent shenanigans. This is a well-researched, fascinating book, highly recommended to fans of true crime.

Thanks to Netgalley, William Norris, and SynergEbooks for a copy of the book.

Description 🔖

This piece of investigative journalism delves into the murder of the Lindbergh baby that happened in 1932. There was an arrest, a trial and subsequent execution for the crime, but for the last nearly 90 years, many have claimed that the murder was pinned on the wrong person. William Norris dissects the case and all of the suspicious secrets that have been kept for all of this time.

General Thoughts 🤔

I may well have been living under a rock for my entire 33 years of life, but this case wasn’t one that I had heard of before this book. I do now appreciate how high profile the case was at the time and there were some very famous names dropped within the book which made me realise just how big it was.

There was obviously a lot of speculation surrounding the whole story and there were definitely points revealed by the author that shed a lot of doubt on whether Bruno Richard Hauptmann should or shouldn’t have been sent to his death. I have to say that I believe he was innocent and fell victim to being an easy target.

What really struck me was the Hauptmann’s trial. I would like to think that no law professional would be able to behave in such a way nowadays and go unpunished but I’m sure that it unfortunately still happens but probably less blatant.

Writing Style ✍️

There’s a lot of detail and information provided in the book and I think that is always important for a true crime book in order to let the reader make their own conclusions. What I will say is that I think the author could have done a better job of giving a more rounded summary of the case. He obviously had quite strong feelings about the Lindberghs and other individuals and I think that that came through maybe a touch too much.

I listened to the audio version of the book and I struggled with the narration to begin with but soon settled in. The accents caught me off guard when I first heard them but again; I soon became quite used to them and particularly the German accent for Hauptmann helped bring the story to life.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖️

Overall I’m not sure how sold I was on this book BUT I didn’t dislike it. The chapters about the trial were definitely my favourite as I found it shocking that they were allowed to get away with what they did. This wasn’t my favourite true crime book but definitely wasn’t my least either.

My thanks to Net Galley for the chance to review this excellent audio book on evidence recovered by the author that there was more to the Lindbergh baby kidnapping then originally reported and that Bruno Haupman may have not been the kidnapper. Was it an inside job? Did Ann Morrow Lindbergh have an illegitimate brother in an asylum? Why did the baby nurse commit suicide? This will make you think. Very engaging narration.

Not sure how to describe this book... Fascinating? Interesting? Horrifying?
Probably a bit of each? It was definitely well written and well narrated - kept me riveted.

And that ending - holy cow, would the person that the author thought responsible really have been? Too awful to consider, within what was a truly awful true story all around.

I'm glad I took the chance on it and thanks CamCat Perspectives, via Netgalley for the audiobook copy.

Fascinating story of a true event in history, the kidnapping of the Lindberg baby 90 years ago. A great deal of research and revisiting the evidence from the time, I didn't know of the case before i started reading so I was new to the story and urban myths connected to the crime. Would appear to be a massive cover up but why? the author goes through all the people involved and evidence produced. Would love to see this story told as a crime documentary film. Thankfully forensics have come a long way since the crime and miscarriage of justices are few and far between. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook.

It is apparent a lot of time, effort, and research went into writing this book. Many new details about the true facts of the case are presented in this well-ordered narrative. I found the revelations of the newly available facts to be interesting and well structured, ultimately forming a perspective that should be of great interest to anyone who has ever delved into what was believed to be the facts of this case.
The narrator of this audiobook was great. The voice is pleasant and the delivery and presentation of the narrative was an enjoyable experience.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The impressions expressed here are my own honest opinions written voluntarily.