Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero

Douglas Perry

BookHigh SchoolMiddle SchoolPolice Officer

About

The story of Eliot Ness, the legendary lawman who led the Untouchables, took on Al Capone, and saved a city’s soul

As leader of an unprecedented crime-busting squad, twenty-eight-year-old Eliot Ness won fame for taking on notorious mobster Al Capone. But the Untouchables’ daring raids were only the beginning of Ness’s unlikely story.

This new biography grapples with the charismatic lawman’s complicated, largely forgotten legacy. Perry chronicles Ness’s days in Chicago as well as his spectacular second act in Cleveland, where he achieved his greatest success: purging the profoundly corrupt city and forging new practices that changed police work across the country. He also faced one of his greatest challenges: a mysterious serial killer known as the Torso Murderer. Capturing the first complete portrait of the real Eliot Ness, Perry brings to life an unorthodox man who believed in the integrity of law and the power of American justice.

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Why it’s great

Douglas Perry offers a fascinating, balanced look at the man behind the legend, showing Eliot Ness not only as the fearless leader who took on Al Capone but also as a complex public servant shaped by ambition and conviction. Through vivid storytelling and rich historical context, it explores what it truly means to fight for justice and integrity in an imperfect world. It’s an inspiring reminder that real heroism is as much about resilience as victory.

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Resource Details

Resource Type: Book
Age Ranges: High School, Middle School
Careers: Police Officer
Subjects:

Book Details

Author: Douglas Perry