Review: The Real Detective, the Compleat Crook in France
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3400700316 |
| Date | 01 July 1934 |
| Published date | 01 July 1934 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
REVIEWS
379
is explained in detail. Mention is made of long firm frauds and the chapter
concludes with a description of the manner in which
the'
faker'
produces
antiquities, old masters, and otherarticles which are sought after by collectors.
Chapter 19 treats of arson, and the difficultiesof the investigating officer
in detecting it.
The
various means of causing fires, including spontaneous
and quasi spontaneous combustion, are discussed and some curious cases are
instanced.
In
the final chapter (20) the author deals with boiler explosions, their
causes and the technical problems involved, and the book concludes with
an index of sixteen pages.
Enough has been written to indicate the useful nature of the contents
of this book, the new edition of which comes at an opportune time when
so much interest is being taken in the system of crime detection. Modern
detective work is team work and such team work should be systematic,
utilizing all the assistance which science can render.
The
police officeraims
at being an expert in his work, and should know when the knowledge of an
expert in some other subject would be of assistance to him.
As Mr. J. Collyer Adam very truly observed in his Preface of 1924,
if
the investigating officer is ignorant on matters connected with outside know-
ledge he cannot gain that assistance from specialists which they would other-
wise be able to afford.
Even if the assistance of the specialist is not required, the information
regarding criminals given in this book will prove to be of great help to
the
police officer.
The
book is a practical book, written by men engaged in
dealing with crime, and the directions given as to police action bear the
stamp of experience.
We can recommend this book to all police officers.
It
is a book which
should be available for superior officers of police for reference and for in-
structional purposes.
We hope
that
it will soon be produced at a price well within the means
of every member of the police service. Booksof this kind, designed to help
in the struggle with crime, should not, by reason of cost, be beyond the
reach of the juniormembers of the service.
THE
REAL
DETECTIVE.
By
GEORGE
DILNOT.
lOS.
6d. net. (Geoffrey
Bles.)
THE
COMPLEAT
CROOK
IN
FRANCE. By
FRANCIS
D.
GRIERSON.
7s. 6d. net. (Thornton Butterworth.)
THESE
two books can, with advantage, be read together, as they treat, on much
the same lines, the one of Scotland Yard and the other of its opposite number
in Paris, the Prefecture of Police, and they throw considerable light on the
contrast between English and French police methods. Mr. Grierson deals
with the activities of the Surete
Generale
or Nationale,as well as of those of the
Prefecture,
but
of the rivalry and lack of co-operation between the two, exposed
by the Stavisky case, there is no hint in his book. Both books are well written
and very readable and contain much useful information as to the police organi-
zations in question, illustrated by instances of them at work in actual cases.
Those who have an inside knowledge of Scotland Yard may smile at some
of
Mr.
Dilnot's ' close ups,' and his picture is a little out of
date-it
shows
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