David Stout Books

A thrilling account that places the 1932 Lindbergh baby kidnapping case, known as the crime of the century, within the broader context of numerous kidnappings during the Prohibition and Depression eras. The Great Depression brought desperation, with parents struggling to feed their children and unemployment soaring. Amidst rampant lawlessness, criminals and corrupt law enforcement flourished, while kidnapping emerged as a lucrative option for both criminals and resourceful civilians. Edgar Award-winning author David Stout delves into this overlooked history, examining the flood of missing person reports that filled newspapers of the time. The narrative reveals the chilling details of various abduction cases, including the methods employed, investigative efforts, and the backgrounds of both perpetrators and victims. This exploration culminates in the most notorious kidnapping in American history, which targeted an international celebrity and led to significant legislative changes: the Lindbergh kidnapping. The Kidnap Years is a gritty, visceral, and meticulously reported page-turner that captures the widespread abductions that affected communities across the nation, driven by desperation. A compelling crime book like no other.