During the latter years of the 19th century, Laird & Lee Publishers issued an extensive list of works called "The Pinkerton Detective Series." Claimed to be based on factual foundations, they included titles such as "The Whitechapel Murders," "Dyke Darrel, The Railroad Detective," and "Mexican Bill, The Cowboy Detective." The books were attributed to a surprisingly short list of authors, including members of the Pinkerton agency, the Chicago Police force, and members of the US Post Office's Inspection Department. The description of the series makes it clear that the books are not intended to be interpreted as carefully-researched, scholarly tomes but, rather, based on fact, but written to entertain. Such is the case with this version of "Jesse James." It is lively-paced, includes probable narrative, and details most if not all of the James' brothers major deeds. Most of the major, distracting typographic errors have been corrected. From the Preface: Dead though he be, incapable of harming even a child; though he was at last overtaken by a tardy retribution, his memory alone still causes the strong man to look askance as he passes along the lonely Missouri roads which once echoed with the hoofbeats of Jesse James' wild horses, and makes the brave heart tremble at the sudden shadow cast by the waving tree limbs which once served to shelter this messenger of death. Here is an unflattering, contemporary review of the book: "Another example of the cheap literature of the period. Like many others, it is not very reliable. The author misspells Quantrill's name as Charles W. Quantrell and gives Dick Liddil's last name as Little" (Six-Guns and Saddle Leather: A Bibliography of Books and Pamphlets on Western Outlaws and Gunmen by Ramon Frederick Adams, published by Dover Publications, 1969).