More books about the Miami area.

Knights of the Fourth Estate

Very well written story of The Miami Herald. Smiley covers the beginnings of The Herald in the early 1900s to the early 60s. The profiles are very well done of staff and owners. Better still are the various stories behind the stories throughout. This book is out of print.

The Hell with Politics

Very good set of stories of Jane Wood Reno, mother of former US Attorney General Janet Reno, amongst other successful children. It’s obvious, though, in this set of nearly disjointed stories that Janet, or Janny Baby, was Jane Wood Reno’s very favorite. Oddly a real fleshing out of her relationship with her children is not included. Jane Wood Reno could be considered a more modern day pioneer in south Florida as she blazed trails in journalism, interaction with the Seminole and Miccosukee indian tribes, etc. The writing of her experience in the disastrous 1926 hurricane is particularly interesting and haunting. The last chapter is a short biography of her life. The author to this is not mentioned, but would assume it’s her grandson and editor of the book. Not just the lack of this credit, but placing dates on the essays included are missing, making it difficult to associate the stories and their place in time. Otherwise well written and lots of south Florida history!

The Executioner – Miami Massacre

Though you would think this book is of pretty predictable stuff, it’s not. A whole other element comes in and becomes a solid part of the adventure of Mack Bolan wiping out the mob at an electric pace. Pendleton really did a good job pacing a story and creating characters. Though, rather forgettable characters and most who don’t survive the story. Thus making the character creation a practical effort that still gives way to not knowing who lives and dies. As always, an exciting time with Mr. Bolan. By the way, on the Miami side, Pendleton did more than a cursory glance to the area. He even mentions the well known Crime Commission effort by Dade County. Though that really was more in force in the ’50s. Also, adding an element to the story that well illustrates a current mood at the time of the late ’60s of a certain people in Dade County. Compared to others, Pendelton does a very nice job of getting a sense of place and being rather accurate.