Tailspin: The Strange Case of Major Call

In Tailspin: The Strange Case of Major Call, best-selling author Bernard F. Conners presents the story of Major James Arlon Call, a heroic airman whose passion for excitement propelled him into a horrifying life of crime. As a young man, Major James Call had it all - a brilliant mind, devoted wife, dashing good looks, and an illustrious career as a decorated flyer. But Major Call also had a dark side - a penchant for speed, danger, life on the edge and survival at any cost. Haunted by the death of his young wife, Call volunteered for wartime combat "suicide missions," then for further diversions, turned to gambling and crime. What follows is the captivating story of brazen burglaries, a shootout with the police, and a 106-day manhunt. An unlikely criminal, Call was never charged with many of the crimes he committed including one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the 20th Century -the Sam Sheppard murder case.

Conners, a former FBI agent, employs a dramatized, yet factual, narrative to present a gripping account of his charming but deadly protagonist. Tailspin is based on extraordinary research conducted over a period of decades, and contains over 80 pages of stunning evidence, photographs and exhibits to support the narrative.

Bernard F. Conners, former publisher of The Paris Review, has had a distinguished career in government, business, publishing, and film. He is the best-selling author of Dancehall, Tailspin, The Hampton Sisters, Don't Embarrass the Bureau, and, most recently, Cruising with Kate. Mr. Conners lives in Loudonville, New York.