The Union Station Massacre by Robert Unger, reviewed for Ellroy Reads

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads, I discuss Robert Unger’s true crime tale The Union Station Massacre: The Original Sin of J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI. The Kansas City Massacre occurred on June 17, 1933, and lead to the death of four men lawmen and one gang member. The official version of events is that the shootout happened when three gang members tried to arrange the escape of Frank ‘Jelly’ Nash, an outlaw and bank robber who was being returned to Leavenworth prison after escaping three years earlier. But Unger questions the entire FBI narrative that has grown out of the case, and he is particularly indignant about how Hoover saw it as the perfect publicity opportunity and power grab for the Bureau.

Much of Unger’s thinking on the case inspired James Ellroy’s fictional portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover. I hope you enjoy the episode and do remember to subscribe, share, comment on and like the content. Thanks.