Judson R. Taylor

This is a story of detective work among the Moonshiners in the mountain wilds of Southern Georgia. You should read it from the perspective of when it was published -- the late 19th century. Writing styles from that period are much different than today, and you should enjoy it as much for its style as its story.

There is not a slow line in the entire book; it is written in a style that commands attention right from the drop of the hat. The first word is an exclamation, and they keep coming thick and fast. The best part of it all is that Macon Moore is a gentleman detective and in no sense a swashbuckled ruffian. He has the courage to meet even criminals and desperadoes on the level; in short he is what the schoolboy would call "A corker." Nobody save one schooled in the experience of adventure can read this book without feeling that they have learned some lessons of caution and of true courage. They will also gain some valuable ideas which may serve them well at some time in an emergency. Like all fiction there are places where the story strains the probable, but is within the possible. On the whole we think it a mighty clever, well written, interesting book -- a perfect panorama of startling events.

This edition of the book contains the original illustration, rejuvenated, and 12 additional iconic detective, police, and crime illustrations/photographs that are unique to this edition of the book.

Judson R. Taylor was a pseudonym used by Harlan P. Halsey. Halsey was a reasonably-successful, late-19th-century, American author. He is credited with writing the first great "dime-novel" detective story, "Old Sleuth, the Detective," which was published in the Fireside Companion in 1872, by Monro Publishing. Shortly thereafter, Halsey wrote a number of detective stories as Judson R. Taylor. They gained a great deal of popularity among readers of the Weekly (New York Weekly). Halsey also wrote under the names Tony Pastor, Bell Booth, and Wolf O'Neil.

In 1897, J.S. Ogilvie Publishing continued the Old Sleuth character in 146 issues of Old Sleuth's Own, which resembled today's mass-market paperbacks. They were 100+ pages, and measured about 5" x 7".

Between 1908 and 1921, Arthur Westbrook Company of Cleveland published 203 more novels, although many were reprints. These were roughly 8 1/2" x 11", and had about 32 pages.