The Revenuer

“THE REVENUER” is a well written book of a true-life story of a revenue agent working for the US Treasury alcohol taxation unit. Elliot Ness type excitement. It starts in January 1930-the probation era! The dangers of the work in finding moonshine stills in isolated, hilly, mountainous areas often with posted guards ready to shoot any outsider especially a “Revenuer” are vividly described. The reader’s will find it hard to put down. After finding a still, a stake-out takes place to provide the needed evidence. This is followed the the perpetrators being apprehended at location, taken for trial and the still distroyed. Wild animals are encountered (snakes for example) at times especially hard to handle when creeping in to apprehend the moonshiners.The work was dangerous and often involved physical encounters to apprehend the moonshiner. Detective work was also required to locate the underground dives where moonshine was sold. This required developing a friendship with someone in the know. Often it was possible to get their confidence and be able to locate a number of illegal sellers by spy-type activity. Again evidence was needed to bring a case against the sellers. They didn’t think kindly on the agent either and shootings did result at times. The art was to be crafty to insnare them completely and not let any escape. The story is presented just as he typed it on his portable typewriter after retirement from US Government service. Try it you will like it!