AN OPENING CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE EARLY POLICE FORCES AND THEIR DETECTIVES--THE MEN WHO INSPIRED SUCH AUTHORS AS POE AND DICKENS. THE INFLUENCE OF ALLAN PINKERTON ON THE GROWTH OF AMERICAN CRIME DETECTION AND DETECTIVE FICTION IS NOTED, AS ARE THE WRITINGS OF DASHIEL HAMMETT, ERLE STANLEY GARDNER, GEORGES SIMENON, AND REX STOUT. MOST OF THE CASE HISTORIES INVOLVE MURDERS WITH BIZARRE OR SENSATIONAL TWISTS. THE STORY OF THE CAPTURE OF AL CAPONE IS INCLUDED, AS IS AN ACCOUNT OF TWO FORMER NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP INMATES WHO HUNTED DOWN ADOLF EICHMANN. THE CLOSING CHAPTER DISCUSSES 'TOMORROW'S DETECTIVES,' WITH ATTENTION TO THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME A DETECTIVE, THE WORK OF PRIVATE AND POLICE DETECTIVES, AND SPECIALIZATION IN POLICE DETECTIVE WORK. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE NEXT. (LKM)