On Secret Service Detective-Mystery Stories Based on Real Cases Solved by Government Agents

"On Secret Service" by William Nelson Taft is a gripping collection of early 20th-century detective mystery stories based on genuine investigations conducted by government agents. These stories plunge into a shadowy world of covert operations, following agents like Jimmy Callahan as he confronts threats to national security, uncovers criminal plots, and unravels elaborate deceptions; the book opens in the bustling lobby of D.C.'s Willard Hotel, where the narrator and his friend Bill Quinn observe the comings and goings of political figures. Quinn introduces the narrator to Jimmy Callahan before recounting a World War I case filled with danger and intrigue, involving German U-boats and the transport ship "America". Callahan's sharp investigation uncovers a dangerous plot to sabotage American troop movements, leading to a breathless, high-stakes effort to thwart a deadly assault, vividly illustrating the operatives’ bravery and the nation's vulnerability, setting the tone for suspenseful tales of courage and high stakes.