Book About Philadelphia's Semi-Secret Crime Solving Group Now In Paperback

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A former Philadelphia newspaper reporter's best-selling book on a little-known local institution is out in paperback today.

Michael Capuzzo says he learned of the Vidocq Society (named for the world's first criminologist) while working for the Inquirer, and his book, The Murder Room is his gripping, comprehensive account of its origins and exploits.

Membership in the society is by invitation only, and even getting to present a case to the group takes some doing, says Capuzzo.

"The Vidocq Society will invite them to Philadelphia and they'll give the Powerpoint presentation over a sort of gourmet lunch," he says, "and it can be kind of horrific experience if you've never seen the headless body over a five-course meal with the white tablecloths.  But then they'll go into the field and work on it and get results.  It's kind of amazing."

Capuzzo notes that two of the organization's three founders are Philadelphians -- and that's a good thing.

"One of the things I appreciate about a Philly guy, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and something happens and he says, 'You know what?  Yo, that's not supposed to happen that way, that's wrong," and I think there's a certain edge to Philly that still feels deeply about these things and I'm proud of it."

Society members are some of the world's top crime solvers, its cases some of the most baffling, where the assembled experience, insight, and even genius can sometimes figure out whodunit.

Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060