Private Investigation · Professional Practice
Hidden Truths
The Professional Practice of Private Investigations
by Daniel J. Conidi, Esquire · Mid-Atlantic Law Press · Available in English
The Definitive Guide to Professional Investigative Practice
Most people have no idea what professional investigation actually looks like. Television gets it wrong. The internet gets it wrong. And the gaps in that knowledge cost clients, attorneys, and businesses dearly — in wasted money, lost evidence, and cases that should have been won.
Daniel J. Conidi, Esquire is not a typical investigator. With 26 years as a Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 14 years in private practice as a licensed attorney and licensed private detective, and certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), he has operated at the highest levels of American law enforcement and legal practice — on both sides of the system.
As Director of the Mid-Atlantic Law Project — a nonprofit dedicated to putting professional knowledge directly in the hands of those who need it — Mr. Conidi has made education his mission. Hidden Truths is the result: a 16-chapter professional guide that pulls back the curtain on how investigations are actually conducted, what separates professional work product from amateur mistakes, and what every attorney, business, and individual needs to know before engaging an investigator.
Four decades inside the system. One book. Everything they never told you.
Book Contents — 16 Chapters
| 1 | The Hidden Reality of Private Investigation What investigators actually do — and why the profession is far more complex than most realize |
| 2 | The Licensing System and the Courts Who is authorized to investigate, how the court system works, and how work product enters the legal record |
| 3 | Why Process Matters The foundation of professional investigation — documentation, chain of custody, and report writing |
| 4 | Surveillance Fundamentals The art and discipline of professional observation — legal boundaries, methods, and documentation |
| 5 | Advanced Surveillance Operations Coordination, complexity, and professional judgment in multi-operative surveillance |
| 6 | Surveillance Technology and Equipment Tools, realities, legal constraints, and professional judgment in modern surveillance tech |
| 7 | Digital Investigations Online research, digital evidence, social media investigation, and computer law |
| 8 | Background Investigations Professional methodology for comprehensive background research on individuals and entities |
| 9 | Financial Investigations Asset tracing, fraud detection, and financial pattern analysis |
| 10 | Witness Development and Interviews Finding, approaching, and interviewing witnesses — producing usable testimony |
| 11 | Asset Investigations Locating hidden assets, tracing ownership, and supporting judgment enforcement |
| 12 | Executive Protection Professional protective operations — threat assessment, advance work, and protective details |
| 13 | Domestic Investigations Marital, custody, and domestic matters — legal boundaries and professional standards |
| 14 | Skip Tracing and Locating People Professional methods for lawfully locating individuals — witnesses, debtors, and missing persons |
| 15 | How to Choose a Private Investigator What to look for, what to avoid, and the questions every client must ask |
| 16 | Conclusion The professional standard — what separates legitimate investigative practice from everything else |
Available on Amazon — Print and Kindle
Mid-Atlantic Law Press · Copyright © 2026 Daniel J. Conidi
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Call: 773-270-8400
This book is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or professional investigative services and does not create an attorney-client or investigator-client relationship. Investigative laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction. Consult qualified legal counsel before undertaking any investigative activity.