Queen of Thieves: The True Story of "Marm" Mandelbaum and Her Gangs of New York

(Hardback)

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"Queen of Thieves" is the gritty, fast-paced story of Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum, a poor Jewish woman who rose to the top of her profession in organized crime during the Gilded Age in New York City. During her more than twenty-five-year reign as the country's top receiver of stolen goods, she accumulated great wealth and power inconceivable for women engaged in business, legitimate or otherwise.

Reviews

". . . a provocative read and a pleasing window into 19th-century crime with an unusual leaderan immigrant woman. Recommended for historical crime buffs, those interested in women's history, and the general reader." Library Journal

Queen of Thieves, like Conways previous books, paints a vivid and cinematic picture of New York City during the Gilded Age with its colorful cast of characters. This time, the story centers on one of America's first organized crime bosses, Fredericka Mandelbaum, a woman who gained enormous money and power during her rise as matriarch of the underworld. Will Staples, screenwriter

Mr. Conway, true to his roots a newspaperman, has written a gripping, page-turning historical account of Fredericka Mandelbaum, making it as fresh and relevant as if it were ripped from today's headlines. Jesse Dubuc, coauthor, The Attack of the HMS Nimrod: Wareham and the War of 1812

Praise for King of Heists

Engrossing . . . Conway skillfully paints a backdrop of fierce and flamboyant personalities who paraded across the Gilded Age . . . [H]e capably recounts his story against a background of glitter and greed. Publishers Weekly

A page-turning account of one of the most brazen crimes of our time. Readers Digest

Conway, a college prof and ex-newspaper man, covers this ancient tale in a way that makes it feel like a hot news story. New York Post

Praise for The Big Policeman:

Conway portrays his subjects cleverness and excesses with a flawed-hero flavor that should draw in true-crime fans. Booklist

An essential read for those interested in police work, detective stories, and New York City history. Library Journal

A fascinating, fast-moving account of one of the most polarizing and influential figures of 19th-century New York. Daniel Stashower, author of The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder

A treasure trove of information not only on larger-than-life pioneering detective Thomas Byrnes but also on law-and-order in wide-open nineteenth-century Manhattan. David Pietrusza, author of Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series
". . . a provocative read and a pleasing window into 19th-century crime with an unusual leaderan immigrant woman. Recommended for historical crime buffs, those interested in women's history, and the general reader." Library Journal

Queen of Thieves, like Conways previous books, paints a vivid and cinematic picture of New York City during the Gilded Age with its colorful cast of characters. This time, the story centers on one of America's first organized crime bosses, Fredericka Mandelbaum, a woman who gained enormous money and power during her rise as matriarch of the underworld. Will Staples, screenwriter

Mr. Conway, true to his roots a newspaperman, has written a gripping, page-turning historical account of Fredericka Mandelbaum, making it as fresh and relevant as if it were ripped from today's headlines. Jesse Dubuc, coauthor, The Attack of the HMS Nimrod: Wareham and the War of 1812

Praise for King of Heists

Engrossing . . . Conway skillfully paints a backdrop of fierce and flamboyant personalities who paraded across the Gilded Age . . . [H]e capably recounts his story against a background of glitter and greed. Publishers Weekly

A page-turning account of one of the most brazen crimes of our time. Readers Digest

Conway, a college prof and ex-newspaper man, covers this ancient tale in a way that makes it feel like a hot news story. New York Post

Praise for The Big Policeman:

Conway portrays his subjects cleverness and excesses with a flawed-hero flavor that should draw in true-crime fans. Booklist

An essential read for those interested in police work, detective stories, and New York City history. Library Journal

A fascinating, fast-moving account of one of the most polarizing and influential figures of 19th-century New York. Daniel Stashower, author of The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder

A treasure trove of information not only on larger-than-life pioneering detective Thomas Byrnes but also on law-and-order in wide-open nineteenth-century Manhattan. David Pietrusza, author of Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series

Author Bio

J. North Conway has published a dozen books, including a trilogy on New York City during the Gilded Age. The first book in the trilogy, King of Heists, was named one of the best books of the summer by Reader's Digest. The second book, The Big Policeman, was optioned by CBS Television Studios. Bag of Bones is the third book in the trilogy. He lives in Assonet, Massachusetts.