Queen of Thieves: The True Story of Marm Mandelbaum and Her Gangs of New York (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781629144351)

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. The New York Times called Mandelbaum "the nucleus and center of the whole organization of crime in New York City."

Having emigrated from Germany in 1850, she began her climb to the top of the crime world as a peddler on the rough-and-tumble, crowded streets of the city. By 1880, she had amassed a fortune estimated at more than $1 million. Mandelbaum was known for running an orderly criminal enterprise. She enlisted the services of an extensive network of criminals of every ilk and bribed police officials, politicians, and judges. If someone wanted to move stolen goods, needed protection from the law, or sought money to finance a caper, Marm was the person to see.

In 1884, Mandelbaum escaped from the clutches of Pinkerton detectives, who were casing her house, and fled to Canada. Mandelbaum lived out the rest of her life in luxury on a small farm with her family and ill-got fortune. Hundreds of people turned out for her funeral. Dozens of people later reported to police that they had their pockets picked at the service.

Author: J. North Conway
ISBN-10: 1629144355
ISBN-13: 9781629144351
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Language: English
Published: 09/02/2014
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.40w x 1.10d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 09/01/2014 pg. 124