State Supreme Court Judge, Joe Crater, has gone missing. His wife, Stella, has her suspicions about what might have happened to him, based on his shady dealings with even shadier men, but she is staggered by the absence of any true investigation into his whereabouts. Meanwhile, his mistress, Ritzi, fears she may be in danger, as she was with him on the night of his untimely disappearance. The one cop who is investigating the mysterious circumstances of the judge is actually married to Maria, the maid of the Crater family who has been in on some of their secrets. How they become connected and how they survive is the substance of this suspenseful narrative.
Loosely based on the actual notorious missing person, Joseph Carter, whose whereabouts have never truly been found, this suspenseful and atmospheric novel gives a colorful picture of NYC in the 1920’s and 1930’s. With Joe Crater’s connection to organized crime, in the persona of Ownie Madden, we are sucked into the world of speakeasies and Broadway and the corruption surrounding the judicial system as well as the police department at that time.
The story is also told via three very strong leading female characters, each of whom is connected to Joe, but also who become connected to and in some ways, dependent on each other. We see each of their vulnerabilities, each of their complex situations, and each of their motivations to carry on and stay true to their values.
Another great historical fiction novel from Ariel Lawhorn!
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