The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss

Journalist Fox (The Confidence Men) offers a captivating biography of Fredericka Mandelbaum, a German Jewish immigrant who became one of America’s first organized crime bosses during the Gilded Age. Mandelbaum operated as a criminal fence, maintaining a network of thieves within her efficient organization. Thieves were paid 30 percent of fair market value, and the stolen goods were later sold in her store at a steep discount, a perpetual sale that attracted eager buyers. Mandelbaum set up a system where sellers entered on one block and exited on another. Her crew expertly altered items, resetting jewels and erasing engravings, ensuring they were untraceable. Silk, a prized commodity at the time, was meticulously stripped of identifying marks, making it indistinguishable from other pieces. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld delivers a first-rate performance, capturing both the gravity and the grandeur of Mandelbaum’s life. Maarleveld conveys an air of admiration for Mandelbaum’s boldness and success while never glossing over the criminal nature of her enterprise. Her pacing is impeccable, keeping listeners engaged as the story of Mandelbaum’s rise unfolds and her empire expands.