Vanishing Point: The Disappearance of Judge Crater, and the New York He Left Behind - Hardcover

Casts intriguing new light on a famous unsolved mystery. * Kirkus * It's a fascinating tale, even after all these years. * The Dallas Morning News * Fans of true crime and New York City politics alike will be attracted to Vanishing Point, an excellent survey. * Midwest Book Review * Tofel has written an entertaining account...For those who recognize the name, but don't know the fascinating story behind it, this is the book to read. * New York Post * With a newspaperman's eye for drama, Tofel covers a great tale about a New York just beyond our living memory. * New York Sun * Offers a portrait of Tammany personalities and their intricate political deals...The first book to piece together his [Crater's] surprising story. * The Wall Street Journal * Excellent...a vivid portrayal...New York lawyers should find fascinating the depiction of a New York legal world...Illuminating. * New York Law Journal * An intriguing mystery built around the author's compelling argument about the truth behind Crater's disappearance. * Smoke * Shrewd, terse, engrossing study... * The New York Times * Using a substantial body of evidence Tofel...offers a tentative, yet intriguing solution... -- Gracie Gregg * Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX * He makes the case relevant and fascinating for the reader. -- Larry Cox * Tucson Citizen * This makes for fascinating reading. -- Eugene R. Fidell * Green Bag * Compelling. -- Owen Moritz * New York Daily News * A fascinating look at a great city's greatest mystery. * Kevin Baker * Extraordinarily deft and skillfully written...[An] admirably understated book... -- Ric Burns, documentary filmmaker

The sudden disappearance of Judge Joseph Crater nearly 75 years ago led to perhaps the most famous missing persons case of the twentieth century. Crater, a justice of New York's state Supreme Court, vanished amid political scandal. A public frenzy about what happened to Crater provided impetus for scrutiny of New York's Tammany Hall political machine-and ultimately for the vanishing of Tammany Hall as well. Richard J. Tofel's Vanishing Point is a revealing look at New York as the Jazz Age gave way to the Depression, and at one of the most intriguing stories in the annals of urban America.