A review of The Wife, The Maid and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon

The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress is the imagined story behind the real life mystery surrounding the disappearance of Judge Joseph Crater in 1930. It is a mystery that still fascinates, and Ariel Lawhon has created a fascinating story around the actual events. We are given bits and pieces of the story told by Maria Simon, the Crater's maid, and wife of Jude Simon, head detective on the Crater case. We also learn of events from the perspective of Stella Crater, Joseph's wife, and Sally Lou Ritz, his mistress. Much of the story circles around the profound corruption in politics that existed in 1930, including the infamous Tammany Hall political machine and Owney Madden, a bootlegger and ruthless mobster who appears to be responsible for most of the violent deaths of various characters and real historical figures (Madden was also a real person). What is fascinating here is how Lawhon weaves together much true information with fictional, and it appears seamless in the story. It is a visceral tale of corruption, greed, violence, and most appallingly, the near powerlessness of the women who are sucked into the machinations of the men who seem to control all. Note, however, the word "near". These women show ingenuity, perseverance and grit, while attempting to navigate their lives through the mistakes they have made and for which they must subsequently pay. In all, a throughly fun read.