Rogues' Gallery

“A fascinating page-turner, Rogues’ Gallery will appeal to true crime buffs and anyone interested in the dark side of life in late nineteenth century New York City.”—New York Journal of Books

“Oller takes an epic and engrossing look at the history of New York City crime and law enforcement from the early 1870s to about 1910. Drawing on a wide range of sources … Oller weaves an enthralling narrative that presents both the origins of the NYPD and of organized crime in the Big Apple… . True crime fans will relish what is likely to be the definitive account of this seminal period for lawbreakers and law enforcers alike.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Mr. Oller could not have chosen a better moment for the publication of his book… . Rogues’ Gallery provides useful context for today’s continuing conversation about the importance and limits of policing—and even what constitutes a crime.”—The Wall Street Journal

“For fans of true crime stories, Oller has assembled an abundance of colorful characters.”—Booklist

“For crime buffs, Oller delivers ample murder and mayhem as well as organizational notes for students of criminology… . Some fine moments of cops-and-robbers and cops-and-politicos action throughout.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Rogues’ Gallery is a remarkable and impressive achievement. John Oller’s deep dive into a rich variety of primary sources has produced a riveting and compelling narrative. Important but forgotten events and characters like the Manhattan Savings Bank robbery, Marm Mandelbaum, Shang Draper, and Arthur Carey have long needed their own historian, and John Oller rises to the occasion. I wish I had written Rogues’ Gallery.”—Timothy Gilfoyle, professor of history, Loyola University Chicago, and author of A Pickpocket’s Tale and City of Eros: New York City, Prostitution, and the Commercialization of Sex

“Well written … Perfect for New York City history buffs or true crime readers.”—Amelia Osterud, Library Journal

“Interesting reading and meticulous research. Will be appreciated by readers of crime and law enforcement history.”—Thomas Hunt, author of DiCarlo: Buffalo’s First Family of Crime

“An excellent and much-needed revision to accounts of New York’s late nineteenth-century crime scene.”—Jerry Kuntz, author of The Writing Master: The Story of the Gentleman-Thief and Forger, James B. Crosse

“So many great details … painted the complete picture. The book will be a tremendous resource for researchers in the future.”—Bernard Whalen, longtime NYPD lieutenant and author of The NYPD’s First Fifty Years and Undisclosed Files of the Police: Cases from the Archives of the NYPD

John Oller is a retired Wall Street attorney, and author of critically acclaimed biographies of figures such as Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, Hollywood actress Jean Arthur, and Civil War socialite Kate Chase Sprague. He lives on New York’s Upper West Side.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.