One of the most prolific and successful criminals in nineteenth century New York was a woman by the name of Marm Mandelbaum. Good accomplices were hard to find in those days, so Marm started a school for young criminals. She recruited urchins off the streets of Manhattan and had them trained in various illegal arts, including lock picking, safe cracking and forgery.

How to Lead a Life of Crime was inspired by a simple thought: What if Marm’s school hadn’t closed? What if it had evolved, changed its name and become . . . respectable. What would it be like in the 21st century?

Though shelved as YA, How to Lead a Life of Crime is not for everyone. It's dark, disturbing and violent. It's not appropriate for younger readers. Adults who enjoyed The Change and The Women of Wild Hill will likely love it. This is one of my favorite novels, and a great read for anyone opposed to oligarchy.