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Emmy-winning TV newsmagazine producer Cohen examines one of the most publicized missing child cases in America. On May 25, 1979, Etan Patz left his family's SoHo loft to walk two blocks to catch his school bus, the first time his parents let him make the trip alone. He was never seen again. Early in the investigation, police interviewed Jose Antonio Ramos, whose "interest in little blond boys" had become known to police, yet they dismissed Ramos as a suspect in the Patz case. But over the years, Ramos repeatedly intimated that he molested and murdered Patz and hid the body. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart GraBois doggedly and shrewdly pursued Ramos, hoping prison informants could coax a confession. Cohen details GraBois's efforts and the pain Stan and Julie Patz endured as years passed and Etan's fate remained a mystery. Perhaps most heart-wrenching is Stan's twice-yearly ritual of mailing Etan's "missing" poster to Ramos in prison, always with the same message: "What did you do to my little boy?" As true crime, this tragic tale is a standout, and Cohen, though no prose stylist, does a creditable job telling it. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.AFTER ETAN, Lisa R. Cohen's mesmerizing account of the tragic and complex circumstances surrounding the Etan Patz abduction, is one of the most engrossing books I've read in a long time. I was only 5 years old when the Etan Patz case became a media event, but being from the NY area, it permeated my world for years to come and likely added a sense of paranoia to every parent from my generation. Periodically, the story of Etan Patz would come to mind, and I failed to believe that after so much time this was still an unsolved case. No longer is that true, thanks to this remarkable and multi-faceted triumph. Cohen weaves together incisive factual reporting on every twist and turn of this enigmatic case with the suspenseful, page-turning instincts of a seasoned mystery writer.
Cohen delves into the morass of this well documented case and sifts through some of the truly choice details that made it so nagging and painful. Cranks and crazies, psychic visions, hippie communities, jailhouse snitches and one pesky typewriter ribbon- they all coalesce to make AFTER ETAN a nerve jangling ride. Cohen seamlessly weaves together three concurrent and equally captivating stories throughout the book: the suffering of the Patz family and their ability to rise above their grief; the eerie and lurid life of Jose Ramos, the primary suspect in the case who eluded prosecution for years; and finally, Assistant U.S. District Attorney Stuart GraBois' valiant and dogged pursuit of justice. Cohen takes the reader from one unexpected event to the next, flouting the urge to sensationalize the story when it could have been so easy to succumb.
As a result, AFTER ETAN stands as a salient piece of non-fiction and a riveting human interest piece. To call it simply a crime story, suspense novel, courtroom drama or even public service would be reductive. It's all of those and much, much more. It also stands as the definitive resource on the Etan Patz story, humanizing this child in ways that his widely-circulated image cannot. This is an essential and rewarding read for anyone willing and able to delve into such an emotionally wrenching story.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TrueCrimeGirl
Posted January 21, 2010
I was a child myself when Etan went missing, and always wondered if this case was ever solved. The author conveys the sheer horror of the Patz family experience, as well as the sorrow and frustration all involved went through. The fact that the Patz family had new laws enacted through this tragedy is a testament to their strength. Also, because of the author's great detail and expressive writing regarding the story of Stuart Grabois, I do again believe in Superheroes.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JM62
Posted May 11, 2009
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Cohen tells this complicated story with great passion and finesse. I found the account of the disappearance absolutely compelling. Cohen blends circumstance and emotion skillfully without resorting to anything approaching histrionics. I doubt there is a parent alive who wouldn't read the account of Etan's disappearance and be dropped headfirst into the well of what such a moment would feel like, all the while being relieved and grateful that they could close the book and walk away from it. The work reminded me of the excellent writing by Philip Gourevitch in "A Cold Case." Highly recommended.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookWormAG
Posted April 25, 2009
This cautionary tale is a must for parents, teachers, and community leaders. Lisa Cohen's compelling narrative tells a heartbreaking story of loss, strength, diligence and faith.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.avidreaderMF
Posted April 25, 2009
I only knew a little bit about this case - the MISSING POSTER has always stuck in my mind. But this book went from A to Z, leaving nothing out, in story form. There were so many just incredible twists to this case, and I was blown away by the diligence of the federal prosecutor and the endurance of the family. They are true heroes in a world that doesn't have enough.
I couldn't put this down - read it in two days.
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Overview
On the morning of May 25, 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz left his apartment to go to his school bus stop. It was the first time he walked the two short blocks on his own.But he never made it to school that day. He vanished somewhere between his home and the bus stop, and was never seen again.
The search for Etan quickly consumed the downtown Manhattan neighborhood where his family lived. Soon afterward, "Missing" posters with Etan's smiling face blanketed the city, followed by media coverage that turned Etan's disappearance into a national story-one that would change our cultural landscape forever.
Thirty years later, ...