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Stolen from the Garden: The Kidnapping of Virginia Piper
On a July afternoon in 1972, two masked men waving guns abducted forty-nine-year-old Virginia Piper from the garden of her lakeside home in Orono, Minnesota. After her husband, a prominent investment banker, paid a $1 million ransom, an anonymous caller directed the FBI to a thickly wooded section of a northern Minnesota state park. There, two days after her nightmare began, Ginny Piper––chained to a tree, filthy and exhausted, but physically unharmed––awaited her rescuers.
The intensely private couple lived through a media firestorm. Both Bobby and Ginny Piper herself—naturally reserved and surprisingly composed in the aftermath of her ordeal—were subject to FBI scrutiny in the largest kidnap-for-ransom case in bureau annals. When two career criminals were finally indicted five years after the abduction, the Pipers again took center stage in two long trials before a jury's verdict made headlines across the nation.
Drawing on closely held government documents and exclusive interviews with family members, investigators, suspects, lawyers, and others intimately connected to the case, William Swanson provides the first comprehensive account of the sensational Piper kidnapping and its long, eventful aftermath––and makes a case for the most plausible explanation for what really happened on that July afternoon.
The intensely private couple lived through a media firestorm. Both Bobby and Ginny Piper herself—naturally reserved and surprisingly composed in the aftermath of her ordeal—were subject to FBI scrutiny in the largest kidnap-for-ransom case in bureau annals. When two career criminals were finally indicted five years after the abduction, the Pipers again took center stage in two long trials before a jury's verdict made headlines across the nation.
Drawing on closely held government documents and exclusive interviews with family members, investigators, suspects, lawyers, and others intimately connected to the case, William Swanson provides the first comprehensive account of the sensational Piper kidnapping and its long, eventful aftermath––and makes a case for the most plausible explanation for what really happened on that July afternoon.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2014
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298 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 15, 2014
Something about the description of this book piqued my interest, though I'm not sure what. I read a lot of true crime but this is the first time the case has not been about a serial killer or at least a murder. No. Here we have a fairly simple crime. A wealthy socialite is kidnapped in the 70s, a ransom note for $1,000,000 is sent, the money delivered and the woman found, scared and disheveled but unharmed. What follows however is a very long and twisting case. It goes cold, until 7 years later an arrest is finally made, but then that is when all the strangest parts of all happen. I enjoyed the book well. It's written in an easy to read style, The author is more than respectful to the victim and her family. Included are pages of actual court case testimony and a few pictures. I had never heard of this case before; probably because many high-profile kidnappings happened during this time period (including Patty Hearst). But this is an absorbing and interesting case and Swanson has presented it in a compelling read.
February 25, 2015
To be fair, I didn't read the whole book. I decided I didn't want to waste any more of my time after reading the first chapter. The writing was terrible. I just couldn't make myself continue. I was excited to read this book as I work at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, and wanted to learn more about the namesake. What a bummer.
November 10, 2014
This book addresses my favorite topics: true crime, Minnesota, and mystery.
Swanson recounts the 1972 kidnapping of Virginia Piper, whom I will not describe as a "socialite." (Read the book and you'll know why). Piper was a victim because her husband, Bobby Piper, had some money as a partner of the Piper, Jaffray financial firm. She was held for a $1 million ransom. When it was paid a day later, she was released.
Even though two men were convicted of the crime, the convictions were reversed on appeal. To this day, no one is certain who did the kidnapping. The point of Swanson's book is not to solve the crime (though he posits his own theory at the end). Instead, Swanson focuses on the facts of the case and the lengths to which the FBI, police, and Piper's family went to try to solve the mystery.
As such, readers are given a captivating narrative not only of the crime, but also of the journey people have taken to figure out what happened. One of the Piper's sons in particular did a lot of searching for answers, which Swanson describes.
Swanson has written other books that focus on Minnesota crime. His expertise as a narrative nonfiction crime writer is evident. This well-written book should satisfy fans of true crime.
Swanson recounts the 1972 kidnapping of Virginia Piper, whom I will not describe as a "socialite." (Read the book and you'll know why). Piper was a victim because her husband, Bobby Piper, had some money as a partner of the Piper, Jaffray financial firm. She was held for a $1 million ransom. When it was paid a day later, she was released.
Even though two men were convicted of the crime, the convictions were reversed on appeal. To this day, no one is certain who did the kidnapping. The point of Swanson's book is not to solve the crime (though he posits his own theory at the end). Instead, Swanson focuses on the facts of the case and the lengths to which the FBI, police, and Piper's family went to try to solve the mystery.
As such, readers are given a captivating narrative not only of the crime, but also of the journey people have taken to figure out what happened. One of the Piper's sons in particular did a lot of searching for answers, which Swanson describes.
Swanson has written other books that focus on Minnesota crime. His expertise as a narrative nonfiction crime writer is evident. This well-written book should satisfy fans of true crime.
June 13, 2021
If you were a Minnesotan born before 1960, you may remember the 1972 kidnapping of Virginia Piper, wife of Harry Piper, CEO of the Minneapolis investment firm, Piper Jaffray and Hopwood. It dominated the local news even though there were other world and local events of note at the time.
Wealthy but unassuming and not flaunting of their wealth, they lived on a secluded property in Orono, near Long Lake. Ginny’s sister Chy Morrison and family lived close by. Mr.Morrison was a Honeywell executive and Bobby Piper, Ginny’s husband also worked for Honeywell before enlisting in the Army. Then working for the investment firm his father started in the late 1800’s.
Who were the kidnappers that crafted and executed a near perfect and sophisticated plan? And where is the $1 million dollars in $20 bills? The serial numbers were noted in a 125 page doc and distributed widely to banks and merchants. The FBI had 100 agents on this. No spoilers. You will need to draw your own conclusion. The story guides you methodically through the kidnapping event, Mrs.Piper’s recounting of her experience and what she could identify, the kidnappers’ plan and the trials for the accused. In the aftermath, you will learn of a family desire to resurface it all many years later and publish it along with family opposition. Most suspects, family, FBI are no longer living but still questions remain as William Swanson shares the story. A true crime whodunnit. Who did this horrifying act? Where is the ransom money?
Wealthy but unassuming and not flaunting of their wealth, they lived on a secluded property in Orono, near Long Lake. Ginny’s sister Chy Morrison and family lived close by. Mr.Morrison was a Honeywell executive and Bobby Piper, Ginny’s husband also worked for Honeywell before enlisting in the Army. Then working for the investment firm his father started in the late 1800’s.
Who were the kidnappers that crafted and executed a near perfect and sophisticated plan? And where is the $1 million dollars in $20 bills? The serial numbers were noted in a 125 page doc and distributed widely to banks and merchants. The FBI had 100 agents on this. No spoilers. You will need to draw your own conclusion. The story guides you methodically through the kidnapping event, Mrs.Piper’s recounting of her experience and what she could identify, the kidnappers’ plan and the trials for the accused. In the aftermath, you will learn of a family desire to resurface it all many years later and publish it along with family opposition. Most suspects, family, FBI are no longer living but still questions remain as William Swanson shares the story. A true crime whodunnit. Who did this horrifying act? Where is the ransom money?
February 17, 2024
What’s better than a local mn true crime book???? I somehow happened upon this book at the thrift store and it was right up my alley. Very intriguing case recount/description in the first half of the book. The second half was mostly speculation/leads so it was more difficult to get through. Overall, so fun to read local stuff. I can’t wait to share with my parents/grandparents to see if they remember or remember hearing about this kidnapping!
Also, at the end I found out this author wrote the Carol Thompson book, too, which was a fun surprise (:
Also, at the end I found out this author wrote the Carol Thompson book, too, which was a fun surprise (:
February 1, 2019
A dry, journalistic recounting of the 1972 kidnapping of socialite Virginia Piper, the ransom, the FBI investigation, the suspects, the two trials, and the aftermath. No plot spoiler possible here: it seems likely that the FBI never solved the case. In any event, the ransom money was not recovered, indicating at least one kidnapper got away. More fascinating for the enduring mystery than for the mechanics of the crime.
November 21, 2014
This was the selection for my neighborhood book club for November. I do enjoy a good true crime read on occasion, but it is not my go-to genre or even overall category (I read primarily fiction.) So my perspective might be a little skewed based on these factors.
Pros (What I Liked)
- It's set in Minnesota, where I live. I've actually read a few things in the last couple of months around crime in Minnesota and continue to be surprised at how much a criminal history such a seemingly innocuous state has. But, as the book mentions, the Piper family, who was the focus on this book, was actually only middle of the road wealthy considering all of the other well-to-do families here.
- It's interesting to see how the payment of the ransom played out considering the technology of the day.
- I was most intrigued by the narrative around the two trials. It's not a surprise in my mind that given the strength of the evidence presented (or really lack-thereof), the kidnapping was never solved.
Cons (What I didn't Like)
- The author wasn't consistent in their POV or use of present/past tense. That made the narrative extremely difficult to read.
- The pacing was off. Some parts seemed to take forever, while others seemed rushed.
- Lots of extraneous details were included that I ended up skimming.
- If as the reader we're supposed to be invested in the Piper family as our "main characters", then a good chunk of the latter half of the book where it went through the whole rooster of "where are they now?" detail on supporting characters is just extra fluff.
In the end, this one was pretty forgettable for me.
Pros (What I Liked)
- It's set in Minnesota, where I live. I've actually read a few things in the last couple of months around crime in Minnesota and continue to be surprised at how much a criminal history such a seemingly innocuous state has. But, as the book mentions, the Piper family, who was the focus on this book, was actually only middle of the road wealthy considering all of the other well-to-do families here.
- It's interesting to see how the payment of the ransom played out considering the technology of the day.
- I was most intrigued by the narrative around the two trials. It's not a surprise in my mind that given the strength of the evidence presented (or really lack-thereof), the kidnapping was never solved.
Cons (What I didn't Like)
- The author wasn't consistent in their POV or use of present/past tense. That made the narrative extremely difficult to read.
- The pacing was off. Some parts seemed to take forever, while others seemed rushed.
- Lots of extraneous details were included that I ended up skimming.
- If as the reader we're supposed to be invested in the Piper family as our "main characters", then a good chunk of the latter half of the book where it went through the whole rooster of "where are they now?" detail on supporting characters is just extra fluff.
In the end, this one was pretty forgettable for me.
September 17, 2015
This is the true story of the kidnapping of Virginia Piper. Mrs. Piper, the wife of the head of the Minneapolis MN Piper Jaffray Hopwood investment firm was kidnapped from their home on Lake Minnetonka in the summer of 1972. The kidnappers demanded a one million dollar ransom, which was a US record at the time. 1972 was the year I graduated from the University of Minnesota (in Minneapolis), which added a great deal of interest for me. The abduction was nationwide news and of course got a great deal of press coverage in Minnesota. I am familiar with Lake Minnetonka, a popular lake midst wealthy suburbs, and I recognized many of the roads and towns mentioned during the description of the kidnappers flight with Mrs. Piper as well as the convoluted trip the kidnappers set her husband on to deliver the ransom money. William Swanson's description of the abduction and the ensuing events does a great job recreating the tense couple of days that Virginia Piper endured after she was abducted to a northern Minnesota state park, held in the woods chained to a tree waiting for rescue.
The actual abduction and release of Virginia Piper is only the beginning of the story. The book does a great job describing the hunt for the kidnappers, the ultimate arrest of two suspects a number of years later, and the judicial process that followed. And it also does a great describing the lasting emotional toll the abduction had on Virginia and her family.
This book will appeal to fans of true crime stories, but I think even crime fiction fans will like it.
The actual abduction and release of Virginia Piper is only the beginning of the story. The book does a great job describing the hunt for the kidnappers, the ultimate arrest of two suspects a number of years later, and the judicial process that followed. And it also does a great describing the lasting emotional toll the abduction had on Virginia and her family.
This book will appeal to fans of true crime stories, but I think even crime fiction fans will like it.
October 13, 2014
Stolen from the Garden by William Swanson is a very highly recommended account of the 1972 kidnapping of Virginia Piper and the subsequent investigation and trials.
In 1972 when 49 year old Virginia (Ginny) Piper was kidnapped by two masked men from her home by lake Minnetonka in the Minneapolis suburb of Orono, Minnesota, her husband, Harry (Billy) Piper Jr., paid a $1 million ransom for her safe return. After receiving the ransom, the kidnappers left information that Ginny could be found blindfolded, handcuffed and chained to a tree in a forested state park area outside of Duluth. Swanson recounts all of the details of the kidnapping, the search for suspects and the resulting two trials that failed to result in a conviction.
This is a fascinating book. Swanson explores and presents the information in a straightforward, concise format. Between the FBI files and information from the surviving sons, and with a clear eye for details, he presents the final, but inconclusive results of the investigations. Stolen from the Garden is a riveting account of a real life cold case and is very highly recommended.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Press for review purposes.
In 1972 when 49 year old Virginia (Ginny) Piper was kidnapped by two masked men from her home by lake Minnetonka in the Minneapolis suburb of Orono, Minnesota, her husband, Harry (Billy) Piper Jr., paid a $1 million ransom for her safe return. After receiving the ransom, the kidnappers left information that Ginny could be found blindfolded, handcuffed and chained to a tree in a forested state park area outside of Duluth. Swanson recounts all of the details of the kidnapping, the search for suspects and the resulting two trials that failed to result in a conviction.
This is a fascinating book. Swanson explores and presents the information in a straightforward, concise format. Between the FBI files and information from the surviving sons, and with a clear eye for details, he presents the final, but inconclusive results of the investigations. Stolen from the Garden is a riveting account of a real life cold case and is very highly recommended.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Press for review purposes.
January 11, 2016
Being from Minneapolis I picked this up at a Half Price Book Store. I remember hearing of the kindnaping of Virginia Piper but never knew the details and found this so interesting. I would recommend it to other readers.
February 28, 2015
4.5 stars
This was really interesting, well researched, and well written. I had never heard of this case prior to picking up this book, and I find it fascinating. And frustrating.
This was really interesting, well researched, and well written. I had never heard of this case prior to picking up this book, and I find it fascinating. And frustrating.
July 9, 2015
Well-written, but the Piper Case itself is pretty straightforward and bland.
April 17, 2016
A good, solid account of the 1972 kidnapping of Virginia Piper, wife of Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood CEO Harry "Bobby" Piper. It held my attention from start to finish.
April 12, 2019
On a lazy summer afternoon in 1972 a couple of gunmen burst into an Orono, Minnesota home, looking to kidnap David Piper. He wasn't there, but his wife Virginia was, and she served their purpose -- spirited away to a state park 150 miles north, near Duluth, she was tied to a tree where she languished for 2 days until a million dollar ransom was coughed up. A last-minute, hail-Mary indictment, just before the statute of limitations expired, resulted in protracted and ultimately inconclusive legal proceedings -- conviction, successful appeal, and acquittal on remand.
James Swanson, a gifted journalist with 2 prior, excellent true-crime books to his credit, recounts the events 4 decades on. His style is gripping and fast-paced, and he manages to bring the characters to life. But sad to say, there's just not a book-length story to be told.
Why the Pipers? Their wealth derived from Piper, Jaffray investment company fame, but it's not as if they were as well-known or well-off as a slew of Twin Cities magnates. Inside job, then? We don't know, and never will. The crime remains unsolved and other than a few thousand dollars the ransom -- perhaps 5M in today's dollars -- was never recovered. The FBI has lost or destroyed the only tangible evidence (single strand of hair; partial fingerprint), so forensics isn't going to unlock the mystery.
Well, there *was* at least one potential angle that went unpursued: a highly suspect FBI fingerprint identification of a local thug, as the limitation clock was running out. We know now that the FBI was hardly above scandalous misconduct (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/a...), but it's asking a lot of an investigative reporter to pursue that angle in a 40-year-old case where the print itself has gone missing.
So we're left with a story that, even though told impeccably by Swanson, ends anti-climatically. Bobby and Virginia Piper come across as incredibly brave, resourceful and admirable; the accused as, whatever else might be said, wrongly accused. Nonetheless, through no fault of Swanson, the lack of resolution is ultimately unsatisfying. Sure, someone got away with a spectacular crime, but how they managed the feat -- luck, skill or a combination -- remains as much a mystery as the perps themselves.
James Swanson, a gifted journalist with 2 prior, excellent true-crime books to his credit, recounts the events 4 decades on. His style is gripping and fast-paced, and he manages to bring the characters to life. But sad to say, there's just not a book-length story to be told.
Why the Pipers? Their wealth derived from Piper, Jaffray investment company fame, but it's not as if they were as well-known or well-off as a slew of Twin Cities magnates. Inside job, then? We don't know, and never will. The crime remains unsolved and other than a few thousand dollars the ransom -- perhaps 5M in today's dollars -- was never recovered. The FBI has lost or destroyed the only tangible evidence (single strand of hair; partial fingerprint), so forensics isn't going to unlock the mystery.
Well, there *was* at least one potential angle that went unpursued: a highly suspect FBI fingerprint identification of a local thug, as the limitation clock was running out. We know now that the FBI was hardly above scandalous misconduct (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/a...), but it's asking a lot of an investigative reporter to pursue that angle in a 40-year-old case where the print itself has gone missing.
So we're left with a story that, even though told impeccably by Swanson, ends anti-climatically. Bobby and Virginia Piper come across as incredibly brave, resourceful and admirable; the accused as, whatever else might be said, wrongly accused. Nonetheless, through no fault of Swanson, the lack of resolution is ultimately unsatisfying. Sure, someone got away with a spectacular crime, but how they managed the feat -- luck, skill or a combination -- remains as much a mystery as the perps themselves.
November 14, 2018
Stolen from the Garden by William Swanson
In the book Stolen from the Garden, William Swanson does an outstanding job of describing the kidnapping of 49-year-old Virginia Piper. William Swanson created a book full of interesting events which are based on a true story. His description of the crime allows readers to gain a detailed perspective of this true story.
Virginia Piper (also known as Ginny) is a well-known socialite in her hometown within Minnesota. Her husband, Harry Piper, is a rich man who is the chairman and chief executive officer of the very successful Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood Inc., a regional stock brokerage with offices in ten states. The Pipers have a lot of money, and everyone around them knows it. One day, Virginia Piper is outside of her lovely house working in her garden. She is then abducted from her house after her maids are frightened from the 2 men wearing black masks over their faces. Virginia Piper is taken at gunpoint for ransom, but the Piper family has yet to find out what happened to there lovely Virginia. Once Harry Piper gets the news, he finds that there’s a letter that was left by the kidnappers. The letter has all the instructions on how to receive Mrs. Piper. Through the novel, Harry Piper follows the instructions to reach his wife again. As you continue throughout the novel, you will easily find that it teaches a strong lesson about self-determination, faith, and helping one another.
Anyone who likes a good mystery or a crime story will very much enjoy Stolen from the Garden. The novel provides the reader with the image of the crime by including strong detail and even pictures from the crime itself, which I really enjoyed. What I didn’t like so much wasn’t the book itself, but what the story was based on. Sadly, the story isn’t unique because kidnappings have happened many times before. Knowing that the novel is a true story is a very powerful element. As this story is true, it can help to learn new lessons such as having faith, self-determination, and helping one another. I would definitely recommend this book.
In the book Stolen from the Garden, William Swanson does an outstanding job of describing the kidnapping of 49-year-old Virginia Piper. William Swanson created a book full of interesting events which are based on a true story. His description of the crime allows readers to gain a detailed perspective of this true story.
Virginia Piper (also known as Ginny) is a well-known socialite in her hometown within Minnesota. Her husband, Harry Piper, is a rich man who is the chairman and chief executive officer of the very successful Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood Inc., a regional stock brokerage with offices in ten states. The Pipers have a lot of money, and everyone around them knows it. One day, Virginia Piper is outside of her lovely house working in her garden. She is then abducted from her house after her maids are frightened from the 2 men wearing black masks over their faces. Virginia Piper is taken at gunpoint for ransom, but the Piper family has yet to find out what happened to there lovely Virginia. Once Harry Piper gets the news, he finds that there’s a letter that was left by the kidnappers. The letter has all the instructions on how to receive Mrs. Piper. Through the novel, Harry Piper follows the instructions to reach his wife again. As you continue throughout the novel, you will easily find that it teaches a strong lesson about self-determination, faith, and helping one another.
Anyone who likes a good mystery or a crime story will very much enjoy Stolen from the Garden. The novel provides the reader with the image of the crime by including strong detail and even pictures from the crime itself, which I really enjoyed. What I didn’t like so much wasn’t the book itself, but what the story was based on. Sadly, the story isn’t unique because kidnappings have happened many times before. Knowing that the novel is a true story is a very powerful element. As this story is true, it can help to learn new lessons such as having faith, self-determination, and helping one another. I would definitely recommend this book.
February 20, 2023
I was excited about this one seeing as it’s a Minnesota based crime and I’m from and still in Minnesota! But man...it was a drag...
Virginia Piper was a loved woman, very active in her community and profession, and raised a strong family of boys. But one day while she was gardening two masked men came looking for her husband, who at the time was not home. Instead of abducting him, they decided to abduct her! With a $1 million ransom, her husband pays, and she’s returned home without a scratch….and here we are 51 years later and the abductors and the cash have never been found!
The book had an interesting beginning. The storyline of the abduction, paying the ransom, and the FBI involvement was interesting. I also liked the pictures.
The author uses really long run on sentences. And the last 100 pages of the book were a snooze, it was obvious he was stretching to get the word count higher. I think he mentioned the effects the kidnapping must’ve had on Piper like 200 times.
★★★ Would recommend if it was a little shorter of a book, but the drag at the end is not worth it.
Virginia Piper was a loved woman, very active in her community and profession, and raised a strong family of boys. But one day while she was gardening two masked men came looking for her husband, who at the time was not home. Instead of abducting him, they decided to abduct her! With a $1 million ransom, her husband pays, and she’s returned home without a scratch….and here we are 51 years later and the abductors and the cash have never been found!
The book had an interesting beginning. The storyline of the abduction, paying the ransom, and the FBI involvement was interesting. I also liked the pictures.
The author uses really long run on sentences. And the last 100 pages of the book were a snooze, it was obvious he was stretching to get the word count higher. I think he mentioned the effects the kidnapping must’ve had on Piper like 200 times.
★★★ Would recommend if it was a little shorter of a book, but the drag at the end is not worth it.
February 3, 2021
This was an interesting read for me. Not having lived in Minnesota in the 1970's, I was not at all familiar with the kidnapping of Virginia Piper. Taken from her Orono home in the middle of the day and kept for over 48 hours, Virginia was found unharmed after her husband, Bobby paid a ransom of $1,000,000. This book recounts the kidnapping, the subsequent FBI investigation, and the trial of the two men accused of the kidnapping. I really liked that at the end, the author shared his own view on what happened.
September 4, 2019
What an interesting story about a kidnapping that has never been solved. I was in and around the Twin Cities during thIs time period. I thought William Swanson did and amazing job of giving the facts of the abduction and Virginia Piper's time in captivity and Bobby Piper's activities during this time, ransom route and the whole process. Both trials were well covered. Swanson remained very neutral, didn't give opinions and remained very fair about the whole process. I enjoyed the read.
June 24, 2018
Swanson always does a great job of inviting readers in to a fascinating criminal case in Minnesota history. The Piper kidnapping will likely never be solved, which is disappointing, but the book is a fascinating exploration of what happened, the government's case, and a few theories of viable culprits.
June 25, 2024
A very interesting look at the Virginia Piper kidnapping case from the 1970s in Minnesota.
The author is a retired Twin Cities journalist who is able to get a lot of information from other journalists who were present at the time.
Thank goodness for improved scientific testing - this was an eye opener into old FBI practices!
The author is a retired Twin Cities journalist who is able to get a lot of information from other journalists who were present at the time.
Thank goodness for improved scientific testing - this was an eye opener into old FBI practices!
January 5, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book, in part because I know David Piper, Virginia's son. It was interesting/frustrating to follow the investigation. In the end the result was disappointing. However, it was an eye opener to some of life's realities. It was an easy and quick read.
January 25, 2018
Lots of local color and personalities--here's the complete story in chronological order with the author's access to files and documents never before revealed. This fleshes out the story considerably. I still remember this news as huge!
December 24, 2018
This book revealed how people in Minnesota were affected by this kidnapping. I did not remember this event, so learning about it was interesting, especially because I don’t live too far away from there.
September 4, 2019
It was a really interesting book, however, it felt like the first 3rd was written by one author and it was very engaging and the last 2/3rds were written by a different author and it was in a different style.
Overall, still a good read!
Overall, still a good read!
July 27, 2023
True Minnesota crime story
I remember the story and came across this book. It was an interesting read and still a cold case. I hope someday someone will confess or a clue or lead comes out.
I remember the story and came across this book. It was an interesting read and still a cold case. I hope someday someone will confess or a clue or lead comes out.
October 29, 2024
I'm a Minnesota transplant who was unfamiliar with this story, until recently watching All The President's Men which mentions the kidnapping. A bit of googling brought me to this book, which my library happened to have.
Frustrating the case was never solved.
Frustrating the case was never solved.
October 11, 2025
This was a very detailed account of the Virginia Piper kidnapping. Unfortunately, nothing really happened… with basically no physical evidence the FBI really had nothing to go on.
But as someone from Minnesota it was interesting! And in my opinion, well written - 3/5.
But as someone from Minnesota it was interesting! And in my opinion, well written - 3/5.
May 27, 2017
This is probably more interesting to people who are from the area and may remember the headlines.
July 10, 2017
The book was interesting from an historical perspective and learning about the Virginia Piper kidnapping.
April 12, 2018
What a story!! We still do not know who kidnapped Virginia Piper and where the ransom money is. A true 21st century mystery!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews