Queen of the Burglars: The Scandalous Life of Sophie Lyons
About this audiobook
Born in the mid-nineteenth century, Sophie Lyons was a master thief, con artist, blackmailer, and smuggler. Much of her success as a criminal was due to the fact that she was fearless, reckless, sharp, and cunning—everything a woman of her time was not supposed to be. As a young child, Sophie’s parents forced her to steal when she showed a talent for pickpocketing. Strong-willed and smart, she blossomed into a beautiful teenager who caught the eye of many men in the underworld of New York City. By the time Sophie reached her late teens she was married to her second husband—a notorious bank burglar named Ned Lyons—and was a professional criminal in her own right. Despite her prominent place in crime history, Sophie Lyons has never been the subject of a full-length biography. This audiobook chronicles Sophie’s fascinating and tragic life, from her beginnings as a criminal prodigy, through her ingenious escape from Sing Sing prison and her lifelong struggle with mental illness.
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About the author
A genealogist, illustrator, and writer, Shayne Davidson was fascinated by how people lived, particularly in nineteenth century America. She collects vintage photos, primarily mugshots and rogues’s gallery photos. Many of her current writing projects are focused on vintage crime.
Allyson Johnson is an actress and singer who began performing at age twelve as coanchor of Bubble Gum Digest, for which she won an Emmy. After earning a degree in psychology from Brown University, she moved to New York where she became a social worker before shifting to a career in television and radio. Johnson has recorded countless commercials, promos, audiobooks, narrations, and animation series.
