Bag Toys: Sex, Scandal, and the Death Mask Murder

by David France

Book Overview

Here's the shocking true story of the 1985 "Death Mask Murder"--a grisly crime linked to prominent Madison Avenue art gallery owner Andrew Crispo, a man who operated in both the forbidding underworld of sadomasochists and drug addicts, and in the glittering art world and New York society. 8-page insert.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446516066
• ISBN13: 9780446516068
• Release Date: June 1992
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I never read the first printing but just finished the update. The final twist will knock your socks (or `leather pants' off.... No pun intended). Books that do not fully attribute sources leave me with a slightly dubious feeling, but there is enough hard core fact here to send a chill up your spine. Andrew Crispo hobnobbed with the rich and famous. Hmm.......Yes the book flits about in places, but overall it is a captivating read, and will make you wonder how many others are lurking out there with a `bag of horrors'.

Don't Listen to the Negative Reviews

..........................I will agree that this book may not be for everyone. Yes, it is true that the name of the actual victim of the murder does not even appear until page 350 or so. In that sense I can see where some may say it's "boring". However, being an avid true-crime addict, this is my favorite kind, where we delve into the lifestyles of the characters in great detail. I think this book was "too intellectual" for most avg. t/c readers. The author does go into extensive narratives about the art world, New York's homosexual S & M underground, and especially the bizarre main character, Andrew Crispo. I thought it was incredibly fascinating and is probably one of my top 5 favorites. Alot of times I get bored with t/c books when they spend 100+ pages at the end on the trial & sentancing, etc., and I'll sometimes skip blocks of pages due to boredome. Not with this book, though; I was engrossed all 485 pages. You can tell the author is a true journalist, and my only complaint is that in the first 200 pgs. he jumps around chronologically a little too much which caused me some confusion (and re-reading). Other than that, though, I wish all T/C books were written w/ this much knowledge, research, and intelligence.

A thoughtful and chilling snapshot of New York in the 80s

The author skillfully weaves exhaustively researched details into a narrative that illuminates a particularly dark moment in the downtown art scene of New York. Gripping. I couldn't put it down.