The Maid and The Socialite by Lynda Drews

I love local history. Even the history of cities that I've never been to, like Green Bay, Wisconsin, is incredibly interesting, especially when the information being shared is from a perspective that's never been told before. This type of bottom-up history (Google it!) is evident in The Maid and The Socialite. In the book, Lynda Drews brings to life the literal trials that two local women, Mary (the maid) and Mollie (the socialite) in the early 1900s.

Their lives were upended by hailed physician Dr. John R. Minihan, who has a number of local icons named after him, including an office building and a stadium at St. Norbert College. He was something of a local hero, and even served as the mayor of Green Bay. However, he had a secret habit of physically abusing women and then ruining their lives afterwards by telling everyone that they had syphilis. This is where the accused, Mary and Mollie, enter the history books.

My Thoughts on the The Maid and The Socialite

Lynda Drews is primarily a fiction writer, and this shows through her non fiction work in a very good way. Although the book is well-researched and historically accurate, Drews managed to describe each scene and each person in plenty of detail, making the reader feel as though they're in the proverbial room. This makes The Maid and the Socialite a true crime book to get lost in, and by the end, you'll wish there were more to the story.

A heartbreaking, intriguing case I was unaware of until reading this book. As a reader who struggles to become engaged with nonfiction, I had no problem falling back through time to this case. What was especially helpful was the photographs sprinkled throughout the book. Visuals help to make the history feel more real rather than a story I'm reading about.

The Maid and the Socialite is a work crossing between fiction and nonfiction which details the despicable behavior and criminal history of Dr. John Minahan in 1890s and very early 1900s Green Bay, Wisconsin. John was clearly a narcissist and had other serious mental illnesses, but he was also a prominent citizen due to his position as a physician and surgeon. This was at time when the culture and societal norms did not recognize women as having individual agency or rights. His prominence in Green Bay covered up his delusions, paranoia and torturous behavior against those to whom he felt superior. This included his children. He had numerous supporters who were happy to be on his side because to do otherwise would have been seen as socially unfavorable.
He destroyed the lives of 2 women because he could get away with it. The first was Mary, a poor farmer’s daughter of immigrant parents, who served very briefly as a housemaid in his employ. The other was Mollie his second wife, an educated woman from a socially prominent family.
The story is an important one in that it informs on the history of societal sanctioned ill treatment and crime against females, unfortunately not a thing of the past. Parts of the book are well written, not only informative but interesting. However I did feel the author’s objective was to include every tidbit of her volumes of research. For me this produced much repetition and unevenness in style. At times reading became tedious and caused me to take several breaks. I persevered to the end and was happy to have done so however the writing style was a big issue and downgraded by evaluation to 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Little Creek Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

This book follows two women who battled against a wealthy and influential doctor in the turn of the 20th century. Mary takes a position with Dr. John Minahan and his wife. When Mrs. Minahan leaves town, Dr. Minahan forces himself upon Mary. She desperately tries to keep the assault and loss of her virginity a secret and she is full of shame and fear. When she misses her period, she has no choice but to seek Dr. Minahan's help. Instead of helping her, he performs an illegal abortion, crudely ripping her child and womb. For years she suffers from troubles related to the abortion. Without options, she continually seeks out his help and financial support. Desperate and alone, she turns to other doctors, family, a priest, and finally the authorities. Dr. Minahan immediately claims that she has syphilis and his trial turns into a nightmare for Mary.

Between Mary's trials, socialite Mollie believes she has found a dream husband in Dr. Minahan. He seems confident, kind and wealthy. However, after they are married she realizes her dream has turned into a nightmare. When she miscarries her first child, he immediately claims that she has syphilis and begins to belittle her. Two healthy children later, he believes all three are infected. Against her wishes he begins to treat their young boys with experimental therapies. Horrified, she leaves him and files for divorce.

Wow, this was such a heartbreaking story. It shows man at his absolute worst. I felt horrible for Mary and Mollie and kept wishing for a good outcome. I wanted justice for these women. The book itself was well written and engaging. The author did a fabulous job turning court documents into story. Overall, highly recommended.

Thanks to Little Creek Press, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

What an utterly engrossing, ENRAGING true story. I put this on par with the Radium Girls. I have the same sense of injustice and frustration upon finishing it.

But I am so glad that I read this book. First of all, it's important. Secondly, it's very well -written and researched and lastly, there's a dastardly villain at the centre of it, which always makes things interesting.

I don't want to give too much away, but if you like stories about the early stages of American medicine and law and how they intertwined with two very different lives, you will love this.

Courtesy of The Book Whisperer and Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Maid and the Socialite by Lynda Drew's. This true account of the Minehan family of Green Bay, Wisconsin was compelling to read. Occurring during the late nineteenth century and into the the early twentieth century, Dr. Minehan was obsessed with syphilis, which was not yet easily diagnosed or safely treated. He appeared to the public as a dedicated and respectable physician, while privately, he was the exact opposite, abusive and untruthful . His dealings with his maid and then his second wife and their children were exemplified by women not having the same rights and advantages as men. This well researched slice of history was extremely informative!

The Maid and the Sociallite, The Brave Women Behind Green Bay's Scandalous Mianhan Trials, by Lynda Drews, is a nonfiction work exploring the horrors these women went through at the hands of men they should have been able to trust and how these crimes were then "forgotten". Though this is a historical account of actions that occurred at the turn of the 20th century, it resonates a similar feel as situations affecting women in today's society, where wealth and power are still used to manipulate women and their rights to make decisions for themselves. I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  I do not typically enjoy reading non-fiction texts but do love historical fiction.  While this did not have the fictional component that makes history more readable for me, I did find it very informative and my attention did not wander. The subject is difficult to read, but awareness of situations like those presented in this text and the disgust they illicit are necessary for change.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fabulous read, well-written and well-researched. with great historical detail. A recommended read.

In the early 1900s Dr. J. R. Minahan was a prominent surgeon and civic leader in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But behind his public persona was a dark and dominating narcassist. When Mary, his illiterate maid accused him of sexual assault which resulted in a pregnancy scandal erupts. During the trial Mary claimed that subsequently he performed a forced, botched abortion damaging her health and making her unable to work. He countered by claiming Mary suffered from syphillis a shameful disease with which he seemed to be obsessed. Almost a decade later his wife Mollie , a college educated socialite from a wealthy family testified during divorce proceedings that he accused her of this from their honeymoon and forcefully treated their two healthy sons with the damaging drugs of the time. Kudos to the author for investing the time and effort to bring the stories of these two brave women who dared to challenge their abuser in open court during a period of time when women had little voice or power. Following a pattern still seen in domestic violence to this day Minahan isolates the two women from friends and family and uses finances and shame to control them. Drews does an excellent job breathing life into these two very different women yet establishes the common threads. An excellent, well written true crime narrative.

"The Maid and The Socialite" title introduces Mary, an illiterate maid, and Mollie, a college-educated socialite, who both fell victim to the physical violence and mental abuse of celebrated surgeon Dr. John R. Minahan, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 
Both were accused of having syphilis, which at the time was shameful disease, linked to loose women.  It ruined reputations of women - but not the men, who generally spread it. 
This is the story of the maid and socialite (who was Dr. Minahan's wife) taking on the Dr and the male establishment of the time. Men held all the power and wealth, while women lived a life ruled by their male bosses and their husbands. Medical tests did not exist in this time to clear their names either.
The family of Dr. John R Minahan went through hell - two sons paying the price of a life of lies and unnecessary treatments. Author, Lynda Drews, supports the historical facts from court cases of the time. She didn't initially know there was such a dark side to Dr Minahan, but by today's standards he was monster!
Sadly, in today's time, he would've been stopped in his tracks! Instead  Dr. John R. Minahan, whose family dominated Green Bay’s professional, business, and political arenas from 1892 to 1954, built a college stadium, science hall, and six-story office building—all named after him.
I found this book so intriguing and thank god we are living in 'our' time..
Thanks to NetGalley, Lynda Drews and Little Creek Press for my copy.

The Maid and the Socialite by Lynda Drews is a very thoroughly researched non-fiction accounting of two women terrorized by the infamous Dr. Minahan. Dr. Minahan was a well-regarded, esteemed, wealthy doctor in Green Bay in the early 20th century. So wealthy and esteemed, in fact, that his name is/was on a college stadium, science hall, and office building. Minahan may have been an outstanding physician, but, in life, he was a monster. Drews gives us a lurid tale, and heartbreaking story of two women who suffered while he was celebrated. The Maid, Mary, taken advantage of because of her poverty and illiteracy; the Socialite, Mollie, take advantage of because of society‘s expectations on women of a certain class. And yet, these two women fight back against Dr. Minahan, and Drews helps the cause by highlighting his violence and masochism. A tale told in two halves, the novel is unbending in its telling of the experiences Mary and Mollie lived through. The writing is tight and engaging. Drews, however, switches between historical fiction and a non-fiction memoir of sorts. It wasn’t clear to me which genre was at play. At times, I felt it would have been better as a fictional retelling as it was when we get to know Mary and Mollie when the novel shines; the relentless reliance on documents here and there held the story back for me- it was clunky in parts. It was very interesting and the resilience of the two women is phenomenal and inspiring. But, ultimately, it was just a meh for me. I wouldn‘t go out of my way to read it, but if you are from Green Bay or the area, it would be something to pick up at some point. Random rating 3/5. Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc.

This is a true story, but I found the writing to be uninteresting. In addition, I feel that the perpetrator was never really brought to justice and that both women suffered throughout the rest of their lives. Sad story.

The Maid and The Socialite is a horrific true crime tale from the turn of the 20th century. This is the story of one narcissistic man who managed to destroy the lives of two women. How his money and influence played a major role in helping him get away with his grievous acts. While many things have changed since the early 1900s, it is sad to me that I have bared witness to similar crimes still being committed by the rich and famous of our more modern world.

This book was a hard one to get through simply for the fact that I was outraged by this horrible man's actions. This book is well researched and told in a way that made me feel that I was witnessing these two ladies' lives in a real time fashion. In the beginning I was a bit put off by such things as the description of the attire that was worn by one person or another. Yet as I read on, I grew to appreciate the way these little details helped draw me into the world in which these people were living.

The author Lynda Drews sets out to right a wrong and give a voice to these women who fell victim to both this man and the time in which they were living. She did an amazing job telling these women's stories. In the end we learn that Drews was inspired by the very house and neighborhood in which she lived. Stories like these are important to hear. While there is a huge level of outrage for the things these women suffered, there is also inspiration to be found in their actions. This is also the story of two strong women who fought hard to expose this man for the monster that he was. If you are a true crime fan or simply a fan of historical times, you will not be disappointed by The Maid and the Socialite.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Little Creek Press. I am choosing to leave my review here voluntarily.

This is a true story about a doctor in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Dr. J. R. Minahan, who author Lynda Drews began her research believing him to be a noteworthy physician. It didn’t take Ms Drews long to realize Dr. Minahan was a malicious, self-serving criminal, who destroyed the lives of at least two women who were unfortunate enough to get too close to him.

“The Maid and the Socialite” is a lengthy book that tells one story of an illiterate young Mary Cenefelt, who was working as a maid for Dr. Minahan when he raped her. She became pregnant and she went to him for help and he performed a violent abortion that destroyed her body for life. Then the doctor destroyed her reputation so she couldn’t find work for many years. The second part tells of a socialite, Mollie Bertles, who married the doctor and was systematically abused, verbally and emotionally for years, including even after she was finally able to get a divorce. Her abuse included the dangerous abuses of his own sons who Mollie worked so hard to try to protect.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest voluntary review. “The Maid and the Socialite” was at times stressful to read, as it is actually two full-length stories with lots of difficult bits.

The Maid and the Socialite by Lynda Drews

300 Pages
Publisher: Little Creek Press
Release Date: February 16, 2023

Nonfiction (Adult), Biographies, Memoirs, True Crime, Rape, Syphilis, 1890s, Green Bay Area

Mary Cenefelt was a 25-year-old illiterate maid. She begins working at Dr. and Mrs. J.R. Minahan’s house as a short-term position. She did not get paid but received room and board in exchange for her services. One weekend when Mrs. Minahan was away, the doctor raped Mary. Four weeks later, she realized he was pregnant. Being Catholic, she did not want an abortion, which were illegal in the 1890s. She approached the doctor about going to a maternity house. He told her he needed to confirm her pregnancy and while examining her, performed an abortion. Mary had complications that needed constant care and made completing her duties difficult.

Mollie Bertles was the socialite. At 24, and looking a being a spinster teacher, she catches the eye of Dr. J.R. Minanham. Now divorced from his first wife, due to her mental illness, he appeared to be the most eligible bachelor in the area. Right before their wedding he accuses Mollie of infidelity. She wonders if this is a personality issue or just a fluke in his behavior. She should have listened to her intuition to avoid a life of misery. On their honeymoon, Mollie discovers she is pregnant. She is excited and tells J.R. His reaction is to get rid of it. When she refuses, he tells her she has syphilis from her wanton lifestyle before they married. He continues to tell this same lie over the course of their marriage.

The story is a difficult read. The women really suffered at the hands of Dr. J.R. Minahan and the legal authorities. If you are interested in historic events from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, you may enjoy this book.

Wow! Dr. Minahan was an absolute garbage of a man and got away with actual murder and ruining the lives of many women during his time as a doctor. I hate him and what he was able to do b/c he had money, was a man, and was a doctor. Sadly these things STILL happen today.

#TheMaidandTheSocialite
#NetGalley

Lynda Drews does a great job in creating a good true crime biography. I really didn’t know anything about this case and was glad I got to read this. It worked well overall and I could tell that the author did a great job in researching this book.

A wonderfully written and richly researched true crime gem. The Maid and The Socialite is a tragic story of one man’s actions and impact on his family, his patients and his community. Dr. J. R. Minahan was a celebrated surgeon at the turn of the 20th century in Green Bay,Wisconsin. He was hailed as an accomplished physician and seen as an elite pillar of society whose family maintained power and prestige for 50+ years in Green Bay. Minahan was also hiding a deeply disturbed personality and malevolence that’s almost too much to believe. Through the description and analysis of two defining Minahan court cases, Lynda Drews dives into him, and two very different women who were brave enough to take him on over a century before the MeToo movement. Powerless and lacking resources, Minahan’s illiterate maid Mary and his college educated second wife Mollie both took him to court to proclaim their dignity and willingness to endure public humiliation and ridicule. From our 21st century perspective these stories are reprehensible and shocking. The powerful write the histories until someone come along and tells the truth.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I wish I'd read the Author's Note first since it explained why she wrote the book (she was studying the history of an old home that she purchased). The story of Dr. Minahan and the abuses he meted out on at least two women was very interesting, but I found it more interesting how determined Mary was to fight back against him. As an illiterate domestic she had a lot of things stacked against her (particularly that all of the men she turned to for help were friendly with each other). She actually won her first lawsuit against him only to have the verdict overturned. She went on to sue him two more times before she ultimately gave up. To later read how horrible this man was to his educated and determined wife was even more amazing. This was a man who's name appeared on many large buildings in the Green Bay area and his local reputation was top notch. I had hopes that the story would end better than it did, but with non-fiction you have to take the truth for what it is. I will recommend this book to friends and my local book club.