In Hoffa's Shadow: A Stepfather, a Disappearance in Detroit, and My Search for the Truth Hardcover – September 24, 2019

In Hoffa’s Shadow details the riveting story of Jimmy Hoffa’s mysterious disappearance. It is amply supplied with roller-coaster drama and elegant writing.The author is the stepson of Charles “Chuckie” O’Brien, the loyal and longtime assistant to Jimmy Hoffa. (I should add that the author is a professor at Harvard law school and a wonderful mentor to our youngest son.)I well remember the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. My young assessment was that his Teamster job was really a front to make lots of money from his mobster connections. The reality, like many true things, is more complicated and compelling than the simple narrative I believed in high school.Goldsmith artfully tells the story of his stepfather’s quest to gain his innocence. I am convinced that Chuckie had nothing to do with the disappearance and death of Hoffa. The story is told with judicious detail and an appropriate pathos that one would expect from a loving stepson.But don’t be mistaken. This is not a hagiographical account. Goldsmith is quick to admit the many faults and foibles of his stepfather. Perhaps you noticed that Goldsmith did not keep his stepfather’s surname. I won’t go into why, but it underscores that this book is not some cheap, laudatory account. On the other end of the spectrum, it is equally not remotely in the Mommie Dearest genre.If you are looking for an engaging book full of twists and turns, I highly recommend In Hoffa’s Shadow. I should add the subtitle: A Stepfather, a Disappearance in Detroit, and My Search for the Truth.

Well paced, exhaustive and believable chronicling of what happened to Charles ‘Chuckie’ O’Bien following the disappearance of James Hoffa of July 30, 1975.I am not a Hoffa Mystery folder myself. I ran across this in my Amazon suggested books. I am glad I read this one.Extensively documented and well annotated, this laying out the compelling story of how one man’s life was all but destroyed by knowledge his honor would not let him communicate to anyone.Read this book and make up your mind.

Pretty good historical perspective of the Hoffa disappearance, much of it reviewing the timeline of Chuckie O'Brien's whereabouts on July 30, 1975. What opened my eyes was viewing the relentless 50 year harassment of Chuckie among others in our country. Let me be clear, if there is evidence of criminal activity, I am all for the authorities' right to investigate. However, it has become very clear to me that the FBI and the Department of Justice will go to any lengths, legal as well as illegal means to push their narrative and achieve the outcome they desire. Using DOJ lawyers and their ilk to loosely interpret the law and then manipulate it to achieve their goals. Apparently this activity has been going on for a long, long time. J. Edgar Hoover and RFK's abuses became very clear to me when reading this book. These abuses of power continue to this day. I would have a hard time cooperating with the feds knowing what I know now, Guilty until proven innocent appears to be the mantra of the DOJ today. I did enjoy the book and I learned a lot about the Hoffa disappearance even though the actual perpetrators have not been, and may never be identified.

This is not simply a book about the Hoffa disappearance, although the author provides several fresh and incredibly well-researched insights about that event. This book weaves together multiple topics that relate to the significance of Jimmy Hoffa and his disappearance - the history and legacy of domestic surveillance programs of the U.S. government, the rise and fall of the labor movement, the influence of the mafia, as well as the personal story of the author and his step-father, Chuckie O'Brien, who has been portrayed by the FBI, the media, and Hollywood as a primary suspect in Hoffa's disappearance for over 40 years. The author did a tremendous job challenging the narrative of circumstantial evidence that has implicated Chuckie for so long, making the injustice of his mental and emotional suffering over the years painfully clear. Perhaps the most touching part of the book, though, is the author's vulnerable depiction of his own life, career, and his relationship with Chuckie through it all.

I had never read any books about Hoffa, and had limited knowledge of who he was. Jack Goldsmith was interviewed in the "Stay Tuned" podcast by Preet Bharara, and the conversation about this book sparked my interest. This book is fantastic, not only very well written, but with content that touches so many facets of the author's personal and family life, his complex relationship with his stepfather, in addition to so much information about the Hoffa disappearance, and the role of government agencies in surveillance of private citizens, something that as the author clearly presents, has been abused and has ruined the lives of fellow Americans. Definitely recommend!!!

The author, a Harvard Law School professor, writes about his adoptive father, "Chuckie" O'Brien, a complex character often seen as the adoptive son of Jimmy Hoffa and seen by some as responsible for Hoffa's murder. The book succeeds on many levels, a poignant story of an abandoned boy and the man who took responsibility for him, the twists and turns in their relationship, organized crime and the labor movement in the mid-twentieth century, Jimmy Hoffa, the Kennedy Justice Department, the Bush Justice Department's war on terror. What makes the book so remarkable is the author's fairness and ability to marshal evidence in a dispassionate way. Too bad so few non-fiction writers have this author's ability.

The best part of the book is the putting an end once and for all to the speculation that Jimmy Hoffa could have run for his old job again.As far as the Author's Step Father being exonerated from any participation in the disappearance goes, I do not believe the case presented in the book is a strong one.Jack Goldsmith chooses to dismiss certain facts and there are some contradictory passages as well.The book could have been trimmed down some, and I don't believe a normal person who reads it, is going to feel much sympathy for any the main cast of characters.There is one story in the book I found most unsavory and should have been left out.Decent read for students of the Hoffa case but nothing earth shattering.

The perfect antidote after imbibing Scorcese's The Irishman (the movie) and the book on which it was based - Charles Brandt's I Hear You Paint Houses. Goldsmith is not only a lawyer, law professor and former Justice Department official, but he is also the stepson of Chuckie O'Brien, for many years the FBI's lead suspect in the Jimmy Hoffa disappearance.So what we have in this author is a combination of legal expertise, scholarly expertise and a privileged connection to the last source (O'Brien died in 2020) who had any knowledge of what happened (and why) to Jimmy Hoffa and who was willing to say anything (not much) about the details.The review written here by Tracey Aitkens mischaracterises the book highly and places credence on the Sheeran accounts (I Hear Yopu Paint Houses and The Irishman film) and also assigns low motives to Goldsmith's authorship. Credible evidence shows how and why the FBI closed the books on Chuckie O'Brien as a suspect and the book's Appendix lays out the timeline evidence that put a lid on the O'Brien case. (But if you like all your unsolved mob murders put upon one hitman[not only Hoffa, but Crazy Joey Gallo too!], then do indeed read and enjoy I Hear You Paint Houses and watch the Irishman. [Sheeran also pulls the other one when he describes multiple cash drops to Attorney General John Mitchell...in person!])This book will probably be the final credible word on the Jimmy Hoffa case. But see The Irishman (for sure it is a fine film) and read I Hear You Paint Houses as well for the full Hoffa-conspiracy experience.

Frankly this book is an excuse for the author (whose stepfather happens to be the man who Jimmy Hoffa called his son) to make up for treating the stepfather like dirt for years (because of the Hoffa association).Basically we are led through the authors life and career until finally we get to the point: that his stepfather was NOT involved in Hoffa’s disappearance and assumed murder. Chuckle O’Brien has long been identified as the driver who picked up Hoffa outside the Red Fox restaurant and then drove him to his death. Naturally O’Brien has denied this. Well he would wouldn’t he?If you are considering buying this book then I’m guessing you’ve seen “The Irishman”. I believe Frank Sheehan is telling the truth about what happened. His family believe him. Hoffa’s children believe him. Interestingly within weeks of Hoffa’s disappearance the FBI had identified the men they believed were directly involved in the disappearance. Every name corresponded with Sheerans own “confession”.I wouldn’t want to be identified with the plot to kill and disappearthe man who had raised me as a son. Like O’Brien I would deny, deny, deny and hope it all went away.Late on the book O’Brien states he knows what happened and why they did it. Then he says he won’t name them. He’s not a grass apparently.Now for a man who has allowed his stepson to write this book to clear his name this sounds rather strange. What’s the point? Their is no one left alive from that time. Who is he going to hurt? Who might want to hurt him?No one that’s who.The only person O’Brien could possibly damage is himself. After years of denial his confirmation of his treachery would perhaps add greater distaste for him - liar, coward and traitor.A thoroughly dislikeable and disreputable man.What a shame the step son has wasted his time on such a loser.