Lost Boys of Hannibal

I grew up a few miles from where the lost boys of Hannibal disappeared. But I had no inkling of the epic dimensions their story held until I opened the pages of John Wingate’s spellbinding book.

—Ron Powers, bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer

This book is hard to read but harder to put down. Mr. Wingate writes with a journalist’s insight and clarity, a scientist’s curiosity, a father’s tender heart and a true friend’s compassion (the people involved were his friends and neighbors). This true story is amazing, fascinating and heartbreaking. Mr. Wingate honors the boys and all who tried to help them with his respectful analysis of the events. This is a true untold story which deserves to be known and understood.

—Mary Beth Maas, Omaha reviewer

Lost Boys of Hannibal takes a caver’s bright headlamp to the boys’ story, illuminating dark corners and mazy passages of what happened as thoroughly as the people who spent weeks crawling beneath South Hannibal in 1967. Authoritatively researched. What a story this is! Recommended.

—Jo Schaper, Speleohistorian