The Book
After 26 years of research, revisions, twists, turns, dead ends, deadheads, and psychic visions, this captivating, unsolved murder mystery about a lost Grateful Dead fan is now a book. Ripple published on April 5, 2022, coinciding with the 40th anniversary year of the disappearance of Frank McGonigle, who left his Kansas City home in 1982 and never returned. His large Irish-Catholic family searched nine years for him, only to learn of his murder in a gritty South Carolina fishing village. Follow along as Cosgrove shares the rippling effects of this decade-old case. With the help of a cast of salty characters, Cosgrove uncovers connections to a ruthless local crime boss and miscues from a threadbare sheriff’s department. A chance meeting with a soft-hearted psychic who provided freakishly accurate details about Frank’s death put Cosgrove face to face with the alleged killer.
Meet Frank
This is Frank McGonigle. He was a son, a brother, a friend, and a gentle, trusting soul who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Click on the interview buttons to read an excerpt of his story and what life was like growing up in Brookside.
Interviews
Paperback | $16.00
Published by Steerforth
Apr 05, 2022 | 208 Pages | 6 x 9 | ISBN 9781586423247
Reviews
“Both a true-life murder mystery and a family saga, Ripple is, at the same time, a lament for the universal human condition…”
Mark Olshaker, documentary filmmaker, novelist and co-author of Mindhunter and The Killer’s Shadow
“Exquisite details help to make Ripple a captivating true crime account of a murder…”
—Foreword Reviews
The Author
Jim Cosgrove learned the art of story-telling as the youngest of eight children in a large, extended Irish-Catholic family. While working as a feature writer for the Albuquerque Journal in 1995, he picked up the trail of a cold case involving the disappearance of a family friend, Frank McGonigle, a lovable, hapless Grateful Dead fan who left his Kansas City home in 1982 and never returned. Ripple, which gives a nod to the 1970 Grateful Dead song, is the culmination of this long, strange journey and Cosgrove’s first true-crime book. Cosgrove is a nationally recognized, award-winning children’s entertainer known by young fans as Mr. Stinky Feet. He is also the author of three children’s books and Everybody Gets Stinky Feet, a collection of inspirational essays from his time as a parenting columnist for The Kansas City Star.
What Readers Are Saying
Barnes & Noble Customer
“…It was well handled by the author with much sensitivity to the family of the victim, as the author was a family friend who grew up in that same area. Even the paranormal aspect of this case was believably expressed, which I found quite compelling. A well written true crime book that’s not your typical formula.“
Good Reads
“The author’s open-mindedness to spirituality gives this story a unique twist to other true crime type novels and as a Dead fan could relate to the victim, a few parts gave me goose bumps. I recommend.”
Booklist
“Cosgrove masterfully weaves together the family’s fabric and spends enough time with each of them to capture their individual characters, drawing the reader into their search for Frank. His conversational tone makes this an easy read for all, especially true crime lovers.”
More by the Author:
Lace up your sneakers for a delightful romp through inspiring essays for grown-up kids from beloved family entertainer and parenting columnist Jim Cosgrove. Tag along as he cuts the grass of a major league All-Star, bakes bread with nuns, shares a beer with a Muslim cab driver, and interacts with real-life angels. “Everybody Gets Stinky Feet”takes a peek into Cosgrove’s life as the father of daughters who are much more clever than he is and digs deep into his experience as the youngest of eight children in a loud and loving Irish-Catholic family.
“Jim Cosgrove has come a long way from the young man mowing my yard to an inspiring writer. This book captures a genuine sense of life’s important moments and the joys and trials life can throw your way.”
— George Brett, Kansas City Royals legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer
“Jim Cosgrove is one of those alien beings who just naturally makes others happy. He’s a treasure, and his book is pure, concentrated Jim Cosgrove, no additives or preservatives.”
— Joe Posnanski, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Paterno and The Soul of Baseball.
Jim Cosgrove 