Panic in Paradise

"Excellent and detailed. . . . Reads almost like a fiction thriller." —Tampa Tribune

"This dramatic and pioneering book . . . makes important contributions to Florida and American history [and] it is a well-written, compelling account that is given added veracity [because] Vickers forced reinterpretation of Florida’s bank secrecy law. His book should find a place on the shelves of all Floridians interested in the colorful history of their state." —Tallahassee Democrat

This book is a story of mismanagement, fraud, government corruption, and cover-up in the banks of Florida and Georgia from 1926 to 1929. Vickers tells a classic tale of evil bankers deliberately channeling depositors’ funds into their own development projects while bribing government officials to help hide their crimes. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the author’s own role in ‘putting the criminal away.’ An attorney, economic historian, and past assistant comptroller of the state of Florida, Vickers had to use all of his skills. . . . In addition to the usual problems, . . . the author faced the state controller’s opinion that the release of the records ‘was a crime.’ Vickers’ legal efforts and skillful use of publicity caused the reversal of that decision." —American Historical Review