"Edward Pierce, on the other hand, was positively exuberant in his approach to crime. Whatever his sources of income, whatever the truth of his background, one thing is certain: he was a master cracksman, or burglar, who over the years had accumulated sufficient capital to finance large-scale criminal operations, thus becoming what he called a 'putter-up.' And toward the middle of 1854, he was already well into an elaborate plan to pull the greatest theft of his career, The Great Train Robbery." - Michael Crichton Michael Crichton is one of my favorite authors, for the man knew how to make really entertaining and well-researched thrill rides. Even though his third novel, The Great Train Robbery, doesn't deal with his usual fields of science and medicine, it is still every bit as thrilling and well-researched as his other works. The whole book plays out as a heist story, focusing on how the characters methodically set up everything to pull off the great gold robbery of 1855. This is an actual historic event, but Crichton uses different character names and takes a few small liberties, to free himself from the constraint of making everything perfectly accurate. I don't even know how close to real events this book is. He makes up for it, however, by often diverging into some incredible detail concerning the settings, the history, and the customs of Victorian England. His research covers everything from the far-reaching stretch of the British Empire to the dirty underworld of London and all its nuances. What makes the book so gripping is that the author manages to juggle everything in a well-structured manner, using the data first to support and give greater meaning to the action that unfolds. The book is a fast and easy read, with enough good suspense, action, and thrills to keep it engaging. The actual story is fun, showcasing an ambitious gold heist and all the detail behind its planning and execution. Characters have their moments, but aren't really all that deep. The main character is a cool, suave, high-class dude we love to root for, and his motivations are interesting, but there could have been more to the character. Nearly everybody else is pretty one-dimensional. Because of the way the book juggles fact and fiction, Crichton does have a penchant for lengthy essay-style scripts that explains a ton about Victorian England, often at the risk of cutting into the actual story and halting the action. The funny thing is, the academic-style writing never really stalls the action, and it never feels as dry as it should. I think, at its worse, it takes away from the narrative, diverting attention from the plot and characters for the sake of presentation. Because of that, I'm inclined to say that the book is a bit half-and-half, for better or for worse. Its prose is still pretty decent, especially in the way it masterfully wields the style, language, and mannerisms of old-fashioned Victorian English. This book is a fun heist story, but so full of detail that it's hard not to appreciate it, even when Crichton breaks out with a full-blown essay on seemingly-random things. It is the thing he does best though: the fine blending of fact and fiction for entertaining effect. And the book is certainly entertaining. 4/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Book: Good)
Robber Gordon Goody identifies 'Ulsterman' of 1963 Royal Mail raid, saying he gave hundreds of thousands to church in Ireland
The London crime scene of the 1950s and 1960s was rife with notorious villains such as the Krays and the Richardsons, but this book reveals that behind the headline-grabbers there was an unsuspected mastermind planning the Great Train Robbery and a string of other major robberies, a shadowy Mr Big controlling London's crime from the cover of his day job as a solicitor's clerk. His only confidant, his nephew Lee Sturley, tells the story.
Detective Constable John Bailey took hundreds of pictures as he investigated the infamous 1963 heist and kept them all in a series of scrapbooks.
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
Wikipedia article about Great train robbery (1963)
Detective Constable John Bailey took hundreds of pictures as he investigated the infamous 1963 heist and kept them all in a series of scrapbooks.
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
After masterminding the £2.6million heist, which was then the largest robbery in British history, Reynolds spent five years on the run before being imprisoned for nine years.
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
13 September 1963: Photographs of Edwards and his wife were yesterday sent to police forces on the Continent through Interpol and to all police forces in Britain
Russell Hollowood reveals the fascinating story of a daring railway heist.
Eighteen retired Buckinghamshire Constabulary investigators and backroom staff were reunited at Eynsham Hall in Witney, Oxfordshire.
Eighteen retired Buckinghamshire Constabulary investigators and backroom staff were reunited at Eynsham Hall in Witney, Oxfordshire.
The Great Train Robbery of 1963 is one of the most infamous crimes in British history. The bulk of the money stolen (equivalent to over £40 million today) has never been recovered, and there has not been a single year since 1963 when one aspect of the crime or its participants has not been featured […]
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has died aged 84, but who were his fellow gang members and what happened to them?
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
Detective Constable John Bailey took hundreds of pictures as he investigated the infamous 1963 heist and kept them all in a series of scrapbooks.
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
THE mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery of 1963 has died at the age of 81.
Robberies are some of the most common crimes committed around the world. Stealing was much more common in previous decades; however, in recent years, robbery rates have decreased, according to crime reports in the United States.
Detective Constable John Bailey took hundreds of pictures as he investigated the infamous 1963 heist and kept them all in a series of scrapbooks.
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang of criminals robbed a Royal Mail train heading between Glasgow and London at Ledbum in Buckinghamshire
Detective Chief Superintendent Tommy Butler and Sergeant Ted Fuller arriving at Linslade Court for the trial of the man they arrested, Bruce Reynolds, in connection with the Great Train Robbery,...
This train robbery case solved thanks to a Monopoly board, became a sort of popular legend that has been the inspiration for countless movies and TV series.
One of the gang said Boal had nothing to do with the spectacular heist
Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has died aged 84, but who were his fellow gang members and what happened to them?
Some of the greatest heists in history are still unsolved. How did the criminals do it? Could it be possible they used magic? See the most magical of all bank heists in Now You See Me, in theaters May 31.
To locals he was dustman John… they never knew he was Great Train Robber
Eighteen retired Buckinghamshire Constabulary investigators and backroom staff were reunited at Eynsham Hall in Witney, Oxfordshire.
