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jimk1n's review against another edition
3.0
Reminiscent of In Cold Blood as a dramatic retelling of a true crime, but reads more as a play-by-play with (very interesting) explanations of Victorian life, lacking the character-driven momentum that makes Truman Capote’s work so compelling.
adarossiwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
fullwom777's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jennigma's review against another edition
5.0
This book was pretty amazing. It was remarkable because Pierce robbed the train, got caught, told everybody how he did it and even told them that he planned to escape (which he managed to do successfully), and they never saw the money again. Crichton told a marvelous story that I had fun reading. Though this book did take longer for me to read because I was reading it for Brit Lit in school. ^_^ My teacher spread the days for us to read way far apart. XD
kennedypaige's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aria69's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.5
An inside look at an elaborate heist. Satisfies in the same way Ocean's 11 does.
mrclintdavis's review against another edition
4.0
It's tempting to make a metaphor about this book moving faster than a speeding locomotive but I guess that would be lazy.
This was my first Crichton book and it makes me want to check out his other stuff, although much of the appeal here comes from the fact that it's all based in history rather than being a story he crafted himself. His style is 100% fat free and he doesn't editorialize, which makes this an entertaining, educational and speedy read.
The characters are fantastic and really come off the page into your head as this book unfolds like a great French heist film. The planning is fascinating to follow and the payoff is solid, even if everything feels a bit rushed in the last few chapters after the robbery.
Really cool book and I'd have a hard time imagining any lover of crime stories not being sucked in.
This was my first Crichton book and it makes me want to check out his other stuff, although much of the appeal here comes from the fact that it's all based in history rather than being a story he crafted himself. His style is 100% fat free and he doesn't editorialize, which makes this an entertaining, educational and speedy read.
The characters are fantastic and really come off the page into your head as this book unfolds like a great French heist film. The planning is fascinating to follow and the payoff is solid, even if everything feels a bit rushed in the last few chapters after the robbery.
Really cool book and I'd have a hard time imagining any lover of crime stories not being sucked in.
latas's review against another edition
5.0
Based on a true story which happened in May 1855. As always, Crichton has added a lot of over-the-top thriller elements to this historical incident. His research on the history and culture of this period is impeccable. This is a quick and enjoyable read.
scipiodadawg's review against another edition
4.0
Good pacing and a fun read throughout. Reads very similar to how you imagine most heist movies are portrayed with a little twist of knowing the ending, at least in part. Characters act surprisingly unique for such a short read with a relatively large cast, and their decisions make sense with their own reasonings.