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booksnbrooches's review against another edition
4.0
This novel was a lot of fun. I found the language very easy to follow. Originally, I started this story and put it down. I picked it back up as a before bed kind of tale. The further I got into this tale of crime the more I was interested.
I have read a few other Crichton novels, and I’d ranked this towards the top.
I recommend it if you are interested in the Victorian period or crime in general.
I have read a few other Crichton novels, and I’d ranked this towards the top.
I recommend it if you are interested in the Victorian period or crime in general.
m3erhard's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really good book. It may not be my favorite Michael Crichton book, but it was entertaining and full of twists and turns.
The book is based around a British gentleman by the name of Edward Pierce, who is looking to rob around £12,000. He enlists the help of several crooks in order for him to do this. Yet, it takes over a year to plain this heist. First, the money transported by train and locked in "bandit proof" safes. Second, four keys that are kept in different locations are needed to open the two safes. Finally, such with life, rarely anything goes to plan, and Pierce and his cronies are forced to take extreme measures succeed in their schemes.
There are many aspects of this novel that are different than most that I've read. Crichton provides historical information (whether it is true or made up) before each chapter to help the reader better understand the time period. Since I am not well versed in Victorian England, these little history lessons were quite helpful. There were times where I cringed and had to reread sections several times to be certain of what he was saying. Crichton liked to show the poverty of London so he threw in young girls, most who were twelve, sleeping with men who were 25-50. However nasty it was, Crichton was portraying how these were people who would do anything to survive.
The characters were well developed. Instead of giving his characters a past, Crichton would provided the reader with little background, and the reader would get to know the character through social interactions and dialogue. Pierce was the character I enjoyed learning about the most. A new trait was revealed about him in each chapter. These traits were focused on in certain sections of the novel to show how Pierce would use his street smarts to confuse cops, use his observations to make quick assessments of people's strengths and weaknesses, or acting to distract others from his true goal. Despite all of these, there were so many characters that I kept losing count of who was who. I believe that was the main downfall of this book.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I would recommend it if you are in the mood for a good historical fiction robbery.
The book is based around a British gentleman by the name of Edward Pierce, who is looking to rob around £12,000. He enlists the help of several crooks in order for him to do this. Yet, it takes over a year to plain this heist. First, the money transported by train and locked in "bandit proof" safes. Second, four keys that are kept in different locations are needed to open the two safes. Finally, such with life, rarely anything goes to plan, and Pierce and his cronies are forced to take extreme measures succeed in their schemes.
There are many aspects of this novel that are different than most that I've read. Crichton provides historical information (whether it is true or made up) before each chapter to help the reader better understand the time period. Since I am not well versed in Victorian England, these little history lessons were quite helpful. There were times where I cringed and had to reread sections several times to be certain of what he was saying. Crichton liked to show the poverty of London so he threw in young girls, most who were twelve, sleeping with men who were 25-50. However nasty it was, Crichton was portraying how these were people who would do anything to survive.
The characters were well developed. Instead of giving his characters a past, Crichton would provided the reader with little background, and the reader would get to know the character through social interactions and dialogue. Pierce was the character I enjoyed learning about the most. A new trait was revealed about him in each chapter. These traits were focused on in certain sections of the novel to show how Pierce would use his street smarts to confuse cops, use his observations to make quick assessments of people's strengths and weaknesses, or acting to distract others from his true goal. Despite all of these, there were so many characters that I kept losing count of who was who. I believe that was the main downfall of this book.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I would recommend it if you are in the mood for a good historical fiction robbery.
preshusnhissight's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favorites of Michael Crighton's. This would've been one of my all-time favorites, but there were a few parts that I really didn't like in this.
veereadstoomuch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
straciehniezdo's review against another edition
4.0
4,5/5
Skvelé, skvelé, skvelé! Už keď som knihu objavila, tak som bola presvedčená, že sa mi bude páčiť a mám veľkú radosť, že som si to potvrdila. Príbehy o inteligentnom zločine milujem (mimochodom, toto by si mohli užiť fanúšikovia Money heist, ktorý na seriáli oceňujú predovšetkým tú geniálnu premyslenosť).
Veľká vlaková lúpež je príbeh skutočnej lúpeže, ktorá sa odohrala pred takmer 170 rokmi. Bol za ňou génius s pokazeným morálnym kompasom, čiže som si ho automaticky obľúbila
Skvelé, skvelé, skvelé! Už keď som knihu objavila, tak som bola presvedčená, že sa mi bude páčiť a mám veľkú radosť, že som si to potvrdila. Príbehy o inteligentnom zločine milujem (mimochodom, toto by si mohli užiť fanúšikovia Money heist, ktorý na seriáli oceňujú predovšetkým tú geniálnu premyslenosť).
Veľká vlaková lúpež je príbeh skutočnej lúpeže, ktorá sa odohrala pred takmer 170 rokmi. Bol za ňou génius s pokazeným morálnym kompasom, čiže som si ho automaticky obľúbila
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