Another average Crichton novel. ( )

In telling the true story of a major mid-nineteenth century crime, Crichton brings his novelist's sensibility to selecting the details that make the tale seem simultaneously real, and larger-than-life. His prose is straightforward and competent, and also evocative without being flowery.

At the same time, he manages fairly well as a historian, offering some biting social critiques of the time in question, but also putting events in their proper historical context and filling modern audiences in on the necessary background (although he does fall short in this regard a couple of times when he attempts economic analysis).

Despite the fact that the key figure, Pierce, is a contemptible blackguard, one has to admire his sheer daring and his incredibly intelligent cunning. It is almost as though he even planned his arrest and trial so that he would have an opportunity to tell his story on the record, and to make known his utter contempt for everything conventional (including the peers of the kingdom). If one could take this as a purely fictional novel, you could almost abstract these admirable elements of Pierce's character from the criminal specifics of his actions and consider him a sort of heroic character.

Crichton concludes the narrative rather abruptly, ending with a sentence or two about the fate of each of the key figures when it's known. Perhaps this is Crichton's way of prompting us to draw our own conclusions, or of suggesting that we simply take this story for what it is---a remarkable criminal caper. ( )

This was a good story, and was well told. But like the other books of his that I have read, it was a quick read. And I was finished reading it, in what seemed like minutes of picking it up. ( )

This is a fictionalized account of an actual event that took place in 19th century England. A lot of the scenes took place in London. It was made into a movie with Sean Connery. Really good. ( )

A historical tale set in the Victorian era loosely based upon an 1855 train robbery. One of Crichton's best.

Again, Crichton exploits technology of the day - this time a locomotive, a safe and even a prison - to base his story.

An interesting read that makes its participant thankful to be living in another age. ( )