Really enjoyed this book. It not only looks into the theft of an extremely rare and valuable pink pearl necklace, but you also get a taste of London in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and the history of Scotland Yard. I enjoy a good fictional mystery (especially one involving Scotland Yard), and it was fun to read about this heist from 100 years ago; who the players were, how the necklace was stolen, and the workings of Scotland yard (as well as some amateurs) to catch the thieves.

A bit disappointing. I thought it would be more exciting, but was not like a Sherlock Holmes mystery at all. Learned a lot of interesting tidbits about pre-WWI England and the mail.

Another 3.5 stars. This was fun look at a period in history where the world was in flux.

I started this book thinking it would be historic fiction with dialogue. When I realized early on that it wasn't, I was worried I would dislike the book. It turns out, despite being the style it was written in, I enjoyed this book very much. The research is stupendous and you can be easily transported to each scene as it unfolds before you. I'm glad I saw it through!

Great book. So entertaining yet amazingly true. What a cool bunch of thieves and detectives. I didn't know who to root for and in a way, neither did Scotland Yard....

Thoroughly researched and well-written with great detail.

3.5
When I heard the title and the subject of The Great Pearl Heist I knew it was on my list. Along with the subtitle London's Greatest Thief and Scotland Yard's Hunt for the World's Most Valuable Necklace clearly tells what this book is about and not much more is needed from me. If you're one of those people like me who like to see how thieves make their master plan then you'll probably enjoy this book. Just so you know this heist takes place in 1913 and deals with a gang that master plans the theft of "The Mona Lisa of Pearls", This exquisite string of pearls contained 61 pink beauties and was purchased by Max Mayer at a cost of 18 million (today's dollar) and valued at 121 million. Can you imagine?

The author, Molly Crosby does a lot of research to try to fill in the gaps of what is known and what's not and delivers a plausible scenario of what happened. She uses courtroom testimony, police interviews, actual dialogue from a Holmes novel and by use of quotes, you know what is fact. She sets the scene as well as anyone could, not having lived it or been there.

I liked the book though I did find myself wandering at times. It it told in a straight forward manner and gives us the facts, ma'am.

Did they ever find The Necklace? Sorry, you'll have to read it yourself to find out.

One book leads to another. Early on, in describing this gang of thieves, Ms. Crosby introduces us to a female member. She states Thievery proved very egalitarian for the era. Women thieves could work alongside or even lead men in a time when that happened nowhere else in society. The Forty Thieves Gang of women exemplified that business world.". Of course I had to know more about these forty women. The book, Gangs of London by Brian McDonald promises to offer up more information about this gang, also known as The Forty Elephants.

Molly Crosby wrote two other books that I've got my eye on. Asleep: The forgotten Epidemic that remains one of medicine's greatest mysteries" and American Plague: The untold story of yellow fever, the epidemic that shaped our history For a woman just a bit over 40, she's certainly tackled some big subjects.

A fun read, told in true crime style, about a real jewel heist that took place in London in 1913. The author profiles the times, the neighborhoods that were the settings for the action, the major characters and the events in the story in highly readable style. Lest you be tempted to think she was making up the details she includes (such as quoted conversations), there are notes for each chapter, an impressive bibliography, and an index. There is also a poignant epilogue which tells what happened to many of the characters after the main events of the story were over. If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes or other detective fiction, you'll enjoy this book.