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angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
5.0
I have to say this one was really, really, really good and I was entertained thoroughly. Expected maybe okay and was pleasantly surprised; certainly that has an effect on how I rate a book. I was excited to get back and read this book every time I picked it up which is definitely not always the case. Reminded me of a milder version of In Cold Blood. A nonfiction historical “novel” about a crime where lots of information was taken directly from trial transcripts. Extremely engaging. Germane information from the Victorian era. Great characterization. Entertaining dialogue. A touch of true crime intrigue. I’d highly recommend this book.
jennrocca's review against another edition
5.0
Very fun. Reads like a documentary but a documentary of an Ocean’s Eleven type scheme in the 1850’s. Very engaging.
scottnap's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
adamlewis1's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The language is old and formal. It’s a neat tale, but a rather average novel from Michael Crichton.
monda16's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
_cecilie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is a novel, I was told. But is it a novel? I beg to differ - albeit begging reluctantly and differing pettily. On the surface it is exactly what it tells you it is: A retelling about what is known today as the Great Train Robbery and boy, was I excited to read this. Heists? On trains? Based on a true story? Are you kidding me, this is great!
But then the book starts with an introduction on the 'civilization' of big cities in Victorian England and I was like, fair enough, this isn't terribly exciting to me personally because I know most of this already but ok. But then it begins and it recounts and explains and presents and expounds what happened, who was involved, their life stories, where it happened, what happened around the same time even if it's irrelevant to the story itself and all in great detail. And I like the details just fine but this is not a novelization of a true crime train heist. It's the train heist presented as true crime non-fiction but with new, imaginary details and some dialogues sprinkled in. The audiobook especially reads like a student presentation, on an interesting topic for sure, but it's still a presentation and not a story.
The only aspect that made me feel something was the ending because I really wanted to know what happened to the people involved, and it was well satisfying for sure. But all in all, the book is not fun enough to really be engaging and it's not factual enough to excuse its lack of fun. But it's quite alright.
But then the book starts with an introduction on the 'civilization' of big cities in Victorian England and I was like, fair enough, this isn't terribly exciting to me personally because I know most of this already but ok. But then it begins and it recounts and explains and presents and expounds what happened, who was involved, their life stories, where it happened, what happened around the same time even if it's irrelevant to the story itself and all in great detail. And I like the details just fine but this is not a novelization of a true crime train heist. It's the train heist presented as true crime non-fiction but with new, imaginary details and some dialogues sprinkled in. The audiobook especially reads like a student presentation, on an interesting topic for sure, but it's still a presentation and not a story.
The only aspect that made me feel something was the ending because I really wanted to know what happened to the people involved, and it was well satisfying for sure. But all in all, the book is not fun enough to really be engaging and it's not factual enough to excuse its lack of fun. But it's quite alright.
jenhurst's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the writing but the story itself just wasn’t really it for me. A train robbery doesn’t really thrill me, but I love Michael Crichton’s other works so I’m trying to work mg way through his backlist. But I can see why a lot of people will like it.
midwifereading's review against another edition
5.0
Michael Crighton's works are hit or miss for me. Jurassic Park remains my favorite of his. However, "The Great Train Robbery" is easily the best writing of his I've come across. It's a re-telling of an actual train robbery in England.
To put it simply, I felt like I was living there, and part of the unfolding events. It reads like an unbelievable, Hollywood-concocted story. I've never read anything like it! I love historical fiction, but this just takes the cake, because it's actual, historical FACT, written in a fiction style.
It's incredible.
To put it simply, I felt like I was living there, and part of the unfolding events. It reads like an unbelievable, Hollywood-concocted story. I've never read anything like it! I love historical fiction, but this just takes the cake, because it's actual, historical FACT, written in a fiction style.
It's incredible.
softasapanda's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Pedophilia