The Great Pearl Heist: London's Greatest Thief and Scotland Yard's Hunt for the World's Most Valuable Necklace

(Paperback)

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Description

An exquisite strand of pale pink pearls, worth more than the Hope Diamond, has been bought by a Hatton Garden broker. Word of the 'Mona Lisa of Pearls' spreads around the world, captivating jewellers as well as thieves. In transit to London from Paris, the necklace vanishes without a trace. Thoroughly researched, compellingly colourful, The Great Pearl Heist is a gripping narrative account of this little-known, yet extraordinary crime. In the spirit of The Great Train Robbery and the tales of Sherlock Holmes, this is the true story set in London's golden Edwardian era.

Reviews

The Great Pearl Heist not only tells the thrilling story of a seemingly impossible theft, it immerses readers in the pre-war world of 1913 London and the extraordinary life of one of historys most skilled and clever thieves.Candice Millard, author of The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic

Fast-paced, full of twists and turns, and rich in detailCrosby tells a fascinating story rooted in such deep historical research that we can practically watch the drama unfold in real time.Jeffrey H. Jackson, author of Paris Under Water

Culled from archival research of newspaper accounts, Scotland Yard case files, and memoirs of noted thieves, Crosby turns back the clock to a winning true crime tale involving two superior mindsa very capable detective and a wily gentleman criminalin a jewel heist at the dawn of twentieth-century England...The author highlights the cases major influence on British crime detection and the legal system, adding a dash of color and realism.Publishers Weekly

Crosby incorporates pearl legends and facts, as well as a great deal of history surrounding the hardships of pearl diving and the intricacies of pearl trading before World War I...Crosbys thriller-style account is backed up by her intensive research.Booklist

Author Bio

Molly Caldwell Crosby is the national bestselling author of Asleep- The Forgotten Epidemic That Remains One of Medicine's Greatest Mysteries and The American Plague- The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic That Shaped Our History, which has been nominated for several awards. Crosby holds a master of arts degree in nonfiction and science writing from Johns Hopkins University and previously worked for National Geographic magazine. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, Health, and USA Today, among others.