Dan BilefskyThe Last Job: "The Bad Grandpas" and the Hatton Garden Heist

This is the story of how seven aging '"retired" criminals staged a burglary of a London bas.ed safe deposit company. That part of the book that describes the thieves and how they accomplished the heist is very interesting. The section of the book that describes how the police caught the burglars, their trials and prison time is much less compelling because the bios of the "bad" guys are better subjects, A dramatis personae would have been very helpful The book contains many photos of the characters and places frequentd by the aging burglars,

A decent read. It drags a bit in a few places, like the trial, but it is an interesting story that almost gives the reader he or she is understanding the crooks, or what they are up to. It does reinforce my impression of the criminal class in the United Kingdom. (I am an American and my impression may be purely prejudice).

A bit rambling with repetitions in a few places. Interesting though. Subject should have been presented in a more active style.

The Last Job is a riveting narrative of one of histories most lucrative robberies. Interestingly it was planned and executed by elderly habitual criminals who summoned their final criminal energies and “talents” to pull off a seemingly impossible entry into a heavily fortified safe deposit vault. How they executed the robbery, and how masterful detective analysis and follow through caught them will have readers on the edge of their chairs.

Not especially well written but a fascinating story.

This well documented and foot noted narrative of the famous heist is the best that I have read on the incredulous crime .

Lots of names/people to keep track of, but overall a fun story well told about a group of senior citizens who pull off one of the most daring heists eve in London. AND, it is a true story. If you enjoy great crime stories, you should check this one out.

GOOD

Mr. Bilefsky did justice to this why-dunnit tale about aged criminals taking one last stab at fame and (mis)fortune. Brilliantly written, the book is based on impeccable and exhaustive research. This is escapism at its best. If you like crime fiction, read this. It would be criminal not to.

I was misled by thinking that an experienced journalist would write well, portray character and context objectively and benefit from thoughtful analysis, research and editing.Mr. Bilefsky appears to have remained awestruck by superficial contact with a criminal environment where the Bad are identified by use of four letter words (but accurately negative assessment of each other) and the Good through the wearing ties with eagles (while combining the attributes of both a "would-be" physicist and Hercule Poirot).

Interesting story, but a better writer and less sloppy editor would have made all the difference. On page 82 Collins drives a "distinctive black Mercedes with its white roof". On the very next page the car is just white, but by page 119 it has become a "white Mercedes E200 with a black roof". Jeez . . . even a colorblind author and editor should have been able to get that one right.I could go on, but any reader above the age of ten should have no problem compiling a long list of discrepancies and contradictions.NYT journalists are world-famous for embracing a postmodernist definition of truth. I guess that explains it.

This recent true-crime story about the Hatton-Garden jewel heist has been told already by a few people but no one tells it with the depth of solid reporting and the flair for gripping storytelling as the New York Times' Dan Bilefsky. Highly recommended.

Just a great book