The Great Train Robbery, by Michael Crichton

The Great Train Robbery, one of Crichton's novels from the middle of his career, reads more like non-fiction than fiction with extensive research into an actual robbery that took place in 1855. Even though it wasn't told in a dramatized fashion, the story was still very interesting. I also enjoyed reading about 19th century life in London.

Most of the book involves the copying of four keys needed to unlock the safe carrying gold on the train. The last quarter of the book involves the actual robbery itself and all the last minute changes in plans make this part especially exciting. But the real payoff of the book is the ending, where the criminal mastermind behind the crime announces his escape during his trial and then actually pulls it off.

It's interesting that Crichton seems to be telling an un-embellished history of the actual train robbery but still markets it as a novel. Perhaps he just figured it would sell more copies that way.