Flawless by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell
by Jenners • 06/01/2012 • 3.5 Stars, Audiobook, C Authors, F Titles, Non-Fiction, S Authors, True Crime • 51 Comments
Flawless written by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell and read by Don HagenPublisher: Gildan Media Corp, 2010
Length: 10 hours and 12 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime
Where I Got It: Audible
Why I Read It: I originally got this book for the What’s In A Name Challenge (it has the word “diamond” in the subtitle). Although I read a different book with a gem in the title, I still wanted to read this one as it sounded interesting
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description
The subtitle for the book pretty much sums up the topic: “Inside the Largest Diamond Heist In History.” The description from Amazon does a pretty good job of giving you an overview of the details so I don’t have to:
On February 15, 2003, a group of thieves broke into an allegedly airtight vault in the international diamond capital of Antwerp, Belgium and made off with over $108 million dollars worth of diamonds and other valuables. They did so without tripping an alarm or injuring a single guard in the process.
Although the crime was perfect, the getaway was not. The police zeroed in on a band of professional thieves fronted by Leonardo Notarbartolo, a dapper Italian who had rented an office in the Diamond Center and clandestinely cased its vault for over two years. The who of the crime had been answered, but the how remained largely a mystery.
Enter Scott Andrew Selby, a Harvard Law grad and diamond expert, and Greg Campbell, author of Blood Diamonds, who undertook a global goose chase to uncover the true story behind the daring heist. Tracking the threads of the story throughout Europe from Belgium to Italy, in seedy cafes and sleek diamond offices, the authors sorted through an array of conflicting details, divergent opinions and incongruous theories to put together the puzzle of what actually happened that Valentines Day weekend.
This real-life Ocean’s Eleven, a combination of diamond history, journalistic reportage, and riveting true-crime story, provides a thrilling in-depth study detailing the better-than-fiction heist of the century.
My Thoughts
For the most part, I think the description above is pretty accurate … with the possible exception of the phrase “a thrilling in-depth study detailing the better-than-fiction heist of the century.” This particular story probably isn’t better than fiction, for, as the authors point out multiple times throughout the book, real-life isn’t as glamorous or as fast-moving as fictional heists, like the ones depicted in the Ocean’s Eleven series of films. The thieves spent almost two years planning and plotting, and the heist itself didn’t rely on high-tech devices, disguises or split-second timing. In fact, the amazing thing about this story is that it was the lax security provided by the HUMANS at the Diamond Center that enabled the thieves to pull off the crime … plus a bit of duct tape, hair spray, styrofoam and a long broom handle!
The book provides a balanced mix of the particulars of the heist (both before, during and after, including the subsequent detective work) and the history of diamonds, the diamond district in Antwerp and past diamond heists. What bogs the book down is that no one (except for the actual thieves) know all the details of the heist. Selby and Campbell do a good job of creating a plausible scenario but there are still key details that have not been nailed down … and the thieves aren’t yet willing to spill the beans. (Although Notarbartolo sold his “inside” story to Wired magazine, the authors conclude that his account was an elaborate bit of fiction designed to minimize his own involvement and disguise the actual size of the heist.)
Although the heist itself was allegedly a “perfect” crime, one small mistake (and a bit of bad luck) led to their almost instantaneous capture, which was almost disappointing to me as a reader. Part of me yearned for the neat conclusion of the Ocean’s Eleven movies … where the gang walks away scot-free and leaves everyone scratching their heads. The other thing that was weird to me was how little punishment the thieves ended up facing—based in no small part on the Belgian justice system.
Overall, the book was interesting and kept my attention, but I’d still rather watch Ocean’s Eleven.
About the Narration: Don Hagen has a deep voice that was well-suited to this particular book. He effortlessly pronounced the Italian and Belgian surnames and the rather complicated sounding Antwerp street names.
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy true crime books that aren’t violent or involve murder
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I’m with you. I’d rather watch George Clooney any day!
He is easy on the eyes … and ears too!
I was hoping that you would give this one a higher rating because I own it and haven’t read it yet. Oh well, perhaps it will still be one I will enjoy. It is hard to compete with some of those great movies like Ocean’s Eleven, especially when it comes to the fab ending of that movie.
It turns out that real life is just not as compelling (or good looking) at the movies. I would have never guessed! HAHA! Still, it was OK and I didn’t HATE it.
Actually, this book intrigues me. I gotta put it on the list. Great review, Jenners.
Hmmm…planning a diamond robbery are you? : )
I think it would interesting to raed how they pulled it off, but if the authors don’t know all the details, except that duct tape played a part (and really this should surprise no one) then I’d feel a little cheated.
They knew most of what happened but there were some details they never quite figured out. They knew enough to give you most of the answers though.
My husband listens to audio books, I will have to tell him about this one
It is kind of a “guy” book in a way.
hmmm, I’d probably like this on audio?? Just finished an audio book, you would probably enjoy: Monday Mornings by Sanjay Gupta – it’s fiction, but sounds like it could be based on real rife hospital screw-ups. (no review yet)
Ooooh…sounds good. Thanks for the tip!
And I doubt the any of the thieves or authors look like George Clooney.
So I’ll just stick to the movies, thankyouverymuch.
True that. But I did Google the main thief because they keep referring to him as “handsome” and he kind of looks like that actor who cuts of the ear in Reservoir Dogs. Can’t for the life of me remember his name and I’m too lazy to IMDB him.
Ok…guess I wont read this one.
Unless you are planning a diamond robbery — in which case it might be helpful.
I think I’d like it. It sounds kinda fascinating to me. I mean, TWO YEARS in the planning stages? That is amazing! The details would be so interesting.
The details were fascinating but it was incredibly mundane at the same time, which was kind of weird in a way.
This one has been on my TBR list for a long time. I don’t think I’ll be bumping it to the front of the line soon.
Yeah … it doesn’t deserve a “top spot” I don’t think. Unless you are planning a robbery…
It sounds fairly interesting and, believe it or not, I’ve never seen ANY of the “oceans” movies.
Just back from Vegas tonight. Thought about you while I was there.
Hope Vegas was so fun for you!! And you should totally watch Oceans 11 now being just back from Vegas since it takes place in Vegas! It will be a good reentry movie!
I’m intrigued! And now you also have me wanting to watch Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13 again…
Luckily, TBS or TNT (I never remember which one) seem to play those movies every single weekend!
sounds interesting–I’ve never heard of or read a “true crime” book.
It is a whole section in book stores but it isn’t my thing. Some people love it though.
Watching George Clooney in anything is OK with me!
I agree!
for whatever it says about me, I like my crime violent and fake…
I’m not sure exactly what that says about you but it says SOMETHING.
That Whats-in-A-Name challenge constantly has me looking for titles to fit! I think I read two books for this category last year.
I might rec a book about diamond hunting in Canada if you enjoy nonfic abt gems. but I will have to look it up so I’ll shoot ya an email. Or come back.
Ok, found it: Barren Lands: An Epic Search For Diamonds in the North American Artic
by Kevin Krajick
I read two books for this category too. They could not have been more different. Thanks for the title for the other diamond book.
Ah, the ironies of life. I enjoyed this book. There is no such thing as the perfect crime, but boy did they come close!!!
They really did!! If they had just not thrown the trash where they did, they would have gotten away scot-free. What are the chances?
TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGG! http://www.eclectic-eccentric.com/2012/06/round-5-of-tag-with-jenners.html
I cannot wait!!!
I’ve only seen the old Ocean movie, but this book does sound a bit lacking in drama. But then life isn’t always as dramatic as we’d like it to be, or maybe we should have had a hunky guy masterminding it.
You should check out the new Oceans 11 movies!!! Tons of hunky masterminds, double crosses and just plain fun. Love those films!
Excellent, honest review! This isn’t something I’d naturally gravitate toward, but you do make it sound interesting.
I was so curious to see how they pulled it off. So much less glamorous than they make it seem in the movies.
This is one that is on my TBR list and I think I will keep it there even though the book isn’t as interesting as the fake stories! I still think it will be interesting to read about
It was interesting to me how they did this kind of stuff in real life vs. movie life. It made me realize how boring this type of work might actually be!! : )
I was telling my son the other day that there is no perfect crime. In some mystery I read, the detective goes on at some length about how smart a criminal has to be to get away with any one part of a scheme, much less put the parts flawlessly together.
The thing that was interesting was that they made one tiny little mistake and it was really a fluke that they got caught. It was very very very close to being a perfect crime.
Nope, I need violence, body parts and blood please. I find myself saying often “truth is stranger than fiction” because I do read a lot of non-fiction that blows my mind. If that saying doesn’t apply, not sure I want to read it!
This was the case where the truth was more boring than fiction … and that isn’t usually the case, is it?
Diamonds don’t do it for me. (this is the real reason why my husband likes me)
I could see why that would be attractive to a man. : )
I’ve never seen Ocean’s Eleven so the book sounds good to me.
Wow … I’m actually really surprised you haven’t seen the “new” Ocean’s 11 movies. They are so good. They play on TBS or TNT like EVERY WEEKEND so you should try and check it out. The first one is really really good.