The Encyclopedia of Robberies, Heists and Capers [Paperback]

Michael Newton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-Newton has filled this resource with character portraits of some of the most notorious thieves, and their pursuers, in the history of the world as well as general articles on such topics as "Jewel Theft: History," "Nazi Looting of Europe," and "Terrorist Robberies." Fascinating tales of heists often relate the not-so-exciting aspects of a life of crime, such as one bank robber giving up his illegal activities to supervise a bank's parking lot. The movie image of Bonnie and Clyde is altered by their real-life exploits, as is the reputation of Melvin Purvis (one of the FBI agents responsible for the capture and death of John Dillinger) by the discussion of his career. This encyclopedia offers historical background and solid curricular information. The author's research is extensive, as evidenced by the lengthy bibliography of selected sources. The black-and-white photographs add a great deal to the entries, often suggesting that even the most innocent of faces can have a rap sheet a mile long.
Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816044899
• ISBN-13: 978-0816044894
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A California native, Michael Newton has published 215 books under his own name and various pseudonyms since 1977. He began writing professionally as a "ghost" for author Don Pendleton on the best-selling Executioner series and continues his work on that series today. With 104 episodes published to date, Newton has nearly tripled the number of Mack Bolan novels completed by creator Pendleton himself.

Newton's first book under his own name was Monsters, Mysteries and Man (1979), a survey of unexplained phenomena for younger readers. While 156 of Newton's published books have been novels--including westerns, political thrillers and psychological suspense--he is best known for nonfiction, primarily true crime and reference books.

His firearms manual for writers, Armed and Dangerous (1990), remains a best-seller for Writer's Digest Books in its 8th printing. Newton's Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (Facts on File, 2000) is currently in its second edition. His history of the Florida Ku Klux Klan, The Invisible Empire (2001), won the Florida Historical Society's 2002 Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History. His Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology was just named as one of twelve books on the American Library Association's 2006 List of Outstanding Reference Sources. Newton's shorter work includes horror fiction, true crime articles and case histories for Court TV's Crime Library online.

He is a member of several organizations, including the Centre for Fortean Zoology, the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club and Feral Cat Friends Inc.

His 24 upcoming books, scheduled for release through 2011, include 8 novels and 16 nonfiction works. He lives in Nashville, Indiana.