Lifted (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]

Evan Ratliff (Author), The Atavist (Editor)

Book Description

The robbers had a crew of two dozen specialists, a stolen helicopter, perfectly-designed explosives, and inside information on a $150 million cash repository in Stockholm. The police were on to them—or so they thought. What happened next would make headlines around the world, but the robbery was just part of the story. Evan Ratliff presents the inside tale of one of history's most elaborate heists, and the race to unravel it.

Evan Ratliff is the editor of The Atavist, a new home for original nonfiction. His writing appears in Wired, where he is a contributing editor, The New Yorker, National Geographic, and other publications. He is also the story editor of Pop-Up Magazine, a live event.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Lifted demonstrates that Wired and New Yorker writer Evan Ratliff understands the two cornerstones of successful crime writing. First, choose criminals who can plan and carry off a narrative--that of their intended crime--with at least as much savvy as the writer himself. (Or herself: Think Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, Donna Tartt.) Then, for nonfiction at least, just stick to the facts. To its immense credit, Lifted does exactly both. In telling the true story of this audacious Swedish bank heist of September 23, 2009, Ratliff metes out the known details with the subtly suspenseful mastery of a seasoned mystery/thriller writer. Featuring a motley cast on both sides of the law, the result is a gripping, seat's-edge thriller. --Jason Kirk

Product Details

• File Size: 203 KB
• Print Length: 34 pages
• Publisher: The Atavist (January 19, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004K1F9KG
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,065 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #27 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > The World Stage
  • #32 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > Page-turning Narratives
  • #36 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > Reporting

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Single January 27, 2011

By Robert Woolsey

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ratliff does a great job turning just the story and facts of a Swedish bank heist into an incredibly engaging and suspenseful thriller. If I hadn't read the description, I probably never would have guessed this was actually a work of non-fiction. And to me, that's how you mark a great book in this sort of genre.

It was definitely thoroughly researched, and the narrative is well pieced together. There's even a photograph of some of the buildings, characters, and scenery at the end of every chapter. This was definitely a nice touch, and you'll appreciate actually being able to see things like the roof of the bank where the heist took place.

As far as reading time, it took me about an hour at a pretty leisurely pace, and I'm not a fast reader. I think this was a great length though for this story. It's certainly a page turner, but it wouldn't have hurt to have more detail in a few places. You'll enjoy it if you're looking for a good, engrossing short read.

59 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I am a Kindle Single fan! January 27, 2011

By AREngineer

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this "single". It was very well researched and written. This format was just the right length for this story. I think that if he had tried to "flesh it out" to the length of a novel, it would have been watered down and boring.
Thanks, Amazon, for the new Kindle Singles. I will be reading more of them.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant use of the Kindle Singles format January 30, 2011

By Steven Lewis, Author

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Kindle Singles format is arguably the best thing Amazon has introduced for Kindle owners since the Kindle itself. Ratliff takes full advantage of it in a tight article that is just the right length for the story it tells.

Ratliff has Michael Lewis's ability to take a non-fiction story and make it play like a Hollywood movie, in this case Ocean's 11 (except good). If this heist hadn't actually happened, you wouldn't have believed it could but Ratliff takes you right there.

This and the imagination of Steig Larsson make you wonder what on earth goes on in Sweden.