Product Description In the summer of 1913, under the cover of London's perpetual smoggy dusk, two brilliant minds are pitted against each other - a celebrated gentleman thief and a talented Scotland Yard detective - in the greatest jewel heist of the new century.  In the spirit of The Great Train Robbery and the tales of Sherlock Holmes, this is the true story of a psychological cat and mouse game set against the backdrop of London's golden Edwardian era.  Thoroughly researched, compellingly colorful, The Great Pearl Heist is a gripping narrative account of a little-known, yet extraordinary crime. From Booklist *Starred Review* Legends surround pearls—that pearls are the tears of mermaids, for example, or that a pearl possessed by royalty will destroy anyone else who comes to own it. Pearls are unique: they’re the only gemstones that come from a living being and the only stones that require no cutting or polishing. Natural pearls are often priceless. In this eye-opening account of the theft of the most valuable necklace in history, Crosby incorporates pearl legends and facts as well as a great deal of history surrounding the hardships of pearl diving and the intricacies of pearl trading before WWI. The Mayer Pearls, named after the jewelry trader Max Mayer, who purchased them in 1912, were a strand of 61 pearls whose centerpiece was a large teardrop pearl purchased from Portuguese royalty. They were worth more than the Hope Diamond. Crosby takes us into the criminal empire of one Joseph Grizzard, details Grizzard’s plan to intercept the necklace on its way from Paris to London, opens up the heist itself, and then elaborates on how Scotland Yard, led by brilliant and tenacious Inspector Alfred Ward, hunted down the criminals and brought them to trial. Crosby’s thriller-style account is backed up by her intensive research of Metropolitan Police records in the National Archives in London, along with contemporary accounts. Crosby, who wrote the best-selling story of how yellow fever shaped U.S. history, The American Plague (2006), has crafted another compelling popular history. --Connie Fletcher Review "Crosby's thriller-style account is backed up by her intensive research of Metropolitan Police records in the National Archives in London...she has crafted another compelling, popular history." - Booklist (starred review)"Rich and evocative, The Great Pearl Heist...immerses readers in the pre-war world of 1913 London and the extraordinary life of one of history's most skilled and clever thieves.  Crosby has written a book that is as enchanting and irresistible as its subject." -- Candice Millard, author of River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic."Fast-paced, full of twists and turns, and rich in detail, The Great Pearl Heist takes us deep inside the criminal underworld of turn-of-the-century London jewel thieves...a fascinating story rooted in such deep historical research that we can practically watch the drama unfold in real time." - Jeffrey Jackson, author of Paris Under Water"Crosby turns back the clock to a winning true crime tale...the author highlights the case's major influence on British crime detection and the legal system, adding a dash of color and realism to a largely forgotten chapter of Edwardian London." - Publishers Weekly"Molly Caldwell Crosby has a lovely talent for imagining history," -Dallas Morning News, Jim Landers."Crosby brings a clinical eye to her subject, creating a narrative that manages to remain both exciting and informative." -Memphis Commercial Appeal, Michael Ray Taylor."...one of the engrossing true crime stories of all-time." -Barnes & Noble Editorial Review"A ripping yarn...Crosby has stepped into the breach, assembling her narrative from an impressive array of sources and then lavishly saucing it with period detail." -Salon.com, Laura Miller"It's a gem...Crosby's story is rich in the lore of London's famed underworld; this is a tale of fences, putter-ups and receivers