Noel Behn (1928–1998)

In my 20's, I was highly interested in the Lindbergh crime and its possible suspects, even though Richard Hauptmann was tried and executed for said crime. In today's world he would probably not have been convicted on the evidence presented. That is not to say he was not guilty, for there is plenty of "evidence." This author makes a convincing case that Hauptmann was innocent and points the finger directly at the three others who resided in the home. DNA would have definitely convicted or cleared Hauptman but was not available. Another good book on this topic if you are interested in the Lindbergh kidnapping. The only downside is that it is 630 pages… (more)

BIG STICK UP AT BRINK'S! by Noel Behn recounts the robbery of approximately $2.7 million dollars from the Brink's Armored Car building on January 17th, 1950. Behn used over a thousand hours of interview material from the surviving robbers to recreate that night and the years of planning that lead up to one of the large heists ever in the US.
Behn does an amazing job of bringing each of the robbers to life and slowly piecing together the group and their idea to rob Brink's. Each man brought something unique to the group, and while the mastermind, Pino, was the key to it all, Behn makes the reader feel like it probably wouldn't have worked without each of the men involved. I found my laughing out loud at several points, especially most of the conversations any one had with Jazz Maffie. I would read a whole book just about that guy. Behn details how the heist came to be, from Pino tripping over the Brink's trucks in the wee hours of the morning, to finding the Brink's offices almost by chance, and then Pino finding the minimal, bordering on non-existent, levels of security at the Brink's vault. As a citizen of the United States, I am supposed to hope that all people who break the law are caught and punished appropriately, but by the end of BIG STICK UP AT BRINK'S, I was pulling for Pino, Maffie, and the rest of them to not only get away with the crime, but then be able to blend back into society and enjoy their success.
BIG STICK UP AT BRINK'S reads fast, fun, and exciting and I had a hard time putting it down, especially at the end. Behn tells the amazing story with panache and with a care that comes from someone who feels honored to writing this book. I would recommend this book to anyone and I look forward to reading another Behn book in the future!
Thank you to Open Road Intergrated Media and Netgalley for a copt of this book in exchange for an honest review!… (more)