In the original dustsheet. Black cloth binding with gilt title on the spine.

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The Crime of the Century. The biggest train heist in Britain’s history. The Great Train Robbery. In the early hours of Thursday, 8th August 1963, a fifteen-strong gang stole £2.6 million (£45 million of today’s money) from the Glasgow to London mail train at Sears Crossing, Buckinghamshire. The crime was so epic; every single development of the case was followed tirelessly by the press. Countless books have since been published and, even today, films, television dramas and documentaries continue to study the smallest of details of one of the most daring and cleverly concocted criminal plans of all-time. Much of the gang were later captured and paid the price with lengthy jail sentences. But 50 years on, many still question who the real mastermind behind the plot. For years most people accepted that Bruce Reynolds was but is that really the case? One man knows the answer and the true identity of the man behind the robbery all too well. In this engrossing biography, the only living person who personally knows the real mastermind revisits the Great Train Robbery and rewrites history as we know it. Full of explosive, fresh revelations, The Secret Train Robber sees the final piece of the puzzle firmly set in place and the name of one of Britain’s most sophisticated criminal minds ever is finally revealed.

Review: Lee Sturley isn’t an author, he is a man with a story to tell. That is exactly how this book is written, I enjoyed the story telling aspect of the writing, as if Lee was talking to you over a pint in the pub. I had a reason for wanting to read this book, due to some of the details and one person in particular who was mentioned. I found it an interesting read, getting a different view point other than the glamourised Ronnie Biggs version of the Great Train Robbery. I doubt we will even know the real truth as to who was behind the greatest crime of the century. So many who were involved are long gone from this earth and took their secrets with them. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the crime itself. I did get a little distracted with the many different names that were being cast into the book along the way, I struggled to keep up. This is a recollection of the life Lee knew, therefore he tells it as he remembers it and what he saw himself. A worthwhile read and I am pleased I took the time to look it up and read it.

The Author, Lee Sturley has led a chequered life. Drawn into crime by his family connections, he has nevertheless always followed honest occupations including working as a steward on the railways and on P&O cruise ships. He is a highly successful builder and lives in Essex not far from his children.