Flawless

Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History

By: Greg Campbell, Scott Andrew Selby

Narrated by: Don Hagen

NOW A NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY (Stolen: Heist of the Century)

"Tells the story with the gripping pace of a true-crime 'Ocean's Eleven.'" The New York Post • "Like a diamond, this true-life caper is clear, colorful, and brilliant." Publishers Weekly ★Starred Review★

The Antwerp Diamond Center was one of the most secure buildings in the world. With hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of diamonds stored in its subterranean vault, it had to be. Located in the heart of Belgium's ultra-secure Antwerp Diamond District, it was protected by two police stations, armed patrols, extensive video surveillance, and vehicle barriers securing an area where 80 percent of the world's diamonds trade hands.

But on February 15, 2003, a band of skilled Italian thieves—fronted by the charming Leonardo Notarbartolo, who spent over two years clandestinely casing the building—subverted every one of the Diamond Center's defenses and made off with a record amount of loot. Experts estimate they got away with nearly half a billion dollars in diamonds, cash, and other valuables. They'd pulled off the biggest heist in history.

The robbers did it with stealth and smarts; no one was hurt or even threatened during what was quickly labeled the largest diamond heist in history. The bandits—members of a group of professional thieves known as "The School of Turin"—used cunning in lieu of violence, successfully evading security cameras, thwarting an array of electronic sensors, and penetrating a vault protected by a double-locked, foot-thick steel door.

Flawless is a fast-paced global scavenger hunt uncovering the truth behind the daring Valentine's Day weekend heist. Tracking clues, sources, and documents throughout Europe — from seedy cafés in Turin, Italy, to sleek diamond offices in Antwerp, Belgium—authors Scott Selby and Greg Campbell retrace Notarbartolo's careful discovery of the building's security flaws. They recreate the heist and its aftermath—detailing how the thieves brilliantly neutralized each element of the security protecting the Diamond Center's vault while inviting listeners into the secretive world of diamonds and diamond dealing.

The result is a thrilling ride through the better-than-fiction heist of the century.

"Fans of caper books and movies will be in seventh heaven." Booklist ★Starred Review★

©2010 Scott Selby (P)2010 Gildan

The Best listening so far

Would you listen to Flawless again? Why?

Yes, it's an amazing book

Who was your favorite character and why?

Leonard , he is very smart

What does Don Hagen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A clean message from the author

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, no one is safe, even the most secure place on earth has risks

Can't wait to see the movie

This tells the story of facts as they are known from the police reports in a narrative form. Shocking levels of detail that they went to over years of planning how to line up each hole in so many layers of security to reach inside and get away. Also shocked how simple their mistake was to get caught. One can't help but wonder if there is another story here under the hood; but the one told works and is an enjoyable light read maybe if not a movie yet there is an ABC documentary that gets the point across if you don't have 10hrs to spend on this subject.

Should be a movie.

I think these guys should be given all types of immunity for their true version of how they pulled this off just to see if there was anything left out of this list of counter security measures written here. This was genius. This goes to show that there's no such thing as security. Security is only good till someone figures out how to fool it. Man is genius in his pursuit of money, fame and power. This is well told, VERY well researched and well written.

Interesting story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend, I found the planning of the heist interesting.

What aspect of Don Hagen’s performance would you have changed?

Nothing.

Did Flawless inspire you to do anything?

I'm inspired to rob a bank. Just kidding. No it didn't, but reminds me a how well thought out plan can go, and how it's the little overlooked things that can kill everything.

This was loads of fun with a bunch of well researched cool people grown in

I have used this book for a few years to talk about computer network micro segmentation but put on the audio book to review it before a meeting where I int need to bring Microsoft. The book was great and really well researched with no prejudice for either side. The audio was way better. Being able to hear the authors inflections punctuation specific lines helped me understand the researchers perspective on various points.
Great book. Better on audio!

Story about a jewelry heist. It was awesome.

Great book. It was very interesting and I loved it. I’m anxious to get going on another one.

All about Diamond Business

What made the experience of listening to Flawless the most enjoyable?

A book about the Diamond business and those who find incredible ways to get their hands on 'the goods'.

Zzzz

I'm on chapter 5 and so far the book is a real snooze. I'm hoping from reading the other reviews that it will get more exciting. I feel like I'm being read an encyclopaedia description of the history of diamonds and Antwerp diamond trading. I guess I was expecting more of an Ocean's Eleven type story.

Interesting

I have a long time love affair with diamonds and found this detail ridden story interesting. Especially loved the narration about DeBeers. This seems to be a book with a narrow focus and unless you are interested in diamonds and "heists" I believe it would be as dull as watching the grass grow. But if this is an interest of yours don't miss Flawless.

Good look into the details of the heist

This isnt really a fast paced book. Doesnt have danger and daring exploits. But it is an interesting look into the crime and attempted getaway. Kids, dont try this at home! but its ok to listen to.