The Dinner Set Gang

By: Yudhijit Bhattacharjee

Narrated by: Robert Fass

Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is a glittering true-crime tale unlike any you have ever encountered. Glittering because the take involved rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires. The thieves were two men from Yonkers, Dominick Latella and Pete Salerno, who hit the East Coast mansions of the wealthy enclaves of Westchester and Palm Beach. Over 20 years they became known as the most successful jewel thieves in American history...until one bleak night when they got careless. 

The most astonishing part of the story, though, was the unique twist to their method. They never hit a mansion unless the owners were home, having supper in the dining room. Then Latella would hoist Salerno up to a second-story window of a bedroom. Latella would stay earthbound to serve as lookout while Salerno swept up the jewels invariably left by the lady of the house on her dressing table or in other obvious places.  

The story is also one of great pathos: the two were finally apprehended on what Salerno had vowed would be his last job. His wife had cancer, and he was doing the job to pay for the mastectomy she needed.  

Yudhijit Bhattacharjee interviewed all the major players, including the thieves (one in prison, the other now passed away) and their spouses, in this heart-stopping, glamorous, yet ultimately tragic story.  

Bhattacharjee is an award-winning writer whose features and essays on espionage, cybercrime, science, and medicine have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, Wired, and other US magazines.   

©2020 Yudhijit Bhattacharjee (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Master Jewel Thieves

This was a great true crime story of the most successful burglar team in the US. They never carried guns and never threatened or hurt anyone, just stole jewelry from high end homes. For Pete Salerno, it was a lifelong addiction. A family affair and a great story.

Loved it

A fascinating story of people and a lifestyle that I can’t even imagine. At times I felt anger and contempt for the thieves, at other times sympathy. We’ll worth the listen.

Fascinating tale - told wonderfully by the author

The story is an amazing one - another case of fact being stranger than fiction. Yudhijit does a great job of effortlessly capturing the essence of the story and and of highlighting some of the key pivots that changed the course of the main characters. I love the anecdotes that really bring this tale to life. I can only imagine the interviews the author must have had with the characters to write this story. Highly recommended reading ... though if you live in certain kinds of houses dinner time may never be the same again!

Wonderful telling of a great true story!

This is a great recounting of the true story of the greatest jewel thief team in American history. The twists & turns of this unique pair of brothers-in-law, married to identical twin sisters, are fascinating & poignant, and I'd recommend this to everyone who loves true crime stories.

Interesting Story

Kept me engaged. The tale shines a light on the ingenious ways thieves come up with in order to part folks from their possessions. The protagonists are truly worth reading about

An enchanting tale of a self described best jewel thief

This is an amazing story of how two people devised and perfected a unique way of stealing jewelry of super rich people and how successful they were. They stole tens of millions worth.

Beautifully written by the author Yudhijit who transports the reader to the “Goodfellas” world of these people. This totally captures the imagination of its readers. A highly entertaining read.

Loved it!

It’s a great true crime story that really brings you inside the mind of the thieves.

WOW, and it happened where (and when) i grew up

I guess their are us and THEM. a different world from mine. Scary that it goes on and no one can stop them for years. even if they knew who did it. Mostly in NY and FL but if you lived on the east coast at all in the last 50 years you need to read this.

its to short i wanted more....

Enjoyed it!

I enjoyed the storytelling way this was written.
Great pace, not dragged out.
hreat narration too