Got this to flip through in preparation for a "books I'm excited about" feature and while I'm not a true crime fan in general, it does sound really fun!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Algonquin Books for an advance copy of this biography about a criminal in the Jazz Age who both titilated and caused fear among the moneyed class across the tri-state, and the price that he had to pay for his crimes.

America loves the bad guy. For all the talk about backing the blue, and being all for law and order, put a charismatic thief in front of people, and there will be swoons, calls for marriage, and cheers at that person eludes the hopefully Keystone-like cops. Jesse James, Billy the Kid, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde. People root for them, follow their events through the news, even today entire podcasts are devoted to their actions. Arthur Barry might be one of the few to deserve his sobriquet of the Gentlemen Thief. During a long stretch while the booze was banned, and the music was jazz hot, Barry stole, as he said from people who never had to worry about where there next lunch was coming from, all over Long Island, Yonkers, and Northern New Jersey. Barry's crimes were as contactless as shopping in a grocery store today, could be. Barry came in at night, when found would run, usually with a wide array of jewelry, watches and more. A gentlemen in name only, except for the love of his life, one treasure he prized over all others. A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobb is a biography about Barry, and a look at a time of Prohibition when a one-man crime wave could cause so much chaos, and fascinate so many people.

Arthur Barry was even as a child a cool character, though to his family he was more than a handful. At the age of thirteen, for a princely sum of $5, Barry began to ferry nitroglycerin from an older thief, to a young safe crackers all over the New England area. Nitro on a train. The calamity that could have been. Barry slowly moved up, breaking into buildings at night, and taking what he needed. A wrongful arrest led to jail time, and upon getting out, Barry joined the army in Wold War I, becoming a medic who served with distinction in Europe. Returning home, Barry found the same problem that many found, lots of men, little in the way of jobs. So Barry created an occupation, traveling to Yonkers and becoming a second story man, robbing rich people of their jewelry, fencing his goods and gambling the proceeds away. Barry's new life, along with his research into finding out more about the wealthy gentry introduced him to some of the most popular people of the ear, Harry Houdini, the future King of England. And the love o his life, Anna Blake. However a thief is only lucky for so long, and betrayal was only a phone call away.

I had never heard of Arthur Barry, but have to hand it to him. What a man and what a life. Carrying Nitro as a kid, second story thief, a war hero. And a man who regretted all that he did as he got older. There are very few criminals who honestly seem regretful, Barry I think really did. This is a story that has everything, music, gambling, royalty, crime, redemption, and love. Honest love, which again seems so rare. Which as one reads adds to the sadness of Barry. Jobb has done a fantastic job of researching, capturing the era, the sounds smells, and even what it is like to sneak into a house, or to awaken from a deep sleep to find someone unexpected next to one. I was not sure what I expected, but I did not expect such an expertly written story filled with the famous, the infamous, even a tie in to the Lindbergh baby.

I really can't recommend this book enough. Arthur Barry was like a character from a Horatio Alger story. Barry started with nothing, climbed the ladder to success, seized the prize and made his way. One can't ask for more in America. For lovers of true crime, the jazz age, history, or for people who love stories about complicated people, and books about people who have a real redemption arc. I'm going to have to read a lot more by Dean Jobb.

My thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an advance reader copy of this book.

What a rollicking tale! This is two books in one.

In book one, Arthur Barry was a real-life counterpart to the jewel thief in It Takes a Thief, except that he was the real thing. Slipping in and out of bedrooms while his victims slept only a few feet and sometimes only inches away, Barry stole precious gems from an array of 1920s personalities, including a Rockefeller and Wall Street titans.

Then comes book two. After he was finally arrested and convicted, It Takes a Thief becomes a 1930s prison movie, with Barry leading a dramatic prison break.

A fabulous book, well-written and engrossing.

Fans of Sherlock and James Bond won't want to miss this thrill of a ride. Arthur Barry, celebrity by day, thief by night, is one of the greatest crown jewel thiefs ever, but will his streak last?

I found the story of Arthur Barry fascinating and Jobb does an excellent job of keeping the reader interested. Thank you to Netgalley and publisher.

Thank you NetGallery,author,Dean Jobb and publisher Algonquin Books for the opportunity to read the ebook,A Gentleman and a Thief.It was wonderfully written,all backed up from ethical sources and was like a fictional novel,not “cut and dry” like so many biographies tend to be with only facts.I had never heard of Arthur Barry nor his amazing second story jewel heists,using a ladder to steal millions,in today’s money,of jewelry in the Jazz Age,from the ultra-rich and famous in NY and NJ.During hard times and the stock market crash,Barry wanted the good life which for him was gambling and drinking during the days of probition.It describes the terrible conditions of a few prisons in New York State at that time.This book deserves to make it on the Times top 10 books. If you like Eric Larson’s books,you will like this one,too.

Truth is definitely stranger than fiction. Who could make this story up and whoever heard of Arthur Barry? This is such an intriguing and amazing story. The author says in the beginning that all the facts are true. A very exciting journey to read.

Well-researched and intriguing, this book captures the atmosphere of the 1920s about master thief Arthur Barry. The author note at the beginning set the tone that as crazy as the story sounded, nothing was embellished. True crime fans who like to read about hubris will find plenty to enjoy. Those who liked Diamond Doris, will also be enthralled with how the crimes were perpetuated.

This book made me so excited! My heart pounded through every chapter which made me fly through this book. The plot was exciting and fast paced and the characters were interesting but relatable. I highly recommend this book and will be telling all of my family and friends to read it!