The story is unbelievable. The heist actually happened.

Charlie O'Neill is still grieving his mom and desperate for his dad's attention when he overhears three smooth-talking surfers planning the heist of the century. The target? The priceless gems of the American Museum of Natural History. The problem? Nobody believes a kid. So Charlie decides to stop it himself. What follows is a breathless night of locked iron gates, cut glass, a swaying rope five stories up — and a choice that makes right and wrong a lot more complicated than Charlie expected.

True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! is inspired by the real 1964 theft of the Star of India sapphire, one of the most legendary jewel heists in U.S. history. The thieves were real. The gems were real. And the story is even wilder than you'd imagine.

• A kid who won't be ignored, a heist that can't be stopped — when Charlie overhears surfers plotting the robbery of the century, no one believes him. So he decides to stop it himself
• Based on a jaw-dropping true story — the real 1964 theft of the Star of India sapphire from New York's American Museum of Natural History, one of the most audacious jewel heists in U.S. history
• Perfect for fans of I Survived and true crime — cinematic action, a heartfelt family story, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning all the way to the end
• A lot of this actually happened — additional material breaks down what's true, what's fictional, and what became of the real thieves and the stolen gems
• For readers ages 8–12 who love saying "wait…that really happened?" — mystery, history, and museum lore packed into one adrenaline-charged adventure