Under the Streets of Nice By Ken Follett and Rene L. Maurice

In 1976, Albert Spaggiari and his crew finally broke through the wall of the vault in the Societe Generale bank of Nice and stole $10 million dollars worth of gold ingots, jewelry and cash.  The police were stunned to discover that the thieves had entered through the sewer system where they had spent two months digging an access tunnel.  The plan was complex and comprehensive, and the brain, Spaggiari, led the police through a vast array of clues that embarrassed them.  Once caught, Spaggiari used stall tactics to protect his crew and eventually, he escaped, only to turn up dead twelve years later on his mother’s kitchen table.

Follett and Maurice present the complicated story in a professional and balanced form, even though you get the impression occasionally that they, themselves, were a little impressed with the cavalier, egocentric thief.  Easy to follow, the clues and evidence are woven together successfully as the authors engage the reader with just enough information to keep him reading. 

A non-fiction crime story, Under the Streets of Nice, presents an intriguing story without sensationalism.  Any references to drugs and sex are mild and fleeting as the authors retain their objective, factual presentation.  Only at the end do they “suppose” over the reasons why Spaggiari was so successful.