Reviews
Alice Diamond And The Forty Elephants: Britain's First Female Crime Syndicate by Brian McDonald
julieannholland's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I agree with everyone else who has wrote a review on this book, however, I have a much more leniency because I can see why. Yes, it lacked information and the organization could have been a lot better, but research is difficult just in itself, then criminal research is even hard due to their need to cover their tracks and use twenty different names, and then for him to try and research on women criminals, even harder. So, I understand why there wasn't a ton and why the organization was a bit scattered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this though. The moment I heard about Alice Diamond, I knew that I wanted to know more. It is fascinating to me, and McDonald gave me much much more than Google did, so I applaud him for that. Now, some of the reviews say there was very very little on Diamond herself and that McDonald was just using the name to be eye-catching, and I can agree with that. However, there is still information about her in the book, so I don't think it was merely a ploy to get attention. And do I feel a little unsatisfied, wanting more about Diamond and her innerworkings with the Forty Elephants? - Absolutely. But again for what McDonald was researching and taking everything under consideration, it makes sense that he offered what he could.
I found this book very helpful and super interesting to learn about. It was a tad dry as everyone says, but I didn't mind it so much. I guess I was just happy to be learning about Diamond and the Forty Elephants at all. I also found it very interesting that they worked alongside other gangs, particularly the McDonald brothers and their gang...the author's last name is McDonald. So, I was also very curious as to what connection he could have during the whole thing.
All in all, the inner crime working and the Forty Elephants are fascinating, which is why I didn't mind the book being a bit unorganized and dry.
I thoroughly enjoyed this though. The moment I heard about Alice Diamond, I knew that I wanted to know more. It is fascinating to me, and McDonald gave me much much more than Google did, so I applaud him for that. Now, some of the reviews say there was very very little on Diamond herself and that McDonald was just using the name to be eye-catching, and I can agree with that. However, there is still information about her in the book, so I don't think it was merely a ploy to get attention. And do I feel a little unsatisfied, wanting more about Diamond and her innerworkings with the Forty Elephants? - Absolutely. But again for what McDonald was researching and taking everything under consideration, it makes sense that he offered what he could.
I found this book very helpful and super interesting to learn about. It was a tad dry as everyone says, but I didn't mind it so much. I guess I was just happy to be learning about Diamond and the Forty Elephants at all. I also found it very interesting that they worked alongside other gangs, particularly the McDonald brothers and their gang...the author's last name is McDonald. So, I was also very curious as to what connection he could have during the whole thing.
All in all, the inner crime working and the Forty Elephants are fascinating, which is why I didn't mind the book being a bit unorganized and dry.
alisonvh's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.5
I knew nothing about this gang of women in London before picking up this book, and I'm so glad I did because I learned so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Sexism
Minor: Pregnancy
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