A Book I Just Might Write
I’ve been asked quite often over the past couple of decades if I will ever write my own Gardner Museum heist book. That question has only become more frequent since the success of Geoff Kelly’s book Thirteen Perfect Fugitives, which was released just last month.
The answer is most likely no.
There are two reasons for this:
Geoff’s book covers all the details of how the heist was perpetrated over the infamous 81 minutes in granular detail. I can’t imagine trying to top his telling of it.
When the paintings are recovered (and I do believe it will happen), I don’t think I’ll be able to reveal how it happened without betraying an enormous amount of confidences that I’ve promised in pursuit of the stolen art.
A Boston Globe columnist has criticized me a few times in the past for not opening up our files to the world so that we can crowdsource the investigation. Imagine how irresponsible that would be! “Hey, John/Jane, remember when you agreed to tell me all about what you know under a veil of guaranteed anonymity? Well, I change my mind. Look for your name all over the internet soon!”
When I explained this, she persisted. Then I asked her when she planned to reveal all of her unnamed sources. She offered no reply, of course.
What I do think I might write, though, is what it is like dealing with the endless array of armchair detectives who dream up bizarre theories, share them, and refuse to believe they are wrong.
They range from the improbable to the downright nutty and conspiratorial. And because they usually go public with them—first sending them to every reporter they can find and then, finding no interest there either, turning to elected officials—I won’t be betraying any confidences.
It might not sell, but it will sure be gratifying!