What do you think?
Rate this book
Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True Crime Saga in Texas
Marshall Ratliff thought robbing a bank dressed like Santa at Christmastime would be easy. He didn't expect the citizens of Cisco to come at him with guns blazing! But in 1927, a $5000 bounty was offered to any citizen who killed a bandit while the crime was in progress. Tui Snider's new book follows the true-crime action from this wild shootout with vigilantes to its tragic conclusion. Most “official” versions of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery (including magazines, websites, & even printed books) use fake names for key players. This keeps readers from knowing the truth. Read Santa Claus Bank A True-Crime Saga in Texas by Tui Snider to learn the true tale behind the infamous West Texas bank robbery that led to the biggest manhunt the Lone Star State had ever seen. Only then can you decide whether or not a mysterious blonde was involved - and if so, did she get away with murder?
152 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 18, 2019
The synopsis/blurb asked this question:
Think you know all about the Santa Claus Bank Robbery in Cisco, Texas?
Well, I live in Texas, and not too far from Cisco, but I’d never heard anything about this bank robbery, nor was I aware of the museums, songs and shows influenced by this insane story.
In the 1920’s, bank robberies were becoming so commonplace, lawmakers offered a five -thousand- dollar reward to anyone who took out a bandit in the process of robbing a bank. That was a huge amount of money back then, and unbelievably that law stayed on the books until 1964!!
But, when a group of four men, now known as the Santa Claus Gang- Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Lewis Davis, and Robert Hill- decided to knock off the First National Bank in Cisco, they weren’t too worried about being shot, apparently. They had a getaway car, plus one of the bandits had a perfect disguise- a Santa Claus suit.
However, that suit, as it turns out, was more of a hindrance than a help. To say the robbery didn’t go as planned is an understatement of epic proportions. It was just unreal! Kids wanting to see Santa, teenagers with guns, and an all -out melee that resulted in several deaths, with several others wounded.
This is not the first book written about this crime, and the author appears puzzled by the various name changes and omissions from previous publications. Snider doesn’t hold back any information or tiptoe around the possible connections with those on the periphery, or those who may have aided and abetted the robbers. Why other writers may have avoided pointing out those connections is a curious mystery all on its own.
The story follows the case from its conception, all the way through to the aftermath, and reveals the effects on the survivors later in life. The aftermath is most interesting, proving truth is often stranger than fiction. The most interesting relationship to develop over time, was between robber Robert Hill and potential victim Woody Harris.
Wow! Unbelievable. Woody is my favorite person in this story, I think.
The book isn’t all that long and once I got started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I even got my husband interested in it. The history, of course, is quite fascinating, made even more interesting since I am familiar with most of the areas mentioned in the book. Surprisingly, a few famous names pop up here and there- such as Conrad Hilton. You’ll have to read the book to see how he was connected to Cisco, Texas.
Unfortunately, there are moments of shame in the story too, and not where one might think it should be placed. Citizens behaved just as badly at times and that is a part of the story surely no one is very proud of.
While I’ve read many true crime sagas, this year, this one was one of the wildest stories I have encountered- and it might just be my favorite!
Anyone who likes history will have to read this book, and of course, true crime readers won’t want to miss it, either.
5 stars!!
Think you know all about the Santa Claus Bank Robbery in Cisco, Texas?
Well, I live in Texas, and not too far from Cisco, but I’d never heard anything about this bank robbery, nor was I aware of the museums, songs and shows influenced by this insane story.
In the 1920’s, bank robberies were becoming so commonplace, lawmakers offered a five -thousand- dollar reward to anyone who took out a bandit in the process of robbing a bank. That was a huge amount of money back then, and unbelievably that law stayed on the books until 1964!!
But, when a group of four men, now known as the Santa Claus Gang- Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Lewis Davis, and Robert Hill- decided to knock off the First National Bank in Cisco, they weren’t too worried about being shot, apparently. They had a getaway car, plus one of the bandits had a perfect disguise- a Santa Claus suit.
However, that suit, as it turns out, was more of a hindrance than a help. To say the robbery didn’t go as planned is an understatement of epic proportions. It was just unreal! Kids wanting to see Santa, teenagers with guns, and an all -out melee that resulted in several deaths, with several others wounded.
This is not the first book written about this crime, and the author appears puzzled by the various name changes and omissions from previous publications. Snider doesn’t hold back any information or tiptoe around the possible connections with those on the periphery, or those who may have aided and abetted the robbers. Why other writers may have avoided pointing out those connections is a curious mystery all on its own.
The story follows the case from its conception, all the way through to the aftermath, and reveals the effects on the survivors later in life. The aftermath is most interesting, proving truth is often stranger than fiction. The most interesting relationship to develop over time, was between robber Robert Hill and potential victim Woody Harris.
Wow! Unbelievable. Woody is my favorite person in this story, I think.
The book isn’t all that long and once I got started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I even got my husband interested in it. The history, of course, is quite fascinating, made even more interesting since I am familiar with most of the areas mentioned in the book. Surprisingly, a few famous names pop up here and there- such as Conrad Hilton. You’ll have to read the book to see how he was connected to Cisco, Texas.
Unfortunately, there are moments of shame in the story too, and not where one might think it should be placed. Citizens behaved just as badly at times and that is a part of the story surely no one is very proud of.
While I’ve read many true crime sagas, this year, this one was one of the wildest stories I have encountered- and it might just be my favorite!
Anyone who likes history will have to read this book, and of course, true crime readers won’t want to miss it, either.
5 stars!!
November 26, 2019
(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
--
I don't normally read a lot of non-fiction, but there was something about Tui Snider's true crime novel Santa Claus Bank Robbery that really drew me in. Maybe it was the fact that I love to imagine how things were back in the day or maybe it was the mystery of the blonde woman that I wanted to know. Whatever it was, I am thrilled that I had the chance to read Santa Claus Bank Robbery.
Tui Snider opens her novel with a chapter that talks about how she first heard of this crazy bank heist. She gives information behind the history of bank robberies in Texas. Snider then goes into details about the key players that were apart of the bank robbery in the next chapter. It isn't long before you're thrown into the action of what happened that fateful day in Cisco, Texas when at least four men - Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Robert Hill, and Lewis Davis - decided to rob the First National Bank on December 23, 1927 with Ratliff dressed in a Santa Claus suit. It's a wonder more people didn't die considering back then anyone off the street could get a gun and shoot at criminals! Snider doesn't just end her book when the bank robbery ended. She also writes about what happened to the bank robbers after they were apprehended as well as what happened to some of the other people who were involved whether they were hostages, bystanders, or vigilantes.
It's very obvious that Tui Snider had done extensive research before writing Santa Claus Bank Robbery. Snider even includes a diagram that shows where everyone was standing when the bank robbery occurred! She includes names of many of the key players (witnesses, accessories, bystanders, etc) which can sometimes be a bit daunting to remember. I had to go back to previous chapters to find out who was who sometimes. The names of people get easier to remember further into the book though. I loved that photos from Newspapers around that time were also included in Santa Claus Bank Robbery.
It was nice to read Tui Snider's commentary on the events whilst reading through the chapters of Santa Claus Bank Robbery. I felt as if Snider was right beside me giving me her opinion on the events of the book. I do agree with her on who she thinks the mysterious blonde woman was. After reading Tui Snider's book, I'm definitely with Snider. I'm also left wondering, along with the author, why A.C. Greene left out major details and gave pseudonyms to some people in his book The Santa Claus Bank Robbery published in 1972 (not to be confused with Tui Snider's book Santa Claus Bank Robbery) but not to others. That's also a great mystery that I hope one day Snider can find out because it seemed like it was driving her crazy wondering Greene did that (ha!).
One more touch that I really appreciated from Tui Snider in her book Santa Claus Bank Robbery was the fact that at the end, she includes appendices for places of interest, staying in touch with her, and further reading. I really enjoyed the places of interest section which lists the address and websites of places mentioned in the book. After reading Santa Claus Bank Robbery, I'm hankering to check these places out!
Trigger warnings for Santa Claus Bank Robbery include murder, death, and violence. It is a true crime book after all!
Overall, Santa Claus Bank Robbery is a highly fascinating novel full of action and mystery that holds your attention from the very first page. So much research went into the writing of this book, and it really shows. After reading this novel, I have become fascinated with this case. I would definitely recommend Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider to those aged 16+ who love true crime, mystery, or just a well written book in general. This is one of those books that you won't be able to put down even when you have to!
--
(A special thank you to Tui Snider for providing me with a paperback copy of Santa Claus Bank Robbery in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
--
I don't normally read a lot of non-fiction, but there was something about Tui Snider's true crime novel Santa Claus Bank Robbery that really drew me in. Maybe it was the fact that I love to imagine how things were back in the day or maybe it was the mystery of the blonde woman that I wanted to know. Whatever it was, I am thrilled that I had the chance to read Santa Claus Bank Robbery.
Tui Snider opens her novel with a chapter that talks about how she first heard of this crazy bank heist. She gives information behind the history of bank robberies in Texas. Snider then goes into details about the key players that were apart of the bank robbery in the next chapter. It isn't long before you're thrown into the action of what happened that fateful day in Cisco, Texas when at least four men - Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Robert Hill, and Lewis Davis - decided to rob the First National Bank on December 23, 1927 with Ratliff dressed in a Santa Claus suit. It's a wonder more people didn't die considering back then anyone off the street could get a gun and shoot at criminals! Snider doesn't just end her book when the bank robbery ended. She also writes about what happened to the bank robbers after they were apprehended as well as what happened to some of the other people who were involved whether they were hostages, bystanders, or vigilantes.
It's very obvious that Tui Snider had done extensive research before writing Santa Claus Bank Robbery. Snider even includes a diagram that shows where everyone was standing when the bank robbery occurred! She includes names of many of the key players (witnesses, accessories, bystanders, etc) which can sometimes be a bit daunting to remember. I had to go back to previous chapters to find out who was who sometimes. The names of people get easier to remember further into the book though. I loved that photos from Newspapers around that time were also included in Santa Claus Bank Robbery.
It was nice to read Tui Snider's commentary on the events whilst reading through the chapters of Santa Claus Bank Robbery. I felt as if Snider was right beside me giving me her opinion on the events of the book. I do agree with her on who she thinks the mysterious blonde woman was. After reading Tui Snider's book, I'm definitely with Snider. I'm also left wondering, along with the author, why A.C. Greene left out major details and gave pseudonyms to some people in his book The Santa Claus Bank Robbery published in 1972 (not to be confused with Tui Snider's book Santa Claus Bank Robbery) but not to others. That's also a great mystery that I hope one day Snider can find out because it seemed like it was driving her crazy wondering Greene did that (ha!).
One more touch that I really appreciated from Tui Snider in her book Santa Claus Bank Robbery was the fact that at the end, she includes appendices for places of interest, staying in touch with her, and further reading. I really enjoyed the places of interest section which lists the address and websites of places mentioned in the book. After reading Santa Claus Bank Robbery, I'm hankering to check these places out!
Trigger warnings for Santa Claus Bank Robbery include murder, death, and violence. It is a true crime book after all!
Overall, Santa Claus Bank Robbery is a highly fascinating novel full of action and mystery that holds your attention from the very first page. So much research went into the writing of this book, and it really shows. After reading this novel, I have become fascinated with this case. I would definitely recommend Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider to those aged 16+ who love true crime, mystery, or just a well written book in general. This is one of those books that you won't be able to put down even when you have to!
--
(A special thank you to Tui Snider for providing me with a paperback copy of Santa Claus Bank Robbery in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
December 12, 2019
HALL WAYS REVIEW: Upon finishing SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY, which is the third or fourth of Tui Snider’s books I have read, I think she could write about the history of cement mixing, and I would have a blast reading the details. Tui has a gift for making her stories feel like she’s written them just for you. For those of a certain age, reading SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY is reminiscent of getting letters from a newsy friend or relative who is inspired and passionate about a new project. Tui is all over every page – and that’s a good thing.
SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY is a very quick and engaging escape into West Texas history. I read it on a short plane ride (and missed the drink service! Drat!). Though the focus is on the bank heist, all the surrounding details give readers a vivid snapshot into the people and attitudes of 1920s Texas. Aiding the descriptions of time and place are black and white photos, many taken by the author, of newspaper headlines, people, buildings, and even sketches that complement the text and provide a second level of interest and authenticity. Again, these snippets remind me of what was inevitably included in the envelope when my nana would send me a letter. (Nana always made sure to underline the parts she wanted to emphasize from the newspaper clippings she sent. You know, in case I didn’t get the point.)
What’s fun about SCBR is that much of the meticulously researched information given to readers is the result of legwork, not bookwork – though there is plenty of both. Tui’s personal observations and conversations with people in Cisco, Texas, and beyond are what separate the book from purely scholarly or journalistic accounts of historical events. In fact, what seems to be a side mission of SCBR is debunking A.C. Greene’s book, published in the early 1970s, written about the robbery and events surrounding it. It appears that for reasons forever unknown, Greene fictionalized – even sensationalized – some elements in his story of the heist and intentionally hid pertinent facts from the readers. Tui doesn’t hide her frustration with the author and content of that book, which she feels misleads readers. (I will admit that my curiosity is piqued, and Greene’s book may experience a sales boost, thanks to Tui.)
Speaking of curiosity piqued, how about that book cover? The noose is a spoiler, and upsetting, sure. Because of the cover image, I knew what was coming but I was shocked all the same by to whom, when, and how it happened. Equally shocking is the aftermath and what was considered the norm less than one hundred years ago.
The author’s casual between-friends writing style is the perfect choice for a book like this that is as much about the people of the times as it is about the main event. The personal touches – like Tui’s mentions of a friendly local dining experience one day and a downright chilly response from some locals another – are what make reading SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY feel intimate. There are some scattered typos, but nothing detracts or distracts from the story or the author’s enthusiasm to tell it. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next from Tui Snider.
Thanks to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me a print copy in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY is a very quick and engaging escape into West Texas history. I read it on a short plane ride (and missed the drink service! Drat!). Though the focus is on the bank heist, all the surrounding details give readers a vivid snapshot into the people and attitudes of 1920s Texas. Aiding the descriptions of time and place are black and white photos, many taken by the author, of newspaper headlines, people, buildings, and even sketches that complement the text and provide a second level of interest and authenticity. Again, these snippets remind me of what was inevitably included in the envelope when my nana would send me a letter. (Nana always made sure to underline the parts she wanted to emphasize from the newspaper clippings she sent. You know, in case I didn’t get the point.)
“By the mid-1920s, the state of Texas experienced three to four bank robberies every single day!”
What’s fun about SCBR is that much of the meticulously researched information given to readers is the result of legwork, not bookwork – though there is plenty of both. Tui’s personal observations and conversations with people in Cisco, Texas, and beyond are what separate the book from purely scholarly or journalistic accounts of historical events. In fact, what seems to be a side mission of SCBR is debunking A.C. Greene’s book, published in the early 1970s, written about the robbery and events surrounding it. It appears that for reasons forever unknown, Greene fictionalized – even sensationalized – some elements in his story of the heist and intentionally hid pertinent facts from the readers. Tui doesn’t hide her frustration with the author and content of that book, which she feels misleads readers. (I will admit that my curiosity is piqued, and Greene’s book may experience a sales boost, thanks to Tui.)
Speaking of curiosity piqued, how about that book cover? The noose is a spoiler, and upsetting, sure. Because of the cover image, I knew what was coming but I was shocked all the same by to whom, when, and how it happened. Equally shocking is the aftermath and what was considered the norm less than one hundred years ago.
The author’s casual between-friends writing style is the perfect choice for a book like this that is as much about the people of the times as it is about the main event. The personal touches – like Tui’s mentions of a friendly local dining experience one day and a downright chilly response from some locals another – are what make reading SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY feel intimate. There are some scattered typos, but nothing detracts or distracts from the story or the author’s enthusiasm to tell it. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next from Tui Snider.
Thanks to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me a print copy in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
December 15, 2019
Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider is a quick glimpse into a 1920s West Texas bank robbery rife with haphazard shootouts, errors aplenty, and several colorful characters on both sides of the law. This book is a sure winner because while this bank robbery was no doubt bloody and frightening for all involved, Tui is a natural storyteller and gets right to the relevant and juicy details without overloading the reader with lengthy prose or buckets of gore. In addition to the gathered facts from her own on-site research and interviews and meticulous perusal of archived news sources and A.C. Greene's book from 1972 (The Santa Claus Bank Robbery), Tui Snider interjects her own insights and annotations, presenting a neatly packaged and quite informative account of a flamboyant robbery that I personally cannot remember ever hearing about (my Texas history classes were a long time ago).
Tui Snider's story offers several interesting tidbits from this volatile time in Texas history. For example, in Texas in the 1920s, ordinary citizens were offered $5,000 for a dead bank robber, and you can imagine what ensued. Many people were shot whether they were actually robbing a bank or not. But on December 23, 1927, a real bank heist took place in Cisco, Texas. Four men approached the First National Bank with the intent to get clean away with a sack of loot, led by Santa Claus himself.
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Tui Snider's well-researched, non-fictional account of this daring holdup and its aftermath is entertaining and is as much of a quick view into the true events as it is a view into Tui's tenacity as a curious writer and fact seeker, always on the prowl for an honest-to-goodness true story. Her other books, such as Paranormal Texas, are equally entertaining, so check them out!
Photographs are always a fun and necessary addition to any non-fiction, and Santa Claus Bank Robbery is no exception, but Tui adds several snapshots of news headlines published during the manhunt after the robbery that are compelling because they show the sentiment and even the lingo of the times. For example, one such headline reads, "Police Find Clews to Yeggs Sought in Texas." If you have ever read any book about Bonnie and Clyde, you will have heard the word yegg, but Tui handily interprets that term for you.
Throughout this account, Tui often refers to A.C. Greene's book and the author's use of fake names and the tendency to omit several important facts. What that tells me as a discerning reader is that even non-fiction can be manipulated at the author's whim, and Tui's commentary and opinions on Greene's book and her own findings prove the importance of increasing your scope of reading and research rather than narrowing it, thus gaining a more complete picture of the event. In the case of this incredible bank robbery, Tui has done a lot of that legwork for you yet still sparks the interest for more investigative discovery because rarely are all the facts corroborated in a true story. Tui readily admits that the existence of a blonde female accomplice during this 1927 robbery is still up for debate. After reading this fabulous account of such an infamous heist, maybe you can take a trip to Cisco, Texas; walk the alley behind the First National Bank (which is no longer a bank and has no public access); and solve that lingering mystery for yourself.
Thank you, Tui Snider, for taking the time (which was great fun, I have no doubt) to research such a colorful albeit violent event in Texas history.
Tui Snider's story offers several interesting tidbits from this volatile time in Texas history. For example, in Texas in the 1920s, ordinary citizens were offered $5,000 for a dead bank robber, and you can imagine what ensued. Many people were shot whether they were actually robbing a bank or not. But on December 23, 1927, a real bank heist took place in Cisco, Texas. Four men approached the First National Bank with the intent to get clean away with a sack of loot, led by Santa Claus himself.
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Tui Snider's well-researched, non-fictional account of this daring holdup and its aftermath is entertaining and is as much of a quick view into the true events as it is a view into Tui's tenacity as a curious writer and fact seeker, always on the prowl for an honest-to-goodness true story. Her other books, such as Paranormal Texas, are equally entertaining, so check them out!
Photographs are always a fun and necessary addition to any non-fiction, and Santa Claus Bank Robbery is no exception, but Tui adds several snapshots of news headlines published during the manhunt after the robbery that are compelling because they show the sentiment and even the lingo of the times. For example, one such headline reads, "Police Find Clews to Yeggs Sought in Texas." If you have ever read any book about Bonnie and Clyde, you will have heard the word yegg, but Tui handily interprets that term for you.
Throughout this account, Tui often refers to A.C. Greene's book and the author's use of fake names and the tendency to omit several important facts. What that tells me as a discerning reader is that even non-fiction can be manipulated at the author's whim, and Tui's commentary and opinions on Greene's book and her own findings prove the importance of increasing your scope of reading and research rather than narrowing it, thus gaining a more complete picture of the event. In the case of this incredible bank robbery, Tui has done a lot of that legwork for you yet still sparks the interest for more investigative discovery because rarely are all the facts corroborated in a true story. Tui readily admits that the existence of a blonde female accomplice during this 1927 robbery is still up for debate. After reading this fabulous account of such an infamous heist, maybe you can take a trip to Cisco, Texas; walk the alley behind the First National Bank (which is no longer a bank and has no public access); and solve that lingering mystery for yourself.
Thank you, Tui Snider, for taking the time (which was great fun, I have no doubt) to research such a colorful albeit violent event in Texas history.
December 18, 2019
There is truth stranger than fiction, an old saying which aptly describes the larger-than-life accounting of Tui Snider’s Santa Claus Bank Robbery. I grew up near Ft.Worth, Texas, to a family with deep Texan roots. No matter how much I’ve read, or road trips to one-stop towns I’ve made, I’m constantly learning something new about my home state. This is the first I’ve heard of this historic event, and I’m very pleased to have been indoctrinated by Tui Snider.
I was pulled into Santa Claus Bank Robbery, as I’m sure many of you were, from the title. The idea of Santa robbing a bank is so hilarious and absurd, I couldn’t help opening the cover. While the exterior design isn’t as strong as it could be, the title is enough to pull you in, and sepia-toned photographs easily convey the time period. The interior design is excellently done; with images merging past and present without detracting from the narrative.
Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True Crime Saga in Texas, begins by setting the stage for the lives and times of its people. The 1920s: prohibition and a post-war economy mark a period of transition from the older stricter regime into a more modern world. Folks cling to religion, while constantly bending the rules. West Texas is a curious blend of lawlessness and faith in human goodness. It’s also a time rife with robberies and bank heists, and like today, many shades of moral gray.
With the setting firmly in mind, Snider introduces our four burgeoning bank robbers. Three are career criminals, with another simply looking for an opportunity for a better life. One of the criminals was so well known to the town, he needed a clever disguise. With Christmas approaching, Santa seemed like the obvious solution. Were they bad men? Did they mean for anyone to get caught in the cross-fires? And most compelling of all, what happened to their mysterious blonde accomplice? Snider attempts to answer this and more as she describes the events surrounding the robbery with well-researched facts and eye-witness accounts. What should have been a simple heist, turned into the shoot out that became a legend. It’s difficult to imagine modern law officers arming the public to prevent a bank robbery. Yet this is precisely what occurred as Marshall Ratliff and his gang robbed the Cisco, Texas bank in 1927.
Non-fiction isn’t for everyone. All too often the genre’s authors relate the past like stuffy college professors repeating another lecture. Tui Snider is one of those rare non-fiction authors who spins truth with the same finesse as a master storyteller. Before you know it, you’ll be a living spectator among the historical (hopefully dodging all the bullets). Snider’s retelling of Santa Claus Bank Robbery allows you to peek into a tumultuous time when Texas was still wild, and the people willing to risk it all in the name of prosperity.
**I was provided with a copy of Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True Crime Saga in Texas by the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
I was pulled into Santa Claus Bank Robbery, as I’m sure many of you were, from the title. The idea of Santa robbing a bank is so hilarious and absurd, I couldn’t help opening the cover. While the exterior design isn’t as strong as it could be, the title is enough to pull you in, and sepia-toned photographs easily convey the time period. The interior design is excellently done; with images merging past and present without detracting from the narrative.
Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True Crime Saga in Texas, begins by setting the stage for the lives and times of its people. The 1920s: prohibition and a post-war economy mark a period of transition from the older stricter regime into a more modern world. Folks cling to religion, while constantly bending the rules. West Texas is a curious blend of lawlessness and faith in human goodness. It’s also a time rife with robberies and bank heists, and like today, many shades of moral gray.
With the setting firmly in mind, Snider introduces our four burgeoning bank robbers. Three are career criminals, with another simply looking for an opportunity for a better life. One of the criminals was so well known to the town, he needed a clever disguise. With Christmas approaching, Santa seemed like the obvious solution. Were they bad men? Did they mean for anyone to get caught in the cross-fires? And most compelling of all, what happened to their mysterious blonde accomplice? Snider attempts to answer this and more as she describes the events surrounding the robbery with well-researched facts and eye-witness accounts. What should have been a simple heist, turned into the shoot out that became a legend. It’s difficult to imagine modern law officers arming the public to prevent a bank robbery. Yet this is precisely what occurred as Marshall Ratliff and his gang robbed the Cisco, Texas bank in 1927.
Non-fiction isn’t for everyone. All too often the genre’s authors relate the past like stuffy college professors repeating another lecture. Tui Snider is one of those rare non-fiction authors who spins truth with the same finesse as a master storyteller. Before you know it, you’ll be a living spectator among the historical (hopefully dodging all the bullets). Snider’s retelling of Santa Claus Bank Robbery allows you to peek into a tumultuous time when Texas was still wild, and the people willing to risk it all in the name of prosperity.
**I was provided with a copy of Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True Crime Saga in Texas by the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
December 20, 2019
I’m all for sappy romance, especially during the holidays. (Let’s be honest, I’m always down for a sappy romance!) But a true-crime Christmas story? That’s unusual for me. I took a chance on Santa Claus Bank Robbery based on my previous history reading other books by Ms. Snider. I had a feeling she’d put her signature style into the novel. And she does! What I like most about Ms. Snider’s books is the highly researched topics written in a conversational style, usually with a side of humor.
Santa Claus Bank Robbery breaks down an attempted robbery of the Cisco, TX, bank in December 1927 by four men. But one of the crew is known in town and decides to disguise himself in a Santa suit for the robbery. What follows is Ms. Snider’s accounting of the actions of the robbers, police, vigilantes, and innocent bystanders. The bank robbery and subsequent shoot out were mass chaos. Kids approaching Santa Claus! The local hardware store was handing out guns and ammo to anyone, including teenagers! The bumbling activities of the gang are also rather hilarious, showing Ms. Snider’s signature humor. And yes. I know. A shoot out shouldn’t be funny. But it was to me. What can I say? When
Santa shouted for everyone to “grab some sky”
I can’t help but chuckle.
Ms. Snider does a fabulous job of walking the reader through the activities of the robbery step by step, how the members of the gang are later captured, and then how justice is served.
Ms. Snider is a detailed researcher. Her book is based on the most exact information, resources, and interview which she could find. I learned several random facts while reading. Here are a few that I found very interesting:
-The high number of bank robberies in Texas led to a $5000 reward for dead bank robbers.
-Banks even went so far as to install machine gun turrets and outfit the staff with tear gas guns.
-The last mob lynching in Texas was of Marshall Ratliff, our actual Santa Claus.
I also really enjoyed the summary sections at the end of the novel. In one section, we get a glimpse of where some of the key characters are now and how the events of that fateful day impacted their lives. In the second section, we get a detailed list of Places of Interest. I’m always curious to learn of more places with Texas history to visit on my travels through the state.
In addition to a great story, the novel is full of clippings and photos which enhance the reading experience. There is even a helpful diagram of the bank and all those involved during the robbery.
In all seriousness, though, Santa Claus Bank Robbery also makes me think how trusting society is, especially children, with anyone dressed in a Santa suit. Maybe cautioning children from talking to strangers isn’t so bad of an idea. Even if those strangers are dressed like Santa.
I would recommend this novel for history or true-crime buffs. Or really, anyone who enjoys humorous stories about bumbling criminals.
December 14, 2019
I first heard about the Santa Claus Robbery on Drunk History (season 5 episode 9). I can't speak for the accuracy of that episode but what I will say is that Tui did some massive digging into files, newspapers, and other sources to get to the bottom of what really happened that fateful day in Cisco Texas. She became a detective for the truth.
This is a masterfully told story of a bank robbery, the innocent victims, the criminals behind the robbery, and a few others that we may not know the full extent of their participation in the sequence of events. The book is filled with newspaper clippings, photos, and other memorabilia that help depict the time and the events during the 1920s. Texas may have been a little tamer than during the Wild West era, but there were still scoundrels and thieves running around the state robbing banks and committing other crimes. Apparently it got so out of hand that they raised the bounty on anyone brought in dead that robbed a bank from $500 to $5000. Either way, that was a lot of money in the 20s and I'm sure a few might have been killed erroneously.
I was surprised at the bravery of some of the victims in the bank that day. The mother who rushed out the back with her daughter and was unharmed. That took some moxie! And Woody Harris, the teen that foiled a carjacking, he too took a chance on being killed or more by not giving in to the thieves. There were others that helped or hindered along the way and I wonder what was going through their mind during the sequence of events.
While the book is non-fiction and peppered with thoughts and comments from the author, it is engaging and I enjoyed learning about this event in Texas history and it almost reads like fiction in places. Tui mentions that she doesn't think that everyone was brought to justice and that there is more to research to try and get to the ultimate truth. I was surprised to learn that another book about this event by A.C. Greene is fictionalized and has errors or doesn't tell the whole story to the reader.
I appreciated the Places of Interest listing at the end that provides us with an opportunity to see for ourselves the various locations that Tui visited in her search for the truth. There is also a list of books and newspapers that she utilized for her research.
I think the only thing I would have done differently was to omit all of the subchapters in each chapter. I think either making each subchapter its own chapter would have been wiser.
But overall this was a fascinating book about an incident that I might never have known about had it not been for this book and that episode of Drunk History!
We give this book 5 paws up.
This is a masterfully told story of a bank robbery, the innocent victims, the criminals behind the robbery, and a few others that we may not know the full extent of their participation in the sequence of events. The book is filled with newspaper clippings, photos, and other memorabilia that help depict the time and the events during the 1920s. Texas may have been a little tamer than during the Wild West era, but there were still scoundrels and thieves running around the state robbing banks and committing other crimes. Apparently it got so out of hand that they raised the bounty on anyone brought in dead that robbed a bank from $500 to $5000. Either way, that was a lot of money in the 20s and I'm sure a few might have been killed erroneously.
I was surprised at the bravery of some of the victims in the bank that day. The mother who rushed out the back with her daughter and was unharmed. That took some moxie! And Woody Harris, the teen that foiled a carjacking, he too took a chance on being killed or more by not giving in to the thieves. There were others that helped or hindered along the way and I wonder what was going through their mind during the sequence of events.
While the book is non-fiction and peppered with thoughts and comments from the author, it is engaging and I enjoyed learning about this event in Texas history and it almost reads like fiction in places. Tui mentions that she doesn't think that everyone was brought to justice and that there is more to research to try and get to the ultimate truth. I was surprised to learn that another book about this event by A.C. Greene is fictionalized and has errors or doesn't tell the whole story to the reader.
I appreciated the Places of Interest listing at the end that provides us with an opportunity to see for ourselves the various locations that Tui visited in her search for the truth. There is also a list of books and newspapers that she utilized for her research.
I think the only thing I would have done differently was to omit all of the subchapters in each chapter. I think either making each subchapter its own chapter would have been wiser.
But overall this was a fascinating book about an incident that I might never have known about had it not been for this book and that episode of Drunk History!
We give this book 5 paws up.
December 12, 2019
Over the last few years of doing book reviews for Lone Star Book Blog Tours, I've fallen in love with Tui Snider's books about cemetery symbology and spooky Texas locations, but with this book, Santa Claus Bank Robbery, I got to see a side of her work that is slightly more narrative, though still non-fiction.
And I loved it.
Presented almost like a forensic analysis (though with a lot more warmth and humor), this book tells the true story of a 1920s bank robbery where one of the bandits dressed in a (stolen) Santa Claus suit to rob a bank. Well, part of a suit. He didn't have the pants, and that's actually just one of the many things that went wrong with the heist, and the bandits' lives.
True crime novels tend to be either very dry or quite grisly. Santa Claus Bank Robbery is neither. Rather, it's a dive into Texas history that offers insights only a contemporary historian/storyteller could consider. (Example: one of the people in the book, a young girl, says she spent so much time in court in one year that she flunked 7th grade. Snider posits the theory that the child was suffering from burnout and PTSD… and she's probably not wrong.)
One thing I really liked is that Snider corrected and clarified an earlier work about the events in Santa Claus Bank Robbery without being disrespectful to the previous author's work. She does question his choice to use pseudonyms for a lot of the key figures, and also notes his avoidance of going too deeply into the details of one family, but she also expresses envy that he (A.C. Greene) had access to at least one of the original sources, one of the men who was with Santa Claus (really Marshall Ratliff) in the bank.
While I'm not a native Texan (I'm a Jersey girl who was raised in Colorado and California), I've now lived in Texas longer than I've lived anywhere else, and reading Snider's books has really been a wonderful way for me to explore the Lone Star State in new and interesting ways.
That said, even if you have no connection to Texas at all, Santa Claus Bank Robbery is a fascinating picture of a period between the "wild west" and modern Texas, and Snider's treatment of it is fair and balanced without whitewashing or soft-pedaling anything.
Goes well with: BBQ brisket, fried squash, potato salad, and sweet tea.
And I loved it.
Presented almost like a forensic analysis (though with a lot more warmth and humor), this book tells the true story of a 1920s bank robbery where one of the bandits dressed in a (stolen) Santa Claus suit to rob a bank. Well, part of a suit. He didn't have the pants, and that's actually just one of the many things that went wrong with the heist, and the bandits' lives.
True crime novels tend to be either very dry or quite grisly. Santa Claus Bank Robbery is neither. Rather, it's a dive into Texas history that offers insights only a contemporary historian/storyteller could consider. (Example: one of the people in the book, a young girl, says she spent so much time in court in one year that she flunked 7th grade. Snider posits the theory that the child was suffering from burnout and PTSD… and she's probably not wrong.)
One thing I really liked is that Snider corrected and clarified an earlier work about the events in Santa Claus Bank Robbery without being disrespectful to the previous author's work. She does question his choice to use pseudonyms for a lot of the key figures, and also notes his avoidance of going too deeply into the details of one family, but she also expresses envy that he (A.C. Greene) had access to at least one of the original sources, one of the men who was with Santa Claus (really Marshall Ratliff) in the bank.
While I'm not a native Texan (I'm a Jersey girl who was raised in Colorado and California), I've now lived in Texas longer than I've lived anywhere else, and reading Snider's books has really been a wonderful way for me to explore the Lone Star State in new and interesting ways.
That said, even if you have no connection to Texas at all, Santa Claus Bank Robbery is a fascinating picture of a period between the "wild west" and modern Texas, and Snider's treatment of it is fair and balanced without whitewashing or soft-pedaling anything.
Goes well with: BBQ brisket, fried squash, potato salad, and sweet tea.
December 19, 2019
My two main takeaways from Santa Claus Bank Robbery are that Tui Snider is a very readable writer and she is a thorough researcher. This was my first read by this candid author, and I came away knowing that I’d like to read more of her work.
This book is nonfiction, which means it actually happened. Snider is not the first writer to tell this story, but I get the impression that her telling is the most accurate. No names were changed, and she was very good about disclosing her source material.
Santa Claus Bank Robbery Methodology
I think one of the challenges an author faces in telling a story like this is that the reader likely already knows what the story is about, and maybe even how it ends, before opening the book. However, it was clear to me that Tui Snider was up to this challenge.
Beginning with some backstory, Tui introduces us to the main players. It doesn’t take long, however, before she gets into the robbery. Not all, but most of the story takes place on that single day. Snider is very thorough and detailed when she reveals the events of that day.
Throughout the book, Tui points out any differences between her research and a previously published book by A.C. Greene. I was surprised with the significance of the differences. I have not read the other book - nor will I - but I suspect that Tui’s version of that event is the most accurate.
Technically Speaking
The book is well edited. There were only a few very minor SPAG issues.
The pacing of this story is surprisingly good. Once the action starts, the pace is quick enough to keep everything moving, keeping the reader engaged, yet still allowing the story to be told with sufficient detail.
If you are unfamiliar with this story, as I was, I think it’s a piece of Texas history worth knowing, particularly if you’re a Texan! I highly recommend it.
This book is nonfiction, which means it actually happened. Snider is not the first writer to tell this story, but I get the impression that her telling is the most accurate. No names were changed, and she was very good about disclosing her source material.
Santa Claus Bank Robbery Methodology
I think one of the challenges an author faces in telling a story like this is that the reader likely already knows what the story is about, and maybe even how it ends, before opening the book. However, it was clear to me that Tui Snider was up to this challenge.
Beginning with some backstory, Tui introduces us to the main players. It doesn’t take long, however, before she gets into the robbery. Not all, but most of the story takes place on that single day. Snider is very thorough and detailed when she reveals the events of that day.
Throughout the book, Tui points out any differences between her research and a previously published book by A.C. Greene. I was surprised with the significance of the differences. I have not read the other book - nor will I - but I suspect that Tui’s version of that event is the most accurate.
Technically Speaking
The book is well edited. There were only a few very minor SPAG issues.
The pacing of this story is surprisingly good. Once the action starts, the pace is quick enough to keep everything moving, keeping the reader engaged, yet still allowing the story to be told with sufficient detail.
If you are unfamiliar with this story, as I was, I think it’s a piece of Texas history worth knowing, particularly if you’re a Texan! I highly recommend it.
December 20, 2019
I decided I would really love this book from the very opening when the author talked about going to that delightful restaurant that serves family-style meals. She and her husband sat down next to a cowboy who passed them a bowl of fried chicken and told them that they had to try the fried squash, too. "It's grown fresh by the owners outback."
One can learn so much about a place by sitting down at a restaurant like that.
When first hearing about this book, I thought it was going to be a farce, or perhaps a fun illustrated children's book, and what a surprise it was to find out that it's based on real incidents. The author did extensive research to ferret out the story of the robbery and the attempts to catch the robbers.
More bank robberies occurred during the 1920s than in the era of the Wild West
While the book focuses mainly on one robbery, Santa Claus Bank Robbery has other interesting historical facts about bank robberies in Texas, one of which is the fact that more bank robberies occurred during the 1920s than in the era of the wild West. I did not know that. The legend of Jesse James and his gang had me believing otherwise.
Scattered throughout the book are images of clippings from newspaper stories about different bank robberies, as well as photographs of key people involved with either one of the gangs or somebody who worked in law enforcement at the time. These images add another layer of interest, especially for people like me who love to dig through musty old photographs to see the people and places of long ago.
In addition to all the fascinating glimpses into what life was like for the people of the time, was reference to the book by A.C. Greene, written about the robbery and events surrounding it. Tui Snider points out that much of Greene's accounting was fictionalized, and he failed to include important facts in his recounting of the robbery.
According to documentation that the author found, the Santa Claus Gang was comprised of four men, and the leader wore a costume to look like the Jolly Old Elf when robbing banks. A six-year-old girl and her mother foiled one robbery when they came into the bank and the mother saw what was going on. The mother continued to walk toward the back of the bank, ignoring the shout from one robber to stop. When guns were pulled, the girl cried out, "They're going to shoot Santa Claus."
Continuing to ignore the robbers, the mother walked through the bank and out the back door. She told people on the street that the bank was being robbed, and those people ran to get help. Afterward, the little girl told reporters that she knew, "That wasn't really old Santa Claus, for I saw his pants and they were just like Papa's."
I thoroughly enjoyed the Santa Claus Bank Robbery. It has the history that always interests me, and the added element of looking at a true crime. Readers who enjoy the same elements in a book, will want to grab this one
One can learn so much about a place by sitting down at a restaurant like that.
When first hearing about this book, I thought it was going to be a farce, or perhaps a fun illustrated children's book, and what a surprise it was to find out that it's based on real incidents. The author did extensive research to ferret out the story of the robbery and the attempts to catch the robbers.
More bank robberies occurred during the 1920s than in the era of the Wild West
While the book focuses mainly on one robbery, Santa Claus Bank Robbery has other interesting historical facts about bank robberies in Texas, one of which is the fact that more bank robberies occurred during the 1920s than in the era of the wild West. I did not know that. The legend of Jesse James and his gang had me believing otherwise.
Scattered throughout the book are images of clippings from newspaper stories about different bank robberies, as well as photographs of key people involved with either one of the gangs or somebody who worked in law enforcement at the time. These images add another layer of interest, especially for people like me who love to dig through musty old photographs to see the people and places of long ago.
In addition to all the fascinating glimpses into what life was like for the people of the time, was reference to the book by A.C. Greene, written about the robbery and events surrounding it. Tui Snider points out that much of Greene's accounting was fictionalized, and he failed to include important facts in his recounting of the robbery.
According to documentation that the author found, the Santa Claus Gang was comprised of four men, and the leader wore a costume to look like the Jolly Old Elf when robbing banks. A six-year-old girl and her mother foiled one robbery when they came into the bank and the mother saw what was going on. The mother continued to walk toward the back of the bank, ignoring the shout from one robber to stop. When guns were pulled, the girl cried out, "They're going to shoot Santa Claus."
Continuing to ignore the robbers, the mother walked through the bank and out the back door. She told people on the street that the bank was being robbed, and those people ran to get help. Afterward, the little girl told reporters that she knew, "That wasn't really old Santa Claus, for I saw his pants and they were just like Papa's."
I thoroughly enjoyed the Santa Claus Bank Robbery. It has the history that always interests me, and the added element of looking at a true crime. Readers who enjoy the same elements in a book, will want to grab this one
August 22, 2020
This a very nice, very easy to read account of the the 1927 Santa Clause Bank Robbery.
I had just finished reading A.C. Greene’s more poetic imaginative version in an old paperback that I have had on the shelf for years, maybe decades. So once I was done with that I found Tui Snider’s book online.
It has loads of info and I am glad I followed up the Greene book with this one. If you are in the same place, you should buy this too.
The only thing that stood out in an odd way was the way she kept coming back to the failings of the A.C. Greene book. I acknowledge her points but I kind of feel she could have just made a passing reference and let her work stand on it’s own.
And about her Greene critiques these are just nitpicks and very small nits indeed.
However, in the A.C. Greene book he does say,
And while it is not explicit, it is mentioned. Well, kind of mentioned.
Plus while Hill and Helms were on the run there was this,
And yeah it is a faint reference but at least her name is in there
I think part of the reason is that even though A.C. Greene had been a journalist perhaps in this instance he was fashioning himself as a sort of J. Frank Dobie storyteller. I think Dobie said or others said it about him that,
if the facts get in the way of a good story, so much the worse for the facts
Anyway Greene’s books is more about making statement about people and maybe he was clearing away the clutter of all the details to show up a bigger truth. The truth that sometimes people are not just good or bad, even when they do bad things. AND he is reminding us that as bad as the criminals are we as a society can be just as brutal and unthinking.
So Snider and Greene cover the same material but I think they have different goals. So just read them both.
https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/...
I had just finished reading A.C. Greene’s more poetic imaginative version in an old paperback that I have had on the shelf for years, maybe decades. So once I was done with that I found Tui Snider’s book online.
It has loads of info and I am glad I followed up the Greene book with this one. If you are in the same place, you should buy this too.
The only thing that stood out in an odd way was the way she kept coming back to the failings of the A.C. Greene book. I acknowledge her points but I kind of feel she could have just made a passing reference and let her work stand on it’s own.
And about her Greene critiques these are just nitpicks and very small nits indeed.
Nor does he (Greene) ever mention that Henry Helms was married to another one of Davis’ sisters, Nettie Mae. Loc 249
However, in the A.C. Greene book he does say,
But the pro couldn’t shake his sickness, so Wednesday night Helms told Marshall he had someone else. An in-law named Louis Davis who had a family, was out of a job and was desperate for money. pg. 19
And while it is not explicit, it is mentioned. Well, kind of mentioned.
Plus while Hill and Helms were on the run there was this,
The cold was annoying as their hunger. Henry Helms said he’d personally give a flat hundred dollar bill for a pot of good, hot Arbuckles’ coffee like Nettie fixed. Pg 117
And yeah it is a faint reference but at least her name is in there
I think part of the reason is that even though A.C. Greene had been a journalist perhaps in this instance he was fashioning himself as a sort of J. Frank Dobie storyteller. I think Dobie said or others said it about him that,
if the facts get in the way of a good story, so much the worse for the facts
Anyway Greene’s books is more about making statement about people and maybe he was clearing away the clutter of all the details to show up a bigger truth. The truth that sometimes people are not just good or bad, even when they do bad things. AND he is reminding us that as bad as the criminals are we as a society can be just as brutal and unthinking.
So Snider and Greene cover the same material but I think they have different goals. So just read them both.
https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/...
December 21, 2019
“Around 9:30 p.m. a new, and much stronger, rope arrived. As Ratliff was hoisted into the air, his final words, “Forgive me, boys.””
Right off, I want to acknowledge that I admire author, Tui Snider for her research on her latest book, Santa Claus Bank Robbery, a True Crime Sage in Texas. I know how hard and challenging it is to research old newspaper files, courthouse records, and online sources to find long-forgotten history. I think it is accurate to say that Tui loves historical research as much as I do – it is often like a cookie crumb trail that continually leads to another research venue to find multiple sources of information on one subject.
Now, let’s get to this story about this bank robbery. I had never heard about this famed Santa Claus Bank Robbery that occurred in Cisco, Texas in 1927. While you think it would be a rather straight forward recounting of just a bank robbery this little primer as I’m calling it provides readers with a lot of intriguing historical follow-up details on the robbers, the townspeople, to the trials. The most fascinating historical retelling is the last mob hanging or lynching in Texas.
What starts off in the robbers’ minds as a simple bank robbery in a small town turns out to be a mishap of a bank robbery that only Hollywood minds can make up. What makes this little book shine is the wit and verve in the telling of this story.
Filled with photos, the reproductions of the newspaper stories and the headlines add a spot-on historical character to the story. Back then I do not know why clue was spelled clew but it was by many reporters. Two things I would suggest. One thing I would suggest to add in a follow-up edition is a map of where Cisco is in relation to Dallas. This would make the book more readable nationwide. Heck, many Texans probably do not know where Cisco is located. Adding a Cast of Characters list at the beginning.
If you’re a reader of true crime this book is an excellent little primer on a bank robbery gone sorely wrong on many levels.
Right off, I want to acknowledge that I admire author, Tui Snider for her research on her latest book, Santa Claus Bank Robbery, a True Crime Sage in Texas. I know how hard and challenging it is to research old newspaper files, courthouse records, and online sources to find long-forgotten history. I think it is accurate to say that Tui loves historical research as much as I do – it is often like a cookie crumb trail that continually leads to another research venue to find multiple sources of information on one subject.
Now, let’s get to this story about this bank robbery. I had never heard about this famed Santa Claus Bank Robbery that occurred in Cisco, Texas in 1927. While you think it would be a rather straight forward recounting of just a bank robbery this little primer as I’m calling it provides readers with a lot of intriguing historical follow-up details on the robbers, the townspeople, to the trials. The most fascinating historical retelling is the last mob hanging or lynching in Texas.
What starts off in the robbers’ minds as a simple bank robbery in a small town turns out to be a mishap of a bank robbery that only Hollywood minds can make up. What makes this little book shine is the wit and verve in the telling of this story.
Filled with photos, the reproductions of the newspaper stories and the headlines add a spot-on historical character to the story. Back then I do not know why clue was spelled clew but it was by many reporters. Two things I would suggest. One thing I would suggest to add in a follow-up edition is a map of where Cisco is in relation to Dallas. This would make the book more readable nationwide. Heck, many Texans probably do not know where Cisco is located. Adding a Cast of Characters list at the beginning.
If you’re a reader of true crime this book is an excellent little primer on a bank robbery gone sorely wrong on many levels.
December 19, 2019
The Santa Claus Bank Robbery is a quick and easy read - a delightful take on what is really a true crime work of non-fiction. In the book, author Tui Snider takes an in-depth look at a bank robbery in Cisco, Texas in 1927. Her research is clearly detailed - the book abounds with images of newspaper reports and photographs that set the stage for the period as well as the event.
But what really makes this intriguing is Snider's voice. This is not a somber, dry look at the events of this robbery. Her enthusiasm, excitement, and curiosity are quite evident in her writing, which is very conversational. (It's quite clear that Tui is someone who abounds with energy.) What adds to this feeling is the fact that some of the research she carried out was in-person legwork, through conversations with locals (some welcomed, some not, interestingly enough.)
Some of the book is spent debunking another account of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery. The 1972 writing changed names of some of the players (of which, I confess, there were so many it became difficult to keep track) and which, as Snider curiously points out, also leaves out relationships between a few the parties involved. She also searches for more clues related to a mysterious blond woman that some accounts referred to but whose existence was neither previously proven or related in the first book.
As someone new(ish) to Texas, I would have guessed that bank robberies were more prevalent in a "wild west" era - an error Snider is quick to correct. The book provides an interesting glimpse into Texas history at the time, with a few details that were surprising. Did you know that banks offered a $5,000 reward for a DEAD bank robber? If you can imagine the ways this could end badly, you'd likely be right.
The Santa Claus Bank Robbery left me entertained and educated on a bit of history that I had not learned in school.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy of her book. All opinions are my own.
But what really makes this intriguing is Snider's voice. This is not a somber, dry look at the events of this robbery. Her enthusiasm, excitement, and curiosity are quite evident in her writing, which is very conversational. (It's quite clear that Tui is someone who abounds with energy.) What adds to this feeling is the fact that some of the research she carried out was in-person legwork, through conversations with locals (some welcomed, some not, interestingly enough.)
Some of the book is spent debunking another account of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery. The 1972 writing changed names of some of the players (of which, I confess, there were so many it became difficult to keep track) and which, as Snider curiously points out, also leaves out relationships between a few the parties involved. She also searches for more clues related to a mysterious blond woman that some accounts referred to but whose existence was neither previously proven or related in the first book.
As someone new(ish) to Texas, I would have guessed that bank robberies were more prevalent in a "wild west" era - an error Snider is quick to correct. The book provides an interesting glimpse into Texas history at the time, with a few details that were surprising. Did you know that banks offered a $5,000 reward for a DEAD bank robber? If you can imagine the ways this could end badly, you'd likely be right.
The Santa Claus Bank Robbery left me entertained and educated on a bit of history that I had not learned in school.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy of her book. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2021
Sometimes there's a confluence. I'm interested in local history so I bought a couple of books by the Tui Snider. Then I learned that the 19th Annual Texas Geocaching Challenge was being held in Cisco and I knew what was coming first in my reading pile. (I honestly thought I'd be reading the cemeteries book first because I love exploring cemeteries--it'll come later.) Then I realized that I already had a couple of books by the author, who's a local author and who probably lives about 10 miles from me.
In any case, this is a fun book about a case I knew nothing about. It has a bit of a Keystone Cops element--if not the Three Stooges. It's also a quick read--i finished it in a weekend which is great because the Challenge is next week. We plan to tour the places mentioned in the book.
I think I'd like to meet the author. I'll definitely be reading at least two more of her books.
In any case, this is a fun book about a case I knew nothing about. It has a bit of a Keystone Cops element--if not the Three Stooges. It's also a quick read--i finished it in a weekend which is great because the Challenge is next week. We plan to tour the places mentioned in the book.
I think I'd like to meet the author. I'll definitely be reading at least two more of her books.
February 10, 2020
Fun little book to kill a couple hours. Quick read but a cool story. A more detailed account would be great but this covers all the basics in a quick paced bit by bit writing style. Definitely worth the few hours it took to read. So if ya' got a little time to kill this book is a great way to spend it.
December 11, 2019
Great book! Easy to read and I love the comments she makes.
December 28, 2019
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.7.
January 12, 2020
Love this book!
A very entertaining read. Sad moments along with happy ones. Well researched and written. Very Texas. Thank you Tui Snider!
A very entertaining read. Sad moments along with happy ones. Well researched and written. Very Texas. Thank you Tui Snider!
December 29, 2020
Excellent! Very well done book on a little known crime outside of Eastland, TX, area.
February 25, 2020
I was looking for some new and different holiday reads to add to my collection. Tui Snider's Santa Claus Bank Robbery did not disappoint! I knew nothing about this event, but it looked interesting and it delivered. The story it fascinating. The "bad santa" element is a fun spin on things, even though the crime and its effects are nothing to laugh at. The story is fascinating and Tui's telling feels like sitting at a table with her, enjoying a hot mug of something to drink, and listening to a freind say "you won't believe this story!" It's a great addition to your holiday reading list.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews