What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bank Robber's Boy: Born into crime, scarred by violence—one boy's heartbreaking journey.
This is the against-all-odds story of Peter Norris, the son of one of Australia’s most wanted criminals, and his struggle to escape his father’s shadow.
Born into a life of crime, Peter’s earliest memories are shaped by the chaos of his father’s criminal exploits. Torn from home to home and running from heist to heist, his childhood was marked by violence, betrayal, and upheaval.
In this compelling memoir, Peter exposes the truth of his turbulent upbringing. As the youngest son of Clarence “Clarry” Norris, a notorious bank robber, Peter recounts the powerful love and loyalty that bound him to his father, creating a profound inner struggle between the allure of the underworld and the desire for normalcy.
Faced with a heart-wrenching decision at just 12 years old, Peter had to choose between following his father's criminal path or seizing a lifeline. The memoir moves from the underbelly of 1970s Sydney to the outskirts of Melbourne, highlighting a troubling chapter in Australian history when Peter and other innocent children were sent to abusive institutions.
Ultimately, Peter rises from the ruins of his troubled past, embarking on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth. He defies the odds to become a successful CEO, world-class athlete, and motivational speaker.
The Bank Robber’s Boy is the unfiltered account of innocence on the edge of law and a young boy’s unyielding determination to overcome his past.
‘Extraordinary, shows how one man can defy his destiny – not despite the odds, but because of them.'
‘A powerful testament to resilience, hope, and one man’s determination to break free from the shadows of his past.’
Born into a life of crime, Peter’s earliest memories are shaped by the chaos of his father’s criminal exploits. Torn from home to home and running from heist to heist, his childhood was marked by violence, betrayal, and upheaval.
In this compelling memoir, Peter exposes the truth of his turbulent upbringing. As the youngest son of Clarence “Clarry” Norris, a notorious bank robber, Peter recounts the powerful love and loyalty that bound him to his father, creating a profound inner struggle between the allure of the underworld and the desire for normalcy.
Faced with a heart-wrenching decision at just 12 years old, Peter had to choose between following his father's criminal path or seizing a lifeline. The memoir moves from the underbelly of 1970s Sydney to the outskirts of Melbourne, highlighting a troubling chapter in Australian history when Peter and other innocent children were sent to abusive institutions.
Ultimately, Peter rises from the ruins of his troubled past, embarking on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth. He defies the odds to become a successful CEO, world-class athlete, and motivational speaker.
The Bank Robber’s Boy is the unfiltered account of innocence on the edge of law and a young boy’s unyielding determination to overcome his past.
‘Extraordinary, shows how one man can defy his destiny – not despite the odds, but because of them.'
‘A powerful testament to resilience, hope, and one man’s determination to break free from the shadows of his past.’
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2025
21 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 24, 2025
The Bank Robber’s Boy is the incredible true story of Peter Norris, the son of a bank robber, who was one of Australia’s most wanted criminals. It was impossible to put down.
“My dad was many things: a crook, a liar, a cheat. But to me, he was just Dad.”
Peter writes with commendable bravery in this honest and compelling account of his remarkable upbringing. It’s told in an engaging, down-to-earth style that paints a vivid picture of people and places, depicting a bygone version of Australia.
It was both heart-wrenching and laugh-out-loud funny – often within a few sentences. I kept wanting to give Peter a hug and tell him everything would be okay. It’s intense and suspenseful – in the same way it feels when you’re a kid about to get in trouble with an unpredictable adult. The pacing was excellent, with an ever-present foreboding sense of doom. You can’t help but reflect on how family shapes us.
I felt tension running through my body as Peter and his father bounced from place to place. Whenever he reached a crossroads, I kept hoping he would make the right choice, break the cycle. You come to care for Peter and his siblings so much.
“Several times over the last couple of months, Dad had told us that we might have to leave in a hurry one day. He had told us to think about what we would take and what we would leave behind.”
It would be easy to focus on the trauma and harrowing moments – yet there’s much heart and kindness in this book. It restores your faith in humanity – the Dullard family and their country-living particularly made me smile. Other favourite moments included a gripping 1500m race, some ingenious ways Peter earned money at a racetrack, and the community spirit of homeless kids living in a condemned factory.
“Over the next few days, I came to realise there was a community of kids who lived like I did, roaming the streets during the day and finding places to sleep at night. It was from them that I learned how to survive.”
This is one of those powerful books that has the potential to change lives and help others rise above their circumstances and rewrite their stories. It was the perfect read for me during a time I felt up against the world and void of hope.
The Bank Robber’s Boy is an inspiring story of resilience and overcoming adversity. An unflinching tale about forgiveness, beating the odds, and the power of human spirit. The ending was a great reminder that our past doesn’t have to dictate our future.
A well-written book that will stay with me. One of the best I’ve read this year.
“The life you seek is discovered in the brave choices you are willing to make.”
Many thanks to Big Sky Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“My dad was many things: a crook, a liar, a cheat. But to me, he was just Dad.”
Peter writes with commendable bravery in this honest and compelling account of his remarkable upbringing. It’s told in an engaging, down-to-earth style that paints a vivid picture of people and places, depicting a bygone version of Australia.
It was both heart-wrenching and laugh-out-loud funny – often within a few sentences. I kept wanting to give Peter a hug and tell him everything would be okay. It’s intense and suspenseful – in the same way it feels when you’re a kid about to get in trouble with an unpredictable adult. The pacing was excellent, with an ever-present foreboding sense of doom. You can’t help but reflect on how family shapes us.
I felt tension running through my body as Peter and his father bounced from place to place. Whenever he reached a crossroads, I kept hoping he would make the right choice, break the cycle. You come to care for Peter and his siblings so much.
“Several times over the last couple of months, Dad had told us that we might have to leave in a hurry one day. He had told us to think about what we would take and what we would leave behind.”
It would be easy to focus on the trauma and harrowing moments – yet there’s much heart and kindness in this book. It restores your faith in humanity – the Dullard family and their country-living particularly made me smile. Other favourite moments included a gripping 1500m race, some ingenious ways Peter earned money at a racetrack, and the community spirit of homeless kids living in a condemned factory.
“Over the next few days, I came to realise there was a community of kids who lived like I did, roaming the streets during the day and finding places to sleep at night. It was from them that I learned how to survive.”
This is one of those powerful books that has the potential to change lives and help others rise above their circumstances and rewrite their stories. It was the perfect read for me during a time I felt up against the world and void of hope.
The Bank Robber’s Boy is an inspiring story of resilience and overcoming adversity. An unflinching tale about forgiveness, beating the odds, and the power of human spirit. The ending was a great reminder that our past doesn’t have to dictate our future.
A well-written book that will stay with me. One of the best I’ve read this year.
“The life you seek is discovered in the brave choices you are willing to make.”
Many thanks to Big Sky Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2025
I highly recommend this autobiography. Listen to the author on 'Conversations' with Richard Feidler if you are unsure. Peter Norris should be nominated for Australian of the Year.
July 28, 2025
This book was amazing in so many ways, my only wish was that it was longer.
August 14, 2025
As a child of the state, this government stood as my legal guardian. You were supposed to be my surrogate parents and protectors. Instead, you fed me to the wolves. - Peter Norris
Peter Norris grew up on the run with his bank-robber father. Between Clarence Norris’s daring escapes and inevitable arrests, Peter like his siblings was shuffled between foster homes and child detention centres.
Clarence Norris wasn’t just a bank robber, he was a notorious fugitive, determined that nothing, not even prison walls, would keep him from reuniting with his children.
The Bank Robber’s Boy by Peter Norris has easily been one of my standout reads of 2025. In this beautifully written memoir, Peter shares the story of his turbulent upbringing — a journey marked by heartbreak, resilience, hope, and triumph. More than once, I found myself wishing I could reach through the pages and give him a hug.
Peter didn’t want the warmth of food in his belly or a roof over his head, he wanted the warmth that comes from a parents love.
As he writes, recalling a reunion after his father’s latest escape: “This was home to me, with or without a roof over my head. We didn’t speak for a few minutes, both of us lost in the peace of each other’s embrace.”
However at a young age, Peter made the brave decision to break the cycle, a choice that meant never seeing his father again, but one that shaped the man he is today.
So I feel it fitting that I finish this review with Peter’s own words;
“If you take just one message from the raw honesty of my story, let it be this: we all get the chance to rewrite our script, to find redemption. Our past doesn’t have to dictate our future.”
Peter Norris grew up on the run with his bank-robber father. Between Clarence Norris’s daring escapes and inevitable arrests, Peter like his siblings was shuffled between foster homes and child detention centres.
Clarence Norris wasn’t just a bank robber, he was a notorious fugitive, determined that nothing, not even prison walls, would keep him from reuniting with his children.
The Bank Robber’s Boy by Peter Norris has easily been one of my standout reads of 2025. In this beautifully written memoir, Peter shares the story of his turbulent upbringing — a journey marked by heartbreak, resilience, hope, and triumph. More than once, I found myself wishing I could reach through the pages and give him a hug.
Peter didn’t want the warmth of food in his belly or a roof over his head, he wanted the warmth that comes from a parents love.
As he writes, recalling a reunion after his father’s latest escape: “This was home to me, with or without a roof over my head. We didn’t speak for a few minutes, both of us lost in the peace of each other’s embrace.”
However at a young age, Peter made the brave decision to break the cycle, a choice that meant never seeing his father again, but one that shaped the man he is today.
So I feel it fitting that I finish this review with Peter’s own words;
“If you take just one message from the raw honesty of my story, let it be this: we all get the chance to rewrite our script, to find redemption. Our past doesn’t have to dictate our future.”
June 7, 2025
3★ – Brave and personal, but left me with questions
The Bank Robber’s Boy is a short, heartfelt account that feels more like a snapshot of lived experience than a fully developed narrative. The writing isn’t traditionally polished, but it reflects Peter Norris’s voice and background in an authentic way. He made some brave choices in sharing his story, and I applaud what he managed to accomplish — there’s a quiet strength in that.
That said, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions. Not just about why the siblings were separated, but more so about why Peter’s father kept taking him and seemed to ignore the others. What was Dave’s story? Why the uneven attention? These gaps made it hard for me to fully connect with the characters or the emotional stakes.
I’m glad it was a quick read, because I did find it hard to stay engaged at times. But I respect what the author set out to do, and I think there’s something valuable in the rawness of it.
The Bank Robber’s Boy is a short, heartfelt account that feels more like a snapshot of lived experience than a fully developed narrative. The writing isn’t traditionally polished, but it reflects Peter Norris’s voice and background in an authentic way. He made some brave choices in sharing his story, and I applaud what he managed to accomplish — there’s a quiet strength in that.
That said, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions. Not just about why the siblings were separated, but more so about why Peter’s father kept taking him and seemed to ignore the others. What was Dave’s story? Why the uneven attention? These gaps made it hard for me to fully connect with the characters or the emotional stakes.
I’m glad it was a quick read, because I did find it hard to stay engaged at times. But I respect what the author set out to do, and I think there’s something valuable in the rawness of it.
June 11, 2025
Any book I can read in a day needs to be up there.
His upbringing is unimaginable and the way the book is written makes it very hard to put down.
Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
His upbringing is unimaginable and the way the book is written makes it very hard to put down.
Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
May 18, 2025
A quick, easy read. Interesting. I had seen the promotions for this on telly and was lucky enough to see it on the "new book" shelf at my local, small library. It could do with some editing: there were quite a few spelling, grammar and punctuation errors that let the reading experience down. Otherwise all good! Thanks for sharing your story.
January 28, 2026
I enjoyed this autobiography of Peter Norris - son of a bank robber with a turbulent upbringing ranging from time on the run with his father, through juvenile detention and various foster families. He manages to rise above it all and choose a better life for himself. Lots of trauma in this but also lots of love and kindness from a variety of sources both family and community.
.
.
June 26, 2025
An honest and engaging story told in a simple, conversational manner. Norris is an amazing person to have survived such a dysfunctional early life and to now be a successful and caring adult. I read the book after hearing him interviewed on ABC Conversations. A remarkable man.
May 4, 2025
Really enjoyed. Bit slow to start but picked up pace and was really interesting.
May 22, 2025
this is an interesting true crime type of story.
July 9, 2025
Gripping, sad and full of hope
August 31, 2025
I could not put this book down. The way Peter wrote his story was incredible. I felt like I was there.
November 8, 2025
an insightful view into the life of a criminals kid.
January 19, 2026
4.5 - this was a great autobiography - Peter manages to convey the trauma and displacement of his early childhood but also the love and togetherness he experienced within his family.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews