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Fast Eddie: My 20 Years on the Run as Britain's Most Wanted Man
9.30am on 22 January 1993. The moment in crime history that one of Britain's most audacious thefts ever took place and the legend of 'Fast Eddie' was created.
This is the story of how Securicor guard Eddie Maher managed to pull off a £1.2 million heist, fled the country despite every port being closed, spawned an international manhunt, and managed to evade capture for 20 years. As Britain's Most Wanted Man, he led 30 detectives, FBI and Interpol on a wild goose chase across the USA.
Dubbed 'Fast Eddie' by the press, he was always one step ahead and after two decades on the run with his family using a series of of aliases and identities, Eddie began to think he'd committed the perfect crime until a cruel and dramatic betrayal proved otherwise...
Like a Hollywood movie script and told in full for the first time, Fast Eddie is the compelling story of how an ordinary British man became America's most notorious fugitive.
This is the story of how Securicor guard Eddie Maher managed to pull off a £1.2 million heist, fled the country despite every port being closed, spawned an international manhunt, and managed to evade capture for 20 years. As Britain's Most Wanted Man, he led 30 detectives, FBI and Interpol on a wild goose chase across the USA.
Dubbed 'Fast Eddie' by the press, he was always one step ahead and after two decades on the run with his family using a series of of aliases and identities, Eddie began to think he'd committed the perfect crime until a cruel and dramatic betrayal proved otherwise...
Like a Hollywood movie script and told in full for the first time, Fast Eddie is the compelling story of how an ordinary British man became America's most notorious fugitive.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2017
30 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 20, 2018
This book is extremely well written and an easy read, it feels very genuine and honest and paints a picture of a man in turmoil. Couldn’t put this book down
May 30, 2023
A great true story love it
March 21, 2021
Brilliant read. Very articulate writer. Very interesting read from start to finish. Yes the part where he met so called gangsters who he claims forced him to to do the robbery is cagey but he obviously doesn’t want to be a grass for obvious reasons!
January 26, 2023
There are lots of unfavourable reviews about this book so I went into reading it with trepidation, expecting to spend 300 pages in the company of a narcissistic gangster.
How wrong could people be - I loved it, and Eddy is neither a narcissist or a gangster!
His tales of moving from state to state were well told, you could hear the dejection and desire to be able to settle. The details of how his friendships had to be kept superficial was actually quite sad. Most of his criminal misadventures and run ins with the law were simply various sets of unfortunately or unlucky circumstances. I can't help wondering what would have become of Eddy if he has gone to a different school.
I don't want to give away any spoilers so I shall limit my comments to say how shocked and disappointed I was when I read of how and why he was finally caught.
The details of his prison days were interesting, especially where he compared the US system to that in the UK.
There is no excusing what he did, it was wrong. However by the end of the book I really felt sorry for him and you could almost hear the desperation to have a normal family life and be a father who provided for his children.
I really hope he now lives somewhere he is happy and that everyone is able to move on and live "normal" lives again.
How wrong could people be - I loved it, and Eddy is neither a narcissist or a gangster!
His tales of moving from state to state were well told, you could hear the dejection and desire to be able to settle. The details of how his friendships had to be kept superficial was actually quite sad. Most of his criminal misadventures and run ins with the law were simply various sets of unfortunately or unlucky circumstances. I can't help wondering what would have become of Eddy if he has gone to a different school.
I don't want to give away any spoilers so I shall limit my comments to say how shocked and disappointed I was when I read of how and why he was finally caught.
The details of his prison days were interesting, especially where he compared the US system to that in the UK.
There is no excusing what he did, it was wrong. However by the end of the book I really felt sorry for him and you could almost hear the desperation to have a normal family life and be a father who provided for his children.
I really hope he now lives somewhere he is happy and that everyone is able to move on and live "normal" lives again.
January 15, 2020
This was an interesting read. The main bulk is based on Eddie's time on the run but it starts with a brief summary of his younger years and ends with his time after capture.
The writing style is clear and simple and he had such a fascinating life on the run that it was a page turner too.
He manages to create a fantastic life for himself considering he had no ID apart from a fake passport. Forging and beating the system seemed easier than it should have been. The methods wouldn't work now but it was interesting to see what he did. Then reading the way they were found makes you wonder how it didn't happen sooner.
Nothing is mentioned of the gangsters who convinced Eddie to steal the cash once he had left the country. I wonder how they feel about the book and what they make of his take on it all.
The writing style is clear and simple and he had such a fascinating life on the run that it was a page turner too.
He manages to create a fantastic life for himself considering he had no ID apart from a fake passport. Forging and beating the system seemed easier than it should have been. The methods wouldn't work now but it was interesting to see what he did. Then reading the way they were found makes you wonder how it didn't happen sooner.
Nothing is mentioned of the gangsters who convinced Eddie to steal the cash once he had left the country. I wonder how they feel about the book and what they make of his take on it all.
July 25, 2021
A very readable page turner that never lets up.
I'm not entirely sure the account is entirely truthful and suspect it to be more likely a "version."
On television a couple of years ago Maher said his cut from the £1.2mil heist was only £125 000. He'd like the reader to believe that he travelled around the USA buying houses, cars, a boat, a plane and bankrolled his high rolling gambling career on just that. For me this is a big ask.
When caught got away from telling more about the whole heist by pleading guilty. Who the accomplices were and what became of them is not covered in the book either. I think he partook more in the organisation, as well as the payout and therefore this is not the full story.
Nevertheless it's a great read with plenty of intrigue and interest.
I'm not entirely sure the account is entirely truthful and suspect it to be more likely a "version."
On television a couple of years ago Maher said his cut from the £1.2mil heist was only £125 000. He'd like the reader to believe that he travelled around the USA buying houses, cars, a boat, a plane and bankrolled his high rolling gambling career on just that. For me this is a big ask.
When caught got away from telling more about the whole heist by pleading guilty. Who the accomplices were and what became of them is not covered in the book either. I think he partook more in the organisation, as well as the payout and therefore this is not the full story.
Nevertheless it's a great read with plenty of intrigue and interest.
January 10, 2022
Interesting book, well written and kept my interest throughout.
There were a few things that I didn’t feel added up and the odd contradiction in the time lines, mainly on when his wife actually left for America (originally he said his wife and child left a week prior to the crime, then 2 weeks and later he mentioned she flew the day before.)
But that said, in any true crime book you’d be naive to accept the story word for word.
Enjoyable read.
There were a few things that I didn’t feel added up and the odd contradiction in the time lines, mainly on when his wife actually left for America (originally he said his wife and child left a week prior to the crime, then 2 weeks and later he mentioned she flew the day before.)
But that said, in any true crime book you’d be naive to accept the story word for word.
Enjoyable read.
July 14, 2022
A really interesting story about a man backed into a corner and trying to do his best for his family in the difficult circumstances.
Paced really well with insight of before the robbery, during, after and the prison time. Never overstays it’s welcome and never sounds truly bitter towards anyone that was involved in the situation outside of the media.
Paced really well with insight of before the robbery, during, after and the prison time. Never overstays it’s welcome and never sounds truly bitter towards anyone that was involved in the situation outside of the media.
December 12, 2019
It felt a very genuine read, he has clearly lived a very varied life and it was interesting throughout. Eddie captures the essence of being on the run for so long really well, you can really appreciate how difficult it must have been to not only not get caught but to have a good family life.
February 26, 2020
Moaning sod
About 3years for stealing 1.2 million? The only thing he has to moan about is the fact he only got £125000! If he had have thought of it first! His son's a little mug as well for harassing his old man up!
About 3years for stealing 1.2 million? The only thing he has to moan about is the fact he only got £125000! If he had have thought of it first! His son's a little mug as well for harassing his old man up!
September 26, 2020
Aunque no sé si es cierto que estuvo obligado por terceras personas para cometer el robo, la verdad es que la historia es original, y el autor parece decente.
Se lee con mucha facilidad y es entretenido.
Se lee con mucha facilidad y es entretenido.
May 22, 2021
I liked the story the only thing that I found negative about the book is that it is clear he has islamaphobic and racist feelings without saying them openly and feel them sort of comments we’re not needed
October 9, 2018
Really good story. Would make a good film. Last couple of chapters are interesting. Makes you realise what a shit hole our country is now. Cunts everywhere.
June 5, 2019
Good read. Eddie certainly loved a life!
Well written and a fun story. I enjoyed it.
What a mad life Eddie and his family have lived!
Recommended.
Well written and a fun story. I enjoyed it.
What a mad life Eddie and his family have lived!
Recommended.
October 5, 2019
Great book from start to finish really easy to get straight into . Would definitely recommend it
December 29, 2019
Really interesting story..
March 14, 2020
I really liked this book! Easy to read and interesting enough to hold my attention. I wish there was more written about his time in prison and his case though.
June 2, 2020
Fantastic
What a very good read, hard to put down once you started reading it, would recommend to anyone who likes true life
What a very good read, hard to put down once you started reading it, would recommend to anyone who likes true life
November 22, 2021
Brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed this book about fast Eddie…!
September 21, 2022
Interesting and entertaining.
July 1, 2023
Fascinating! Incredible story..:
January 18, 2024
This book was a thrilling page turner! I like bed follow the story to the end and wanting to find out how the heist will end. Nail-biting!
November 26, 2024
Engaging; fast-paced. Always nice to see the Met police making a tit of themselves but the writing/Eddy's voice isn't quite for me.
March 14, 2025
Good story, recommend
March 17, 2025
Read by the man himself and only his accent alone makes it worth listening to.
Sometimes a thriller, sometimes a bit sad, but always interesting, even while running
As audiobook
Sometimes a thriller, sometimes a bit sad, but always interesting, even while running
As audiobook
October 13, 2025
interesting read. enjoyed
June 24, 2021
This is the true story of Eddie Maher who drove off in his securicor van with 1.2 million in the back. He then flees to America and goes undetected for 19 years! This is such a great story. Because this is a victimless crime you don’t tend to feel that bad for the bloke, and there’s more to the story than you think - I won’t go into details incase you’re reading this and want to give it a go yourself. Really enjoyable book and an unbelievable story. Recommend.
September 11, 2024
I listened to this via Spotify Premium, the way this book was written was just incredible. It kept me hooked on his life with him and his family’s life on the run. Although he says as the years went by it felt less and less like he was on the run and he was just a part of the “all American family” stereotype. The day he was caught he had just got home from dropping his youngest son off at school.
I really enjoyed this book, the way the book was read was awesome, it felt like his story was being told as if he were talking to a friend.
This is a story that shows the turmoil a man (or anyone actually) can go through from making one wrong decision or being born into a family where crime was your normal surroundings. I was really interested in all aspects of this book and honestly I think the way it’s written and also was spoken are probably my favourite part of this book.
The emotions I could hear in his writing as he misses his family, cutting off from all his life to live life on the run, the way the children & wife were left to try and get back to the UK and the pain in his words when he realised his wife was the one who suffered the most out of him and her as he knew his fate would eventually be he ends up in prison but his wife had to go through so much more especially not knowing her fate once Eddie had been arrested.
It shows that not all “criminals” are criminals as some may feel pressured into committing crimes and therefore ending up serving prison sentences. Especially those who have been bought up from a rough background but want to set themselves straight, this was showed when he worked his way up the cooperate ladder starting from scratch when they moved to America.
Yes the man committed a crime but I’m trying to look at it from the bigger picture, looking at society, the different ways of society depending on what working class you fall in.
In the end, it seemed that Eddie just wanted what was best for his family and he fell into desperate times which he didn’t want his family to suffer so he made the decision he thought was best at the time. It’s the same for millions of people in the world - it’s actually a rather sad reality especially when you’re on or below the poverty line.
I highly recommend this book, I loved the audio version. It felt more powerful and emotional.
This is my opinion and yours may differ but we are all entitled to our own views and this is just a take on mine.
I really enjoyed this book, the way the book was read was awesome, it felt like his story was being told as if he were talking to a friend.
This is a story that shows the turmoil a man (or anyone actually) can go through from making one wrong decision or being born into a family where crime was your normal surroundings. I was really interested in all aspects of this book and honestly I think the way it’s written and also was spoken are probably my favourite part of this book.
The emotions I could hear in his writing as he misses his family, cutting off from all his life to live life on the run, the way the children & wife were left to try and get back to the UK and the pain in his words when he realised his wife was the one who suffered the most out of him and her as he knew his fate would eventually be he ends up in prison but his wife had to go through so much more especially not knowing her fate once Eddie had been arrested.
It shows that not all “criminals” are criminals as some may feel pressured into committing crimes and therefore ending up serving prison sentences. Especially those who have been bought up from a rough background but want to set themselves straight, this was showed when he worked his way up the cooperate ladder starting from scratch when they moved to America.
Yes the man committed a crime but I’m trying to look at it from the bigger picture, looking at society, the different ways of society depending on what working class you fall in.
In the end, it seemed that Eddie just wanted what was best for his family and he fell into desperate times which he didn’t want his family to suffer so he made the decision he thought was best at the time. It’s the same for millions of people in the world - it’s actually a rather sad reality especially when you’re on or below the poverty line.
I highly recommend this book, I loved the audio version. It felt more powerful and emotional.
This is my opinion and yours may differ but we are all entitled to our own views and this is just a take on mine.
September 10, 2017
An interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews