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The Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery Kindle Edition

by Thomas Goodman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 111 ratings
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2024 Spur Award Winner!

Grand Prize Winner for the 2023 Chanticleer Laramie Award for Americana Fiction!

"A novel as compelling as the incredible true story it's based on." James Wade, two-time Spur Award-winning author of Beasts of the Earth.

When Santa Claus enters a Texas bank just before Christmas in 1927, no one expects him to pull a gun.

The fake white beard hides his identity from his neighbors while he and three others take everything. But their easy heist goes sideways fast when armed lawmen and citizens assemble to claim a new reward for dead bank robbers.

Taking hostages, the gang forces a path through a frenzied and bloody shootout, setting the whole Lone Star state on their trail.

One bandit dies in the getaway. One is executed in the electric chair. One swings from a rope in a mob lynching. The last man finds a life he always hoped for … if only he can keep it.

Closely based on a true crime, The Last Man is a gritty Prohibition-era Western novel filled with flawed characters and second chances.

"Do not miss this fabulous Texas tale!” Kathleen Y’Barbo, Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Black Midnight and the Bayou Nouvelle series.

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  1. Print length
    310 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2023
  5. File size
    2511 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Goodman writes crisp, confident prose, giving us a novel as compelling as the incredible true story it's based on. The Last Man blends thrilling, cinematic set pieces with convincing character work that explores the nature of crime and rehabilitation. Fans of historical fiction should list Goodman among their 'must-buy' authors." (James Wade, two-time Spur Award-winning author of Beasts of the Earth)


"This novel brings these four convicts to life in a way that, despite their flaws and frailties or perhaps because of them, we care about what happens to them." (Historical Novel Society)


The Last Man seizes the reader on page one and doesn't let go. Goodman has deftly brought his characters to life.... Smooth, engrossing, entertaining reading, from start to finish." (Lone Star Literary Life)


"Goodman mixes fact and fiction in an irresistible blend of storytelling and action that will have you turning pages until the very end. Do not miss this fabulous Texas tale!" (Kathleen Y'Barbo, Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Black Midnight and the Bayou Nouvelle series)


"The characters emerge off the page through distinct dialog and authentic descriptions of people and places in the story.... I highly recommend this book for readers who like inspirational, crime, and historical stories." (Joni M. Fisher, author of The Compass Crimes series).


"You're carried back in time to witness the justice and mores of a long-ago Texas. Buckle up! (Jim Keffer, Texas House of Representatives, 1997-2017)


"Through gripping action scenes and slow-burn character studies, Goodman delivers an authentic Texas story that will keep readers turning the pages. At its core, though, The Last Man is more than the tale of a botched heist. It is a haunting exploration of man's inherent brokenness and the longing for redemption and liberation." (Eileen Flynn, Austin American-Statesman staff writer and editor 2007-2020, and University of Texas adjunct journalism professor 2007-2019)


"Goodman's research and meticulous attention to detail places the reader at the scene of the robbery, the aftermath, and the saving transformation of 'the last man'—a success story that all correctional professionals like me hope for, strive for, pray for, and love to see." (David Stacks - Director of the Texas Prison Museum and Retired Warden of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice)


"If you're interested in a really wacky bank robbery and the aftermath thereof — or just a weird moment in Texas history — you'll zip through this book. And then you'll want to give it to someone else of a like mind." (Glenn Dromgoole, former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, co-owner of the Texas Star Trading Company)

About the Author

Thomas Goodman first ran across the story of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery when he lived in the small Texas county where it all took place. He currently lives in Austin, where he has been able to conduct extensive research on the true crime at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The Last Man is his first novel. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CC6GNXSP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mainsail Media (September 1, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2511 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 111 ratings

About the author

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Thomas Goodman

Thomas Goodman

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Thomas Goodman closely based his debut novel on a true crime the Associated Press dubbed "The Santa Claus Bank Robbery." He first ran across the story when he lived in the small Texas county where it all took place. He currently lives in Austin, where he has been able to conduct extensive research on the events and characters at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
111 global ratings
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A thriller based on a true story gets my attention. Highly recommend this easy read.
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Top reviews from the United States

rls8803
5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining historical novel
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2023
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As a Santa portrayal artist I was drawn to this book because of the Santa Claus angle. I was unfamiliar with the events of the great Santa bank robbery, so as I read the book I did some research on the side. The author does a great job of storytelling, and is historically accurate in the tale. He does a great job in making the reader care about rather unsavory characters. I found myself at the end cheering and hoping for Bobby’s redemption. There is also a good afterword in which the author discusses what is fact, fiction, and supposition.

I think this book is a fascinating story of a true incident in a small Texas town. Great read!
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Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating read
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2023
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I appreciated the forthrightness of the author’s view of the individuals in the book. No downplaying of what the robbers did, including Robert Hill. I saw this as a balanced representation of the people and the times. And the inherent goodness of those who are not quick to judge, but are open to the possibility of redemption.
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Vekas
4.0 out of 5 stars Real & Thoughtful
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024
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The first 10 pages captivated me to read on. The thoughts of each character during this bank robbery and the prison system in the state of Texas during those times brought every page to life. Being a historical fiction reader, it did not disappoint. Next book, I will buy.
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Stephanie
5.0 out of 5 stars A Book hard to put down
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2023
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This is such a compelling read. The first thing that interested me is that it is based on a true story. The characters were very clearly introduced to the reader at the beginning. The story was so engaging, that when I was tempted to put it away and come back later, I found myself turning the pages to see what happens next. Thomas Goodman does a great job of keeping the reader in suspense until very late in the book regarding the identity of the last man. I found myself eventually rooting for one character. Even such a tragic story has what I consider a happy ending.
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Ingrid
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written and engaging, even if you are not a history buff!
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2023
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When I am searching for a new book to read, I generally do not look for or choose those that are historical.
But this book kept me engaged. I found myself wanting to learn more about each of the characters individual stories and viewpoints. I found the book a bit long but realized that there was a lot to tell about the history and the characters individually and in order to do so, it could not be shortened. What I found the most impressive is when reading the authors notes after I finished the book, there was SO much extensive research and preparation done to present this as accurately as possible and help us to learn more about this event and the character's.
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Janice Hanna
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful heartfelt story
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2023
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The research into these characters and their individual stories is fascinating and charming. I am a voracious reader and I am choosy on what I read. I was drawn in immediately to the character’s lives and the development of the story. Highly recommend this !!!
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Schroeder
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2023
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I usually have 2-3 books going at a time, depending on the mood that I'm in. Once I started The Last Man, I couldn't put the book down until I knew what happened to each of the characters. The book starts off with a "bang" and each chapter after reveals how the characters lived out their remaining days. This true event occurred in the 1920s, so we don't have access to these men and their thoughts and motives, but Goodman does an excellent job at bringing their characters to life, a story sure to stay with you for some time.
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Hilrey L.
5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining, yet, thought provoking read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
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Even though I grew up in Texas with family roots in Eastland County, I was not familiar with the historical account of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery. The book is entertaining and Goodman s fascinating in how we builds the novel from the historical account. One really identifies with the characters as they experience early 20th century rural Texas, its judicial process and prison system. The transformation and eventual pardon of Bobby Hill in the book are an encouragement to all that bad can be redeemed.
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Top reviews from other countries

Jennie Redburn
5.0 out of 5 stars loved it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2023
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I’d recommended this to anyone. A true story with thoughtful additions which make the story really interesting and engaging read.
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