Joan: The true story of how I became Britain’s most notorious diamond thief

Joan Hannington was a notorious female figure in London's criminal underworld during the 80s, earning the nickname "The Godmother" for her high-stakes jewellery thefts. Despite her glamorous appearance, she was underestimated and used this to her advantage. Joan's childhood was violent and loveless, leading her to become a mother at seventeen and trapped in a disastrous marriage. When her husband goes on the run, Joan takes the opportunity to leave her old life and pursue a better life. The book is a true story of her meteoric rise from petty offender to one of Britain's most accomplished diamond thieves, making a success of life by not playing by the rules.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2024
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Joan Hannington, the Sunday Times bestseller and inspiration for the ITV drama "Diamonds are a girl's best friend," was the most notorious female figure in London's criminal underworld during the 80s, earning her the nickname "The Godmother." With her stunning looks and glamorous wardrobe, Joan was constantly underestimated, but she used this to her advantage and became an undetected mastermind in high-stakes jewellery theft. Often transforming herself into different characters, Joan seamlessly got away with millions of pounds in diamonds. Coming from a violent, loveless childhood, Joan learned to trust no one but herself. At seventeen, she becomes a mother, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a brutal thug. When he goes on the run, Joan seizes the moment to leave her old life. Motivated by her desire to care for her daughter, Joan gets swept up in the exhilarating world of a life of crime and makes some heartbreaking decisions as she sets her sights on a better life. Joan's true story is a testament to her meteoric rise from petty offender to one of Britain's most accomplished diamond thieves, making a success of life by not playing by the rules when the odds seemed stacked against her.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 127 x 197 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529913149