Matthew Klein (1)Reseñas

So-so novel about a tangled web of intricate swindle schemes. Not bad, but not outstanding, either.

Con Ed is a surprisingly fun and satisfying read. I was leery about reading, having not hear anything about the author, but I must say, I liked the book. It kept you guessing. There are many twists and turns in the plot, but it stayed true to the story-line.

Kip Largo has been a con man all his working life, probably longer than that because he learnt at his father's knee. He knows all about the Pot game, the Pigeon Drop, the Roper, the Mark, and the Button. The fact that he's just spent 5 years in jail for fraud has not reduced the lure of the con.

Currently he has two legitimate jobs but neither makes nearly enough money, and so the prospect of taking down a Las Vegas magnate worth billions is irresistible. The approach from the magnate's wife seems fortuitous.

His son Toby has a problem too - gambling debts have left him owing big money to the Californian Russian Mafia. If Kip can't stump up the money then Toby is dead meat, truly. The Russians show they are serious by breaking Toby's leg and hospitalising him. So Kip does a deal with the Russians and the plot to con money out of the magnate is launched.

There are so many twists in the con, it is rather like being in a deep water tank, with little idea which way is up. This thriller moves at a fast pace and Kip Largo the hustler is a master at his trade. This isn't my usual style of book, but I really did want to see how it finished, and I learnt a lot about the tricks of the con.½

Fun, suspenseful, satisfying caper involving a con man, the Russian mob, and a Vegas billionaire and his hot wife. Kip Largo is an engaging voice and a knowledgeable guide to the world of the con, which as he says is a play for the benefit of one man, and you don't want to be that man. Unfortunately, I saw the final twist coming for miles.

Kip Largo is a con-man, recently out of jail and attempting to make it, going straight by working in a dry cleaners and keeping a low profile. When his son Toby comes to him deep in debt and in a lot of trouble, Largo has no choice to head back into a life of scams and cons. This is a promising first novel filled with a lot of con-artist lore and stories and a good deal of dry humor. The characters, while being a little over the top at times are drawn with sympathy and tact. The story, of multiple scams leading up to the big con gets a little cartoon-ish at times, but if you are looks for a lightweight crime story with a sense of humor, this is a fine selection.