I was somewhat disappointed when I received this book to preview to find that it was more an academic than popular treatment of the subject matter, however, once I got into it, I really enjoyed reading it. The book would be a much smoother read if the non-reference endnote material was incorporated into the main body of the book by way of footnotes.

"Art of Darkness" is a well-researched and thoughtful addition to an under-documented and colorful area of criminal studies. Because the work necessarily explores undercover agents, con men, and other roles in which identity is hidden, altered, or otherwise mutated, this work also illuminates some of our preconceptions about social roles.
While well-researched and sound in scholarship, Schneider's writing is refreshingly clear and highly readable. This books is recommended for all larger public libraries.

I enjoyed the read though I did find it kind of dry so it took me a long time to get through it. I was sort of expecting more stories to explain the different aspects of the work of undercovers but there were only a few and those were relatively short. It was more a book of, one might say, analysis. A lot of famous criminals were mentioned and you were expected to know them and what they were famous for so you would want a fairly good handle on the field before you could easily read this. I think most of them are listed under characters in the CK. ( )

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book. I’m not a fan of non-fiction—actually, I kind of avoid it at all costs, unless it’s a book about writing—but I liked this book. Schneider gives a detailed portrayal about what life is like in the world of undercover cops and con men. Granted, this isn’t a book you can just sit down and read. There’s a lot of information, and I found myself having to take breaks in order to process what I read.

Going back to my earlier comment about liking books about writing, I think that’s part of the reason I liked this book so much. I could see how useful this information would be if I were to write a crime/detective/mystery novel. And, with the amount of Jason Bourne-like stories being published, the information presented would help give my writing a unique twist and authenticity. Also, there’s a great chapter (3) that is simply useful in characterization techniques.

I was a little disappointed, because in the beginning Schneider made it seem as if she would go through each chapter and show how undercover work and conning relates to what we do in everyday life. She does touch on it, but the connection isn’t made as much as I would have liked it to be. Regardless, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those interested in real-life undercover stories, as well as writers interested in the crime/detective/mystery genre. ( )

A little scholarly for my tastes ... I knew it wouldn't be like "Catch Me if You Can", but I guess I'd prefer more anecdotes from actual operators and less analysis. ( )