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Conman
Conman
Conman
Ebook525 pages7 hours

Conman

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Conman is the story of Neil Martin, a kindly family man. Geeky and nerdy, if you met him, you would assume he runs a failing comic memorabilia store in London's Soho. Which he does. In order to bail himself out of a stock-ruining flood, he needs to claim on his insurance. Which he would do - if he'd remembered to pay for it.
Terrified of losing everything - his wife, his daughter, his business and his home, Neil reluctantly agrees to let Christopher - a passing hustler - use his premises for a big sting. So the con is on and the trap is set. Neil meets Christopher's crew and, as he introduces them to the world of vintage comic collectables, he is introduced to the life of the grifter: swaps, swindles and switcheroos, the colourful patter of marks, mitt fitters, cacklebladders and cold pokes.
But things are never as they seem in the twilight world of the confidence man. And when Christopher's real target is revealed, Neil finds himself plotting, switching, swapping and scamming for revenge, for redemption, and for his life.
Somewhere in the shadows, where High Fidelity meets The Usual Suspects, where David Mamet meets Ben Elton, Conman will keep you laughing, guessing and up all night until the last page is turned and the breathtaking truth is revealed.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherNo Exit Press
Release dateAug 27, 2009
ISBN9781842436035
Conman
Author

Richard Asplin

Richard Asplin is the author of T-Shirt & Genes, Gagged - A Thriller With Jokes and Conman. He is a lover of mid-period Woody Allen movies, Richard Dawkins, David Mamet, Elvis Presley, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Texas Hold'em, vintage guitars and his cat. Richard currently lives in London.

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It's difficult to review a novel like this without plot spoiling - and the plot is what con fiction is all about. Suffice to say this is an very entertaining swindle-and-revenge story, that with enough red herrings for a Vladivostok fishmongers. Sorry - but that's the sort of leaden joke that Mr Asplin sometimes uses. Indeed, the first third is rather over-written, and the main antagonist's way of speaking becomes increasingly annoying. But get past that, and the story plays out at a good pace, and the who's-fooling-who will keep you guessing 'til the last few pages. And I certainly didn't see the final twist coming. Highly enjoyable holiday fare.

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Conman - Richard Asplin

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