The Mark Inside: A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con Audiobook

" For someone that is really interested in how the "con" began and works this would be an excellent read. It was to detailed for me and not as much fiction as I thought. "

" Received a free copy from bookbrowse.com First Impressions. This a nonfiction account of con artists and swindles from the 1910s-20s with a prticular emphasis on J. Frank Norfleet, a Texan conned out of $45,000. He spent the next several years capturing the five men who stole his money and then the rest of his life helping arrest con artists and other criminals (all while remaining a private citizen and not a member of law enforcement). Amy Reading tells his story against the backdrop of a large enterprise of con artists and swindlers who are eventually brought down by the Denver District Attorney. Corruption is rampant among most law enforcement agencies and Norfleet helps in the takedown of 25 criminals and then at the subsequent trial. Originally an academic idea, this book is at times a bit dry and could have been more interesting and captivating. "

" I wish I could remember why I originally decided to read this book - it's not my usual thing at all, and parts of it dragged on longer than my interest level really warranted. Just the same, the kernel of a story here is really interesting - con men, or confidence men, and the way they swindled their marks in the early twentieth century - and the story of a few particular marks, and how they were revenged. The best thing I learned from reading this was that so much of the language of con artistry has become pervasive and watered down. There was also a lot of fascinating discussion about the shift in perspective around this time from speculation as a sin and akin to gambling to the more modern mindset of investment as being a legitimate business prospect, something that everybody can (and should) virtuously participate in. Never really stopped to query that before but it meshes perfectly with some other things I've learned recently about shifts in cultural attitudes from the early 1800s through today. "

" I guess this book was interesting, being a history of the con job. But the author tends towards digression, and it just kept losing me. So, informative but not engaging. "

" I better hurry. Book club is the 29th of August. I just barely got the book. I may finish it later. It just didn't appeal to me at the time. "

" Great when it sticks to the Norfleet story, rambling when it doesn't. "

" A more promising premise than the reality of the book. Too bogged down in details of one man's "reverse swindle". "

" Oooh, I can't wait for this one to come out! Amy's a fantastic writer, so I know that she'll make this little-known bit of history into an engrossing story. Hurry up and get here, March! "

" An interesting tale indeed, and a great, in-depth lesson in the history of con men in America. Just wish there had been a little less pedantic tone to the lesson and a little more life in the underlying tale. "

" I liked this book - historically interesting (or depressing) as well. "

" i don't read as much non-fiction, but this story was an interesting one to follow. more of a 3.75 for a rating. "

" Made it 75% of the way through, but had to stop as reading became a chore. Should have been a fascinating story, but it became bogged down with unnecessary exposition and commentary. "

" Interesting history of grifters, cons and marks in America. (That scene from the Sting was based on a lot of history.) "

" I liked it. It gives a great history of conmen in America, I was really surprised to find out that Denver was the hub of confidence men in the early 1900's. If you are into Colorado history this is especially a great book, or if you like movies about cons this would be good also. "

" This book had a lot of fun historical info about Denver and reminded me how young this city really is! "

" This is the story of J. Frank Northfleet who got himself conned in 1919 and then set about hunting down the men who conned him (and a good deal of other con artists) over several years. Interesting background about con artistry and the background of these (mostly) true events. "

" Stunning work of cultural history "

" Aside from a couple of areas where it bogged down a bit, this was a page turner! A real life story that reads like a somewhat unbelievable novel, along with some great research and history of con men in the twentieth century. "

" It was a decent book marking the life of a man who was after con men. A good read. "

" Non-fiction book that reads like a crime-caper thriller while also providing a clinical insight of the mechanics of the swindle and con-men activities. Great read! "

" Pretty good read. Great history of Denver in the book. Interesting to hear about the swindles that went on in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Book was a gift and not one that I would have normally picked out, but worthwhile. "

" The story regarding the con was interesting but author peppered story with other cons. Very hard to read as there was no flow from one con to the other. "

" Very different from other 'con' books. This book provides the 'mechanics' behind an 'assembly line' style con (i.e. specialization of roles, stream of victims...) which was popular during early 1900's. This could be the predecessor of the 'Boiler Room' operation in 90s. "