Read what people think about The Mark Inside by Amy Reading, and write your own review.
The Mark Inside A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con
by Amy Reading
Hardcover: Mar 2012,
304 pages.
Paperback: Feb 2013,
304 pages.
Rated of 5
by Susan S. (Lafayette, CA) A disappointingly slow read
I was very disappointed with this book. The topic of cons and con men to me is inherently fascinating, yet I found the book very difficult to get through. The author focused immediately, in minute detail, on someone I had never heard of, and then continued to make him the focus of most of the book without ever really making him interesting to me. She clearly had done a great deal of research, and clearly knew her topic very well, but just did not seem to know how to make the story flow in the way that good non-fiction should. The book didn't really get interesting until the last quarter when the focus switched to a major sting operation executed by law enforcers in the city of Denver. At that point the book turned into a page-turner, but it felt like a long slog to get to that part.
Rated of 5
by Duane F. (Cape Girardeau, MO) The Mark may be Inside, but.....
I just could not get into this book... it is so convoluted with history about con men, how the sting came into play and on and on... I guess I wanted to know a bit more information about the characters, not dry facts I could look up in an encyclopedia or even better, use Wikipedia! I give a book 50 to hundred pages before I decide its not for me... this one I gave more... a real yawner... put me to sleep many nights... sorry...
Rated of 5
by Mary Ann B. (Louisville, KY) The Mark Inside
The Mark Inside is an interesting book about parting people from their money. Actually about one man in particular and how he tries to bring the con men down. This book does make you think about why people are conned. I always think it is a two way street. You can't sell unless someone wants to buy. This also reminded me of the movie The Sting. It showed how a con is set up and I believe that is the most interesting part of the book.
Rated of 5
by Katherine S. (Seaford, VA) A Depressing Con
Maybe it was the nature of "The Con", but this book was depressing to read. The details were excellent and showed great research. I wanted to enjoy it and learn something, but I simply felt bad for Norfleet as "the Con" unfolded, occasionally confused by the amount of details and bored by the subsequent search for justice. Not for book clubs; maybe good for a historical non-fiction reader with lots of time on his/her hands.
Rated of 5
by Stephanie W. (Hudson, OH) Hard to get through
The Mark Inside promises a fascinating account of con artistry in America, but I think fascinating was a bit of an exaggeration. I enjoyed the story of the swindling of Frank Norfleet and his quest for revenge on the perpetrators, but got confused and bogged down by much of the history of the stock market, railroad speculation and other financial stuff. I had to work hard to finish the book and I don't think it was just the end of the school year that made me keep falling asleep while reading. As another reviewer said, this would have made a good magazine article or (much) shorter book.
Rated of 5
by Julia B. (San Antonio, TX) Historic yet compellingly current
This early 20th century, true crime story is a compelling read. Greed and gullibility come together with life-altering results. The story drags just a bit in places and can seem slightly disjointed, but overall it is worthwhile read. It only takes a little imagination and some knowledge of current events to see that in the early 21st century human nature remains unchanged and thus history can repeat itself. If con artist and their marks intrigue you, or if you like to see the good guys win, you will enjoy this book.
Stranger than fiction, blending tragedy and farce, How to Create the Perfect Wife is an engrossing tale of the radicalism, and deep contradictions, at the heart of the Enlightenment.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
read more
Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
read more
Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
read more
U.S. ebook sales up in 2012, but rate of growth is slowing(May 16 2013) In 2012, trade book sales (i.e. non academic book sales) rose 6.9%, to $15.049 billion, and e-book sales continued to grow, although the rate of growth...
Full Story
of 5
by Susan S. (Lafayette, CA) 
of 5
by Duane F. (Cape Girardeau, MO) 
of 5
by Julia B. (San Antonio, TX) 
