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 Carol N. (San Jose, CA) The Mark Inside
After having started this book 3 different times, I finally made it almost to the end and decided enough was enough. Storyline involves a variety con artists and swindlers. Expecting a “Sting-like novel, I found myself getting bogged down with what I though could have been a fascinating subject. I will say, however, that it does contain a great history of the city of Denver. With too much historical information and not enough storyline the flow of the novel stopped for this reader.
Rated of 5
by Lisa E. (Cincinnati, OH) Fun and Informative
What a fascinating book! I have led a rather sheltered life here in Ohio, and I had no idea "confidence" men would spend such time and effort to pull off a scam--and the psychology and insight that go into the whole thing!
Rated of 5
by WDH (New Port Richey, FL) Fool Me Once...
This book provides an enlightening overview of the history of confidence men and their plots and schemes to fleece people out of their savings. The author did a lot of research for this book and it shows through the explanations of the history of the con-game and the psychology of how it works which I found very interesting. Overall, this book is different, well paced, well written and I learned something. Good read.
Rated of 5
by Kate G. (City Island, NY) It's All About the Con
Amy Reading has written an interesting history of con artists and swindles in the 1920s alongside the personal history of a Texan named J. Frank Norfleet who was the victim of a con. While the history of the con and swindlers can be a bit dry, Norfleet's story of revenge is interesting and it may be interesting to narrative nonfiction lovers.
Rated of 5
by Maggie P. (Mount Airy, MD) Buckle up!
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. I found myself laughing at the exploits of Frank Norfleet. While Amy Reading leaves you wondering how much is factual how much is the fanciful wishing of Norfleet, I still found myself having a hard time putting the book down for any length of time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a history buff or just enjoys a good story. Don't let the fact that it is a work of nonfiction put you off, it reads like no nonfiction I've ever read.
Rated of 5
by Penny N. (Saginaw, MI) A Sad Tale of Flim-Flam
The “history” that this author covers in her book is like puff pastry. It looks good but there is nothing inside. The police authorities, who try to make you think they “just found and caught” the culprit, should have stopped these get rich quick artists eons ago.
Swindlers, con men, counterfeiters and scam artists still run the world and it seems no one can do much about it from the FBI on down. There is a lot of truth in the saying there’s a sucker born every minute. Congress seems unwilling to act – saying let the buyer beware.
I had hoped to learn something new in this book but, sadly, I didn’t.
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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...
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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...
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of 5
by Carol N. (San Jose, CA) 
of 5
by Lisa E. (Cincinnati, OH) 
of 5
by WDH (New Port Richey, FL) 
of 5
by Kate G. (City Island, NY) 
