Rip-Off: A Writer's Guide to Crimes of Deception (Howdunit)

Rating:
Summary: You can't go wrong with this book.
Review: After reading a copy of this book that I picked up in my local library, I went straight out and bought a copy to add to my (extensive) collection. This is easily one of the better books on Con Games that is generally available today. I liked it for both the very readable writing style, and for the volume of diverse information it presented. Rather than just rehash the same half dozen con games (the pigeon drop, the bank examiner, home repair scams, etc) that you'll run across in almost any other book or web search on the subject, Ms. Faron presents a wide variety of scams for your contemplation, including a few that I was not aware of (and I collect books about them). If you have any interest in the subject of Con Games at all, BUY THIS BOOK! You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Rat Dog Strikes Again!
Review: Excellent book. This book was very helpful to me, both as an aspiring crime writer and police officer. The section on Gypsy/Traveler crimes was especially of interest, due to the area I work in. I'd better watch out for con-artists...even with the print in front of me it took me three or four reads to figure out some of the scams she describes. Faron's laid-back writing style and personal anecdotes make this an entertaining as well as informative, read.

Rating:
Summary: A decent reference
Review: I thought this was, overall, a pretty good book. Faron, who ran her own private investigation agency for many years, gives a good overview of rip-offs of all kinds. If I want more detailed information on a specific kind of scam, there are other sources I'd likely use (most probably, talking with one of my police contacts), but I liked the overview this book gave me in that it got me thinking about a few directions I might go in my own writing.

The Writer's Digest "Howdunit" series, of which this book is one, tends to be based on giving people a little bit of information on a lot of topics, and I think this book lives up to that goal. It's not, as a previous reviewer pointed out, an in-depth reference book full of original research. But, for what it sets out to do, I think it succeeds well.

Rating:
Summary: There are better sources
Review: The Howdunit series is a wonderful resource for writers. These books can save hours of legwork and research. Unfortunately Fay Faron's book does not really belong in the series. This is not to say it's a bad book. If you are interested in con games and want to protect yourself, it is as good as most of the other books on the market that cover this topic. As a research tool, however, it falls woefully short. Most of the cons are given only the most rudimentary descriptions, and some (such as the notorious shell game, which is still prevalent on the streets of major cities) are not mentioned at all.

The book does well with some modern con artists, such as the Travelers, but is completely devoid of historical information. Certainly in a book for writers, some mention must be made of the great con artists of this century; people such as The Yellow Kid, Limehouse Chappie, Buck Boatwright, and Charley Gondorff. Remember, not everyone sets their fiction in the present day.

The author plays it close to the vest when it comes to her sources. Certainly a book such as this should have an extensive bibliography, but this one only lists a few books. There are some notable omissions from the list, the worst case being the absence of The Big Con by David W. Maurer. Written in 1940, Maurer's book is still the best resource for information of how con games are played, and the book I would recommend it over Rip-Off to any aspiring writer interested in writing about con games.

Rating:
Summary: There are better sources
Review: The Howdunit series is a wonderful resource for writers. These books can save hours of legwork and research. Unfortunately Fay Faron's book does not really belong in the series. This is not to say it's a bad book. If you are interested in con games and want to protect yourself, it is as good as most of the other books on the market that cover this topic. As a research tool, however, it falls woefully short. Most of the cons are given only the most rudimentary descriptions, and some (such as the notorious shell game, which is still prevalent on the streets of major cities) are not mentioned at all.

The book does well with some modern con artists, such as the Travelers, but is completely devoid of historical information. Certainly in a book for writers, some mention must be made of the great con artists of this century; people such as The Yellow Kid, Limehouse Chappie, Buck Boatwright, and Charley Gondorff. Remember, not everyone sets their fiction in the present day.

The author plays it close to the vest when it comes to her sources. Certainly a book such as this should have an extensive bibliography, but this one only lists a few books. There are some notable omissions from the list, the worst case being the absence of The Big Con by David W. Maurer. Written in 1940, Maurer's book is still the best resource for information of how con games are played, and the book I would recommend it over Rip-Off to any aspiring writer interested in writing about con games.

Rating:
Summary: Another goodie from the Howdunit Series!
Review: This is a great book! It gives details of all types of deceptive crimes. Many of them really get you thinking, "Now how'd they do that?" Now let me tell you, this book is not ONLY for the writer. If you deal with the public (at all, and that is nearly all of us) this book is for you! It'll get you thinking back to this book each time you bump into someone, make change, or even stand in the elevator with a croud!

Rip-Off covers such crimes as: glamour scams, impostors, counterfeits, buisiness frauds, street cons, carney cons, gypsies, gambling scams, and so much more. The book describes each rip-off and gives an example to demonstrate it in action. It even goes into detail about hand signals given by the 'look-out'. There is so much information in Rip-Off: a writer's guide to deceptive crimes, you'll just have to check it out yourself.

Rip-off is really a humourous book. I never realized just how sly these people are. Before reading this book, I definatley could have been scammed. Rip-off rates in 3rd place for my favorites in the Howdunit series.

Rating:
Summary: Another goodie from the Howdunit Series!
Review: This is a great book! It gives details of all types of deceptive crimes. Many of them really get you thinking, "Now how'd they do that?" Now let me tell you, this book is not ONLY for the writer. If you deal with the public (at all, and that is nearly all of us) this book is for you! It'll get you thinking back to this book each time you bump into someone, make change, or even stand in the elevator with a croud!

Rip-Off covers such crimes as: glamour scams, impostors, counterfeits, buisiness frauds, street cons, carney cons, gypsies, gambling scams, and so much more. The book describes each rip-off and gives an example to demonstrate it in action. It even goes into detail about hand signals given by the 'look-out'. There is so much information in Rip-Off: a writer's guide to deceptive crimes, you'll just have to check it out yourself.

Rip-off is really a humourous book. I never realized just how sly these people are. Before reading this book, I definatley could have been scammed. Rip-off rates in 3rd place for my favorites in the Howdunit series.

Rating:
Summary: Another goodie from the Howdunit Series!
Review: This is a great book! It gives details of all types of deceptive crimes. Many of them really get you thinking, "Now how'd they do that?" Now let me tell you, this book is not ONLY for the writer. If you deal with the public (at all, and that is nearly all of us) this book is for you! It'll get you thinking back to this book each time you bump into someone, make change, or even stand in the elevator with a croud!

Rip-Off covers such crimes as: glamour scams, impostors, counterfeits, buisiness frauds, street cons, carney cons, gypsies, gambling scams, and so much more. The book describes each rip-off and gives an example to demonstrate it in action. It even goes into detail about hand signals given by the 'look-out'. There is so much information in Rip-Off: a writer's guide to deceptive crimes, you'll just have to check it out yourself.

Rip-off is really a humourous book. I never realized just how sly these people are. Before reading this book, I definatley could have been scammed. Rip-off rates in 3rd place for my favorites in the Howdunit series.

Rating:
Summary: Just Plain Lousy
Review: When I ordered this book, I was hoping for more than a cursory look at some of the great scams and cons throughout history. It fell woefully short in many respects. It seems to me that Ms. Faron has learned all she knows from watching a Discovery Channel special or movies, such as The Sting, Traveller, or Paper Moon. It provides nothing in the way of original insight or research. The author's writing style is disjointed and confused. It jumps between subjects quickly without segues. I can see how non-writers can be interested in this book, but as it sells itself as a guide to help an author with character and plot development, I expect a little more than "You might want your character to do this..."
I do admit that the title is fully fitting. Ms. Faron has conned us buyers.

Rating:
Summary: Just Plain Lousy
Review: When I ordered this book, I was hoping for more than a cursory look at some of the great scams and cons throughout history. It fell woefully short in many respects. It seems to me that Ms. Faron has learned all she knows from watching a Discovery Channel special or movies, such as The Sting, Traveller, or Paper Moon. It provides nothing in the way of original insight or research. The author's writing style is disjointed and confused. It jumps between subjects quickly without segues. I can see how non-writers can be interested in this book, but as it sells itself as a guide to help an author with character and plot development, I expect a little more than "You might want your character to do this..."
I do admit that the title is fully fitting. Ms. Faron has conned us buyers.