The Mark Inside: A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con
By Amy Reading
A fascinating look at a revenge tale of J. Frank Norfleet, a Texas rancher who got swindled out of his life savings in 1919 and found justice by out-conning the con artists. He spent years tracking down the men who cheated him, learning the tricks of the trade and taking out networks of grifters along the way. Author Amy Reading lays out the twists and turns of this incredible real-world crime story with both dramatic flair and historical rigor. The narrative is interwoven with accounts of how con artistry developed in the United States, along with reflections on the thin line between legitimate business and white-collar crime and the ethical gray area between stock-trading and gambling in the early 20th century.
A fascinating look at a revenge tale of J. Frank Norfleet, a Texas rancher who got swindled out of his life savings in 1919 and found justice by out-conning the con artists. He spent years tracking down the men who cheated him, learning the tricks of the trade and taking out networks of grifters along the way. Author Amy Reading lays out the twists and turns of this incredible real-world crime story with both dramatic flair and historical rigor. The narrative is interwoven with accounts of how con artistry developed in the United States, along with reflections on the thin line between legitimate business and white-collar crime and the ethical gray area between stock-trading and gambling in the early 20th century.
Review by Grace Lo