Con Ed

Con Ed, (also published under the title Conned in Australia and in other markets) is one of the best books I've read in a while. It sort of reads like a Richard Stark, Parker novel but with a lot more twists and little bit more humour. Conned although dealing with some heavy subject matter, is a light, quick easy read. Matthew Klein certainly knows how to tell a tale and I'll definitely be checking out his first novel Switchback and anything else he writes after this. Klein has well researched the world of the con artist and through his main character Kip Largo's stories educated the reader on many a con and therefore how to avoid becoming a victim. Klein's humorous observation commentary again through his witty main character of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto and other parts of California is hilarious and heightens the enjoyment factor for the reader even more. The basic tale of Con Ed is told through a narration by recently released from Prison (ironically for business practices while not doing a con) Kip Largo. Kip doesn't want to go back behind bars so has decided to leave his successful con artist past behind him, even though his standard of life is not that high by being straight. Unfortunately he has a rather dimwitted son who has got into severe financial debt with a Russian crime boss so when he gets a call from the hospital, visits his son and realises he'll die if he can't come up with the money, Kip decides he better go for one last big score after all. Conveniently the battered wife of Vegas billionaire approached him a few days before about conning and ripping off her husband so she can escape (maybe with him) to a better life. Kip decides he can take up her offer and rip off the bad guys who broke his sons legs at the same time. However if he fails and can't repay the Russian's money both himself and his son will be drinking acid.

Kip Largo is a con man trying rather unsuccessfully to go straight in Silicon Valley during the dot com gold in the late 90's. Things start to get interesting when his son owes $60,000 to the Russian Mafia in gambling debts, just before the wife of a billionare Casino tycoon, comes "out of the blue" offering Largo $100,000, to help her get back at her husband. Largo's street smarts tells him something's up, but that hardly stops him from creating an elaborate con to pay off his son's debt. With funding from the Russian Mafia, Largo hatches a con involving stock market price manipulation to rip off Casino tycoon with the help of a few computer hackers, an ex-porn star, and his son. But of course, we know that something else is really going on, and it's a lot fun trying to figure out what the real con is. The book works because Klein creates a totally smart and believable character in Kip Largo, who is always one or two steps ahead of everyone, including me as a read this book. In the work of a lesser author, this would require various "cheats" or plot gimmicks, but Klein resists the temptation to take this easy way out, with the result of a very entertaining book. And it's quite funny, with many laugh out loud moments. The story is told through the Kip Largo character, and a small quibble with the book is that we don't get to know all the other characters very well. But Klein has created a very unique, smart and human character with Kip Largo. We learn about his relationship with his father (not good), his son who he reluctantly includes in the con (Kip's afraid he's repeating the same mistakes his father made with him), and his ex-wife (somehow, they find a way to stop fighting for the good of their son). And these things raise the stakes of the con even that much higher. The payoff is so important to a book like this, and Klein comes up with a great ending. One of the best works of fiction I've read in a long time.

The quote above from CON ED should be enough to let you know that this excellent novel is partly a pastiche of the hard-boiled detective stories of yesteryear. As the novel's salient attributes have already been commented on in this page, let me add that I was surprised Matthew Klein did not list the Redford-Newman movie THE STING among the sources he consulted. But the similarities between the book and film are impossible to ignore. In fact, this novel is, in some ways, a 21st century, Silicon Valley version of its celluloid precursor, adding a witty narrator, humorous asides, and a twist on the ending. This is not to disparage CON ED; it was certainly one of the most enjoyable novels I've read in a while. My enjoyment was enhanced by the fact that the story primarily takes place in Palo Alto, where my brother-in-law is a police officer on a force that "only rescues cats from trees." Good stuff; I look forward to Klein's next outing.

In the realm of mysteries, you don't often get as amusing a read as this first novel by Matthew Klein. Not only is it about a huge and intricate scam, but it targets some very shady and dangerous criminal types -- one a too-smart-for-anyone's-good Las Vegas casino operator, the other a Russian mobster. A shred of social consciousness won't be found in either portfolio. The wondrous achievement of the book is Klein's expertise in imagining the intricate scheme he builds a story around, and detailing every step of the way for our edification and fascination. He's actually roping us into it as if we, the readers, are the marks. Dangerous and hilarious.

I honestly could not put "Con Ed" down- I read it in two days. This book defines "page turner." Its a con book thats so well written- it keeps you guessing the whole time. If you're looking for a fun page turner, definitely pick up this one!!