Con Crazy
by Addison J. Chapple, Danny Kravitz, Eliza Marsh
ASIN : B08ZRG731W
Publisher : Level 4 Press, Inc. (August 29, 2023)
Publication date : August 29, 2023
Genre: Crime, Humor, International Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
The con is on.
Prewitt Patry is an expert in European art and antiquities, and he used to be the best con artist in New York City. But fate has left him divorced and broke, with his glory days behind him.
Then a golden opportunity falls into his lap.
Ranger du Courtemanche is the aging patriarch of the centuries-old French aristocratic Courtemanche family. The family resides in their ancestral chateau and they haven’t been outside the property in years. Enter Prewitt, who cozies up to the reclusive family—Ranger and his two sisters—and warns them that their chateau and wealth have been targeted by an obscure secret society. Panicked and desperate, Ranger enlists Prewitt in the fight to defend his family’s honor and fortune. Et voilà! The trap is set.
With his team of eccentric Parisian con artists, Prewitt gets to work. But the closer he gets, the more the con unravels. Ancient betrayals, priceless jewels, and forbidden loves . . . the Courtemanches turn out to be a lot more than Prewitt bargained for.
Inspired by the outrageous true story of a wildly audacious con.
Review:
Prewitt Patry studied art before he realized he could earn money easier through cons. He was managing behind the scenes, enjoying a middle-class life with a wife above his station and a wonderful son. Prewitt feels his work is acceptable since he goes after bullies and bad guys. Then Prewitt tried to expose a superior for the con the man was doing. Instead, the man framed Prewitt for the con ruining his marriage as his wife took their son and returned to her wealthy father.
Now Prewitt struggles to pay the rent, much less the exorbitant alimony and support to his wife. As his son turns 18, he announces he has been accepted into Harvard. How can Prewitt obtain funds to pay tuition? He needs to find a big con!
Prewitt and his ‘bank’, Mace discover there are historically connected jewels with a family in France. Prewitt heads to France to con a man in his castle. There is a crew of characters to help Prewitt but he soon finds himself warming up to the mark and his two sisters.
The story is written in third person present tense which I had to get used to. I enjoyed the descriptions and the connection to history that is revealed. The story is engaging and has a good twist at the end. Although entertained, I have to admit that I wasn’t totally comfortable with the main character as I do not believe in theft and lies. I recommend this to fans of a good heist.
Source: August 2023 Received two ebooks from Alyssia Gonzalez at Publicist. This qualifies for 2023Review goal.
