Spies and Swindles, Capers and Cons
This list began as an e-mail I was writing to a friend. I love a good spy story, or an elegant, theatrical con. I know there are more novels out there. Certainly, Ian Fleming, though I’ve never read any Bond novels, only seen the movies. And John LeCarre doesn’t make this list. I’ve read two of his novels so far, and I think I’m hampered by reading them after the Cold War. I get that he’s a wonderful writer, but I know I’m missing something, so far.
Fiction:
The Smoke, Tony Broadbent: First person narrative, a spies and thievery novel narrated by a Cockney cat burglar, London after WWII. The jargon gets confusing, but there’s a glossary at the back of the book. His story continues in “Spectres In The Smoke.” These are rather hard to find. A small press, Felony And Mayhem publishes them and many other vintage mysteries.
Gentlemen of the Road isn’t so much a mystery or a con, but a great adventure caper that does belong on this list.
Nonfiction:
Catch Me If You Can: Frank Abagnale. A memoir of a bad-check-writing chameleon of a con artist. The narrative is sweeping and carefree. Mostly, he rationalizes, and gets away with, his capers. Don’t bother with the movie- the rationalizing and interior monologue make the book much more fun.
Eudaemonic Pie, by Thomas Bass- Breaking the bank in Vegas, armed only with computers in their shoes, mathematicians worked out a way to beat roulette. I love both the clunky, old-school technology, and the theatrics of making it work. Though the technology seems quaint now.
Bringing Down The House, by Ben Mezrich- Six MIT kids count cards at the blackjack tables in Atlantic City and Vegas. There are all kinds of roles and disguises and secret codes they use to pull it off as a team. The theatricality appeals to me as much, if not more than, the system.
Busting Vegas, by Ben Mezrich- Apparently, there’s another MIT kid who takes Vegas by storm, and Mezrich is there to write about it. This book, and its predecessor, go down like candy. And there appears to be another one he’s written. Makes you wonder about Vegas and MIT kids.
