Book info

• Title The Con Man
• Author Ed McBain
• Year 1957
• Genre Mystery

A con man is plying his trade on the streets of Isola: conning a domestic for pocket change, businessmen for thousands, and even ladies in exchange for a little bit of love. You can see the world, meet a lot of nice people, imbibe some unique drinks, and make a ton of money... all by conning them for their cash. The question is: How far is he willing to go? When a young woman's body washes up in the Harb River, the answer to that question becomes tragically clear. Now Detective Steve Carella races against time to find him before another con turns deadly. The only clue he has to go on is the mysterious tattoo on the young woman’s hand--but it’s enough. Carella takes to the streets, searching its darkest corners for a man who cons his victims out of their money... and their lives.

Thoughts

I’m really getting into these 87th Precinct books, particularly as the cast of characters keep on returning and start to take on a strong presence in my mind. This time, there’s a con man on the loose as well as a killer, keeping the police department very busy. There’s a good mix of the crime stories and the personal lives of the police in this book, helping to cement the personalities of what have so far just been names.

It’s also good to see Teddy Carella getting a more active role, she’s such an interesting character. It’s nice that she doesn’t just have to be the stay-at-home wife, even if some of the situations seem slightly unbelievable - would the cab driver really have understood quite so quickly, is this a position he finds himself in a lot?

Either way, a good read, quick and easy to digest, and I’m ready for the fifth!

Rating: 4 / 5