Con Ed [Hardcover]

Matthew Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2007

This darkly comic debut is about the worlds greatest con man (before he got busted), the con mans son (whos in debt to the Russian mob), and a billionaires beautiful wife (whos got an evil plan). Great fun . . . very, very hard to put down.--"New York Times."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Klein's amusing debut, one-time con man Kip Largo, who's been working at a dry cleaner since completing an eight-year stretch in prison for fraud, is intrigued when the gorgeous wife of Silicon Valley billionaire Edward Napier asks him to help her steal her husband's money, but not intrigued enough to follow through—at least not until he discovers that his not-bright son, Toby, owes several hundred thousand dollars to the Russian mob. Deciding that this is his chance to finally do right by his family, Kip sets about organizing a large-scale swindle to lure in Napier, all too aware that if he fails to pull it off, he and Toby (and the con's other participants) will all be killed. While the plot and characters tend to be by the numbers, the author's background information on how cons work is enormously entertaining. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Who's scamming whom? That's a persistent question in Con Ed. Once-rich con-man Kip Largo is going straight, living small, and making $10 per hour in a dry-cleaning store after doing eight years for wire fraud. Life is dull, but Kip wants it that way, until his son Toby shows up, on the run from the Russian Mob. Kip needs a big score to save Toby, and a timely proposal from the stunning young wife of a dangerous Las Vegas casino owner provides him with a target for a grand scam. Con Ed is a brisk, clever, and charming page-turner. Most chapters begin with a short lesson on the art of the con, and the whole book is full of knowledgeable observations on the culture of Silicon Valley, e.g., the very best programmers, "code Marines," are freelancers who have agents to negotiate their contracts. Kip, who is conflicted about his relationship with his con-man father, his failed marriage, and his concern for his wastrel son, is a wonderful character who ruminates on his fated return to crime in vaguely Buddhist terms. Con Ed is a winner, and crime fans should remember the name Matthew Klein. Thomas Gaughan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (March 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446579556
• ISBN-13: 978-0446579551
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,782,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NORMAN DIETZ SHINES IN THIS NARRATION, May 22, 2007

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Con Ed (Audio CD)

Ready for a wry satire with mini bites and maxi humor? Then don't miss a word of "Con Ed" as read by writer, actor, solo performer Norman Dietz. Known to audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Dietz has performed his original works on numerous stages. He has also compiled these works for publication in Fables & Vaudevilles & Plays, and The Lifeguard and the Mermaid.

Mr. Dietz is the perfect voice for protagonist Kip Largo, with a touch of world-weariness, an echo of been-there-done-that, and hints of hope for a big score. Kip, you see, is a con man, one of the best.

Unfortunately, one of his schemes (a diet product) earned him only jail time, but that's behind him now as he's living in Palo Alto where he's attempting to hit it big with selling vitamins on the Internet. One night, as he's passing some time in a bar he watches a hustler at work. Said hustler doesn't have Kip's know-how and Kip has a soft spot for those in his profession - he'd really like to help but has no desire to return to jail. Nope, no way. Then his son, Toby, comes knocking on the door asking for bed, board and help.

Seems that Toby has run up some heavy gambling debts. As Kip explains it, "Toby has the stupid Gotcha! grin of a 15-year-old boy. Unfortunately for both of us, Toby is 25 years old." Nonetheless, Kip takes his fatherly responsibilities seriously and has no choice but to con again in order to save his son.

Enter Edward Napier, a millionaire owner of an over-the-top Las Vegas hotel with a below par work ethic - a perfect hit for Kip's easy money scheme. Kip hires an ex porn actress to pose as an executive to help him and he's off. Or, is he?

- Gail Cooke

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lesson in the art of the con, May 2, 2007

By 

Jules Brenner "~ Critical Mystery Tour" (Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Con Ed (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!!, March 21, 2007

By 

Katie Holliday (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Con Ed (Hardcover)

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!!