The Bigger Con

"Con artists and charlatans take advantage of the building boom in 1920s Florida in Mellon's historical novel.

"In Target City, Florida, Harry Easton has it made: Sheltering under the friendship of the mayor and sheriff and married to the beautiful Gabe, he runs a successful business conning people out of money for stocks, shares, and property. When Regina Siddons, who is the daughter of the founder of Target City and incredibly rich, invites Harry and Gabe to her home, Harry crosses paths with Irishman Sylvanus O'Moira. O'Moira, a charlatan and mystic, suggests that he and Harry could go into business together to swindle the old woman, leading Harry down a dangerous path far beyond any risks he has taken before. The narrative plumbs the rich world of Prohibition-era Florida, conveying the heady atmosphere of a populace scrounging to make a dollar in this expanding Southern haven, "an idyllic, tropic utopia where money lay in the streets, only waiting to be picked up." The depth of Mellon's historical research is clear, from the specific guns referenced to champagne imports from Cuba, providing a fascinating window into the period. The plot is occasionally hard to follow; the author's predilection for dialogue-rich scenes puts the reader at the heart of the action; however, with myriad names flying about from the very beginning, the story gets a little confusing in the first few chapters. The main characters who emerge, however, dominate the pages with their vibrant personalities-particularly the repulsive, grasping O'Moira and the likable rogue Harry, whose repartee will keep readers hooked throughout the short novel. The text's brevity supports the punchiness of the narrative, though the ending feels a little abrupt. One hopes this indicates a potential sequel.

"A high-octane story for readers who like a pinch of history with their crime fiction." - Kirkus Reviews

The 1920's Florida land boom is at its speculative height. Harry Easton and his conmen rip and tear in Target City, robbing marks blind. Add Easton's recent marriage to the gorgeous Gabe and his happiness seems complete. Yet doubt still troubles Easton in the form of Sylvanus O'Moira, definitely a charlatan, quite possibly a real black magician. The merry Irishman consistently outmaneuvers Easton. He ends up on the run from the law with Gabe a sacrificial victim for O'Moira's black, unholy rites. Alone, helpless, can Easton overcome the odds and save Gabe?