Con Crazy

by Addison J. Chapple, Danny Kravitz, Eliza Marsh

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.

" Con Crazy whisks readers from the streets of Manhattan to the picturesque French countryside. This entertaining and fast-paced tale is packed with family secrets, ancient societies, lost jewels, and a cunning con man determined to pull off one final heist." - T.L. Hoffman

"[I]mmediately drawn into the story . . . There is a thread of humor and amusement that runs through the length of the book" - ScreenCraft

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Addison J. Chapple enjoys writing books that make people laugh and that leave them with a message of hope and a greater understanding of the world around them. Following an award-winning career as an actor on Broadway, Addison began working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, managing writers and helping to develop literary properties for film and television, before turning to creative endeavors. Addison has since become a prolific author with a keen sense of story that resonates in both the publishing and film worlds.

Reviews

[Rylie Smedley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book really hit its stride once our main character, Prewitt, reaches France and begins meeting the crew he’ll be working with. The build up in New York set up Prewitt’s motivation but was less interesting then the French section. Prewitt begins investigating a wealthy French family and working out how he will con them of money and historical artifacts. Prewitt must team up with a team of French conmen and women to get the job done.

When I read Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code, I wanted to be there and be researching the topics. Con Crazy made me feel the same way! I wanted to be researching right next to him and wandering Milan and Paris. I think the book had an appropriate mix of giving me enough clues that I could figure out what was happening (sometimes before our characters) and still throwing twists my way. I also especially liked the other con characters who all felt interesting and unique. Great set up for another potential follow up too!!!

Note: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am not affiliated with the publisher, nor did I receive any other incentives.

[Bookitallaway · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give less than at least 3 star review, but I just could not get into this book. I wanted to because I ADORE a good heist book, but this did not do it for me at all.

We meet Prewitt a con man, who agreed to a con to help his son pay for Harvard college. He gets caught up in turmoil when he finds out his con is hiding secrets. He goes to France to do the con and we meet some more interesting characters alkng the way.
Will he be successful?

What I liked:
---I LOVED Ranger. Poor thing was/is so neurotic and stressed.
--- I also really enjoyed Amelie and Johnny. I felt that they both gave our MMC a little bit of what he needed from friends/acquaintances.
--- The last 1/4th of the book was fun as things started to fall into place.
--- I love a good heist storyline.
--- The heist crew was a hoot!
--- I do love how she portrayed Prewitt, our MMC, flawed and while doing this con for his son, also showed he wasn't ready to turn his back on him.

What I did NOT like:
--- Way too many details that offered zero assistance on moving the plot forward.
--- The MMC is way too much of a whiner. Just mopey. He just rubbed me the wrong way. If it wouldn't have been rubbed in my face, it probably wouldn't have been as bad but sheesh.
--- The ending was predictable and that was a huge bummer. There was no way not to see it coming.
--- Ex-father in law. What a total jerk.
--- Flipping 'Honey Hair'. Annoyed the ever living junk out of me. The going on and on about 'Honey Hair' after all this time was so unnecessary. We understood he has regrets like the first 4 times it's mentioned. I didn't find that it offered all that much to the overall plot of the story.
--- The guys at his apartment that keeps breaking in, or trying to.... why? We never saw this develop into anything more.


What purpose did it serve if they weren't going to add to the storyline? Maybe if more books will occur later? Are we getting some ground work laid out for future books? I'd have gladly given another star if not for the dang Honey Hair mentions and then regret/whiney Prewitt. I'd also have probably given it another star if not for the added details that did nothing to further the current plot.


Spice: .5/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Character Dev: 2.5/5
Overall: 2.5/5

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prewitt Patry is an experienced con man. He hasn’t had a big win in a while. His “bank” Mace has a job in France that promises a huge payout and Prewitt can’t refuse. He’s in a spot with his ex and son that makes it impossible to say no. So, he goes to Paris to meet the crew. It’s a wonderful mob of characters, each with a particular skill. Prewitt creates a plan that involves The Vatican, French history and serious tech. He assigns roles and the con is off and running. There’s only one rub. Love.
The characters are built beautifully with enough detail to picture them, but not too much to bore you. Careful descriptions of the locale and geography put you there and let’s you see what the characters see. A key element of the story is the French history that creates the mystery that drives both Prewitt and the reader toward the finish. Throughout the con, love of different kinds are intertwined with the plot and cause unexpected twists and turns. The big surprise twist near the end is a whopper and made me stop and say WOW!
One of my favorite types of stories are con/heist tales. This one is a real winner. Filled with humor, tasty details, fantastic characters, a history lesson, tension, deceit and a wonderful thread of different kinds of love woven into the fabric. Magic. I loved it. Don’t wait, read it now. You won’t be disappointed.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A con caper story with a surprising amount of heart. This is the story of Prewitt Patry, a confidence man in France hoping the next score will be the big one. But while he thinks he’s after the money and the jewels, what he’s really looking for is connection. He finds it in unexpected places, as the family he’s looking to swindle is broken as well. Prewitt’s marks are lonely as well, and without spoiling anything, their stories are mostly tied up in satisfying ways.
The actual plot of the con is great fun too, involving an historically disgraced family, the Knights Templar, and even a WWII tank boat! Throw in a mystery involving centuries old love letters and Leonardo da Vinci, and there’s plenty of intrigue to be found.
However, the biggest surprise I noticed in the opening paragraphs; this book is written in present tense, rather than the usual past tense overwhelmingly found in prose. This really speeds up the pacing and urgency, as events play out in real time. This was a refreshing change of pace and immediately made the text stand out among other books I’ve read.
Aside from one minor problem I had with the ending (I can’t really share because of spoilers), this is a terrifically fun read for anyone who loves con stories and characters searching for meaning.

[Marc Schanfarber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Con Crazy is a story about eventually doing the right thing.
From New York to the Loire Valley in France, Prewitt Patry engages on a quest to score the big con, one that will take care of all things financial for a very long time. Filled with twists and discoveries that take him through the process of setting up his prey, gaining trust in order to steal, and pretty much making things up on the fly, Prewitt soon starts to realize that the story is not as it appears. Having been conned himself during this time, the hunted becomes the hunter and Prewitt recruits the very people he meant to steal from to even the playing field and recover the eventual prize, jewels connected all the way back to Leonardo da Vinci.

I enjoyed the direction changes that lead to the final outcome, one that makes the reader feel better about the swindler and how retribution can be sweet when done together. Jump in and follow along on the minor odyssey spanning two continents and two countries.

[Patricia Kravitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not wait to crawl into bed to read this book each night! From the beginning, I was hooked! The flow of the story is engaging, vivid, colorful, fun, adventure-filled, and a smooth read.
The various characters and their personalities are alive and real. You can feel the humanness of each character and "life-lessons" they are each facing. They were real.. They were what we humans do experience ourselves.
I laughed and cried myself as I made connections with the characters and could feel what they were experiencing.

I also enjoyed the historical lesson that you learn through the story..

We all have a little Crazy Con in each of us! I can see this as a movie or a series on TV!

I look forward to more stories from this author! KUDOS!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prewitt is tasked with a mission, but what should be a simple con eventually turns into a dangerous and risky job. The writing is stiff and the dialogue seems unusual for the context. For example, characters calm down very quickly after what should be a frustrating situation. This comical book is written in the present tense so readers read the narrative in real-time. A personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the characters. For this book, though, this means a lot of Prewitt's perspective is seen day-to-day, making for a very lengthy story for the plot.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.

[kevin smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the oppotunity to read Con Crazy.

Closer to a "cozy" than a true heist novel.
The build up takes a tad too long and the solution is sped up at the end.

Good sub story and an interesting premise left for a possible sequel with former mentor

In short, turn it over to Hallmark and wait for the movie

That, being said, I am now looking to read another choice from this author.
I think knowing the author now, I know what to expect and thing the next experience will be a better one.

Good Humor
Heartwarming Lead Character (which is not a compliment in a con game)
Fun Secondary Con Team
Mystery that I did not invest in

3/5 stars

[Gio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in a single sitting! Because I COULDN'T STOP!!! I loved all the characters and I loved the story! It just flowed so smoothly and the pacing was perfect!! After I finished, I kept thinking about it too! I felt like I was transported into the shoes of this interesting situation. I loved all the relationships in here and how everything was set up. I'm Crazy for Con Crazy!! There was everything in this book! Fun, sadness, frustration, and love. I went through everything that the main character went through. It's such a sweet story and honestly it's one of my favorite books I've read!

[Susan Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great con caper! I loved the characters. I always enjoy a good book about a con, but when the characters are interesting and they actually have a heart, it's so much better. That describes this book. I had a lot of fun reading it and would love to read another by this author. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stories like Oceans Eleven.

I did receive a free copy of this book from eBook Discovery, but this is my honest opinion.

[Julie Kettler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, interesting, entertaining book that charms its readers through New York, Paris, the Loire Valley, and Milan. Its perfect blend of plot intrigue, historical reference and true, emotional character development makes for a page-turner you won’t want to put down.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an amazing read. It’s a mix of history, art, and growth. Following the character through the journey and even though his struggles in life he finds a chance for a change. It reveals human intrigues, lies, frauds and shows how far someone would go.

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had fun even if it's a bit stereotyped and more of a cozy mystery than other type of novel.
It's an easy read and I enjoyed it
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Paul]

A fun cozy-con with enjoyable characters and plot. I was looking for something light and this fit the bill nicely.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

[Nikki Almond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to! Based on the cover and the title I was expecting some kind of slapstick Benny Hill-style comic caper, but this isn't like that at all. Instead it's a cleverly plotted, well-written and likeable read. It's a fun, but very human story with some real depth, told with warm humour.
Highly recommended :)

[Danny Wittenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book !! Fast read I did not want to put down

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review