Captivating Books on Con Artists to Read Right Now

The inspiration for today’s book list is this new twisty summer thriller from Wendy Heard! With well-woven backstories and perfect pacing, you can finish this thriller in a single day. 

Summer and Leo, two fiercely independent women, fuel their "financial independence" through their skills as pickpockets and con artists. 

When Leo sets her solo sights on the ultimate score, conning a billionaire, she mysteriously disappears, leaving Summer to uncover the truth by infiltrating this billionaire's exclusive island. 

As the women navigate a high-stakes game set in motion through their con, they must confront the possibility that they may have met their match.

Learn more in today’s Book Gang podcast as we discuss Wendy's four-act screenwriting structure in her storytelling and the most challenging aspects of writing this page-turning thriller.

This Reese's Book Club pick garners it's title from this intriguing line- "The first lie wins. That lie that sets the stage for everything that comes after it. The first lie has to be the strongest. The most important."

Evie Porter is a cunning con artist who has done a great job with her fabricated identity, thanks to always nailing her first lie. 

Tasked by her boss to target Ryan Sumner, Evie finds herself dangerously drawn to him, blurring the lines between her carefully fabricated self and who she really is.

But when her carefully constructed worlds collide. Evie must confront her past and the sinister forces manipulating her life. 

The First Lie Wins movie is currently in production. Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff is teaming up with Octavia Spencer to bring the book adaptation to Hulu.

Kuang's buzzy book explores the underbelly of the publishing industry, which readers will find polarizing, propulsive, and eye-opening.  

June Hayward and Athena Liu were destined to be literary stars when they entered Yale in the same year and began publishing their work.

June hasn't had nearly the degree of success, though, as Athena, and she often wonders if it might be because of the color of her skin rather than the words.

When Athena dies right before June's eyes, though, on a rare evening together,  she heads home, only realizing later that Athena's manuscript is still in her bag.

Rather than return the manuscript to her family, she retools its story and message, pitching the idea to her editor.

As this narrative explores the themes of Athena's ancestors and history, she must take a somewhat ambiguous pseudonym, Juniper Song, to help readers connect with her work.

Or should we say Athena's work?

As you can imagine, the book reviewer’s reception is mixed.

This meta-exploration offers thought-provoking insights into cancel culture, publishing practices, and the complexities of identity in publishing.

Sarah Waters is one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and this Dickensian tale novel wins for some of the BEST con artist twists. If you want to be introduced to her work, this is where I would start.

Sue Trinder has been raised by a nurturing "baby farmer" in a London slum alongside a family of cunning thieves. 

When a sophisticated con man named Gentleman proposes a scheme to win an heiress's fortune, he calls upon Sue for assistance.

The plan, however, takes an unexpected turn as Sue develops sympathy and care for her unsuspecting target, Maud Lilly. What unfolds yields shocking plot twists and turns that left me gasping out loud. I'm jealous of any reader that gets to read this for the first time.

Shelby and Gibson have both been going through pivotal upheavals in their lives. Gibson, once happily married, is now processing his impending divorce. Shelby also has lost her spouse tragically through her wife's unexpected death. 

These losses and longings for something new are why they both become enraptured by a new woman who has entered their life. Cammie is a charismatic character who promises the sympathy and excitement they crave. The fact that she’s overcoming a string of calamities only makes her more endearing and intriguing. 

As Shelby and Gibson become more intertwined with Cammie, they realize that things aren't as they seem.

Readers are lead on a soapy adventure that you know where you are headed but it will still keep you flipping pages for the satisfying reveal. This novel is spicy and frothy.

UPDATE- This twisty thriller is part of our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club.

A former card-trick prodigy turned struggling magician, Natalie Webb seizes an opportunity to write about the art of cheating at cards for a magazine when she finds herself in financial peril.

However, her journalistic endeavor quickly becomes a high-stakes test of her talent and identity when an intriguing poker cheat begins to challenge her abilities.

Acclaimed audiobook narrator, Julia Whelan, narrated this under-the-radar thriller and shared that it deserves much more attention than it has gotten.

From laugh-out-loud moments to thoughtfully crafted sleight-of-hand scenes, I was entranced with Kardos’s writing and Whelan’s captivating narration.

Don't miss my Julia Whelan interview on the podcast to learn more about her intriguing daily life as an audiobook narrator.

Tina Fontana works for the head honcho at her lucrative company. When a technical error occurs with an expense report, Tina uses it to her advantage to pay off her $20K in student loan debt.

The problem is when other people in the office have noticed and want their loans paid off too. As more people become involved, more money is funneled, more loans are paid, and more stress that Tina will get busted.

I recommend this modern-day Robin Hood story on audiobook. Jorjeana Marie did a magnificent job narrating this student loan heist. Once you start this, you won't be able to stop!

This novel was a favorite among our book club members, and I recommend the audiobook for this quick escape.

Ava hasn't heard from Winnie in over twenty years. Truth be told, her life has not worked out as she hoped it would despite doing her best to put on a stunning optical illusion of perfection. In contrast, Winne's alluring life promises everything she longs for.

When Wendy explains she is assisting Chinese factories and American retailers and is interested in expanding her business, she offers Ava the opportunity of a lifetime to collaborate.

Ultimately, in this story the reader must decide if Ava is the victim or the accomplice in a counterfeit handbag schemes with a few good plot twists.

If you love this, be sure to check out our list of 14 AAPI authors to check out now!

Lora can’t believe she has landed a summer internship at ELLE Magazine, where she meets Cat Wolff, a contributing editor and heir to a clean-energy mogul. The two begin a side project crafting a short story for a potential magazine submission.

Cat has story ideas, but they aren't fleshed out well. Lora is a great writer but struggling to make rent. Why not solve both issues at once?

Cat's brilliant plan is that Lora can move into the Plaza Hotel with her, and the two can work on the story together. Lora’s name won’t be on the work, but she can earn a salary and get her start as a ghostwriter.

As Lora grapples with this decision, she also loves the lifestyle that Cat provides and the ability to do what she loves. Unfortunately, it becomes more and more difficult as she awaits those preciously few paychecks and as the work gains notoriety. What's a girl to do?

This fast cat-and-mouse page-turner is a guaranteed reading slump-buster. Be warned, the book's ending might inspire you to read this book twice.

Two wildly different women, one a grifter, the other an heiress, are brought together by the scam of a lifetime in this page-turner.

Nina grows up with a con artist mother who tries her best to provide for her. Despite her profession, she manages to get Nina into a good school.

When Nina finds friendship with a wealthy boy at school, they find comfort in being outcasts together. As their friendship blossoms into something more, they get busted by his father, and Nina is removed from the prestigious school and taken away from the one boy who loves her.

Now an adult, Nina has become a skilled con artist, partnering with her boyfriend on crimes. When encountering financial difficulties, they target the family of Nina's former love interest.

However, they soon discover that the target of their con has been leading a scam of her own as a fake heiress, leading to a suspenseful battle of wits and deception.

I’ve read all of Brown’s books and count this among my favorite for readers who love substance to their thrillers. 

Wendy Heard knew this book was for her when she read this line in the synopsis, "The challenge isn't getting the ring, but rather the approval of Colin's family and everyone else in their tax bracket."

In this tale of deception and ambition, Bea, mentored by her con artist mother, embarks on a treacherous journey from small-scale scams to targeting the affluent Collin Case.

As she becomes entangled in a dangerous game with Gale, Collin's childhood friend, Bea must confront her true identity amidst a web of twists and turns.

With sharp prose and captivating characters, Croft unveils the hidden layers of women in elite society, weaving a narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting Bea's ultimate fate.

What struck me the most about Croft’s writing was her ability to write detailed ensemble casts, building believable characters in every room. This is all made possible through Croft's screenwriting lens. It's no surprise that this con artist thriller will be adapted for screen.

Heard loved this debut thriller because it's not just a con on this one man; it's a con on his entire family and community.

I never imagined I would develop such an intense admiration for an anti-heroine like Meg, but this chameleon-like con artist found her way into my heart. 

Meg effortlessly assumes any identity necessary to deceive her unsuspecting targets, leaving them reeling before realizing they've been conned. 

While many believe Meg left Los Angeles due to a scandalous relationship that marred her reputation, Kat knows the real reason for Meg's sudden departure. This reason has profoundly affected Kat's life. Consequently, she patiently awaits her revenge a decade later.

But as these women's connection deepens, Kat's once-solid assumptions crumble.

This riveting narrative explores the blurred lines between revenge and justice, presenting alternating perspectives that make it impossible to put down.

The MOST recommended book about con artists from our book club was this selection also selected as a Reese's Book Club book.

Lucky, a resilient and skilled grifter, finds herself on the run after her boyfriend disappears, leaving their faces plastered on the news.

As she navigates the dilemma of winning a $390 million lottery ticket that she can’t cash in on, she must also acknowledge the relationships in her life.

With the threat of prison looming and her fortune seemingly out of reach, Lucky begins to uncover a path to personal redemption and acknowledge the true fragility of luck. From confronting her father to seeking out her long-lost mother, the readers journey through her past in a narrative that alternates between present and past.

This selection was a Reese's Book Club Pick, and I encourage you to check out this list of my favorite celebrity book club picks, which includes the BEST deep dive into the history of celebrity book clubs on the Book Gang podcast.

Published in 1955, readers might not know that Patricia Highsmith's well-known American classic mystery novel is the first in a five-book Ripley series.  

When Tom is given the opportunity to retrieve the wealthy Dickie Greenleaf from Italy, what begins as a seemingly harmless mission morphs into a dangerous obsession.

Tom's initial charisma appears harmless, but his fixation on Dickie quickly escalates into something obsessive and perilous. 

Highsmith's masterful portrayal of a con artist's descent into darkness keeps readers on edge until the shocking conclusion. 

Although Patricia Highsmith passed away in 1995, her legacy continues to thrive through this remarkable tale, a reference point for countless books exploring the realm of con artists.

After you finish the book, watch the movie adaptation, released in 1999, featuring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Wendy Heard recommended this suspense novel that explores the world of sugar babies and sugar daddies for our con artist stack.

Natalie, a struggling art student in New York City, is drawn to the glamorous lifestyle of her classmate Ava, who finds financial support from wealthy older men.

Natalie, encouraged by Ava, adventures into the realm of sugar daddies learning about the world of negotiations and arrangements. In these passages, Heard was captivated as it outlined the terms of these agreements, which can work differently for each person.

While negotiated initially as a business arrangement, Natalie falls for the charming married lawyer, who is thirty years her senior. And, when she can't let go of him, she begins conning her way into Gabe's world, from stalking and spying to befriending his daughter.

With captivating characters, Heard sympathized with the financial hardships of Natalie, was intrigued by how these arrangements work, and found this story full of suspense (and even a little murder)!

This 2020 Edgar Award Winner true crime book made me think about identity theft in a brand new way.  

At age 11, Axton discovers that her family's identity has been stolen. Her parents are unsure who would target them, but they suspect it is a family member.
As Axton's family faces financial difficulties, it creates instability in Axton's world and paranoia that someone is watching them. 

When Axton later discovers HER identity was stolen, she must uncover her family's secrets.  With thousands of dollars in debt and ruined credit history, she won't just find who did this to her but devote her entire life to the research.

What could be more alluring than the opportunity to make money working from home? This juicy tell-all offers compelling research on multilevel marketing scams, and the women who find themselves entrapped.

Paulson documents her personal journey as she rises to the top of the MLM pyramid, only to uncover the unsettling truth behind its culture and business practices.

With sharp wit, astute observations, and a unique perspective from the top of the pyramid scheme,  this eye-opening book exposes the cult-like ideologies and societal impact of MLMs and how they con women with alluring promises of free trips, cars, and friendship. 

Listen to my Emily Lynn Paulson interview on how this adventure impacted her sobriety journey.

Related- The Best Books on Addiction and Recovery

Anna Delvey's rise to notoriety through the Netflix series overshadowed and, at times, glamorized the true impact of her crimes on her victims.

I encourage readers to read this detailed account from Rachel DeLoache Williams that offers a starker view at what had transpired. 

Posing as a wealthy heiress, Anna led a life of extravagance in New York, but when her friends became entangled in her web of deceit, and she refused to repay them, the harsh reality of her deception set in. 

Through Rachel's harrowing experience of financial strain, desperate pleas for repayment, and the ensuing depression, readers witness the devastating consequences of Anna's actions, ultimately leading to her criminal charges.

Elizabeth Holmes, a young entrepreneur, founded Theranos and claimed to have developed a revolutionary device capable of conducting multiple tests on a small amount of blood.

However, when investigations revealed that her technology was flawed, she resorted to deception to maintain investor interest. 

The story unravels with whistleblowers exposing the false claims, leading to the downfall of Theranos and raising concerns about the gullibility of individuals, including influential figures, who placed their trust in Holmes. 

This chilling and mind-boggling true crime narrative highlights the audacity and manipulative nature of Holmes, ultimately leading to the company's demise.

If you love it, the Hulu limited series, The Dropout, is magnificent and a must-watch accompaniment. 

Frank Abagnale Jr. documents his unbelievable life story as a con artist, embodying various identities and eluding authorities with cunning brilliance.

What makes this true story fascinating is that Abagnale managed to successfully pose as an airline pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, all before reaching the age of 21. 

Not only did his captivating adventures keep readers on the edge of their seats, but it also inspired a thrilling film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio portraying the charismatic Abagnale's and Tom Hanks as the determined FBI agent hot on his trail.

Redemption stories are possible, and this gripping memoir takes the reader on a surprisingly hopeful & empowering rollercoaster journey.

The story unfolds quickly when the police arrive at the million-dollar home of a seemingly perfect cul-de-sac. Lara, a typical soccer mom, has been battling a dark secret.

Prescribed opioids, she has slid into the slippery slope of heroin, struggling with a crippling addiction.

Desperate to keep her electricity and heat on while still funding her habit, she steals her neighbors' mail, money, and credit cards.

Lara is convicted of thirty-two felonies and becomes inmate S32179. In this setting, she learns that jail is a class system with a power structure between an adolescent sleepover party and Lord of the Flies.

But Lara quickly figures out the social hierarchy and, ultimately, brings love and healing to her fellow inmates as she climbs the ladder to become the "shot caller," showing that jailhouse politics aren't that different from the PTA meetings she used to attend.

In prison, these women nickname Lara "Mama Love," an endearing nickname that sticks.

What she doesn't expect is to fall back in love with reading again and how it will allow her to reinvent herself as a ghostwriter, crossing paths with influential figures like Oprah, The Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

A must-read for fans of Orange is the New Black; this memoir showcases that redemptive stories are just as compulsive as their counterparts.

Related- The Best Memoirs to Read for Nonfiction November