The Con Artist

More than just a hilarious mystery...[Van Lente] holds up con culture, nerd culture, and the entire comics industry for scrutiny. --Herald Net A madcap mystery spoof set at Comic-Con...Mike's efforts to prove his innocence keep the pages turning all the way to the surprising ending. --Publishers Weekly The Con Artist is a fun book. Fred Van Lente gives the comic book industry in general and San Diego Comic-Con in particular a big wet kiss on the cheek, well aware of the warts that lie in wait. --Book Reporter A surreal, funny, poignant, and incredibly fun crime novel. --Criminal Element A lively romp loaded with geek humor. --Foreword Reviews Filled with lively dialogue and an inside look at the comic industry. --Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Fred Van Lente knows comics. He also knows how to craft a compelling, memorable mystery. The Con Artist finds the author at full power, merging these two threads to create a fast-paced, impossible to put down novel. We all come out winning. --Alex Segura, author of Blackout Comic-con devotees should get a kick out of the many, many Easter eggs Van Lente hides here. --Booklist A delightful read. Filled with smart retorts, sharp descriptions, and the frantic, chaos-filled atmosphere inherent in all cons. --New York Journal of Books A good book for comic book fans to read, but casual mystery readers should also enjoy this fun and engrossing mystery. --Flickering Myth Aside from being chock-full of pop culture references, it's also a commentary on the comics industrial complex--that there are those who had a hand in creating now-famous characters who have been forgotten or left behind. --Geek Dad The Con Artist is a colorful, fast-paced novel that manages to bring out everyone's hidden geek by telling a compelling story full of mystery and action. --BioGamer Girl Van Lente sucks you into the frenetic energy of the giant monster known as San Diego Comic-Con with his imagery and actual sketches. --Geeks of Doom A nerd noir page turner. --Graphic Policy