Carol Wood Reviews:

Cons, Scams & Grifts
by Joe Gores

I met Joe Gores at the Jack London Conference in March. I wasn't too sure about him, till he started to talk. That man is funny. He looks like a nice quiet guy, but his life has been anything but quiet. For instance, one of Joe's jobs, which he held for many years, was a repo man. You know, the guy who comes and takes your neighbors car away when he doesn't make a payment? And your neighbor chases after him with a giant wrench or a broken whiskey bottle screaming gibberish?
Oh, yeah a repo man.
Joe learned a lot about writing on that job, and I am so glad he did.

Cons, Scams & Grifts moves with lightening speed.
I had the impression that Joe was running ahead of me the whole book saying, "Come on! Keep up!"
The story starts in LA when a dancing bear is knifed in the belly and then the tale moves to San Francisco. The scene changes are so complete and swift that you wonder what the repo outfit that is collecting cars has to do with the gypsy that posed as a bear, but you find out... if you keep reading. And you do, because you can't stop!
I had just moved to LA when I started reading. I missed the Bay area and visiting all the used-to-be-my-home places in Northern California in this book made it very close to my heart.
I'd never thought much about gypsies. Never thought about their culture or wether they had laws or names like Staley. I never met a Staley. Joe Gores is so steeped in the heart of gypsy culture; that, I'm sure he is a Rom.
I loved all the cons in this book. The gypsies are so deceptive and yet, they trick you with heart and only at what you are silly enough to believe or if you are foolish enough to try and trick the tricksters. His descriptions are wonderful. Even the two-bit characters are memorable like the two cops who constantly tell jokes and complete each others sentences, and their jokes are fun-ny.

      "When he was gone, Guildenstern said. 'Why don't flies buzz Italian Lawyers?'
      'Even flies got some pride.' Rosenkrantz frowned.'"

The language throughout made me feel like I was in a Bogie movie. I love Humphrey Bogart, but the story was contemporary. After I found out my ATM was stolen last week, I felt what happened in this book, could easily be taking place right now. And I never guessed the ending. I was so totally convinced.
Thanks Joe, that was such a good read. Now, I just want to devour everything else you have ever written.