title: Rip-Off: A Writer's Guide to Crimes of Deception (Howdunit)
author:  Fay Faron 
description: Something tells us we would be nave to believe this book would appeal solely to mystery writers. Detective Fay Faron, syndicated newspaper columnist ("Ask Rat Dog") and author of <I><a href="/exec/obidos/ASIN/089879790X/${0}">Missing Persons</a></I>, has written a primer sure to turn any novice (writer, of course) into a scam expert. <I>Rip-Off</I> removes the mystery from such cons as the pigeon drop, Latin lotto, Gypsy-sweetheart scams, guaranteed-prize mailers, charity scams, bait-and-switches, biz-op scams, the Texas twist, identity theft, carny cons, chain letters, psychic hotlines, three-card monte, Ponzi schemes, 809 phone numbers, and gambling stings. Faron's writing advice focuses on identifying the basic traits of perps and pigeons (60 percent of pigeons are seniors, but we're all susceptible), defining the lingo (drag broad, shaky mom, mish roll, etc.), and counseling writers to "tell the story from the point of view of the victim." <I>--Jane Steinberg</I>
zlib_text: SECRETS AND LIES
  ***
  A Collection of Heart-stopping Psychological
  Thrillers
  ***
  M K FARRAR
  ***
  Warwick House Press
  
  Table of Contents
  Title Page
  SOME THEY LIE
  Chapter One | Present Day
  Chapter Two | Five Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Three | Four Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Four | Four Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Five | Present Day
  Chapter Six | Four Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Seven | Four Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Eight | Three Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Nine | Present Day
  Chapter Ten | Three Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Eleven | Three Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Twelve | Three Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Thirteen | Three Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Fourteen | Present Day
  Chapter Fifteen | Three Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Sixteen | Three Weeks Earlier
  
  Chapter Seventeen | Two Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Eighteen | Present Day
  Chapter Nineteen | Two Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Twenty | Two Weeks Earlier
  Chapter Twenty-one | One Week Earlier
  Chapter Twenty-two | One Week Earlier
  Chapter Twenty-three | Five Days Earlier
  Chapter Twenty-four | Four Days Earlier
  Ch