| A Deal with the Devil: The Dark and Twisted True Story of One of the Biggest Cons in History Contributor(s): Ellis, Blake (Author), Hicken, Melanie (Author) |
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ISBN: 1501163841 ISBN-13: 9781501163845 Publisher: Atria Books OUR PRICE: $23.40 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: August 2018 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - True Crime | Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions - True Crime | White Collar Crime - Language Arts & Disciplines | Journalism |
| Dewey: 364.163 |
| LCCN: 2017055494 |
| Physical Information: 1.1" H x 6.2" W x 9.1" (0.95 lbs) 304 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In this spellbinding true story, a pair of award-winning CNN investigative journalists track down the mysterious French psychic at the center of an international scam targeting the elderly and emotionally vulnerable, resulting in an exposé of one of the longest running cons in history. While investigating financial crimes for CNN Money, Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken were intrigued by reports that elderly Americans were giving away thousands of dollars to mail-in schemes. With a little digging, they soon discovered a shocking true story. Victims received personalized letters from a woman who, claiming amazing psychic powers, convinced them to send money in return for riches, good health, and good fortune. The predatory scam has continued unabated for decades, raking in more than $200 million in the United States and Canada alone--with investigators from all over the world unable to stop it. And at the center of it all--an elusive French psychic named Maria Duval. Based on the five-part series that originally appeared on CNN's website in 2016 and was seen by more than three million people, A Deal with the Devil picks up where the series left off as Ellis and Hicken reveal more bizarre characters, follow new leads, close in on Maria Duval, and connect the dots in an edge-of-your-seat journey across the US to England and France. A Deal with the Devil is a fascinating, thrilling search for the truth and is long-form investigative journalism at its best. |
Contributor Bio(s): Ellis, Blake: - Blake Ellis lives in Denver and is a graduate of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. With Melanie Hicken, she is an award-winning investigative journalist with CNN. Their investigations have uncovered everything from nursing home abuse to widespread consumer fraud.Hicken, Melanie: - Melanie Hicken lives in Los Angeles and is a graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School and New York University. With Blake Ellis, she is an award-winning investigative journalist with CNN. Their investigations have uncovered everything from nursing home abuse to widespread consumer fraud. |