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saneshfrancis's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I feel like a comic lover might appreciate the authentic seeming comic con setting, which the author illustrated well, given his background in the comic industry. However, more focus seems to have been put on the comic con world building than the actual mystery. On top of that not many of the characters are actually likeable. The protagonist’s wife in particular is very unlikeable, yet the protagonist bends over backwards for her, making him seem either stupid or pathetic. Maybe if they added some nuance to her it would have worked, but honestly she just came across as a selfish villain and it was hard to understand why the protagonist would feel sad about her death
drdalim's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this it’s fun it’s not too serious and it kept me going. Bonus points for geek references!
car3b3ar's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
v99venneman's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
theduchess93's review against another edition
4.0
A good, fast-paced read. The big reveal was kind of dampened by the fact that basically, everyone suspicious was in fact in on it.
veecaswell's review against another edition
4.0
A mystery thriller set around San Diego Comic Con, The Con Artist is an intriguing and unique book that grabs you as soon as you begin.
A book written from one perspective and this perspective makes this book such a captivating read as it feels like you’re in the mind of Mike as the book unfolds and the plot get started - you can almost feel like you know someone like him so he makes for an interesting and human perspective throughout this book.
I also love how honestly nerdy this book is. Full of geeky moments that a fan of Comic Con would love, The Con Artist immerses itself in the convention and it feels like a very plausible plot due to how well you can see the scene Van Lente creates. The scene is also helped by the illustrations that interspersed throughout the book that add to the story.
A really enjoyable thriller that a nerd like me would love, The Con Artist arrives with perfect timing just before Comic Con.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).
A book written from one perspective and this perspective makes this book such a captivating read as it feels like you’re in the mind of Mike as the book unfolds and the plot get started - you can almost feel like you know someone like him so he makes for an interesting and human perspective throughout this book.
I also love how honestly nerdy this book is. Full of geeky moments that a fan of Comic Con would love, The Con Artist immerses itself in the convention and it feels like a very plausible plot due to how well you can see the scene Van Lente creates. The scene is also helped by the illustrations that interspersed throughout the book that add to the story.
A really enjoyable thriller that a nerd like me would love, The Con Artist arrives with perfect timing just before Comic Con.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).
puzzled_pagan's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a whole lot of fun. It mixes an experts insight into Comic Con with my favorite of narrative genres, the accidental detective, and manages to make some really insightful comments about the act of creating for a living.
tonyzale's review against another edition
2.0
This quick-reading mystery follows Mike Mason, a comic book artist down on his luck, coasting on past successes. He lives on the comic book convention circuit in comped hotel rooms, travelling between cities on free flights, with no homelife to speak of. The monstrous San Diego Comic-Con attracts much of the industry and puts Mason in contact with some old friends... but mostly rival artists, malicious editors, shady dealers, and his ex-wife (also in the business). When one of these belligerents ends up dead, Mason becomes a prime suspect.
For reasons that don’t entirely make sense, Mason decides that the only hope for exoneration is doing his own sleuthing. His investigations criss-cross the convention and provide ample opportunities for digressions describing the comic scene. Superfans get classified into groups like “Narrators” (running a continuous monologue about the attractions, regardless of who’s listening) or “Fetishists” (patrons of artists willing to draw them risque versions of popular characters for big money). He shares thoughts on cosplayers and movie adaptations of books. He delivers a convention speech rallying attendees to demand better pay and benefits from publishing houses for creators. Author Van Lente is a creator himself and while these passages don’t deliver unexpected insights, they do feel authentic and give the book its personality. Further adding to the theme, a handful of significant scenes receive full page pencil sketches; I would have been happy to see a few more of these.
Mason has high stakes encounters with a publishing magnate and a thuggish security agency staffed by Neo Nazis, and the end of the story contains a few twists. That said, the content is not so compelling that I could recommend The Con Artist to those without an interest in comics and comic book culture.
For reasons that don’t entirely make sense, Mason decides that the only hope for exoneration is doing his own sleuthing. His investigations criss-cross the convention and provide ample opportunities for digressions describing the comic scene. Superfans get classified into groups like “Narrators” (running a continuous monologue about the attractions, regardless of who’s listening) or “Fetishists” (patrons of artists willing to draw them risque versions of popular characters for big money). He shares thoughts on cosplayers and movie adaptations of books. He delivers a convention speech rallying attendees to demand better pay and benefits from publishing houses for creators. Author Van Lente is a creator himself and while these passages don’t deliver unexpected insights, they do feel authentic and give the book its personality. Further adding to the theme, a handful of significant scenes receive full page pencil sketches; I would have been happy to see a few more of these.
Mason has high stakes encounters with a publishing magnate and a thuggish security agency staffed by Neo Nazis, and the end of the story contains a few twists. That said, the content is not so compelling that I could recommend The Con Artist to those without an interest in comics and comic book culture.