Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

March 18, 2008 in Crime, Humor, Uncategorized by admin | No comments

Subscribe to Jon’s Book Reviews by Email

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Genre: Crime, Humor

Subject: Conning the Con Man

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)

Summary:

Harvey Metcalfe is the son of Polish immigrants to the U.S. Through hard work, ingenuity, and a lack of scruples, he has become quite wealthy, mostly through shady deals and con jobs. The story begins when Harvey pulls off a stock scam that nets him one million dollars from four previously well-off British professionals: James Brigsley, an earl; Stephen Bradley, a mathematics professor at Oxford; Robin Oakley, a private physician; Jean-Pierre Lamanns, an art dealer.

After learning of his financial ruin, Bradley, the professor, contacts the other three victims and persuades them to dine with him. Over dinner, they agree that they are going to take back their money. Each of them is to generate a plan to con Metcalfe out of a portion of the million dollars, with the understanding that they will take only what they have lost, plus expenses.

Their plans include a spiked drink and a fake gallstone operation, a counterfeit Van Gogh painting, and a quiet “honorary degree” ceremony at Oxford. Additionally, the reader is surprised by several trademark Archer plot twists.

My Thoughts:

If you enjoyed Oceans Eleven or The Italian Job, you will love Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less. Jeffrey Archer is a fantastic storyteller. Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less is full of his trademark witty dialogue, characters that are believably human, and moments of comedic masterpiece.

If you’ve never read a Jeffrey Archer novel, you are missing out. I highly recommend Archer’s other novels, especially As the Crow Flies, and Sons of Fortune.