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ckfoster's review against another edition
2.0
Loved the writing style. Did not ultimately love the story. Get pointless.
yeller's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, even if it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The story was definitely compelling, and I wanted more than anything to learn more about the scam. I guess I was expecting a bit more answers, but I was still satisfied with the ending. The most disappointing part was the writing. While it wasn't bad, there WERE some typos. The writing itself was also a bit simple and I'm use to non-fiction being written at a higher caliber.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
3.0
When the first line of a blurb for a book says "spellbinding," I get my hopes up. Maybe this true tale is spellbinding for SOMEone but probably not for the general reading population.
This is about the scam involving Marie Duval, a "psychic" whose name was used by a company focused on getting naive elderly people to send money on a regular basis. In return, these elderly people who often couldn't afford it would get very inexpensive trinkets.
The reporters try to track Marie and the people behind the companies down to get answers. No one wants to talk with them, and Marie's family is elusive for most of the book. Which is to be expected.
Not a very exciting book. Sad to see these mostly elderly people being taken advantage of.
I found the USPIS (mail fraud branch of USPS) fascinating, but it didn't give the reader a whole lot about it.
At the most, I found this book "interesting" - nowhere close to "spellbinding."
This is about the scam involving Marie Duval, a "psychic" whose name was used by a company focused on getting naive elderly people to send money on a regular basis. In return, these elderly people who often couldn't afford it would get very inexpensive trinkets.
The reporters try to track Marie and the people behind the companies down to get answers. No one wants to talk with them, and Marie's family is elusive for most of the book. Which is to be expected.
Not a very exciting book. Sad to see these mostly elderly people being taken advantage of.
I found the USPIS (mail fraud branch of USPS) fascinating, but it didn't give the reader a whole lot about it.
At the most, I found this book "interesting" - nowhere close to "spellbinding."
sk888888's review against another edition
PTB after about 100 pgs. Journalists? I dunno.
alanabenjamin's review against another edition
2.0
If you are into scams and the finer points of execution, this book starts out interesting enough.
It ends exactly how you think it would.
The documentary is definitely better.
It ends exactly how you think it would.
The documentary is definitely better.
glitterandtwang's review against another edition
3.0
I learned a lot about the United States Postal system from this book. I was really fascinated by the idea of a mail-order scandal and the psychic(s) at the center of it, but this was kind of a frustrating read - every time it seemed like the authors were making progress on a lead, something happened to stifle them. They eventually kind of unravel the mystery, but the resolution is ultimately unsatisfying - through no fault of the writers. If you go in with the expectation that everything will be wrapped up neatly at the end, you will be disappointed - but if you're fascinated by seemingly endless rabbit holes of conspiracy, then this book is 100% for you.
jmbz38's review
2.0
Full disclosure, I'm not the biggest fan of non-fiction books most of the time. I read this book as part of the 2019 Read Harder Challenge. It's subject matter intrigued me because my wife's grandmother was at one time emailing with a psychic scammer. So I picked up "A Deal with the Devil."
I have mixed feelings about this book. I started reading it in print, but just couldn't get into it, so I finished it via audiobook. The audiobook recording made it much easier to follow and much more entertaining in my opinion. The authors do present a compelling mystery. Personally I'd have rather read a dramatized version of the story, but the journey the reporters take to find the truth behind the scam did have some interesting twists and turns. Fans of non-fiction and/or true crime will almost definitely find something to like about this book.
Now that being said, I found the last few chapters to be unnecessary. The book could have concluded with the last paragraph of the final chapter and then the Afterword. Instead, the authors recap almost every detail of the investigation they've just described throughout the book (twice!) and then spend way too much time trying to create a emphatic connection between the psychic and one of the victims of the scam. It just felt really out of place and unneeded. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, then had to force myself to finish it, though I'm glad I was able to make it to the end.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I started reading it in print, but just couldn't get into it, so I finished it via audiobook. The audiobook recording made it much easier to follow and much more entertaining in my opinion. The authors do present a compelling mystery. Personally I'd have rather read a dramatized version of the story, but the journey the reporters take to find the truth behind the scam did have some interesting twists and turns. Fans of non-fiction and/or true crime will almost definitely find something to like about this book.
Now that being said, I found the last few chapters to be unnecessary. The book could have concluded with the last paragraph of the final chapter and then the Afterword. Instead, the authors recap almost every detail of the investigation they've just described throughout the book (twice!) and then spend way too much time trying to create a emphatic connection between the psychic and one of the victims of the scam. It just felt really out of place and unneeded. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, then had to force myself to finish it, though I'm glad I was able to make it to the end.
victoriac's review
2.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my review. This is the non-fiction account of two CNN reporters’ investigation into the Maria Duval psychic mail scam. The story sounded so intriguing, but the book was a disappointment. It reminded me of the quote “there’s no there there”. It’s basically a recitation of all the weird things that happened to them while they tried to research the story, which in the end wasn’t much of a story at all. And for journalists, the writing was not very good. I read a lot of non-fiction and most of it has more engaging writing.