419 - Softcover

Ferguson, Will

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0143188720 ISBN 13: 9780143188728

Publisher: Pintail, 2013

Synopsis

Will Ferguson takes readers deep into the labyrinth of lies that is "419," the world’s most insidious Internet scam.

A car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine.

A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in sub-Saharan Africa.

And in the seething heat of Lagos City, a criminal cartel scours the Internet, looking for victims.

Lives intersect. Worlds collide. And it all begins with a single email: "Dear Sir, I am the daughter of a Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help"

When Laura Curtis, a lonely editor in a cold northern city, discovers that her father has died because of one such swindle, she sets out to track downand cornerher father’s killer. It is a dangerous game she’s playing, however, and the stakes are higher than she can ever imagine.

Woven into Laura’s journey is a mysterious woman from the African Sahel with scars etched into her skin and a young man who finds himself caught up in a web of violence and deceit.

And running through it, a dying father’s final words: "You, I love."

About this title

Product Description:

Rare Book

Review:

'As good a novel about the world in its entirety, from Canada to Nigeria, as I've seen in years, or will likely see in years to come. It stays with you, it makes you think, and it hurts' Gary Shteyngart.

'Sharp and unpredictable, full of surprising, wonderful characters. It isn't just clever – it's spectacular' Roddy Doyle.

'An elegant literary thriller ... 419 is immersive, neatly structured and full of smart dialogue and oblique insights' Guardian.

'A very clever book ... well constructed and compelling' The Sunday Herald.

'Compelling' The Times.

'An ambitious work about the complexities of reparative justice ... elegantly written and evocative of place' The Sunday Telegraph.

'The best and most detailed account of 419 scams I have ever seen ... I can see that this would, and probably will, make a powerful, sweeping moving. And the climax is worthy of any thriller' Financial Times.

'This epic and shocking tale of international corruption and revenge bites hard' Saga.

'A taut tale of internet deception' Vogue.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pintail
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0143188720
• ISBN 13: 9780143188728
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 411