{"product_id":"a-deal-with-the-devil-the-dark-and-twisted-true-story-of-one-of-the-biggest-cons-in-history-9781501163852","title":"A Deal with the Devil: The Dark and Twisted True Story of One of the Biggest Cons in History","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A personal how-to guide for investigative journalists, a twisted tale of a scam of huge proportions, and a really good read\" (Bethany McLean, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Smartest Guys in the Room\u003c\/i\u003e), this spellbinding true story follows a pair of award-winning CNN investigative journalists as they track down the mysterious psychic at the center of an international scam that stole tens of millions of dollars from the elderly and emotionally vulnerable.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhile 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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 had been going on 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Based on the five-part series that originally appeared on CNN's website in 2016 and was seen by more than three million people\u003ci\u003e, A Deal with the Devil\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eA Deal with the Devil \u003c\/i\u003eis a fascinating, thrilling search for the truth that will suck you \"deep into the heart of a labyrinthine investigation that raises bigger questions about greed, manipulation, and the desperate hunger to believe\" (Megan Abbott, author of \u003ci\u003eYou Will Know Me\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Blake Ellis,Melanie Hicken\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Atria Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/21\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.6lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781501163852","brand":"Atria Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45011380338825,"sku":"9781501163852","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_67e0b120-b78f-417b-86fa-14a30095ba31.jpg?v=1764744979","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/a-deal-with-the-devil-the-dark-and-twisted-true-story-of-one-of-the-biggest-cons-in-history-9781501163852","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}