INTRODUCTION By Thomas McShane - FBI retired (Author of Stolen Masterpiece Tracker) "G man beware of this C (Con) Man!" was the caveat that was an FBI mantra when I tried to tackle Simon Lovell! Of all the world's con men, Simon Lovell was, for many years, on the top of the G Man's List. In my some 26 years as the number one FBI undercover Art Expert, Simon was always on the radar screen and my FBI career targeted this extremely gifted, talented, and prolific genius of the "Con" for years. His evolution from Con to a Bon Vivant who has transformed himself from the Dark side to the good guy's side is greeted with glee in his new opus. I'm also delighted that the transformation has allowed us to become great friends and we spend many a session swapping stories of those crazy days when he was like a ghost apparently able to, at will, evade the clutches of those like myself who were trying to track him down without success! Now that we are friends I can understand why. Under the consummate charm and humor lies an almost machine like ability to spot situations way ahead of time and to manipulate them to his advantage. It really is quite uncanny to see him in action. Today, whether he is acting in brilliant movies like Hotel Genius or Misdirection's, coaching and acting in the hit USA White Collar TV series or authoring another great book (21 total to date!), he truly is a Con Man's Con. This new book is an amazing journey into a world mixed with extraordinary bets, suspense, excitement, and all the talent Simon manages to muster to let us in on his many secrets. Like his Off-Broadway hit show, Strange and Unusual Hobbies, this new book is also a knock out and a must read. It is like the "Con Father" meets the "Godfather." Follow Simon's advice and you may never have to pay a bar tab again. Trust me I have never seen Simon pay for drinks unless he wanted to! I have to admit that I've even paid my more than my fair share of his bar bills myself; he really is that good! Within these pages Simon shows you how to lure somebody into the games, how to keep everything safe and friendly, and how to become a fun person that everybody will be happy to pay the price for to learn a new trick or two. Just don't try to go to mad and be like the old Simon. I'm sure you don't want people like me breathing down your neck waving handcuffs and an arrest warrant! Just buy the book and have some fun with your family and friends. Actually buy two of this book because someone is sure to try to "Con" you out of one!--Thomas McShane.