Forever ... and Then Some

Eleven surprisingly tender tales of artists in love. Con artists, that is. Fifty years of love and larceny + cons, family, laughter, and drama.

As I wrote about Dani Silver in the Grifter’s Daughter novels, I got interested in Leroy Logan, her father. What would make a man behave the way he does? See … Leroy has no redeeming qualities. None. Except … he’s faithful to his wife and children and he loves his partner, “Fast” Kate.

Other than that, he’s a master con artist, out to be the king of the grifters, willing to do anything to reach that goal.

Forever … and Then Some isn’t a novel. It’s a collection of (long) short stories that run to novellas, about Leroy and Kate. They cover sixty years of love, larceny, family, births, deaths, outrageous cons, violence, and laughs.

Starting in 1945, at the end of WWII, Leroy is a very young man when he meets Kate. Together, they attempt to sell a U.S. battleship. How do they do that? Ask Victor Lustig, a real-life con man who sold the Eiffel Tower … twice.

Each story begins four or five years later than the one before, as they come up with ever more complicated cons.

“Loved the author's notes on how he came
up with each one. Great twists and turns.”

Early on, to steer Leroy right, Kate takes on the role of roper—the person who selects the mark. In her mind, that means the mark has to be worthy of being taken. Try explaining ethics to Leroy; it’s like teaching calculus to a horse. Like she told him once, “You’d steal a cop’s pistol if he didn’t have one to stop you.”

In Forever, we’ve got Nicola Tesla’s wireless energy. A watch that slows time, and a crooked racetrack scam to use it. A dinosaur skeleton. (Real? Of course not.)

There’s a moon landing con and a computer scam around the time the Nigerians were just getting started. There’s also a wheelchair con in the Miami Vice era and a crooked casino scam against an even more crooked zoning board.

Just like real life, except with, you know … crime.

So, yeah, not a novel, but the next best thing.

BTW, I’m in love with “Fast” Kate. I predict you will be, too. (Let me know!)

“Look for a full range of tales, from love and larceny to
outrageous crimes and laughter.”

Here’s a handy link to all of Duane’s 26+ books!