Book review: Nicholas J. Johnson's Chasing the Ace is in the great tradition of swindling

Stories of cons, swindles and stings tend to have pretty solid currency and appeal in the world of fiction. The film The Sting and television series Hustle come to mind as well-known, popular and enjoyable examples.

Now, stepping on to this well-trodden stage comes Australian Nicholas J. Johnson, who works as a performer, writer and consultant educating the public about the modus operandi of the scammer's trade, with Chasing the Ace.

Treading the boards as Johnson's two leads in this Melbourne-based tale are young, would-be swindler Joel Fitch and ageing, long-time exponent of the game, Richard Mordecia, a 10-pound Pom from Tottenham in London, now ensconced in Bleak City. They are admirably supported by a varied cast of family, friends, colleagues, bouncers and gamblers, while the love interest is provided by Joel's girlfriend, the blossoming Sandy, and the spice by the denizens of the Honey Trap bordello.

The story is largely told alternately throughout from Richard's then Joel's perspective, which works well and helps keep the tension tight. It is from some of Richard's narratives we learn about his "education" from the Tottenham-High Road scammers during his youth.

After many years of watching just about every film about con men he could, Joel decides it is time he tried the real thing. He teams up with Richard, by now a master of the trade, and they get to work with a few short cons that net them some easy money.

So far, so good – until in a more ambitious scam their mark turns out to be an off-duty detective, who rumbles them. The good part is they discover the "D" has something to hide, the bad that they will need big money to get him off their backs.

And in trying to raise this money through a long-planned swindle of Richard's – his hoped-for grand finale – they look like facing exposure and maybe worse. The pace and complexity of the tale intensify as the pair work to save themselves in a story that delivers a well-executed and unexpected ending.

Johnson, in his debut novel, has certainly dealt us an excellent hand, at once exciting and intriguing, along with a nice sprinkling of wry humour.