The Cupid Caper (A Finley Goodhart Crime Caper) by Larissa Reinhart. Character interview!

He wants her back. In the grift. And in his life. Can Finley Goodhart convince Lex that doing good is the greatest hustle of all?

Ex-grifter Finley Goodhart may try to stay on the straight and narrow, but walking that thin line becomes wobbly when she believes her friend Penny was murdered. The last thing she wants is to work with her ex-partner (and ex-boyfriend), the brilliant (brilliantly frustrating) British con artist, Lex Leopold. However, when it appears Penny’s demise might be related to an exclusive matchmaking service for millionaires, Fin needs Lex’s help to pull a long con to get the goods on Penny.
Romance is in the air for hustlers, gangsters, and their marks. Unfortunately for Fin and Lex, infiltrating the racket doesn’t make for a match made in heaven. This Valentine swindle could stop their hearts for good.

Character Interview

Finley, welcome to Island Confidential! Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
Generally, I don’t let anyone know anything about me. I’m a high school dropout turned pool hall hustler turned con artist. And I’m only twenty-seven. I thank my crooked cop dad for my introduction to criminal life. But recently, I’m on the square—I’ve left that life behind. Or at least I’m trying to leave it behind.
It’s hard when my ex-boyfriend and ex-partner wants me back in the grift and in my life. Lex’s brilliant, charming, and loves nothing better than a challenge. Meaning he’ll try to con his way back into my heart. I miss him, but I won’t admit it. I loved conning greedy skinflints, but it’s wrong and I can’t do it anymore.
However, I’ve just learned my best friend, Penny, is dead. She was my only friend on the streets before I met Lex. I may have to use my criminal skills to find out what happened to Penny and deliver my own brand of justice.

Anyone in The Cupid Caper you’re particularly sweet on ?
Lex Leopold, my old partner, knows me best. Even more than Penny did. He turned me out, taught me the art of the long con. Unfortunately, Lex loves the art of the big bamboozle. Maybe more than me. I left him before I could find out.

Is there anyone you don’t get along with so well?
Definitely Dot the Jamaican. She and her zoo of poisonous creatures, not to mention her hulking minions, give me the creeps. She’s a handler — she sets up jobs. Criminal jobs. More Fagin than Corleone, though. I’ve talked Lex out of working for her on several occasions, so now Dot has it in for me. I hope to never work for her again.

Just between you and me: What do you really think of your author?
Writing mystery novels has created a naturally suspicious nature in Larissa, so I don’t think I’d have an easy time conning her in a pigeon drop or a similar con. But she’d probably fall for a fake charity. She gives money away to strangers and doesn’t even check to see if they’re really hard up.

What’s next for you?
Using con artist tricks to catch crooks really appeals to me. But the criminal under-ground is a dangerous place to live and I only skim the surface. I have to watch my back, knowing that several mobsters could be gunning for me now that I’m working against them. You’ll have to find out which in my next book!

About The Author

Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Larissa Reinhart writes humorous mysteries and romantic comedies including the critically acclaimed Maizie Albright Star Detective, Finley Goodhart Crime Capers, and Cherry Tucker Mystery series. Larissa’s a contributor to the 2017 Silver Falchion Reader’s Choice winner, was the 2015 Georgia Author of the Year finalist, 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. Larissa’s family and dog, Biscuit, had been living in Japan, but once again call Georgia home. See them on HGTV’s House Hunters International“Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode. Visit her website, LarissaReinhart.com, and join her newsletter for a free short story.
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