The Pretender: How Martin Frankel Fooled the Financial World and Led the Feds on One of the Most Publicized Manhunts in History

by Ellen Joan Pollock

This is the unbelievable-but-true account of Martin Frankel -- a timid, two-bit investor with a dark side who pulled off one of the greatest financial scams of the century and led the FBI on a four-month global chase before finally being caught.
The Pretender chronicles how a bumbling thirty-year-old Midwesterner, a lifelong gawky misfit, built an intricate, fraudulent moneymaking scheme that bilked insurance companies out of $200 million. Transforming himself from mama's boy to corporate mogul, Martin Frankel entered a world peopled with desperate businessmen, political power brokers, masterful con artists, vulnerable women, vindictive husbands, and charitable priests -- and spun his web of lies deep inside the power centers of Washington, D.C., New York, and the Vatican. But such success and excess aroused the suspicions of the authorities, and Frankel vanished from his opulent mansion-leaving behind a mysterious fire and some very confused law-enforcement officials-and ran for his life across Europe.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed very well researched, given that the author says they interviewed over 400 people. This was a very interesting read of someone who may have been a genius, except for the unbalanced mental issues. I heard about Martin Frankel on the Swindled podcast and I have to say, the book did not disappoint in the intrigue catagory. There was some weird editing issues in the book; a word here or there that obviously didn't belong as well as some weird punctuation choices, but overall a fun read.

[John Lyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty long slog to get through this book. Frankel was brilliant but demented and probably caused incalculable heartache and pain. This book was only about him and what he did, it didn’t touch on anyone’s suffering. It also ended so abruptly that I was surprised. Evidently it was written while the case was still so fresh it wasn’t finished.

[Monzenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My interest was piqued enough. Though Marty Frankel isn't that much of a household, his crimes and schemes were notable enough on their own to weave a notable narrative. Also the sex preferences part, wew. Long as the narrative is interesting enough for me, I appreciate the book.

[Ana Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[NonFiction 24/7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story that I didn't know about.

[Partridge Public]

Pollack, Ellen Joan

[Jelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice