The Swindler and Other Stories

"The Swindler and Other Stories" by Ethel M. Dell is a compilation of short tales set in the early 1900s, spinning yarns of trickery, fateful meetings, and curious relationships as characters navigate intricate social webs. Our focus is drawn to West, a keen private eye, who finds himself caught in a scheme including the clever Cynthia Mortimer and a professional con man. Kicking off on a ship voyage, West's fateful meeting with Cynthia reveals her obsession with swindlers, particularly Nat Verney. As West digs further, his personal and professional worlds mesh, a game of gambling and high stakes unfolds, teasing at the true meaning of trust and morality. The well-established characters and their struggles pull the reader into a world where good and bad become mixed, promising challenges as the stories play out.