Someone Has Taken My Place Virtual Book Tour

Someone Has Taken My Place

by David Snow

My Review:
★★★★☆

Normally I do not read true crime type of novels. I read for pleasure and part of that pleasure is escaping from reality for a time. That being said, you can understand why initially I did not think I would enjoy this book.  I chose to read this book because the subject of identity theft is very interesting to me. I hear about it happening all the time on the news and through social media. The closest I have come to having it happen to me is the few times my yahoo account has been hacked and I have received emails from myself.

So I went into this book with an open mind, deciding that I would set aside my dislike for reality. It took a couple of chapters for me to get used to the writing style. It almost reads more like a well written report than it does a story. The conversations seem stilted to me. The didn't seem to flow naturally.

After the first couple of chapters, though, I was hooked. The insurance fraud investigator Andy Stone, starts out looking into a simple personal injury case filed against the insurance company he works for. As he talks to the alleged victim, some inconsistencies stand out to him. He starts digging deeper and the case gets unusual.

By the end of the book the case has grown and spread out over several countries. There are several insurance companies involved as well as several fraudulent identities that tie in with the original 'victim'. Stone works with several people, including former KB officers, CIA or FBI types, the Irish Police, other fraud investigators, and others. It becomes this epic case that practically takes over Stone's every waking thought. It takes years to gather all the evidence and get the case together.

I really enjoyed reading this book, which surprised and delighted me. I will no longer avoid true crime type novels. This book is very informative on investigative practices. I learned a lot on how an investigator goes about his job. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys true crime novels and investigative stories.

About The Author

David Snow has been working in the private security and financial investigation arena since 1989. He was one of the first graduates and members of the Institute of Irish Investigators. He obtained the "youngest student award" from the Institute in 1989. In 2013 he was awarded Investigator of the Year by the Europe Middle East and African chapter of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators. He was also presented with the International Investigator of the Year Award in Denver Colorado by IAFCI – North America and donated his winnings to the Wounded Warrior Project, which supports American troops injured at war.

He was initially employed by Sleator Carroll Investigators and then Pinkerton Security & Investigations. Pinkerton is the world’s oldest and largest Private Detective and Security agency with operations on every continent. He joined Pinkerton in 1993 and became the General Manager of the Irish operation in 1996, leaving in 2001 to pursue a career within insurance fraud investigation.

Today he is employed as the Head of Special Investigations for the Irish operation of a multi-national insurance company. He is a member of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI), the Association of Irish Risk Management (AIRM) and was one of the first Europeans to obtain the Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI) from North America. He has lectured on identity theft and financial crime in Ireland, North America and Europe. He is also a member of the Irish charity A Little Lifetime Foundation, formally known as ISANDS, obtaining an award in 2012 for his efforts in the prevention of the identity theft of dead Irish baby’s.

He lives in Dublin, Ireland with his wife and two children Olivia and Sarah.

Website - www.davidsnow.ie  

About The Book

Genre - True Crime (Based on a true Story)

A Financial Thriller / Fraud and Identity theft – International Investigation

Publisher – Createspace

Release Date – March 2013

Buy - Amazon

Book Description:

Inspired by a true story and written by the real Irish Investigator who won the acclaimed award of Financial Investigator of the Year EMEA 2013 and International Investigator of the Year – IAFCI North America “for the true case, in which the book is based.” Someone has taken my place is an epic account of the identity theft of Irish babies who died in the 1970’s. Irish Fraud Investigator Andrew Stone is on the trail of the serial fraudster known in Ireland as the Texan. The fraudster is inventive and elusive as he evilly masquerades in the identities of dead babies for fraudulent gain. Stone is obsessed with obtaining justice for the vulnerable Irish parents whose babies identities have been taken by the American professional conman. Follow his personal international chase across Ireland, Europe and the United States of America as, with the help of the FBI, former KGB Agents, the United States Secret Service, Interpol and the Irish police, Stone pieces together the international conman’s tortuous spider’s web of illegal aliases and criminal intent.    

Praise for Someone Has Taken My Place:

  It reads, when you think of it like something out of a Hollywood Movie” Ryan Tubrity, RTE

Ireland, The Late Late Show "A thinking man's thriller, crime in the modern era.” Amazon Review

 “Extremely interesting book that shines a bright light on identity theft." Amazon Review "Brilliantly
written by David Snow! I could not put this book down. Gripping and well worth the read! Very well
done, and a highly recommended book!” Former FBI Agent

"This book is an excellent mystery ...non-stop ride through the ruthless world of identity theft ...smart and emotional novel." Irish Police Detective

     

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I received a copy of the book mentioned above free for reviewing purposes. Regardless, all opinions stated are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving it for free. I was under no obligation to post a positive review.