Modus Operandi: A Writer's Guide To How Criminals Work

Be the first to write a review
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Paperback
$12.84
BN.com price
$16.99 List Price (Save 24%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$8.25
$16.99 List Price (Save 51%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (11)  
Used (6)  
New (5)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 2
Showing 1 – 10 of 11 (2 pages)
$8.25
(Save 51%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3293)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Very Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.25
(Save 46%)
Conlin Book Scouting NC
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(156)

Condition: Very Good
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. 2001 Soft Cover Very Good 8vo-over 7?"-9?" tall 1582971374 Ex-Library with Usual Markings 217 pages. Ex-library stamps. Laminated.

Ships from: Whittier, NC

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.50
(Save 44%)
JB Books
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(8)

Condition: Very Good
Very good There's a crease across the front cover, else "Like New." Clean, bright and tight.

Ships from: Carmichael, CA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$11.57
(Save 32%)
SuperBookDeals-
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(14111)

Condition: New
Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.

Ships from: South Bend, IN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$11.58
(Save 32%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4796)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$12.83
(Save 24%)
SuperBookDeals-
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(14111)

Condition: Like New
Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.

Ships from: South Bend, IN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$13.34
(Save 21%)
EuroBooks
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(3504)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Horcott Rd, Fairford, United Kingdom

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$13.58
(Save 20%)
BargainBookStores
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(7946)

Condition: New
BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Ships from: Grand Rapids, MI

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$14.56
(Save 14%)
Extremely_Reliable
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(3210)

Condition: Good
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Ships from: Richmond, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$16.59
(Save 2%)
woodysbooks
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(3161)

Condition: Very Good
Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed!!

Ships from: Martinez, CA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 2
Showing 1 – 10 of 11 (2 pages)
Close
Sort by

Overview

Detectives Corvasce and Paglino provide writers with the facts they need to give thier mystery and detective novels necessary grit and authenticity. Writers will learn how criminals carry out murder, arson, smuggling, armed robbery, safecracking, and more.

Writers will see how to create cunning criminals who still leave clues protagonists can follow. The authors explain how law-breakers perform the dirty deeds of murder--from contract killers to seemingly ordinary people--armed robbery, arson, smuggling, white collar crime, prostitution, and more.

... See more details below
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Detectives Corvasce and Paglino provide writers with the facts they need to give thier mystery and detective novels necessary grit and authenticity. Writers will learn how criminals carry out murder, arson, smuggling, armed robbery, safecracking, and more.

Writers will see how to create cunning criminals who still leave clues protagonists can follow. The authors explain how law-breakers perform the dirty deeds of murder--from contract killers to seemingly ordinary people--armed robbery, arson, smuggling, white collar crime, prostitution, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble
You can't have a mystery without a criminal of some sort, and in order to create a realistic bad guy you need to understand how he or she will work and think. Modus Operandi: A Writer's Guide to How Criminals Work tells you everything you need to know about murderers, arsonists, thieves, smugglers, and even prostitutes. Whether you're creating an embezzling accountant or a serial killer, this book can provide you with all the details you need to make your villain leap off the page into reality. While you're at it, get a peek into the criminal mind with Malicious Intent: A Writer's Guide to How Murderers, Robbers, Rapists, and Other Criminals Think and learn how to create memorable villains.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781582971377
  • Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
  • Publication date: 12/28/1995
  • Pages: 228
  • Sales rank: 556,733
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 0.52 (d)

Table of Contents

Introduction 1
1 Arsonists: Examining the most underreported of all crimes 5
2 Art, Antique and Jewel Thieves: The ugly business of stealing beautiful things 18
3 Carjacking, Hijacking, Skyjacking and Auto Theft: The methods and reasons behind modern-day piracy 30
4 Con Artists: The art of swindling 57
5 Counterfeiters and Forgers: Stealing a free ride on someone else's hard work or ideas 76
6 Fencing: Converting stolen goods into cash 90
7 Homicide: Determining the manner and cause of death 98
8 Kidnapping: One of the most terrifying and cruel crimes committed against another human being 118
9 Prostitution: As long as there are people willing to pay for sex, there will be people willing to sell it 130
10 Armed Robbery: Using force to get anything you want 143
11 Safecracking and Lockpicking: Overcoming security obstacles and precautions 155
12 Smuggling: Trafficking vice worldwide 170
13 Shoplifters: An increasingly popular crime among "normal" people 181
14 Whitecollar Crime and Money Laundering: Committing crimes with and against businesses 193
Index 213

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit