Before there was Anna Delvey or Elizabeth Holmes, there was Cassie Chadwick. The first woman–using criminal cunning, some confidence, and a bit of charm—to bring down a federal agent, a bank, and a city’s worth of men.
Paroled felon. Rich doctor's wife. Famous clairvoyant. The best con artists know how to reinvent themselves, time and time again. Cassie Chadwick, one of history's most successful con artists, was a master of the trade. Over the course of fifteen years, she swept from town to town, assuming new identities and running new swindles at each railroad stop. In the dusk of the Gilded Age, years after the robber barons had amassed their fortunes, she was amassing her own. Then came the Carnegie con. Using her wits and a series of forged documents, Cassie convinced prominent men from Cleveland to New York City that she was Andrew Carnegie’s illegitimate daughter. Blinded by the name of the most powerful man in the world, businessmen lined up to loan her hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time. The con made her impossibly rich. The crash shattered banks and bankers alike. Her sensational trial drew the eyes of a nation that couldn’t get enough of the woman, who newspapers called the Queen of Swindlers, the Duchess of Diamonds, the High Priestess of Fraudulent Finance. Indeed, when Charles Ponzi’s infamous scheme collapsed in 1920, reporters scoffed that “Ponzi is a piker compared to Cassie.” Interspersing Cassie’s crimes with stories of an unsuspecting Andrew Carnegie, author Annie Reed spins an enthralling, page turning tale of true crime. Could the rumors be true? Can Cassie’s money last? Will she escape the electric chair? Told with a gossip columnists’ charm and wit, THE IMPOSTER HEIRESS, is a rollicky trickster’s tale that will appeal to history buffs and true crime aficionados alike to bring one of the greatest swindlers of all time back into the public eye.

Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

The Impostor Heiress tells the compelling story of the notorious Cassie Chadwick, a con artist from America’s Gilded Age. Born into humble origins in Canada as Elizabeth Bigley, she realized early on how she could scam others for her own financial gain. This was quite a feat considering the impediments that women in the nineteenth century had to deal with—they couldn’t vote and, once married, had no control over their own finances.

While Cassie’s name isn’t universally recognized nowadays, she was fairly well known in the United States of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Those who belonged to high society knew that her reputation often preceded her. She was the “Mrs. Chadwick,” a respectable lady, the wife of a wealthy doctor, a celebrated society hostess, and the rumored illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie, the wealthiest man in the entire world. To some people, she was so respectable that no one should ever dare question her conduct.

Even though Cassie wasn’t a classically attractive woman, she possessed enough cleverness and charisma to draw her male victims into her web. She used the charisma to charm various men and cleverness to weave elaborate deceptions that were just believable enough. In addition to that, she used her femininity as a weapon—playing the part of the vulnerable female in need of help. With this winning combination and her claim to be Carnegie’s illegitimate daughter, how could she not amass a grand fortune from her victims?

In time, Cassie’s victims began to suspect that something wasn’t quite right. She would always request a loan, declaring that Andrew Carnegie would repay every last cent. When no money was forthcoming, that was when the lawsuits began. Eventually, she became entangled in her own lies. When Carnegie was asked if he had an illegitimate daughter, he denied ever fathering Cassie.

The Impostor Heiress, Annie Reed’s debut book, is an engrossing nonfiction work. The author earned a law degree from Notre Dame and a history degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This book is masterfully written and expertly researched. Reed juxtaposes Cassie’s story alongside anecdotes from Carnegie’s life. This creates a great flow that keeps the story moving forward at a steady pace. Not only is everything beautifully written, but in the pages of this book, the bygone world of the Gilded Age is brought to life. Many of the real life figures, including Cassie herself, are larger than life.

I read this book fairly quickly. This is a book I will be recommending to true crime fans for years to come. Cassie is such a psychologically complex character who did what many women would never have dared to do. She knew how to weave these elaborate lies and use her femininity against wealthy and powerful men. I was simply bewitched by Reed’s elegant prose and by the character of Chadwick herself.

Reed presents an extensive bibliography containing her research at the end of the book. She includes anecdotes from different sources in the “Notes” section, which is an interesting addition. My only critique of this book (if you can call it that) is that I wish that Reed wrote more about her experience writing this book. There is a brief “Dear Reader” section at the start of the book that sheds some light on how she discovered Cassie Chadwick. Needless to say, I fully recommend this book!

Annie Reed tells the story of Cassie Chadwick so believably that the reader almost forgets that they're reading a work of nonfiction. As a social studies educator and trained historian, I wish that her historiography had made more reference to her source materials, especially for a lot of the thoughts, feelings, and conversations that Reed included in the narrative. Several times she would describe thoughts or feelings of Cassie or others and then follow it up with a mention of a quote from a contemporary article or other document. This shows that Reed definitely did the requisite research. However, her historiography is what brought my rating down from a five star to a four. She definitely told the story well though.

This was a fine biography about a conwoman in the late 1800s/early 1900s. I learned a bit about history by reading it. The author did a good job showing how a woman of this era could be successful - playing on prejudices of the time, and playing stupid. It was a bit dry and redundant. The reader wasn't a good match for me - at first I thought this was one of those bot-read stories.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased for my library and will share as usual.

I found this book to be an exhilarating read. Its pacing resembles a captivating true crime documentary, allowing you to sense Cassie's mounting tension as her con starts to fall apart. Showcasing all the notable figures of the Gilded Age, she orchestrated an extraordinary con that may be unmatched even now. The author creates a vivid and engaging narrative, making it fascinating to discover this overlooked criminal genius.

Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love a good con story and there is certainly one here in THE IMPOSTOR HEIRESS.

Cassie Chadwick pulled off (for a while) an incredible con of claiming to be Andrew Carnegie's illegitimate daughter.

THE IMPOSTOR HEIRESS discusses Cassie's many, many cons throughout the years, including her most famous one.

It is incredible how, back in the day, anybody's word was taken with a "note" - a financial document that could easily be forged by anyone.

I became very confused quickly with all of the elements and the bouncing around in the book. I also wish there had been more information about how people would just easily believe the notes and paperwork placed in front of them. That whole aspect of the story is something I just couldn't follow.

I think this is a fascinating book for historians and those with Andrew Carnegie knowledge.

Thank you NetGalley and Diversion Books for an e-copy of THE IMPOSTOR HEIRESS to review.

I rate THE IMPOSTOR HEIRESS three out of five stars.

Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

History has been filled with con men, grifters, people who make their way in society by preying on unsuspecting dupes. But rarely has been a woman has created a grifter as Cassie Chadwick, the subject. Annie Reed's first book. This is a fine nonfiction book about a woman from Canada, who always wanted more than what she had. In order to do that she worked hard, but not at a normal professor. Instead, she became an expert at disguise, forgery, and new identities. It didn't matter if we initial attempts at grifting ended in her being arrested, criminal trials, moving from one town to another to avoid being exposed. No, from each and everyone of these steps, she learned more and more about how to perfect her art. it all came together in Cleveland, Ohio, and she was able to marry a reputable doctor and then she was able to convince everyone that she was the illegitimate child of the wealthiest man in the world, Andrew Carnegie. The book tells us a great deal about Cassie, and interspersed between each chapter are small little chapters about Carnegie and his life and character. It was the gilded age, and the time went forgery, was not quite so difficult to rely upon because who in Cleveland knew the signature of Andrew Carnegie. Cassie Chadwick had the idea of getting Carnegie's signature on a note which she would be receiving vast wealth from Carnegie as his daughter. She was always one step ahead of her victims, her own attorneys, as well as the law. She was able to borrow well over $1 million to live an extravagant lifestyle, one filled with diamonds, jewels, the finest clothing, arts and anything her heart desired. All she had to do was claim to be a poor innocent illegitimate child of Andrew Carnegie, a person who had no idea about the intricacies of finance. She said a few tears, show people the note allegedly signed by Andrew Carnegie, and before you knew it money was in her account. As the saying goes, she lived high off the hog along the way ruined the lies of many individuals, men who sincerely believed what they were shown and told and felt that they were helping her. It didn't matter to Cassie, she was a cold hearted grifter, but eventually things did catch up with her, and it's the story that the author tells in fascinating historical detail. The reader will shake their head in amazement at what Cassie was able to attain, and the scope of her scheme would've put Ponzi to shame. well written, well researched, and an extremely fast read, this look at the life of Cassie Chadwick makes one shake their head at the gullibility of people, all the while we look at today's headlines as he's the same thing going on. The only difference, was Cassie may have been the best!

Honestly, I'm stunned at the grift Cassie Chadwick pulled off in a time when women couldn't get a bank account, own property, or vote. I hate being like 'good for her' because she did scam students, but she also scammed a lot of really dumb men.

In this fascinating true crime historical biography, Reed brings Gilded Age fake heiress Cassie Chadwick, a brilliant con artist from the end of the nineteenth century who managed to convince businessmen and bankers that she was Andrew Carnegie’s illegitimate daughter for years. Conning them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, Chadwick lives the high life and earned some truly wild nicknames for her exploits that made Charles Ponzi’s scheme seem tiny in comparison. So wild that it does not seem true, this biography is a fascinating insight into how others tried to emulate the glitz and glamor of the Gilded Age’s elite and how this brilliant woman succeeded. Bordering on narrative biography, Reed’s prose style tells Chadwick’s story as it unfolds, and she creates a story of Chadwick’s strategy and how she spent her ill-gained fortune in the nineteenth century. Bringing this unknown historical woman to life, Reed succeeds in explaining her life and the social climate which allowed her to run several successful cons while letting readers follow the authorities’ attempts to catch and prosecute her for her crimes. Chadwick’s engrossing story and Reed’s compelling narrative approach to this book make this a fascinating, immersive, and exciting read.

A really fun, thriller/non-fiction and historical piece to read.

I loved Cassie’s story- how she was able to basically live her life using men and others- all who definitely had the ability to know better. Weirdly enough I really loved her and was kind-of rooting for the bad girl in her.

When at times non fiction can be a bore- the imposter heiress was anything BUT.

Highly recommend as a read and potentially a palette cleanser for those in a reading slump or just needing a change of pace in their reading challenges or journeys!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was so exceptionally. Cassie is extremely, brilliantly manipulative. I couldn't get over how she seemed to make a way for things to work out for her until she couldn't. So wild to think this wasn't fiction.

The Imposter Heiress tells the remarkable story of Cassie Chadwick, neé Elizabeth Bigley, who rose from her modest origins in Ontario, Canada, to become a Cleveland high society fixture—all through manipulation, fraud, and lies.

Mrs. Chadwick's story is particularly notable because it predates that of Charles Ponzi, by whose name such fraudulent schemes are now known.

As apparently no first-hand account of Mrs. Chadwick's exploits exists, author Anne Reed resorts to inferring her motivations and feelings throughout the retelling. This makes the story feel as if it were being shared by one of the con-woman's intimate circle, to its credit.

The book is most successful when it compares the trajectory of Mrs. Chadwick and that of Andrew Carnegie, whose illegitimate daughter Cassie claims to be. Also notable are the descriptions of the impact Mrs. Chadwick's fraud had on the individuals who gave her money—a reminder that though no blood is shed, financial crimes are not victimless.

Though dollar amounts are thrown around quite a bit in the book, as one might expect, Mrs. Chadwick's story would be more impactful for the modern reader if the current equivalent values of those dollars were provided. This glaring omission kept me from fully appreciating Cassie's story, as did the limited number of first-hand quotes.

Overall, The Imposter Heiress is a fascinating exploration of Cassie Chadwick's tenacity and guile, and it challenges our views of women at the turn of the twentieth century.

I was given an advance reader copy in exchange for this review; thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fascinating story.

I found this book a thrilling read. Paced like a great true crime show, you could feel the tension of Cassie as her con begins to unravel. Featuring all the prominent men of the Gilded Age she accomplished a remarkable con game that is perhaps unmatched even today. Ms. reed paints a vivid and lively picture and it’s wonderful to learn about this forgotten criminal mastermind.

How have I not heard of Cassie Chadwick before now? This con artist's story was fascinating and seemed to be well researched. Ponzi definitely took some notes from this woman!

Fascinating look at a gilded age con woman - who spawned a generation of female Anna Delvey - this one robs Peter to sorta pay Paul. Loved it

A fascinating story. I had never heard of this woman and enjoyed learning about her life and her cons.
Many thanks to Diversion Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The true story of con woman Cassie Chadwick, who pretended to be the heir of Andrew Carnegie. This was such an interesting story! I had never heard of her before, which was surprising after reading how crazy her story is! I loved the story here, but I don't think the separate Carnegie chapters were necessary. When he first gets mentioned by Cassie, I think Reed could have just put in a chapter there about him instead of spreading it throughout. Additionally, there were a few times the author switched back and forth between character POVs in chapter without clear separation. Some sort of page break indicator could have helped with this I think just to make it clearer. Despite that, definitely would recommend for anyone who likes reading about cons!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew absolutely nothing about Cassie Chadwick when I requested this book, but the description was so compelling that I just had to read it.

The Imposter Heiress is one of the best nonfiction books about a con-artist that I have ever read. I can remember reading, and watching, Catch Me If You Can, but this book is even better. Annie Reed does impeccable research into the background of Cassie Chadwick and uncovers cons and aliases that are almost unbelievable.

I loved this read and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good crime story about a truly interesting person.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love books about women in history and was super intrigued to read about Cassie Chadwick, a woman who claimed to be the illegitamate daughter of Andrew Carnegie while schedming and tricking people into giving her money. She had some wild adventures and quick brains about her but its no spoiler to say that things caught up with her but not for a seriously long amount of time. The way in which I enjoy learning about people and history, I can't believe that I had never heard of Cassie or the Carnegie scam before. It was truly interesting and painted a picture of one of the first female con artists in US history. The book is pretty fast paced and I was able to get through it in no time at all. I think most people would find this one to be a compelling character study as well.

This is a fascinating book about the first American con-woman (who pulled off incredible schemes to enrich herself and was before Ponzi did all his schemes). It was amazing how she did the cons -- basically borrowing money from rich men/bankers by showing promissory notes from other rich/notable men. Classic Ponzi scheme in itself -- we should rename it the Cassie Chadwick scheme. Andrew Carnegie also appears here because she claimed she was his illegitimate daughter in order to convince the victims that they would be paid back. The closing arguments from the lawyers - especially the defense attorney is quite a read! Juries at that time in Ohio were only made up of men (women did not get to serve on Federal juries until 1957!) She was found guilty and dies in jail of "Neurasthenia" a disease of affluence basically. She developed a following of admirers and reached cult status a the time even though her story has basically been lost to history (until now). The collateral damage she left in her wake was particularly harsh for the town of Oberlin -- two bank officials got duped into loaning her money and the bank lost the life savings of residents as well as tuition payments for college students. A really interesting read and it is amazing how cons take different forms today but at the root involve suspending disbelief and buying into the stories being told.

Thank you to Netgalley and Diversion Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.