Extremely well written. Although initially I was a bit disappointed, I soon got caught up in the story, especially the lives of the characters in Nigeria. It also manages to be very informative. I thought I knew a lot about Africa but obviously did not. After reading about all the problems in that area, I turned to Google and found that the author has turned true facts into fiction very well. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to be entertained while they are being informed.

Having read of numerous scams originating from Nigeria, i was still amazed how effective their scams are. The ending of this novel left me deflated, however i still consider this novel an excellent read.

Enjoyed the book, unfortunate circumstances in a world of scams. I wanted more and I enjoyed the "putting the pieces together" with characters. To see the way other people survive in a world gone mad with greed and life is worth absolutely nothing...makes me sad. Well written and good investigative research!

Found the story to be very confusing as it switched back and forth between to story lines. It was also very slow in connecting everything together. Didn't love it as much as I thought I would.

Very enlightening regarding this scam, and a good story with an interesting ending.

Will Ferguson has written an intriguing tale of human endurance, the importance of family and the strength of the survival instinct. The novel has four intersecting narratives that wrap together in unexpected twists. The title 419 is derived from the section of Nigerian law that deals with the fraud perpetrated by con men sending out mass emails across the planet with the intent of scamming the recipients of their fortunes. Laura Curtis learns of her father’s death in a single car crash that is ruled a suicide. He lost his family’s money to an internet scam. Winston works the con in cyber cafes in Lagos, spinning his web of deceit but showing the human side of the 419 situation in his struggle to succeed and survive in a dangerous, shadowy city. Nnamdi comes from a village deep in the Delta whose traditional lifestyle and environment is ruined by the big oil companies. He must move around Nigeria to survive. The fourth narrative is the story of Amina, a pregnant girl from the desert region who we meet walking in a seemingly endless quest to escape from her village. She determinedly puts one foot in front of the other with only a jerry can of water to sustain her and her unborn child on her journey. Will Ferguson won the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize for 419. Reviewed by RC

A disturbing, gripping, and informative read about the ever present 419 internet scams. The author tells the story from the point of view of both the victims and the perpetrators of these scams. This book raises thought provoking questions that don’t have easy answers and stays with you long after you have read the last page.

2013 Giller Prize winner A car tumbles through the darkness down a ravine. A woman walks out of a dust storm in the Sahel. The title of the book 419 refers to these scam artists in Nigeria who steal money from vulnerable victims in North America. (KY)

What happens when one gets caught up in the con game, the email that is known worldwide. In Nigeria, it refers to the law (419) where one cons someone out of something. Twisting stories whereby you meet a Canadian family and their tragedy that has just occured. But there is more... two different people in Africa are about to meet and see how all their lives are entangled like the Nigeria jungles. Admittedly, the ending is not what you think.

I appreciated the educational aspect of this book. I had not known much about the 419 internet scam or the issues in Nigeria. I found the book a little slow at times and felt it took a long time for all the stories to converge and interconnect.