The Man in the Rockefeller Suit

The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Imposter

By: Mark Seal

Narrated by: Erik Singer

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A real-life Talented Mr. Ripley, the unbelievable 30-year run of a shape-shifting con man. The story of Clark Rockefeller is a stranger-than-fiction twist on the classic American success story of the self-made man - because Clark Rockefeller was totally made up. The career con man who convincingly passed himself off as Rockefeller was born in a small village in Germany.

At 17, obsessed with getting to America, he flew into the country on dubious student visa documents and his journey of deception began. Over the next 30 years, boldly assuming a series of false identities, he moved up the social ladder through exclusive enclaves on both coasts-culminating in a stunning 12-year marriage to a rising star businesswoman with a Harvard MBA who believed she'd wed a Rockefeller. The imposter charmed his way into exclusive clubs and financial institutions-working on Wall Street, showing off an extraordinary art collection - until his marriage ended and he was arrested for kidnapping his daughter, which exposed his past of astounding deceptions as well as a connection to the bizarre disappearance of a California couple in the mid-1980s.

The story of The Man in the Rockefeller Suit is a probing and cinematic exploration of an audacious imposer - and a man determined to live the American dream by any means necessary.

©2011 Mark Seal (P)2011 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“Has all the pace and drive of a suspense novel.” (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times)

“No mystery writer would script this - it’s too unbelievable." (The Christian Science Monitor)

“Fascinating.” (People, four stars)

So crazy it must be true

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because I never could guess what was going to happen next. It was the creepiest book I have listened to yet and I loved absolutely every minute.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The way it made me realize how little we actually know about so many people in our lives. Anyone could be falsifying major details about their lives and who would know the difference? This man was so brazen that no one dared confront him. It's not the guy sneaking in the back, taking a nose bleed seat but the one marching straight through the front door and demanding you roll out the red carpet.

What about Erik Singer’s performance did you like?

His performance was entertaining and his sniveling prep school accent was spot on.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I was enthralled from the very first moments.

Interesting story that makes a good audible book

I had actually read this book quite awhile before buying the audio book and, even though I knew the story, I really enjoyed it. Narration was also good. This story is so crazy! I don't know how this guy pulled it all off.

Loved it

Loved everything about this book. The story was compelling and the guy reading it was probably the best I've ever heard. It's hard to find a book that has staying power until the end. A very good read!

Too fun! Didn’t want it to end…

This was so much fun to listen to. Very fascinating story and a great reader. The reader did the funniest accents. I think the Christian Gerhartsreiter is a repulsive lowlife but he made for a great story.

Truth is stranger than fiction

You can't make this kind of stuff up! I have often heard the saying that truth is stranger than fiction and this book proves that. Clark Rockefeller is one of more than 4 personas this immigrant takes on in the book. At every turn their is something stranger than the last sensational event. The author does a great job of getting you hooked in the very beginning and then he keeps you entranced throughout the book. Erik Singer does a very good job with making the book come alive. Great Book!

A Real Page Turner

Amazing story. The narrator was excellent. This should be a movie. Though people will think it's all fiction. But it shows how a con man can continue to fool intelligent people. They heard the name Rockefeller and at once started to believe anything that came out of his mouth. No matter how far fetched. Rockefeller meant money so how could you go wrong.. The con man had them. It could happen to any of us. it seems if the con can identify preconceived ideas in people he is on his way.

The author got lucky?

Inquiring minds want to know: Who was the mysterious man who serendipitously gave the author a dossier of all the documents needed to pin down Clark's identity? That lingering question as side , this is a great audio book. Thoroughly enjoyed.

This book is riveting

Would you listen to The Man in the Rockefeller Suit again? Why?

Absolutely. It is an amazing story and really well read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I listened whenever I could

Any additional comments?

I am generally not a fan of non-fiction but this book read like a novel. The story unfolded with lots of dialogue. There was suspense, interesting characters and yet it left me with questions. I would love a sequel to find out what happened to him

Extreme Fraud

The sheer brashness of Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, a young German immigrant to the United Sates who assumed a succession of false identities to eventually work his way into the highest levels of society, will take your breath away.
As in the case of Frank Abagnale ("Catch Me if You Can"), Gerhartsreiter relied on his ability to so completely mimic behavior, attitudes and language (he developed his "Rockefeller" accent by studying the accent of the Thurston Howell character in "Gilligan's Island"), that the characters he assumes become completely believable to those around him. If anything, his audaciousness exceeds that of Frank Abagnale in that his characters were high-profile and likely to catch people's attention. Who would dream that there could be a fake Rockefeller out there for over 10 years without anybody noticing--not even his high-powered NY exec wife of a decade??
Even in the age of Goggle, Gerhartsreiter managed to pull it off for an amazingly long time--and might still be succeeding at it today if not for his one weakness. I'll leave that point for the reader to discover!

A true story of twists and turns

Where does The Man in the Rockefeller Suit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top! A great listen with several twists and turns.

What did you like best about this story?

The storyline and the fact that it is true. Very interesting story

Which scene was your favorite?

The murder mystery wrapped inside the rest of the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had the time I would have