Dec. 2023 - True Crime Book Club - Past Titles - LibGuides at Westwood Public Library

Fact vs Fiction: Anna Delvey

Anna Delvey, born Anna Sorokin, posing as a German heiress, was convicted on multiple accounts in 2019 after defrauding banks, hotels, and a slew of her own friends. After Netflix released Inventing Anna, a new miniseries starring Julia Garner that recounts the fraudulent socialite's many crimes that precipitated her arrest and eventual imprisonment, many were captivated by the true story of how Delvey schemed her way to the top (L'Officiel).

2013-2014: Anna Delvey arrives in New York City and begins to infiltrate the city's social scene. She claims to be a wealthy German heiress with a trust fund of 60 million euros.

2015-2016: Delvey continues to establish herself in New York's high society, staying at upscale hotels and frequenting exclusive clubs and restaurants. During this time, she convinces individuals to lend her money and cover her expenses.

2017: Delvey attempts to secure a loan of $22 million from City National Bank to fund a private arts club. The bank becomes suspicious and denies the loan.

2017: Delvey checks into the Beekman Hotel in Manhattan but is later arrested on charges of grand larceny for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from banks, hotels, and friends.

2018: The case gains media attention, and articles about Delvey's elaborate scheme are published. Her story becomes widely known as the "Soho Grifter" or "Anna Delvey Scam."

2019: Anna Delvey's trial begins in New York Supreme Court. She faces multiple charges, including grand larceny and theft of services. During the trial, it is revealed that she had scammed friends, banks, and businesses to fund her extravagant lifestyle.

May 2019: Delvey is found guilty on multiple counts of theft and grand larceny. She is sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution.

2020: While in prison, Delvey continues to attract media attention. Her story is adapted into a Netflix series called "Inventing Anna," created by Shonda Rhimes and starring Julia Garner as Anna Delvey.

Feb. 2021: Released from prison after serving almost four years.

March 2021: Detained by ICE for overstaying her visa.

March 2022: Delvey was supposed to be sent back to Germany, but refused to leave the ICE detention center.

June 2022: She remained in ICE custody in Orange County Jail, waiting on a Board of Immigration Appeals to make a decision on her case, and hoped to stay in New York.

Oct. 2022: Delvey was released from the Orange County ICE facility—on the conditions that she had to post $10,000 bail, remain in 24-hour home confinement, and not use any form of social media.

Jan. 2023: Anna threw a "Club House Arrest" party, asking attendees to sign NDAs and donate to Access Justice Brooklyn, an organization dedicated to providing pro bono legal service.

July 2023: Anna is still under house arrest in her East Village apartment.

TV & Movies

Rachel DeLoache Williams, a photo editor who befriended New York socialite and swindler Anna Sorokin, is suing Netflix over its portrayal of her in its wildly popular “Inventing Anna” show, released earlier this year.

Williams, who was played by actress Katie Lowes in the series, filed the suit against the streaming giant in the Delaware district court on Monday, alleging defamation and false-light invasion of privacy.

According to court documents, she accuses Netflix of making a “deliberate decision for dramatic purposes” to show her doing or saying things that she says portray her “as a greedy, snobbish, disloyal, dishonest, cowardly, manipulative and opportunistic person.”

The suit also contends that she is depicted in the show as accepting expensive gifts, clothes and jewelry and “sponging off” Anna Sorokin, who also went by the name Anna Delvey and convinced strangers that she was a foreign heiress (Washington Post).

Anna Delvey was described by ABC as a 'scam artist' in 'DWTS' casting announcement. But the "fake heiress," as some refer to her, has courted controversy far before her days in the ballroom. She will appear in the upcoming 33rd season of DWTS.

Synopsis

Vanity Fair photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams's new friend Anna Delvey, a self-proclaimed German heiress, was worldly and ambitious. She was also generous--picking up the tab for lavish dinners at Le Coucou, infrared sauna sessions at HigherDOSE, drinks at the 11 Howard Library bar, and regular workout sessions with a celebrity personal trainer. When Anna proposed an all-expenses-paid trip to Marrakech at the five-star La Mamounia hotel, Rachel jumped at the chance. But when Anna's credit cards mysteriously stopped working, the dream vacation quickly took a dark turn. Anna asked Rachel to begin fronting costs--first for flights, then meals and shopping, and, finally, for their $7,500-per-night private villa. Before Rachel knew it, more than $62,000 had been charged to her credit cards. Anna swore she would reimburse Rachel the moment they returned to New York. Back in Manhattan, the repayment never materialized, and a shocking pattern of deception emerged. Rachel learned that Anna had left a trail of deceit--and unpaid bills--wherever she'd been. Mortified, Rachel contacted the district attorney, and in a stunning turn of events, found herself helping to bring down one of the city's most notorious con artists. With breathless pacing and in-depth reporting from the person who experienced it firsthand, My Friend Anna is an unforgettable true story of money, power, greed, and female friendship.

Discussion Questions

Trust and Deception:
- How did Anna manage to gain Rachel's trust? What red flags, if any, did Rachel overlook?
- In what ways did Anna deceive those around her? How did she manipulate people to believe her fabricated identity?
Friendship Dynamics:
- Explore the dynamics of Rachel and Anna's friendship. What drew them together initially, and how did their relationship evolve over time?
- Were there moments when Rachel questioned the authenticity of her friendship with Anna? Why or why not?
Social Class and Privilege:
- How does the book highlight issues of social class and privilege? In what ways did Anna exploit these dynamics to her advantage?
- Discuss the impact of wealth and status on the characters' interactions and perceptions.
Legal and Ethical Questions:
- Analyze the ethical dilemmas Rachel faced throughout the narrative. How did she navigate the legal and moral challenges posed by Anna's actions?
- Do you think Rachel could have done anything differently to prevent the events that unfolded?
Narrative Perspective:
- Reflect on Rachel's role as the narrator. How does her perspective shape the reader's understanding of the events, and do you find her account reliable?
- Consider how the author's personal experience influences the storytelling. How might the narrative have differed if told from another character's point of view?
Cultural and Societal Reflections:
- Explore the cultural and societal elements depicted in the book. How does Anna's story reflect broader issues within society?
- Discuss any cultural or societal commentary that stood out to you in the book.
Personal Growth and Resilience:
- How did Rachel grow as a person throughout the ordeal? What strengths or weaknesses in her character became evident as the events unfolded?
- In what ways did the experience with Anna impact Rachel's future relationships and trust in others?
Media and Pop Culture Influence:
- Consider the role of media and pop culture in the events surrounding Anna's deception. How did the media contribute to the narrative, and what does this reveal about society's fascination with such stories?
Lessons Learned:
- What lessons can be drawn from Rachel's experience with Anna? How might readers apply these lessons to their own lives in terms of trust, friendship, and financial caution?
Alternate Perspectives:
- If you could hear Anna's perspective on the events, what do you think she would say? How might her version of the story differ from Rachel's?

About the Author: Rachel DeLoache Williams

Rachel DeLoache Williams is an American writer and former photo editor. She gained public attention for her involvement in the case of Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born con artist who posed as a wealthy German heiress and scammed her acquaintances in New York City. Rachel DeLoache Williams wrote a memoir about her experience with Anna Sorokin titled "My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress," which was published in 2019. In the book, Williams details her friendship with Anna Sorokin, the deception she experienced, and the legal and emotional aftermath of the events. The memoir provides insights into the dynamics of their relationship and sheds light on how Anna Sorokin managed to deceive those around her.

Rachel DeLoache Williams is a multidisciplinary creative. Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, after graduating from Kenyon College, she moved to New York City and quickly landed her dream job in the photo department at Vanity Fair, where she worked for nearly a decade. After leaving the magazine, she published her first book, My Friend Anna (Gallery Books, July 2019), which became a New York Times bestseller and one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Must-Read Books of the Year.” Today, she works as a freelance creative producer, specializing in art direction & set design (Rachel DeLoache Williams).

On Writing the Book:

Rachel DeLoache Williams has been featured in media interviews and articles discussing her book and the events surrounding her friendship with Anna Sorokin. Her memoir offers a personal perspective on the consequences of trust and deception in relationships, as well as the impact of financial scams.

"How has telling your story and writing this book changed things for you?‍ Telling my story and writing the book provided closure. Today I feel healthy and (for the most part) happy, like myself again. Before all of this, I was an extremely private person, even amongst my friends and family, but having this experience sort of cracked me open—it put me in a position where I needed to share and today I’m closer to my loved ones because of it" (Girls Night In).

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Call Number: 338.7 Carreyrou
In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the next Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup "unicorn" promised to revolutionize the medical industry with its breakthrough device, which performed the whole range of laboratory tests from a single drop of blood. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes's worth at an estimated $4.5 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn't work. Erroneous results put patients in danger, leading to misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments. All the while, Holmes and her partner, Sunny Balwani, worked to silence anyone who voiced misgivings--from journalists to their own employees.
A Thread of Violence by Mark O'Connell
Call Number: 364.152 O'Connell
Malcolm Macarthur was a well-known Dublin socialite. Suave and urbane, he passed his days mingling with artists and aristocrats, reading philosophy, living a life of the mind. But by 1982, his inheritance had dwindled to almost nothing, a desperate threat to his lifestyle. Macarthur hastily conceived a plan: He would commit bank robbery, of the kind that had become frightfully common in Dublin at the time. But his plan spun swiftly out of control, and he needlessly killed two innocent civilians. The ensuing manhunt, arrest, and conviction amounted to one of the most infamous political scandals in modern Irish history, contributing to the eventual collapse of a government. Winner of the Wellcome and Rooney Prizes, Mark O'Connell spent countless hours in conversation with Macarthur--interviews that veered from confession to evasion. Through their tense exchanges and O'Connell's independent reporting, a pair of narratives unspools: a riveting account of Macarthur's crimes and a study of the hazy line between truth and invention. We come to see not only the enormity of the murders but the damage that's inflicted when a life is rendered into story. At once propulsive and searching, A Thread of Violence is a hard look at a brutal act, its subterranean origins, and the long shadow it casts. It offers a haunting and insightful examination of the lies we tell ourselves--and the lengths we'll go to preserve them.
The con Queen of Hollywood by Scott C. Johnson
Call Number: 364.163 Johnson
Blending years of deep reporting with distinctive, powerful prose, Scott C. Johnson's unique true crime narrative recounts the tale of the brilliantly cunning imposter who carved a path of financial and emotional destruction across the world. Gifted with a diabolical flair for impersonation, manipulation, and deception, the Con Queen used their skill with accents and deft psychological insight to sweep through the entertainment industry. Johnson traces the origins of this mastermind and follows the years-long investigation of a singularly determined private detective who helped deliver them to the FBI. Described by one victim as a "crazy, evil genius," the Con Queen enacted one of the most elaborate scams ever to hit Hollywood--the perfect criminal, committing the perfect crime for our time.
The Queen by Josh Levin
Call Number: 364.163 Levin
On the South Side of Chicago in 1974, Linda Taylor reported a phony burglary, concocting a lie about stolen furs and jewelry. The detective who checked it out soon discovered she was a welfare cheat who drove a Cadillac to collect ill-gotten government checks. And that was just the beginning: Taylor, it turned out, was also a kidnapper, and possibly a murderer. A desperately ill teacher, a combat-traumatized Marine, an elderly woman hungry for companionship -- after Taylor came into their lives, all three ended up dead under suspicious circumstances. But nobody -- not the journalists who touted her story, not the police, and not presidential candidate Ronald Reagan -- seemed to care about anything but her welfare thievery. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Taylor was made an outcast because of the color of her skin. As she rose to infamy, the press and politicians manipulated her image to demonize poor black women. Part social history, part true-crime investigation, Josh Levin's mesmerizing book, the product of six years of reporting and research, is a fascinating account of American racism, and an exposé of the "welfare queen" myth, one that fueled political debates that reverberate to this day. The Queen tells, for the first time, the fascinating story of what was done to Linda Taylor, what she did to others, and what was done in her name.
Confident Women by Tori Telfer
Call Number: 364.163 Telfer
In the 1700s in Paris, Jeanne de Saint-Rémy scammed the royal jewelers out of a necklace made from six hundred and forty-seven diamonds by pretending she was best friends with Queen Marie Antoinette. In the mid-1800s, sisters Kate and Maggie Fox began pretending they could speak to spirits and accidentally started a religious movement that was soon crawling with female con artists. A gal calling herself Loreta Janeta Velasquez claimed to be a soldier and convinced people she worked for the Confederacy--or the Union, depending on who she was talking to. Meanwhile, Cassie Chadwick was forging paperwork and getting banks to loan her upwards of $40,000 by telling people she was Andrew Carnegie's illegitimate daughter. In the 1900s, a 40something woman named Margaret Lydia Burton embezzled money all over the country and stole upwards of forty prized show dogs, while a few decades later, a teenager named Roxie Ann Rice scammed the entire NFL. And since the death of the Romanovs, women claiming to be Anastasia have been selling their stories to magazines. What about today? Spoiler alert: these "artists" are still conning.
Billion Dollar Whale by Bradley Hope; Tom Wright
Call Number: 364.163 Wright
In 2009, a chubby, mild-mannered graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business named Jho Low set in motion a fraud of unprecedented gall and magnitude--one that would come to symbolize the next great threat to the global financial system. Over a decade, Low, with the aid of Goldman Sachs and others, siphoned billions of dollars from an investment fund--right under the nose of global financial industry watchdogs. Low used the money to finance elections, purchase luxury real estate, throw champagne-drenched parties, and even to finance Hollywood films like The Wolf of Wall Street . By early 2019, with his yacht and private jet reportedly seized by authorities and facing criminal charges in Malaysia and in the United States, Low had become an international fugitive, even as the U.S. Department of Justice continued its investigation. Billion Dollar Whale has joined the ranks of Liar's Poker , Den of Thieves , and Bad Blood as a classic harrowing parable of hubris and greed in the financial world.
Blood Will Out by Walter Kirn
Call Number: 364.1523 Kirn
In the summer of 1998, Walter Kirn--then an aspiring novelist struggling with impending fatherhood and a dissolving marriage--set out on a peculiar, fateful errand: to personally deliver a crippled hunting dog from his home in Montana to the New York apartment of one Clark Rockefeller, a secretive young banker and art collector who had adopted the dog over the Internet. Thus began a fifteen-year relationship that drew Kirn deep into the fun-house world of an outlandish, eccentric son of privilege who ultimately would be unmasked as a brazen serial impostor, child kidnapper, and brutal murderer. Kirn's one-of-a-kind story of being duped by a real-life Mr. Ripley takes us on a bizarre and haunting journey from the posh private clubrooms of Manhattan to the hard-boiled courtrooms and prisons of Los Angeles. As Kirn uncovers the truth about his friend, a psychopath masquerading as a gentleman, he also confronts hard truths about himself. Why, as a writer of fiction, was he susceptible to the deception of a sinister fantasist whose crimes, Kirn learns, were based on books and movies? What are the hidden psychological links between the artist and the con man? To answer these and other questions, Kirn attends his old friend's murder trial and uses it as an occasion to reflect on both their tangled personal relationship and the surprising literary sources of Rockefeller's evil. This investigation of the past climaxes in a tense jailhouse reunion with a man whom Kirn realizes he barely knew--a predatory, sophisticated genius whose life, in some respects, parallels his own and who may have intended to take another victim during his years as a fugitive from justice: Kirn himself.