4-STAR REVIEW: THE GOLD IN THE GREY by Wes Verde

Publication Date: December 1, 2025

For decades, Roy Orville fleeced money from fools. Now reunited with his grown daughter, he has found new purpose and a use for his particular set of skills beyond his own needs. But in the midst of the Great Depression, even an experienced con man has difficulty finding work.

Then, a golden opportunity: a wealthy target who could secure his daughter’s future. One hitch—the mark is locked in Greystone Asylum for the Insane. Undaunted, Roy dives in, certain that his talents will seal the deal. But Greystone hides dark secrets: predators masquerade as healers, and the stakes soar beyond his wildest bets.

In a race against time, Roy pits his wits against a sinister foe; a man holding more than one innocent life in the balance. It’s a gamble that will take him to the edge of his sanity.

Conman Roy Orville relies on his wits and the gullibility of others during the Great Depression. However, the latest endeavor just might prove to be impossible.

Author Wes Verde brings the time period to life in The Gold in the Grey. Whether it is fake investments or a new invention, Roy uses a chameleon personality to win over his marks.

Desperate to secure enough funds for his daughter’s education, Roy tackles an unlikely target—a wealthy heiress locked away in an insane asylum.

All is not quite as it seems, which means Roy gets personally involved in seeking answers at the asylum. The author weaves in a menacing doctor who terrorizes both patients and staff.

The Gold in the Grey showcases a morally gray main character caught up in an unexpected race for redemption.

 

Wes is an engineer by trade, a busybody by habit, and a lifelong Jersey boy.

Writing has been a hobby in one form or another since 2006 when he started drawing 3-panel comics. When he is not putting words down, he is picking them up; the “to-read” pile only seems to grow larger.

A fan of nature, he spends as much time outside as possible.

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