Sherlock Being Catfished is a memoir of a self-induced hypnosis, brilliantly choreographing a pas-de-deux with an internet "catfish" and allowing us to see a sensitive, lonely woman succumb to a devilish entrapment helplessly yet altogether knowingly. The story conveys a thrilling level of consciousness, overwhelmed yet in full knowledge of what is happening and even why, enabling Mellen author to speak in a manner that transcends her personal experience, to the universal vulnerability of the human heart. As the scam unfolds, she makes connections between present and past - the work she has done and people she has encountered over her decades of research, investigations and writing. Sherlock Being Catfished is an undeniably unique and penetrating look at the world of internet dating, and how anyone, regardless of their prolific life's work and accomplishments, can fall victim to a romance scammer.

Joan Mellen was born in the Bronx, like her favorite author, Don Delillo. She taught at Temple University in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing for 50 years, and is now Professor Emerita. She is the author of 25 books in film, fiction, and history, and has written for various newspapers, including the Baltimore Sun, The New York Times, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She is the winner of Temple's Great Teacher Award, a lifetime achievement honor. Her media appearances include CSpan's Book TV and NBC's Today Show.