The Face Thief: A Novel - Couverture souple

“Psychological depth and mystery cast in great sentences: the result is a suspenseful, beautifully achieved example of what happens when a serious novelist wants us to keep turning the pages.” (Francine Prose, New York Times bestselling author of My New American Life)

“A dark libido animates this novel that can’t be resisted. The reward is an intimate literary encounter with a force that is beyond good and evil, and turns the mystical screws behind our unfathomable human destinies.” (Walter Kirn, author of Up in the Air and Lost in the Meritocracy)

“One of those remarkable books that sneaks up on the reader, startles, and remains memorable long after the final paragraph is read.” (Bookreporter.com)

“A sublime thriller...an elegant and profound novel of memory, perception and reinvention.” (Salon.com)

“A taut psychological thriller... Not just a gifted storyteller, Gottlieb provocatively explores human relationships and the lies we tell ourselves and each other.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The Face Thief pushes you down the stairs on the first page and never lets you get your feet back under you. Extraordinary characters... Gottlieb expertly guides you through the minds and emotions of the people who drive this crafty psychological thriller. This is a must-read.” (The Daily News)

“With words that trip smoothly across the page like stones skimming the surface of a still pond, Eli Gottlieb brings to life three main characters in the The Face Thief. ... A mesmerizing read.” (Suspense Magazine)

“The Face Thief is compulsively, irresistibly readable. ... Page-turning....Compelling.... Unparalleled sex-appeal... Gottlieb has a marvelous sense of suspense. ” (Shelf Awareness)

“Frightfully good...Gottlieb’s writing is strong.” (Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers)

“Gottlieb’s stunning structural dynamics, stylistic virtuosity, and shrewd reading of contemporary culture make for a compelling, thought-provoking tale.” (Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review)

Eli Gottlieb, acclaimed author of Now You See Me, returns with "a taut psychological thriller" (Publishers Weekly) "that pushes you down the stairs and never lets you get your feet back under you." (Daily News)

Margot is a charismatic, promising journalist who morphs into a grifter preying on men's weaknesses. An expert in the ancient Chinese art of face reading, Margot can assess vulnerabilities in others as she seamlessly rearranges her own look and persona to fit any situation. The Face Thief moves fluidly forward and back in time, drawing vivid portraits of Margot's rocky childhood and her adult victims: a newly married man, an esteemed teacher, and a well-meaning New York City cop.

Ingeniously constructed and exquisitely written, The Face Thief swirls a hypnotic dance of predator and prey. Rich in suspense, psychological depth, and nuance, this novel confirms Gottlieb's standing as "a master" (Denver Post) and, in the words of essayist Phillip Lopate, "an enthralling stylist who[se] . . . characters are shockingly, electrically alive."