What do readers think of The Face Thief by Eli Gottlieb? Write your own review.

One of the best sounds of impending excitement or suspense is that of a steam engine getting ready to launch off. It starts out with a slow, chug, chug and builds to a whistling hum. Reading the Face Thief, I kept thinking about this metaphor. This book has all the right parts. An interesting plot, really well designed characters and a strong writing style. I started chugging along in this book and was drawn into the different characters, wondering how they would converge together. Each character had their own distinct level of intrigue. Thinking about the connections between them at first created momentum into the story. But, the book never really got whistling. Perhaps because it alternates perspectives, the author never crafted enough coherence to make the story live up to its potential. The characters would sometimes carry from one chapter to the next, but would ultimately lose its steam as it shifted perspectives. The writer left off with a cliffhanger of sorts at the end of the chapters, but this became more predictable than intriguing. The book as a suspenseful thriller is one of "almost". It almost gets going, but not quite.

This book is exactly what is meant by the term literary thriller. Gottlieb's prose sings and the pages turned themselves. If I read a better book in 2012 I'll be surprised. I also recommend his last book, Now You See Him

I enjoyed this book and read it very quickly. I'm not usually a big fan of this genre but I found the characters to be well defined and interesting for the most part. I was very curious to find out the conclusion...it was an interesting end to the story. The only criticism I had was that I felt the author developed the main character in order for the reader to feel that she was a sophisticated and intelligent woman but some of the scenes in the book didn't jive with that illusion. At times she appeared to be an immature, young girl with common language. This might have been purposeful but it is hard to believe that such an accomplished monetary scam artist would use the word the word "way".

A great psychological & mystery read which is page-turning suspenseful.
However, I was disappointed with the flat ending.
The flashback style may disarm some readers and be bothersome; but I do not have a problem with a flashback approach.
This was an emotional read which made it a somewhat slow paced mystery for those looking for faster action.
I have never read this author before but will definitely read the previous "Now You See Him".

The Face Thief provides a delightful journey of calculation & cunning most readers never experience in a lifetime. The author's character craftsmanship is superb and I found it to be a quite enjoyable read.

Story line was interesting, going between the grifter (Janelle aka Margot), the victim (John Potash) and Lawrence Billings (the teacher of 'face stealing'). For me, the loose ends finale was not very satisfying. There was some closure, i.e. John finding a way to recoup his losses (although through sad circumstances), but not the vindication I was hoping for.

Not unlike the protagonist, I quickly "fell" into this book. The juxtaposing story lines kept me on edge, and oh so nicely came together in the end. Mysterious, intriguing, captivating. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Eli Gottlieb's book, The Face Thief, is a book I had to read in one sitting! Once you meet the four major characters and how they interact, you're completely hooked. Margot, young and beautiful, strong and manipulative, gives Lawrence and John a real run for their lives and money. I loved and hated Margot for her clever and intuitive personality. The story is not long, but once you're near the end, Gottlieb puts a few twists into the story and turns the reader upside-down and inside-out!

This is a psychological/mind-boggling story that will stay with you for a long time. Learning to "read faces" is one thing, but reading people's minds is a whole other game entirely. Gottlieb has a winner!