Rated of 5
by Darcy C. (San Diego, CA) The Face Thief Stole My Heart
Eli Gottlieb did it again for me. He wrote a terrific story and at the same time painted the story for me - with his sublime descriptions of people, feelings and events. This is a great book! I've always wanted to have the ability to speak like he writes. For instance, when Wilbraham describes the theft of Potash's life savings, he says, "Fraud is one of the booming sectors in an economic contraction, alas." And who hasn't felt awful about something they have done, but to have it described as "...plopped down in his easy chair and felt an iceberg of remorse calving gracefully off his body...". It's impossible not to feel as terrible as this character in the book.
Gottlieb creates Hi-Def imagery in your mind. The story has multiple, intriguing levels. If you want to read of revenge - it's here. Duplicity - it's here. Stone-cold larceny - yep, this book has that too! Pardon me for my theft of Gottlieb's description: If you want to read an intelligent novel where there is "a marble of malice and generosity", this is your book. Do yourself a literary favor and read this marvelous book!
Rated of 5
by Linda P. (Rockport, ME) The Face Thief
An engaging opening introduces the main female character. Her story is intriguing, but the author then mixes in the tales of the other characters, all at once it seems, and I kept trying to figure out how they all related to each other. I struggled to keep the characters straight until about a third of the way through the book, when I figured out where the story might be heading. There were moments when I was reminded of the con artists in Sideways or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels although the plot of The Face Thief is not at all like either of those movies. Very engaging and well-written story, right to the end. Younger readers and mystery novel hounds especially, I expect, would love the book.
Rated of 5
by Kelly P. (Monterey, TN) Intriguing concept, blah execution
The Face Thief is a book crafted from an interesting concept, engaging language, and three fully formed characters. Unfortunately, the result of these excellent ingredients is an unsatisfying read. The two primary reasons for this dissatisfaction are the disjointed flow of the book and the abrupt ending. The narrative structure, with the shifting between the character’s perspectives between chapters, is not to blame for the disjointed flow. The fault lies with the inclusion of an extraneous character, Dan France, during Margot’s chapters. The author never provides a believable back story and purpose for Dan. So, this character’s constant inclusion in Margot’s section breaks up the flow of her story without anything that seems to justify his inclusion. Then, when the end does come it feels incomplete; it is almost as if there is a chapter missing. Overall, the book left me with the feeling of a great concept gone to waste.
Rated of 5
by William B. (East Peoria, IL) Face Thief A Success
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
Rated of 5
by Lesley M. (Mesa, AZ) Chasing Dreams
I enjoyed reading "The Face Thief". It was an interesting story that looked at people's greed, motives and lies all wrapped up in a mystery. These themes are universal and easily relate-able. The characters were well drawn and the book was an easy read, so many people would like this book.
Rated of 5
by Jen W. (Denver, CO) The Steam Engine
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.
A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as "Typhoid Mary," the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
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Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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of 5
by Darcy C. (San Diego, CA) 
of 5
by Linda P. (Rockport, ME) 
of 5
by Kelly P. (Monterey, TN) 
of 5
by Lesley M. (Mesa, AZ) 
