The Face Thief

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."