Book Review: The Grift by Debra Ginsberg

Marina has been working as a psychic since she was a child, but she doesn’t believe in the gift. She earns her living by being able to read people and being able to tell them what they want to hear. So she’s pretty shocked when she one day actually does get the gift – she can see dead people, see the future, and read people’s minds. And she’s also shocked to learn that her years long “grift” (defined as getting money under false pretences) was actually more lucrative and popular with clients than the real thing.

This novel is billed as a thriller – and there is a murder mystery involved – but it’s also a love story and a great character study of a woman who suddenly really becomes what she always pretended to be. I really enjoyed reading about Marina and her journey of self discovery and empathized with her having to deal with all her annoying and self absorbed clients (whose travails could have been cut down a bit as I felt they were the weakest link here). The author relies a bit too much on showing us the thoughts of the characters when we could get the same information with a bit of action or dialogue, but that is a small quibble. The murder mystery is well done – pretty much everyone is suspect – and the quick paced plot keeps you turning the pages.

The Grift is out in hardcover now.