Marina Marks has been on the grift since she was a child, forced into the psychic business by a junkie mother who was always willing to use her dau...
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Nov 17, 2008
Lena
rated it: 
Debra Ginsberg's tightly written suspense novel tells the story of a fraudulent psychic, her hopeful, yet needy clientele, and the collision of their lives in a disturbing turn of events that even she couldn't see coming.
At the novel's opening, Marina Marks has been working with retired old ladies in Florida when threats from her more voodoo-inclined competition encourage her to relocate to New Age-friendly Southern California. There, she establishes lucrative relationships with cus More...
At the novel's opening, Marina Marks has been working with retired old ladies in Florida when threats from her more voodoo-inclined competition encourage her to relocate to New Age-friendly Southern California. There, she establishes lucrative relationships with cus More...
Aug 17, 2008
Diane
rated it: 
I was in the mood for a psychological thriller when I saw The Grift, by Debra Ginsberg in the NEW Books section of my library. I decided to give it a try.
In this newly released book with a cleaver premise, the author mixes the supernatural along with some mystery.
Marina Marks is an emotionally damaged young woman who has worked as a psychic since she was a young child. As a child, she used her ability to help support her junkie mother, and now as an adult, to support hers More...
In this newly released book with a cleaver premise, the author mixes the supernatural along with some mystery.
Marina Marks is an emotionally damaged young woman who has worked as a psychic since she was a young child. As a child, she used her ability to help support her junkie mother, and now as an adult, to support hers More...
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Jan 05, 2011
Gail
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There's only one letter difference between grift and gift. Marina learns that difference in a life changing events. Raised by her addicted mother on the streets, Marina learned to save herself from child molesters (her mother's boyfriends and drug dealers) by adopting the persona of a spooky fortune teller. Using tells and signals from others, she became adept at reading people and making a living. Even so, she has a code of ethics about how much money she will extract from people. Marina a
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May 21, 2010
Judy
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I really liked Debra Ginsberg's first novel, Blind Submission, which is set in the book publishing world. In The Grift, she enters the fortune telling trade. You know: palm readings, tarot cards, psychic counselors, etc. in contemporary times.
Marina Marks, raised by a single mom strung out on drugs, was pushed into the psychic business by that very mother at a young age. It was a way to keep money coming in. By the time she is an adult and her mother has died, giving readings is the More...
Marina Marks, raised by a single mom strung out on drugs, was pushed into the psychic business by that very mother at a young age. It was a way to keep money coming in. By the time she is an adult and her mother has died, giving readings is the More...
Sep 05, 2009
Shelah
rated it: 
I'd love to read a little bit about how book covers are designed, because I picked up The Grift on the basis of its cover (I like the font and the dotted border and the way the "r" is dropped down from the rest of the word) and its location on one of the tables at the front of the library. When I got home, I saw that it had 4 1/2 stars on Amazon, so I packed it in the bag I brought to the hospital, and it kept me occupied while Isaac and I sat around at PCMC.
Occupied, but n More...
Occupied, but n More...
May 14, 2009
Jean
rated it:
The Grift kept my interest throughout. The characters are well developed and Ginsberg gets into their heads beautifully. She presents alternating perspectives which allows one to stay interested in the characters although most were seriously flawed.
Madeline, is a georgeous money grubber and her older husband, Andrew is mean with a great deal of anger. Max and Cooper are a gay couple, however Max wants to be heterosexual and Cooper is insanely in love with
him.
Eddie More...
Madeline, is a georgeous money grubber and her older husband, Andrew is mean with a great deal of anger. Max and Cooper are a gay couple, however Max wants to be heterosexual and Cooper is insanely in love with
him.
Eddie More...
Feb 05, 2009
Ginsberg's novel mixes crime, romance, and the amusing question: What happens when a con-artist psychic actually develops psychic powers? The sympathetic treatment of a psychic, who may actually have "the gift" whether or not she believes in it or wants it, proved to be a tricky issue for reviewers, despite good reviews across the board. And any reviewer who found a grifter distasteful was won over by Ginsberg's ability to make Marina a fully developed, convincing character capable of
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Mar 19, 2010
Kristi
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Marina has been shilling as a psychic ever since she was a small child and her drug addicted mother decided to make money off her daughter. Marina knew the tools of her trade and she knew people. She was really good at what she did, but she didn't know love. But when love strikes, so does REAL psychic ability and Marina is left reeling. All the skills she learned before are useless and her rich and powerful clientele get angry. Very angry. In fact, angry enough to kill. And now, Marina wants to
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Aug 19, 2011
Scilla
rated it:
I wasn't sure I'd like this book in the beginning, but it was quite good - perhaps a 3.5. Marina, a psychic daughter of an unwed woman was working in Florida at the beginning of the book. A client gives her a ruby ring on a chain to protect her son. Soon after, Marina moves to California. When she thinks about perhaps returning the ring, the number has been dropped. Among Marina's clients are Madeleine, the trophy wife whose husband wants an heir and hates Marina's influence on his wife; a
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Feb 25, 2010
Margaret
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An unusual novel about a psychic, Marina, who half way through the story develops actual psychic abilities (or discovers that she has them) - to that point Marina wasn't an actual believer in psychic ability, so this development takes her by not-happy surprise. The story is intertwined with Marina and certain of her clients, and the book overall has a mixture of tones: old-fashioned gothic, humor, romance, mystery, a twinge of horror. Author Debra Ginsberg is a wonderfully talented writer. Wh
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Oct 27, 2009
Cami
rated it: 
2.5 stars
It's been awhile since I read a real page turner and this was one. The main character, a psychic who runs a profitable grift, named Marina, was interesting and I was very interested to see the direction her life would take. Her story was very satisfying, she was by far the most moral character of the bunch...
However, I cannot recommend this book to others. A lot of sex (the kind that makes a gal like me squirm just skimming over it) and a lot of LOSERS! As a psychic, More...
It's been awhile since I read a real page turner and this was one. The main character, a psychic who runs a profitable grift, named Marina, was interesting and I was very interested to see the direction her life would take. Her story was very satisfying, she was by far the most moral character of the bunch...
However, I cannot recommend this book to others. A lot of sex (the kind that makes a gal like me squirm just skimming over it) and a lot of LOSERS! As a psychic, More...
Dec 25, 2008
jillian
rated it:
This was a compelling mystery book, full of twists, turns, and cliches. The latter aside, I couldn't put this one down: the suspense was too good to let go. "Psychic" Marina lives her life grifting others, telling them what they want to hear, using the skills of perception she developed since her exploitative childhood. Forced into fortune telling by a drug addicted mother, Marina takes advantage where she can, and ends up in a trap of her own making, her life - and that of her love
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Mar 31, 2009
Karin
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 03, 2009
Sheela
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This book was suprisingly good. I was expecting a predictable, run-of-the-mill mystery story, but this novel about a psychic involved in a murder scandal, was interesting and well thought-out. The main character is a psychic, who at first uses intuitive reasoning with her clients, then gains the actual powers of ESP. The beginning of the novel was great because of all the observations she makes with her clients using basic intuition. The last half of the novel dragged a little, and the story wa
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Dec 27, 2010
Tim
rated it:
An odd book, and I'm not sure how it crossed my path. Half mystery, half suspense, and half soap opera (yes, that's three halves; sue me), "The Grift" is mostly the story of Marina Marks, who is good enough at reading people that she becomes a psychic, and the novel revolves around the machinations of several of her clients. The interesting twist is that an event triggers real psychic abilities: she "sees" dead people and the futures of live ones. I can't think of a writer th
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Sep 19, 2009
Melanie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 01, 2009
Joey
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Really I would give this one 3 1/2 stars. I liked the story. I felt connected to the characters, but I felt a little bounced around. The story is well written,it is just when you are following at least 5 characters, who's lives keep intertwining, I sometimes had to sit a moment and reflect on that which I already knew about these people. I admit that the bouncing may be my fault. I rarely get to just sit and read. That's what happens when you have 2 young kids and a hubby. I would recommend the
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Aug 28, 2010
Stephen
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Marina Marks doesn't believe in fortune telling, instead she sees herself as a counselor, one who uses her intuition and sharp observation skills to dupe clients into returning for more sessions and spending yet more money. After all, the bills must be paid. The past catches up to her, however, and reminiscent of the character Whoopie Goldberg played in the movie "Ghost," Marina's life changes abruptly when she discovers she can, in fact, predict the future.
Marina is far f More...
Marina is far f More...
Jan 16, 2010
Trin
rated it:
Starts out as an interesting book about a con woman, Marina, whose excellent skills at reading people make her a fantastic fake psychic. She sets up in a wealthy Southern California town, where she encounters a lot of rich people with assorted rich people problems, some of which may escalate...to MURDER! Dun dun dun.
Actually, all of that is quite fun, although even in its earliest parts, this novel does suffer from too many POV characters and a bit too much jumping around in time. Wh More...
Actually, all of that is quite fun, although even in its earliest parts, this novel does suffer from too many POV characters and a bit too much jumping around in time. Wh More...
Dec 12, 2009
Nikki
rated it:
I'm glad the library had this on their "featured books" shelf, or I may not have heard about it. The Grift is about a fake psychic who becomes a real psychic, and it involves a set of complex connections and interactions between her and a set of clients she meets at a party.
The book is strong on character. You end up liking and disliking just about everyone, and I found myself caring about them all, which is really what makes or breaks a book for me.
I wish, th More...
The book is strong on character. You end up liking and disliking just about everyone, and I found myself caring about them all, which is really what makes or breaks a book for me.
I wish, th More...
Nov 18, 2008
Carrie
rated it:
Last year, I read Debra Ginsberg’s memoir, About My Sisters. As a woman who also has three sisters, the memoir resonated with me, and has stuck with me since then. When asked to review Ms. Ginsberg’s latest novel, The Grift, I was happy to oblige.
The Grift is the story of Marina Marks, a woman working in Florida as a psychic. She doesn’t believe in psychic abilities, but she uses her keen observation skills and intuition about human relationships to tell her clients what they want to More...
The Grift is the story of Marina Marks, a woman working in Florida as a psychic. She doesn’t believe in psychic abilities, but she uses her keen observation skills and intuition about human relationships to tell her clients what they want to More...
Jan 29, 2012
Caitemaire
rated it:
Is it a Grift..or is it a gift?[return][return]As a child, Marina was taken by her junkie mother to see a boardwalk psychic, who pronounced that the girl had 'the gift', that she was a true psychic. But Marina never bought into it for a minute. For her, the ability was something she actively developed, an intense ability at observation that enables her to see things about her clients that they seem unaware of themselves or need someone to parrot back to them. They hear things that reinforce what
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Apr 23, 2010
Lauren
rated it:
Grift (noun) - a group of methods for obtaining money falsely through the use of swindles, frauds, dishonest gambling, etc.
Ever since she was a child, this is what Marina Marks did. Her method : being a "psychic." She learned the most common methods, tarot and palm reading, and used them to make money. First, for her mother, to support her habits, then to support herself later on. Realistically, she doesn't have any psychic gift, just knowledge of the tarot, what the lines More...
Ever since she was a child, this is what Marina Marks did. Her method : being a "psychic." She learned the most common methods, tarot and palm reading, and used them to make money. First, for her mother, to support her habits, then to support herself later on. Realistically, she doesn't have any psychic gift, just knowledge of the tarot, what the lines More...
Oct 11, 2008
Rtriptow
rated it:
A NY Times review made this sound like a gripping mystery written in the Shirley Jackson style. The story is about a phony psychic who suddenly develops real clairvoyance and can't cope with it. Meanwhile, a murder takes place -- ooooh!
The Grift was pretty interesting, I read it through to the end, but there wasn't too much mystery to it. I knew where the plot was going as soon as all the major characters had been introduced. This is a problem I have with any kind of "whodun More...
The Grift was pretty interesting, I read it through to the end, but there wasn't too much mystery to it. I knew where the plot was going as soon as all the major characters had been introduced. This is a problem I have with any kind of "whodun More...
Dec 21, 2008
Alea
rated it:
I'm not totally certain how I feel about this book. I liked it but at the same time I felt sort indifferent. I found the story so so serious that it almost became stressful. I would have liked some lighter elements or a bit of humor to counterbalance all the seriousness and all the character's flaws and drama.
Of all the characters and relationships I think I liked Marina and the mysterious Gideon's relationship the most. I would have loved to see that explored even more than it was. More...
Of all the characters and relationships I think I liked Marina and the mysterious Gideon's relationship the most. I would have loved to see that explored even more than it was. More...
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Jul 10, 2009
Daphne
rated it:
Remarkable book I couldn't put down. Fake psychic who discovers she has a real gift. Started out kind of cliched and flat, but as soon as we met the clients around which the mystery/crime would swirl it was compelling, with great narrative drive. Even the tip-off to the real villain didn't detract from wanting to see how it comes out. An ensemble story that really worked, coincidences notwithstanding. Really well crafted commercial mystery/woman's journey story, where the ending could have gone
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Jul 19, 2009
Carol
rated it:
I was more than half-way through the book before I was really into it. Building the plot took a long time, then it ended quickly, where some parts seemed like they got glossed over and could have used more time. This is a book about a psychic who realizes she only tells the future by observing the person and telling them what they want to hear, and the clients who rely on her. The way the story links the characters is the most fascinating aspect of the book. There were many despicable characte
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Jan 23, 2010
The author of Blind Submission has switched from agents and publishing to the story a practical psychic, a woman who believes in her gift less than her clients do and skillfully uses her powers of observation to make her career reading tarot cards. But halfway through the book, Madeline's past comes back to (literally) haunt her, and her well-ordered life and plans for the future are turned topsy-turvy. It's a good vacation read, well-written with a strong hook.
Aug 07, 2009
Kim
rated it:
This book wants to be a movie when it grows up. The first half or so is very readable, you can't help but like and root for the young female psychic whose childhood was taken away. The writing and character development is done well. But when things start moving faster you can practically hear the forboding orchestra music. Snore. I couldn't bring myself to care how it ended.
Feb 26, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
The grift is a romp. At first the psychic does not have "the gift," but then acquires it. This could have been played for laughs, but it was written seriously.
The first part of the book is the best. After the main character realizes she has "the gift," it is as if the author doesn't quite know what to do about it. Nevertheless, it is a clever little book and a fun read.
The first part of the book is the best. After the main character realizes she has "the gift," it is as if the author doesn't quite know what to do about it. Nevertheless, it is a clever little book and a fun read.
