The Grifters

By: Jim Thompson

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Jim Thompson's classic The Grifters is one of the best novels ever written about the art of the con, an ingeniously crafted story of deception and betrayal that was the basis for the critically acclaimed film by Stephen Frears and Martin Scorcese.

To his friends, to his coworkers, and even to his mistress Moira, Roy Dillon is an honest hardworking salesman. He lives in a cheap hotel just within his pay bracket. He goes to work every day. He has hundreds of friends and associates who could attest to his good character.

Yet, hidden behind three gaudy clown paintings in Roy's pallid hotel room, sits fifty-two thousand dollars — the money Roy makes from his short cons, his "grifting." For years, Roy has effortlessly maintained control over his house-of-cards life — until the simplest con goes wrong, and he finds himself critically injured and at the mercy of the most dangerous woman he ever met: his own mother.

Critic reviews

"The best suspense writer going, bar none."—The New York Times

"My favorite crime novelist-often imitated but never duplicated."—Stephen King

"If Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Cornell Woolrich would have joined together in some ungodly union and produced a literary offspring, Jim Thompson would be it...His work...casts a dazzling light on the human condition."—Washington Post

"Like Clint Eastwood's pictures it's the stuff for rednecks, truckers, failures, psychopaths and professors ... one of the finest American writers and the most frightening, [Thompson] is on best terms with the devil. Read Jim Thompson and take a tour of hell."—The New Republic

"The master of the American groin-kick novel."—Vanity Fair

"The most hard-boiled of all the American writers of crime fiction."—Chicago Tribune

one of JTs best

i agree. this is one of his best, maybe the best. Killer Inside Me is near the top too.

My first jim Thompson, it won't be the last

Great story that will keep you on your toes. At first I thought the narration was a poor choice, it quickly became top notch melted into the plot and characters.

Barbara Rosenblat Rocks this Book!

Pair a great story with Barbara Rosenblat-- hell, PAIR THE PHONEBOOK WITH BARBARA ROSENBLAT--and you've got lightning in a bottle. You forget that there is only one person reading--she is a vocal chameleon. This is such a great book which I've read a few times. It really came alive with her reading it. Can't wait to re-see the movie. Just Brilliant!!

1960s Noir holds up well

Book is more about journey than destination. Characters and descriptions took me back in time. Narrator is absolutely fantastic. Story lags just a little in middle but characters and dialogue make up for any lapses. Overall, Grifters is a quite enjoyable listen. I was sorry when it ended. Check it out.

Barbara Rosenblat is the BEST

Excellent noir, a classic. But better than the story, BARBARA! She is officially my favorite reader. Looking for other books she's done right now.