The Agent

by Marsha Roberts

Victoria Clifford is the top real estate agent in affluent Marin County, California. She’s also leading a couple of secret lives. The biggest one is the elegant, high stakes con she’s about to pull off for the sixth time. It’s the perfect crime, executed with the help of her charming brother and her aunt, a highbrow psychic to fortune 500 executives.

This time, major slip ups have Victoria questioning if she’s losing her touch. Her brother’s persuasive powers, too, seem to be losing their edge. What’s more, her aunt is threatening to quit her part in the scheme.

It looks like the gig may be up. Or maybe not.

289 pages, ebook

First published March 23, 2020

About the author

Marsha Roberts was born in Washington, D.C. In her non-writing career, she worked around the world as an H.R. executive and management consultant. She is also pro-bono chapter head of a nonprofit that furnishes apartments of the formerly homeless.

Marsha’s fiction and essays have been featured in several e-zines and anthologies. Her plays have been produced in various US and international venues. Marsha is on the Board of Playwrights’ Center San Francisco, an alumna of PlayGround SF’s Writers’ Company and a member of The Dramatists Guild and Left Coast Writers. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and four-legged children.

http://www.marsha-roberts.com

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an unexpected little gem to find on NetGalley! This is a slightly more “cozy” mystery than I usually read - it is a sort of Ocean’s Eleven style novel about a con artist pulling off one last big con. I was drawn to the book because of the Bay Area location, and probably loved this book a bit more for its locale. But it’s an extremely well-written, tightly plotted and fun caper book which I would have enjoyed regardless of the setting.

*Stefan voice* This book has everything: a crooked real estate agent, a woman playing a psychic in a con who is also actually psychic, red herrings, glamorous makeovers, double crosses, and cocaine in a moisturizer jar. (You’ll have to read the book for more details on that.) I was really impressed with this author’s creativity and really enjoyed her writing style. I took off one star because I did not love the ending and was hoping it would go a different way, but it was still a very fun read.

This little book may not be on your radar, but if you’re in the mood for a fun, escapist fantasy about a con job, this one is very well-written and amusing, and better than some of my usual domestic thrillers I’ve read lately. Especially if you know and love Marin County and SF.

Thanks to NetGalley, Marsha Roberts and Book Alchemist for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great find!

Thanks to other reviewers for putting this one on my radar! This was an easy to read crime thriller that had me captivated from start to finish. This is one of those can’t put down books!!!

The author does a great job of not only portraying the characters in their individual roles but also in the intertwined relationships that happen along the way. The storyline of Victoria the real estate con artist unfolds at a quick pace but also takes the time to develop the “why”. There are all types of scheming going on in this book; relationships, business & even a physic!!!

There are several twists and turns and “ah hah” moments that happen just when you think I know where this is going... surprise... you don’t!

I highly recommend this book and can not wait to read more from this author!!!

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Craig Pittman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diverting little potboiler that ends up just about where you expect.

Victoria is the title character, a California real estate agent who amuses herself having affairs with married men and running a con game involving her brother and psychic aunt. Her target: Certain women who come to her for help selling their homes after a bad divorce. The author offers us some flashbacks to her tormented childhood to explain why she's like this, although they don't really explain why she feels the need to con these clients who depend on her so much.

After Victoria has picked the victim, her ladykiller brother Theo swoops in to supply romance and a push toward making a really bad investment. The psychic aunt then provides the final, carefully worded incentive toward taking the fateful step toward disaster.

They have pulled this con successfully five times. This time, Victoria assures everyone, will be the last. But she's having trouble focusing -- perhaps because of her cocaine habit -- and this sixth victim isn't quite what she appears to be. The psychic aunt -- who really is psychic -- can sense things are terribly wrong, but not why.

I am no fan of finding a supernatural element in thrillers, but this time the aunt proved to be the most interesting character in the book, particularly the side stories about her consulting with various business execs about how to solve their personnel problems. I kind of wished the book was more about her and less about the con game.

[Ciaran McLarnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Agent” by Marsha Roberts is a “charming” and devious con-artist tale based upon vulnerable “marks” selling expensive property in the San Francisco bay area. Victoria Clifford is the real estate agent who works with her Swiss-based brother Theo and their local psychic aunt Vera. Victoria works hard to set up her victim building confidence and making connections but being very careful to cover her tracks. This is not their first “rodeo” but are they getting too confident, or will they get away with it one more time?

[Jody Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great caper! This was a page turner! Very entertaining crime thriller. I loved the fast pace, how the crime unfolded and the subtle hints dropped along the way as to what was possibly going on. Glimpses into the history of the main characters was interwoven seamlessly into the storyline as their plot unfolded. The author really captures the area too. As a Northern Cal native, that was quite entertaining. I highly recommend this as your next summer read!

Jody

[Kathleen Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun romp! A page turner from the start with characters you love to hate and a twisted plot of schemes, lies and grifts. Perhaps especially amusing to folks in the real estate industry who work hard to be nothing like the evil main character! I enjoyed it very much and totally recommend this book!

[Paul M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to learn this was the author’s first book. This was a quick read as the author took a seemingly normal industry, residential real estate, and spun a wonderful thriller. The hints of what was actually going on kept me from putting it down, and a few twists and turns keeps your attention.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great, fun read with characters that draw you in so that you can’t put it down. I am especially impressed because I know the author. She was my boss at a former company several years ago. She is an amazing lady and someone that I highly admire and learned from. Such a talented individual. And now she writes a book on top of it all. I am so impressed and proud of you, Marsha❣️

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. I've been in the mood for a book about a con artist lately.and this was a lot of fun. It picks up speed as it goes along and included great characters in surprising plot twists. Recommended.

I really appreciate the review copy!

[Robbiepetersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, interesting plot with twists and turns that make for a crime novel enthusiast's best summer read. Liked character development and interaction. Perfect for my book club!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read. Extremely well written and kept my attention. Couldn’t put it down.

[MICHAEL SHEA · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the plot thickens, I couldn’t have read it faster. Never sure what was going to happen, the ending was spectacular. An enjoyable read.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

clever story with many twists and turns. Would make a good movie.

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative and written with style and humour. Con artist on her last con job. High stakes, family issues. Will it be successful or not?
Great characters, intelligent and entertaining read.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced and exciting but ultimately, the ending left me feeling disappointed. Definitely unlike anything I have read before.

[Kristy Lin Billuni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy, delicious, and impossible to stop reading, The Agent is a treat for Bay Area locals and anyone caught up in the tantalizing trend of shady fraudster stories. Loved it.

[Cece D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great character development, fast paced, and well-developed plot that keeps you guessing until the end. Highly recommend for those of you who like a good mystery that makes you want to finish in one sitting. Great first novel for a very talented writer.