Fall Girl

by Toni Jordan

Meet Ella Canfield, highly qualified evolutionary biologist. Attractive, if a little serious-looking in those heavy glasses--but then she's about to put her career on the line. Dr Canfield is seeking funding for a highly unorthodox research project. She wants to prove that an extinct animal still roams in one of Australia's most popular national parks. Meet Daniel Metcalf, good-looking, expensively dishevelled millionaire. Quite witty but far too rich to be taken seriously. He heads the Metcalf Trust, which donates money to offbeat scientific research projects. He has a personal interest in animals that don't exist. Problem number There is no such person as Dr Ella Canfield. Problem number Della Gilmore, professional con artist, has never met anyone like Daniel Metcalf before. Someone is going to take a fall. A sparkling, sexy read from the author of Addition, a Richard and Judy book club hit, Fall Girl is a story about passion and loyalty, deceit and integrity, and the importance of believing in things that don't exist.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Australia, Humor, Contemporary, Audiobook

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2010

About the author

https://www.tonijordan.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authortonijo...

Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson.

She is the author of six novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, Nine Days, which was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review's top 10 Historical Novels of 2013, and Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, which was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award.

Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts.

Toni lives in Melbourne.

Reviews

[Mish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Della is a professional con-artist who was trained at a young age of 6 by her family of con-artist to rip off innocent people. Daniel Metcalf was her biggest job to date. She needs to convince him to invest millions of dollars into a scientific project to prove that Tasmanian tigers still exist. This should be easy enough for Della as she’s put in a lot of effort and research into this job. But things are not falling into place as she expected. She has feelings for Daniel that she’s never experienced before and this has puts her whole plans into chaos.

The book was told by the point of view of Della. With Della’s type of job and living you had to be a perfectionist in everything you do as there’s a lot at risk. But I think her character was just slightly overdone in that she sounded bland, uptight and lacking any sense of humour. I didn’t care for her very much and even her yearning for Daniel wasn’t convincing enough. Daniel seemed interesting and I only wish there was more of his life and less of Della. I was intrigue by the storyline at first but then it became boring and pretty much the same old thing; there was only one laugh out loud moment.

I couldn’t wait to finish the book. It's a huge disappointment for me because I really loved Toni Jordan’s Addition.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never yet been disappointed by Toni Jordan's books, so I thought I need to read all of them! FALL GIRL was such an unexpected fun read for me, which shows Jordan's versatility as a writer. This one was definitely on the lighter side, and contained a soft sprinkling of romance, which normally is a total no-no for me, but worked well in this context. I immediately fell in love with our MC, Della. Quirky, fearless, smart and with a certain innocence that comes from an unusual upbringing in a family of con artists, she made a very different character to take us on her journey.

Della has not been living up to her family's expectations lately. Her last well paying scam was a long time ago, and she is worried she is losing her edge. So when the opportunity arises to get a large grant for a scientific study, Della is immediately intrigued. The small obstacle that Della is no scientist is not going to stop her. Instead, she re-invents herself as Dr Ella Canfield, the biologist who is out to find the last remaining Tasmanian tiger in the wild. She just needs to convince millionaire Daniel Metcalfe to invest in her scheme ...

What follows is a fun, often laugh-out-loud hilarious story that has all the hallmarks of Jordan's writing. She has never to date presented a character I did not immediately take to, and Della was no exception. I chortled as the young Della tries to charm Daniel into submission and held my breath as things don't quite go as planned.

All in all, FALL GIRL is a whimsical, charming and funny story that brims with Aussie humour and quirky characters. This is one not to be taken too seriously, but works well as a satire that is warm and humorous rather than cutting. The more serious themes at the core of it will get under your skin slowly and surreptitiously, lending it depth. Jordan has definitely become one of my favourite Australian women writers, and I look forward to reading more from her in future.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Fall Girl’ was the 2011 novel from Australian author, Toni Jordan.

Yes – this is my newfound Toni Jordan obsession continuing. Deliciously. Deliriously. Thanks to the character of Della Gilmore.

‘Fall Girl’ is indeed all about a family of scam-artists (emphasis on *artist*) and young woman Della who had a most unconventional upbringing, learning from her Fagin-esque father all the tricks of the scam trade. When we meet her she’s in the midst of her biggest haul yet – for a scientific grant being offered by the handsome millionaire, Daniel Metcalf. Della is posing as a scientist on the hunt for the biggest breakthrough of the decade – the Tasmanian Tiger.

What follows is a Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn type romance that also reminded me of nothing so much as the brilliant (if underrated, in my opinion) 2015 film ‘Focus’ starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. Maybe with a smattering of 2004 British TV show ‘Hustle’ thrown in for good measure.

I’ve really gone from 0 to 100 with Toni Jordan – who I think I can now confidently count as one of my favourite authors. Hands down. ‘Fall Girl’ cemented the deal for me – a sexy and clever caper, that kind of reads like a magic trick (or another sleight of hand) … she waggles this high-stakes scam with a searing romance running underneath as the heart of the plot, but at the same time she’s unearthing a family drama and delicate character portrayals of an unconventional family unit, out of time and out of step with a changing world. I loved it.

I still have one more Toni Jordan book to read – her first historical novel ‘Nine Days’ – which I know will be a real change of pace, but one I’m curious to read. And after that …? I think I’ll become rather desperate for my next fix!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fall Girl”, the latest novel by Toni Jordan, is the sort of book you can’t stop reading, yet you don’t want it to end. This book has a bit of everything: humour, intrigue, romance, sexual tension, witty dialogue, characters you can’t help liking, even a chase! When I read the summary on the back cover, I thought I could predict which way the plot would go, but I was in for a few surprises. Jordan deals with a few issues on the way: knowing who you really are; what you tell yourself about your past; family loyalty and how people justify their (mis)deeds. Full of con artists (but who is really being conned?) who may (or may not) get their comeuppance. I thought it would be difficult to maintain the standard of Toni Jordan’s excellent debut, “Addition”, but “Fall Girl” does so with ease. I look forward to Toni Jordan’s next novel.

[Feminista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This novel was refreshing and original.

Set in Australia, Della is a con artist. Her whole family are con artists: including extended family members.

So you can imagine how her view of the world is a bit skewed, to say the least.

Enter Daniel Metcalf, her next con job.

Except, there is something not quite right.

Because as a con artist, Della can read her victims pretty well. But she isn't getting a good read on Daniel.

While I didn't enjoy the ending much, it was original.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever - who is the scammer and who is being scammed?

[Leslea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book from the author after listening to her at a seminar. I loved her 1st book "Addition" and this one too is fantastic. The main character is a lovable con woman after a big sting. She finds herself in deeper than she would like. A great story idea and a lovely free writing style. After getting it personally signed and an interesting chat with Toni this one will stay on my bookshelves!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading, although I thought the ending was quite vague and unsatisfying! The whole premise was a bit farcical.

[Narrelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of heist shows.  The Sting, Catch Me If You Can, the sanctioned heists of Mission Impossible, the doing-it-for-the-little-guy heists of Leverage, the for-the-hell-of-it larceny of Hustle. Even the cons in the gods-battling-to-rule-the-world story of American Gods. I don't imagine I'd be as enamoured of a real life attempt on my worldly goods, though I flatter myself that I'm both too honest and too smart to fall for one, but I'm all for a fictionalised con artistry.

Toni Jordan's Fall Girl is a delightful contribution to the genre. Dr Ella Canfield is an evolutionary biologist trying to get funding for research to prove that the Tasmanian Tiger still exists - and what's more, is living in the Mornington Peninsula. Only of course, there is no such person as Dr Ella Canfield. Della, one of a long line of elegant con artists, is just trying to relieve millionaire Daniel Metcalf of some of the funds in the Metcalf Trust. She doesn't expect he'll miss it, really.

It turns out, however, that there are a lot of things she doesn't expect, but they happen anyway. Like Daniel deciding he needs to see the scientist Dr Ella in action over a weekend before he hands over the cash. Cue a crash course in outdoorsy living and scientific method. But there's definitely some odd things going on, both at home and out bush, and Della will have her hands full trying to sort it all out before the end.

It's hard to comment without risking massive spoilerage, but it may be sufficient to say that Della and her family of con artists find that life is a lot harder to manipulate when you're not always sure who is lying to whom.

There's a delicious screwball humour about the whole story of Daniel, Della and Della's misfit family. There's also a warm sense of bygone eras about it - that whiff of the gentleman thief, like Raffles, the roguishly charming villainy of some Cary Grant films. Della's family, living in their ramshackle old home filled with secret doorways and hidden rooms, belongs to a more chivalrous time than the one they live in.

It's refreshing, too, to see a heist story from the point of view of a female protagonist, Della is sharp, funny, thoughtful and clever. Joining her on the journey to discover the layers of truths behind this simple job gone complicated, and her own family.

All these layers of lies and that sense of old fashioned chivalrous thievery are central to the plot and its resolution. This makes it more than a screwball romance or a heist story - it's also a story about people and change and belonging. But mainly it's huge fun and very engaging !

[Faustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel of a professional con artist who have been raised to be one and who's future seems bleak unless she follows the footsteps of her family by being one. Della Gilmore, also known as "Dr. Ella Confield', will be doing yet the most important job that could make her parents proud by walking away with a quarter of a million of donation.

I really like the whole concept of the story! I thought it's going to bored me to death with the silly love games of indecisiveness but there's other aspects of the story that really drew me in. For instance, the behind the scenes work and sweat in conning people! That dedication though!

It's a quick read and the moment I picked it up, it was hard to put it down until you get to the end of the story with the question, "So who's fooling who?" and "What does millionaire, Daniel Metcalf, have to hide?''

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall Girl I knew it wasn't a mistake on picking up this book. I was in a book sale and I spotted this book when I was about to head for the cashier. It must be fate. 
 
Fall Girl follows Dr Ella Canfield, an evolutionary biologist with incredible qualifications. She meets millionaire Daniel Metcalf for her research's funding. The problem here is, there is no such person as Ella Canfield. However, there is Della Gilmore, a professional con artist. As much as Della thought she could finish her task easily, as she had done so many before, she might be underestimating Daniel Metcalf. A good-looking millionaire and an attractive con artist...who is fooling who?
 
Now, this is absolutely the romantic comedy I look for. Della's and Daniel's conversation are funny, filled with sarcasm that I like, and their sexual chemistry is satisfactory. There is one scene in the book that is definitely hilarious, and after that scene, I truly know that Daniel is the funnier one. [Spoiler: That scene with Timothy where Daniel keeps on offering wine. Hilarious.]
 
Besides the comedic dialogues and interactions, Fall Girl is filled with suspense and surprises. I loved how we, the readers, get to know the life behind con artists and also get to know the high and lows of their career. Besides Della's complicated relationship with Daniel, there is also focus on Della's family and how they cope with their con artists career. I love how everyone cares for each other, even though Della's cousins and brother teases her just like any other family would. I also love how her stepmom Ruby truly cares for Della. She sounds all mighty and elegant and all poise, but she cares for Della and Della knows that very well. Although Della's dad is the reason why Della is a con artist, her father truly cares for her as well. I don't know. It's just heartwarming to know that even between con artists who constantly lie to get money, they care for their family members.
 
Overall, I am very satisfied with my first book from Toni Jordan. I would definitely pick up more books from her...and perhaps look at con artists in a different light.
 

[Lisa Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s not to love about a good romantic comedy? You know that the girl’s going to get the guy and there’ll be some laughs along the way. Toni Jordan has positioned herself as the thinking woman’s rom com author of choice. Her first novel, Addition, was a best seller and Fall Girl is a worthy follow up.
The plot centres on Della Gilmore, part of a family of con-artists, as she attempts to pull off the biggest con of her life. Her ‘mark’ is Daniel Metcalf, a millionaire with a penchant for the Tasmanian Tiger. Enter Doctor Ella Canfield, evolutionary biologist. Boy, has she got a proposition for him.
Della is a loveable character who carries the story. Her supporting cast of con artists are also fun as they pretend to be PhD students in biology. I found Daniel Metcalf a little undefined but I was enjoying Della and her gang so much I didn’t really care.
Della’s masquerade as a field hardened researcher is hilarious. Take this dialogue, when faced with a river in need of crossing. ‘This is a minor problem. When I was at Harvard researching I walked all day to a skunk research site, then I had to wade a raging river carrying my tent over my head. Alone. In the dark. If I remember right, it was raining. That was fairly hard.’
The plot unfolds with twists and turns as Della suspects that Daniel, too, is not who he seems to be. Her growing interest in Daniel is nicely drawn. ‘I watch the way his shoulders tense and flex through his shirt... It is somewhat compelling, the sight of him, merely because this part of the trail is boring and there is nothing else to look at but trees trees trees.’ The reader’s expectations are playfully subverted; ‘I catch a glimpse of Daniel’s face and am not surprised to see desire etched there. He’s also looking at the water.’
Jordan’s writing is fresh and original. It is also very, very sexy. In fact her sex scenes are some of the best I’ve read. I was tempted to quote from one, but this being a family review... In short, if you want a light, humorous read that won’t insult your intelligence, Fall Girl is for you.

[Lizzy Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gambling, Greed and Gullibility

Fall Girl by Toni Jordan is a mixture of romantic comedy, mystery, chick lit and fable, with an underlying Cinderella-cum-Robin Hood motif. The Cinders-Robin character is “Ella” – although that’s only one of the aliases she uses. Ella is an honourable young woman, in her own way, almost an innocent abroad, despite her years’ experience as a “grifter”. She, along with her circus-retinue-like family, have put the “artist” into “con artist”, as Jordan writes, and made a vocation out of duping people.

In her Acknowledgements, Jordan writes that Fall Girl was inspired by the work of the late Stephen Jay Gould, evolutionary biologist. The research Ella regurgitates while playing her role in the latest con makes me think this novel could make an excellent text for high school students; but the science is never laboured and the book certainly doesn’t take this, or any other theme, too seriously.

For me, Fall Girl had enough wit, charm and whimsy that made it a quick, delightful read. While the characterisations border on caricature and the plot is farcical, the dialogue is witty and laugh-out-loud in places. Underlying the plot is a cleverly serious point about gambling, greed and gullibility, but the satire is gentle, not cutting; the people depicted as foolish, rather than malicious.

More on my book review here.

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Della lives in an extended family of con artists in Melbourne, Australia. She has never attended school or done anything else that would give her a public record. The family live off the proceeds of their various stings, taking turns to mastermind or play support roles for one another. Della has developed a plan to get $25,000 in a research grant from a Trust which funds offbeat scientific studies. The Trust is headed by a handsome millionaire named Daniel Metcalf.

This is an intriguing and original story. Toni Jordan has put a lot of thought into how a family like this would operate. There are also some surprising twists along the way. However ultimately I felt the story was just a bit too thin to sustain itself and I got bored. The ending also feels rushed. After the final reveal, Jordan seems in too much of a hurry to wrap it all up without giving us explanation in the whys and hows.

Toni Jordan is the author of Addition - another oddball romance. She has a breezy and deceptively light writing style which is very enjoyable to read and which feels in many ways like a 1950s screwball comedy crossed with To Catch A Thief.

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept for this novel was intriguing, but somehow the execution was lacking. I didn't really like Della, or Daniel, or really anyone in this book. I didn't feel much sympathy for Della's family and their way of life, I didn't feel the sexual energy that was supposedly between Della and Daniel, and I didn't feel much of anything when the story was all wrapped up.

[Chloe Simpson-White · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good for the setting and the premise was interesting. unfortunately the characters were rather bland and the pace dragged like no one's business until the last few chapters, then it felt forced and pushed.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book rather addictive - devoured in a matter of days

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely refreshing read, made me smile and laugh... Loved it.

[Helen Kollin Fichtel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this based on having read Addition by the same author, a truly wonderful book.
This started off strong, a good idea, an interesting premise: the combination of a con family preparing a "sting" to gain grant money supposedly to discover if the Tasmanian Tiger still exists, is a really good one. The whole setup with the family and the house etc was great.
And then....it just sort of fell apart. The writing was inconsistent - there were flashes of the wit that made Addition so good, but they were few and far between. But what I found most bizarre was the was this descended into dodgy romantic chick-lit; I'm sure I'm not the only one who found Daniel creepy as fuck and that whole scene in the park by the car - ugh, that was really uncomfortable. In fact, all of Della and Daniel's encounters were unpleasant. And it became clear that the family that had started off as quirky and eccentric was in fact an illusion: a controlling father with a hint of senility, running things by his rules only, children who have never really grown up, a first wife who left (leaving her two small children) because she couldn't cope, a second wife who goes along with everything....so much sadness and neglect in their childhood which Della has conveniently forgotten about until Ruby sets her straight.
I suspect that Toni Jordan meant for this to be a light, entertaining read, but for me it fell quite spectacularly flat.

[Kathleen Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such an original story, I hadn't ever come across a light read with this kind of plot before. However I kept waiting to get past the introductions and for the real story to begin, and when I looked at the spine and saw I was already half way through the book I realised I wasn't going to get a knock out, all consuming read. I was a little disappointed because it really is such an interesting plot.

I think that character of Daniel could have been explored, definitely at the end, although it is difficult coming from a first person story, but Della was a bit of a bore. And there was room for more plot and more action and definitely more romance. The love was rushed and confusing? Maybe I just didn't get it.

Overall a good light read for the train to uni and it sure beat looking out the window!

[Margaret Cahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have officially become a Toni Jordan fan. We've moved area and I thought I'd join the local library as it's so close - and hopefully it will save me a load of money as I read so fast. Talking about reading fast, I really couldn't put this one down. I hadn't heard of Toni Jordan before so started out with an open mind, but within a page I realised she could actually write, and I was hooked. A fascinating look into a world I know exists but I've never experienced (probably lucky for me!), and with a bit of romance slung in for good measure. I'm now on the hunt for her first book.

[Mol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The cover of this book absolutely did not match with the contents ! I thought this was going to be a lovely rom-com but I was very mistaken. It was quite odd to start, but the perfect length to keep you engaged. Did I find myself enjoying it ? Yes. The ending however felt very left field and not how I wanted to end at all. Like the last couple of chapters were just a mindfuck really. Another bugbear was the chapter breaks, they didn't have numbers !!! Why ? It irked me a bit. Overall, still really enjoyable and great plot that some great twists for such a small book !

[Alison Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and again a story comes along, and as soon as it ends you're hoping there is a series. Or at least a sequel.

A mystery. A con. A family rich with characters.

Della Gilmore sets out to con a grant for $25,000 from a wealthy philanthropist to fund a scientific study to search for the extinct Tasmanian Tiger. This is not her first rodeo. Della's family lives by the art of the con, and a creed that sets them above the average thief. Lovable criminals.

An adventure, wrapped around a mystery, and muddied by family. I'm ready to see Della does next.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can imagine this book as a movie - loveable rogues; funny, appealing, yet down to earth protagonists; family intrigue; and satisfying ending. It could have done with being a little more fleshed out in its final chapters - it came to a rather all-too-fast conclusion. Where is this Metcalf character in real life? I’m eager to meet him. Totally recommend it as a great holiday read - highly entertaining, fun and weightless. It was my first Toni Jordan book, guaranteeing it won’t be the last!

[Sharondblk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of sweet, although missing a certain something, but saved by the ending.

Wow, that was a rollercoaster of a sentence. The book is more of a logical progression. Set between my Melbourne (the Eastern and far eastern suburbs) and Wilson's Prom it was wonderful to read a book so firmly centred in my state. The character of timothy made me take off half a star, he was an odd (and unnecessary) slapstick moment in an otherwise charming novel. It's not a book I'll be thinking about i the years (months) to come, but it was a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Della the young con artist, from an entire family who live under the radar as grifters, meets Daniel the millionaire. As she prepares for a major sting - he won't miss the money anyway, he's rich enough - she feels a growing unease.
Is he onto her? The plot twists gently and deliciously, as everything which was under Della's rigid control, spins crazily out of control.
I love Toni Jordan's versatility and inventiveness.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this was a bit of fun! This is Toni Jordan's second novel following the successful debut Addition. This one dips into the questionable life of a con-artist, it is cleverly written with a satirical flavour and a good spattering of laugh out loud moments delivered through the eyes of the main character Della and a cast of dubious characters.
A quirky enjoyable read.

[Kaye Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. A con that is conned.....but is she really? This book was an easy, light read that I couldn't put down. The ending was not what I'd have liked, but I didn't write it, so it's too bad for me! Good story-line that was different from everything else I've read. A goody that I'd recommend for a quick read.

[Nadia Schrøder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining story with interesting character concepts, however without really getting to know them.

Nice twist on a romance, but it left off with quite a lot of holes and unanswered questions, which gives an unfinished feel to the story.

Enjoyable reading, but not a book, I would pick up and read again.

[Kristin Alford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read of evolutionary biology, scans and attraction