Not sure if 1963 writing style but it meandered around then finally got to resolution. ( )

The Grifters is not just a trifecta of immorality of the three main characters, there’s the whole Oedipal thing between Roy and his mom and Roy’s stand-in for her, Moira (see the photo below of Lily and Moira from the movie.) This story is a great noir thriller with quite a few twists, though it doesn’t have a happily-ever-after like The Sting. I saw the movie a while back so the ending wasn’t much of a shocker. But definitely stick around for it. Though Roy seems tempted to give up the grift, I don’t believe he ever would. ( )

i might have "really liked" this novel, but some of the hype got to me...so when the writing got spotty--only a few times, but still--i was annoyed. ( )

JFC, the characters in here are horrible! Imagine, your whole existence, trying to keep up a cover that you're an honest working citizen, when in truth you're always looking for who you can cheat out of money.

The protagonist, roy, has a booty call with Moira. Moira is trying to find out how much money Roy has.
Here's a disgusting little excerpt from this book:
" '...if we're going someplace it ought to be at the other end of the street. You know. Relaxed and quiet, so that we can talk for a change.'
'well. La Jolla is nice this time of year.'
'la Jolla is nice anytime of year. But are you sure you can afford --'
'keep it up, he warned her. 'One more word of that song, and you'll have the reddest butt in LA jolla. People will think it's another sunset.'
'Pooh! Who's afraid of you?'
'And get the hell out of here, will you? Go crawl back under your culvert! You've drained me dry and got me to splurge my life's savings, and now you want to talk me to death.'
She left finally, and got up. When she was dressed, she knelt again at his bedside for a goodbye kiss.
'Are you sure you're all right, roy?' She smoothed the hair back from his forehead. 'You look rather pale.'
'Oh, god,' he groaned. 'will this woman never leave? She puts me through a double shift, and then she says I look pale!'
She left, smiling smugly. Very pleased with herself.
( )

Classic noir with a semi-shocking conclusion. ( )