This is an unreliable narrator book. It holds you and is less disappointing than most unreliable narrator books.
The characters are formed. The problem is that the heroine is just slightly less psychopathic than the villain. I don't think this is intentional. I think the author thinks she is creating a sympathetic character who is acting in a normal manner in their (author's and character's) subculture, which is concerning.
The book turns on the main character doing something very out of character.
Spoiler next:
No one on either side of the Atlantic is stigmatized by having a great grandfather in the slave trade in the 18th century. It is far enough away to have bred out and you don't have to go back more than 3 or 4 generations to find that everyone has disreputable ancestors. Most family fortunes were made in ways that the family would not do in their current social position.
The characters are formed. The problem is that the heroine is just slightly less psychopathic than the villain. I don't think this is intentional. I think the author thinks she is creating a sympathetic character who is acting in a normal manner in their (author's and character's) subculture, which is concerning.
The book turns on the main character doing something very out of character.
Spoiler next:
No one on either side of the Atlantic is stigmatized by having a great grandfather in the slave trade in the 18th century. It is far enough away to have bred out and you don't have to go back more than 3 or 4 generations to find that everyone has disreputable ancestors. Most family fortunes were made in ways that the family would not do in their current social position.
An outstanding thriller true to the complexities of today's global economy, exposing corruption in high places in an original plot and with (mostly) believable characters. The main character is a smart lawyer who gets into debt way over her head, then goes crashing down when she loses her job, experiences a lean five years and even goes to prison for a few months before regaining her footing in society. Although I didn't follow all the legal maneuverings in the second half of the book, I felt this novel was realistic, dramatic and engrossing. Highly recommended.
