Ken Follett's "A Dangerous Fortune": An Exciting Novel of Intrigue and Suspense

Nancy Campaigne: For someone that likes to read English period books, this one totally fits the bill. Mr. Follett can be depended upon to write an excellent book and this one is no exception. I highly recommend it.

United States on Oct 05, 2023

Lab lover Dave: Captures your interest, elicits sympathy, anger, resentment mixed with pleasure , envy and satisfaction. Hated to turn the last page.

United States on Sep 03, 2023

Jack Cohen: This is vintage Follett, a fascinating story with a clear sense of time and place, vivid characters, admirable heroes and heroines and truly foul villains. One problem, the characters often do things that make no sense, jars the narrative, but that's one of the joys of writing fiction, you create a world with characters who must do exactly what you want them to do.

While it doesn't have the historical sweep of Pillars of the Earth or the suspenseful intrigue of his spy thrillers like Jackdaws or Eye of the Needle, it is a thoroughly enjoyable novel with a compulsively readable narrative that never flags.

United States on Aug 10, 2023

Occoyo: I’ve read most of Ken Follett books, and this one was outstanding, as are all the others, I couldn’t put it down!

Highly recommended

United States on Jul 28, 2023

Hammer: I could not stop reading this book. The story twisted but was never confusing. Lust and sex but in a very well written and dignified manner. I hated some characters so much I felt as if they were real and also loved others as if they were friends. Interesting to learn about what the financial and societal world of London life was probably like in the 1860-1892.

United States on Jul 27, 2023

caty mary: Es Ken Follet!

Spain on Jul 15, 2023

Susi Moon.: EXCELLENT! What a fantastic book. Ken Follett is my favourite author. A really well written, enthralling story that I couldn't put down. If you like Ken Follett, you'll love this.

Spain on May 21, 2023

Silver Lady: Ken Follett is a brilliant author. He obviously does a great deal of research. His grammar is perfect and his stories riveting. I have previously read The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End and thoroughly enjoyed both those books.

A Dangerous Fortune is more up to date than those, being set in Victorian times and is just as exciting. It is set in the world of banking, which didn't sound too exciting to me but I became totally engrossed. He has this way of drawing you in even if it is not a subject you have any interest in. I didn't want to put it down and was quite sorry when I got to the end.

Yes. I would definitely recommend this book.

United Kingdom on Feb 09, 2023

Sylvie B: It s a good story but eventually a bit simplistic

France on Dec 17, 2022

M: "A Dangerous Fortune" is a story about the Pilasters, a large wealthy banking family, spanning three decades in the late 19th century.

Hugh Pilaster is an honest bright young man who is the black sheep of the family due to his late father actions, who left him and his mother penniless. He has to work his way up in the family banking business, proving his worth over and over. Hugh's cousin Edward couldn't be more different: he is a dumb brute, spoiled by his mother Augusta. Augusta is an ambitious woman that dominates the entire family using her social skills, with one purpose alone: reaching social glorification through her husband and son. She will step over anyone who might jeopardize her plans, with the help of Edward's best friend, the attractive and unscrupulous Micky Miranda.

This is a typical Ken Follett story, and you will find a lot of elements similar to other books such as "The Pillars of the Earth". The honorable heroes have to overcome countless difficulties caused by the scheming villains who plot their way up socially and professionally, sparing no means such as gossip, physical aggression, blackmail, murder or even civil wars. All this wrapped up in a...

United Kingdom on Jul 27, 2012