Introduction
I was introduced to the world of popcorn fiction with Not a penny more, not a penny less and simply loved it at that time and since then there is a special corner for Jeffrey Archer in my heart. But, surprisingly I have not read any of the other novels till Sons of Fortune.
The Plot
Nat and Peter Cartwright are twins born to Susan and Michael Cartwright. Due to a quirk of fate the twins get separated at birth itself and Peter is brought up by the wealthy Davenports who name him Fletcher.
Both the boys grow up oblivious of the other and go onto become leaders in their respective lives. Soon they are both happily married with a kid each. Nat has grown onto become a Banker of repute whereas Fletcher moves on from a successful lawyer to a senator.
Things hot up as both are pitted against each other for the seat of Governor of the state. But before that both need to win the right to fight for it from their respective parties. As things turn murky both find themselves helping the other in more ways than one.
So who wins the elections? Who becomes the governor? Do they come to know they are twins? Check out this offering from Jeffrey Archer for more details.
Critic’s Viewpoint
One of the strong points of Jeffrey Archer is his style story telling which keeps you tied to the plot.
Sons of Fortune takes for ever to get started as the story starts from the lives of Nat and Fletchers parents and then moves slowly till their growing up phase. The novel only picks up pace once Nat becomes a banker and Fletcher becomes a senator. Then the novel moves at break neck speed.
At some places Archer has picked up some aspects of other authors as well especially in the courtroom scene which seemed to be straight out of a Earl Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason mysteries. Then again the description of the law firms and its workings seem to be picked up from one of John Grisham’s many novels.
The letdown is the depth in the characters. Nat and Fletcher have been covered for most of the novel, but somehow the depth is missing. The rest of the characters are just fillers. The plot is one of the oldest plots available i.e. of twins separated at birth and ending up competing with each other!! Also the plot is more or less hollow except for the dash at the climax.
Summary
All in all it is a decent timepass once you endure the beginning and the early middle part of the novel. It is definitely better than the garbage dished out in Sidney Sheldon novels.
I would give this novel a 3 star rating.
PS: Taken from my review published earlier at https://epinions.com/content_215075491460