5 comments about Honor Among Thieves.

1. Saddam Hussein plans to mastermind a robbery of the Decleration of Independence by hiring the mafia, world's best forgery expert and one of Clinton's close aides with $100 million. Then he plans to embarrass US by burning the national treasure in front of the world media. This book is absolutely awesome, the plots, twists and story-line move like a ferrari. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. Archer's best book to date.



2. After reading Archer's "The Eleventh Commandment," I was anxious to get to this one. I really didn't think I'd enjoy "The Eleventh Commmandment" after reading the summary but I was very happy with how it turned out. So, I was anxious to get to my second Archer book. Unfortunately, this one didn't live up to the same quality as the other. It starts out well enough but as the story goes on, I found myself losing interest in almost every aspect of the plot. The one redeeming quality about this one was the caliber of the main character. He was very likeable and the only reason I finished the book. I wanted to see how things turned out with him. Ironically, the lack of development for the main character, was the only thing I found fault with in "The Eleventh Commandment." Hmmm....If only Archer could have fused these two together.
   
   The reasons for my not liking this book are many but I'll try to stick with the important ones. First, I thought that there were too many characters Archer introduced that he wanted us to remember. Almost all of the characters that I thought were unnecessary were part of the group of AMERICANS(believe that if you can) who were hired to steal the Declaration of Independence. Archer says that they went along with the theft because most of them did time in prison and have nothing but bad things to say about the American government. Still, the only real motivation that they have to go along with the scam is the payment they'll receive. Yet, most of them are well-off if not downright wealthy. I didn't think that a couple million dollars was motivation enough for them to betray their country. Sorry for that digression. Anyways, all of these traitors are given the amount of background equal to a good supporting character in other novels when really all they are are means to a temporary end. Once they've stolen the Declaration, there's really no point for them(with the exception of two) to remain characters in the story. And they aren't, until Archer resorts back to them in the end. By that time, I couldn't remember what role each one had played during the heist when he mentioned them by name.
   
   Another complaint I have is with gap in the story between the time that the Declaration is stolen to the time there is a concerted effort to get it back. The only real progression during that period is the development of the relationship between the CIA man Scott Bradley and the Mossad agent, Hannah Kopec. Archer tries to pawn off a few scenes with Saddam in Baghdad but nothing really happens there.
   
   While the mission in Baghdad is clever, it doesn't make up for the long, boring passage that is the first 3/4 of the book. There's nothing the reader didn't already know or couldn't anticipate up to that point. I'm glad that I didn't read this one before "The Eleventh Commandment" because I would have been soured on Archer and probably would have moved on to somebody else. Skip this one and try "The Eleventh Commandment" for a better read.



3. The year is 1993 and the Gulf War has only just terminated. Russia,Great Britain and the United States of America all have undergone a shift in political power and new presidents and prime ministers and leaders are endeavouring to usher in new ideas and conviction. But the sole survivor of all the adversaries is the indomitable despot Saddam Hussein,who stll commands power and authority in Iraq. And the Iraqi aupreme has conceived a devastating,crucial and unpredictable plan,a fair reflective of his own character relly,to force the new US President Bill Clinton lick the dust:steal the American Declaration of Independence and burn it in front of the world media on the fourth of July.
   
   It's around this tense and harrowing theme that Jeffrey archer's sensational thriller "Honour Among Thieves" revolves and takes the reader on n edge-of-the-seat journey through an exquisitely executed theft at the National Gallery in washington DC,clandestine,nocturnal happenings on the streets of Paris,and dangerous,frightening and unkind towns,villages and deserts of Iraq. Essentially a novel based on the popular notions of a hero in a typically Hollywood archetype style plotting the demise of a highly regarded infamous villain along with his aide=de=camps,"Honour Among Thieves" is an adept attempt to canvas the geo-political tensions and apprehensions that were thretening the peace of the world at that time. And so invariably the convention amongst modern imaginative thriller writers keen to put forward a lone figure out to tame reality and outwit the master criminal,Jeffrey Archer's hero in this novel too is polite and relatively obscure man.
   
   Scott Bradley is a young Professor at the Yale Law School in the States teaching Constitutional Law,a man always chased by a bitter parental history and forever willing to go beyond the reaches of his routine life. Bradley accomplishes a very diffrent sort of job too:he's a crucial teacher-cum-adviser to several CIA agents and other high officials. When he's sent to a dream field expedition to Paris to unravel te mystery behind the decision of the Israeli "Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks"---better known as Mossad---to post a captivating young woman at the Iraqi Interest Section of the Jordanian Embassy in Paris,little does Bradley realise that he would ultimately entangle himself in a web that threatens to submerge his nation as well as his heart. Scott Bradley's adventure changes colour:from an informer,the protagonist transcends to the saviour of the American history and prestige;Bradley's sole mision becomes to retrieve the Declaration of Independence from Saddam Hussein's own territory before time as well as opportunity runs out.
   
   It would be a crime indeed to reveal the pattern any further and the intensity and vigour that the British author blends with the precision of language and enormous political insight are to be read to be felt. The novel is remarkable not only for the intrigue and passion it invokes but also for the subtle remarks of massive moralistic implications. That the greed of power and money outreaches patriotic sentiment in today's world is made obvious in these empathic words of Saddam to his political advisers:"You have already witnessed my ability to turn the greed of their(America's)own people into a wilingness to steal the most cherished document in their nation's history." And this from a man who withdraws himself into a secure but vain knowledge of the love of his people foe him. In Hannah Kopec's character,Archer sketches the vibrant picture of a beautiful,young woman burning with revenge and this individualistic dismay and resentment towards the Iraqi tyrant is continued into a mass indignation revealed by the inhabitants of the Khan Beni Saad village.
   
   Garbed in a sensational thriller,"Honour Among Thieves" is a frightening revelation of the degree that crime can eat into one's soul. Jeffrey Archer's sorcery here lies,besides in keeping the reader firmly engaged,in providing a poignant commentary on the shrewd transactions that are carried out in the worlds of politics and crime. Throughout the book,there's always a resurgency of suspicion that these two worlds,namely those of politics and crime,are strangely interlinked and almost symbiotic. The magnificient staging ofb the theft of the American Declaration of Independence,the cool fashion of criminal discussions,the muted but all the more powerful self-assertion of Saddam Hussein and the gradual spreading of the storylines are stupendous indicators to the class and mastery of Jeffrey Archer. This novelist has developed over the years to become one of most dazzling storytellers in the modern era and in "Honour Among Thieves",he creates a very interesting tale using people greatly significant during the time and employing fractions of his own experiences in politics. Jeffrey archer is a brilliant connoisseur who doesn't disappoint even an iota in this book.



4. Jeffrey Archer has done better, but still this oeuvre is a thrilling good read.
   Compared to "Not a penny more, not a penny less" this piece lacks the brilliance
   of the final plot, compared to his short-stories this one's a more "conventional" book.



5. Other reviewers have provided the story line. I just wanted to say that it is a good thriller type novel to curl up on a cold rainy day with. Don't take it too seriously, just enjoy.

5 comments about A Quiver Full of Arrows.

1. In reading the reviews of other reviewers, I have to wonder if we are reading the same collection. I am looking at the UK edition (which is 265 pages). This is a collection of 12 short stories of various length and subject matter. As the author notes, 11 of the stories are based on real incidents. I personally found the stories to be entertaining (Jeffrey Archer is one of my favorite authors). It is an easy reading collection, and the type I refer to commuters who are looking for something to read in installments (also something to take along on an airline).



2. Jeffrey Archer has impressively compiled together `A Quiver Full of Arrows'. These arrows are anything but blunt and leave a meaningful impact on their readers. Known for his "natural aptitude for short stories" according to The Times, Archer has once again produced an absorbing book full of memorable stories.

   The settings of the twelve tales in this book are wonderfully presented, whether it be lost in Ancient Bethlehem or stranded in a Brazilian hotel. It is evident that prior to writing, Jeffrey Archer researched the various setting locations and time periods. Unlike renowned John Grisham, Archer's writings reflect over a variety of topics including love, politics, and humor. Therefore, it is more likely that this book will appeal to you, unless you find reading about 50-year old lawyers fascinating.

   You can't talk about Jeffrey Archer without referring to his expertise in writing endings. Unlike most other stories, which end in typical, lovey-dovey fashion, Archer's endings always have unexpected twists, and the ones in `A Quiver Full of Arrows' are not exceptions. After reading the book's first story, `The Chinese Statue', I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread it. The ending of this short, yet meaningful story adds a whole new perspective. This can be said about the other 11 entries. To truly understand a piece in this book, you must read it again and again; it astounds me how much depth Jeffrey Archer puts into his writing.

   All in all, `A Quiver Full of Arrows' is a top-class read for everyone; I have yet to find a collection of short stories that is more appealing. It is a noteworthy two hour read that is sure to change your perspective on life. You'll have a hard time peeling your eyes off this one.




3. Jeffrey Archer has impressively compiled together `A Quiver Full of Arrows'. These arrows are anything but blunt and leave a meaningful impact on their readers. Known for his "natural aptitude for short stories" according to The Times, Archer has once again produced an absorbing book full of memorable stories.

   The settings of the twelve tales in this book are wonderfully presented, whether it be lost in Ancient Bethlehem or stranded in a Brazilian hotel. It is evident that prior to writing, Jeffrey Archer researched the various setting locations and time periods. Unlike renowned John Grisham, Archer's writings reflect over a variety of topics including love, politics, and humor. Therefore, it is more likely that this book will appeal to you, unless you find reading about 50-year old lawyers fascinating.

   You can't talk about Jeffrey Archer without referring to his expertise in writing endings. Unlike most other stories, which end in typical, lovey-dovey fashion, Archer's endings always have unexpected twists, and the ones in `A Quiver Full of Arrows' are not exceptions. After reading the book's first story, `The Chinese Statue', I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread it. The ending of this short, yet meaningful story adds a whole new perspective. This can be said about the other 11 entries. To truly understand a piece in this book, you must read it again and again; it astounds me how much depth Jeffrey Archer puts into his writing.

   All in all, `A Quiver Full of Arrows' is a top-class read for everyone; I have yet to find a collection of short stories that is more appealing. It is a noteworthy two hour read that is sure to change your perspective on life. You'll have a hard time peeling your eyes off this one.




4. ALTHOUGH I AM A DIE HARD FAN OF JEFFERY AND HAVENT MISSED A SINGLE OF HIS WRITINGS ,BUT THIS CONTRIBUTION OF HIS TO THE WORLD OF LITERATURE IS NOT UPTO HIS STANDARDS. MOST OF THE STORIES ARE VERY ORDINARY , EXCEPT TWO , ONE ABOUT A CRICKET MATCH IN WHICH THE CAPTAINS SHOW THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN THE SPORTS, AND THE OTHER STORY WHICH I LIKED WAS A LOVE STORY , THE LAST STORY IN THE BOOK , ONE OF THE BEST LOVE STORIES I HAVE EVER READ ABOUT A COUPLE WHO ARE ARCH RIVALS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION YET SPEND THE WHOLE LIFE TOGETHER AND EVEN SHARE THE DEATH BED.REST OF THE STORIES ARE DISAPPOINTING.



5. 
   Versatile, popular, and appealing British actor Marvin Jarvis has produced and narrated a number of books in the U.K. Recently, he came across the pond to narrate audiobooks - it's about time! His reading of "A Quiver Full of Arrows" is on point. Of course, you need a bit of a British accent, which he has as well as the ability to deliver Archer's absorbing plots with style and skill. Long recognized for his theatre and film work, he has also been dubbed a Golden Voice by Audio File Magazine.
   
   Jarvis is a boon companion for these stories that take us throughout the world - London, China, New York, Nigeria. Listeners may be reminded of Archer's "A Twist in the Tale," as this, too, is a collection of short tales running the gamut from suspense to romance to skullduggery to financial power.
   
   We find ourselves at Sotheby's where bidders are shown an ancient ivory Chinese statue. What secrets it holds! One cannot the effect this has on the lives of a young couple. With the speed of light we're transported to a lavish New York apartment and a festive party with A-List guests who are surprised by those they meet again.
   
   Ever the clever storyteller, Archer's settings play a large part in his scenarios. "A Quiver Full of Arrows" is especially rich with mysterious places in far-off lands.
   
   Enjoy the journeys!
   
   - Gail Cooke

5 comments about Sons of Fortune.

1. Jeffery Archers book "Sons of Fortune" is about as bad as it can get. I have read a few of this authors novels and though I think none of what I have come across is a masterpiece, they still manage to be page turners and have a little merrit at least. But here, Archer seems to have slapped together a mess and pawned it off on an audience that he has long catered to in an effort seemingly to make a quick buck. Any self respecting author would have considered this as a rough draft and gone in for several more over hauls before publishing it.
   
   What really gets me is that on the inside flap of the hardback edition, this book is said to be about two brothers who are separated at birth and unknowingly run against each other for a political office. So with that in mind, the reader opens up the book and the first few pages read as though they are setting up the stage for events to follow. You know what I mean, If you have read a lot , you will have come across preludes that sketch in a bit of pre-history and then the story starts. Only it goes on for more than a few pages. Pretty soon you realize that you have read over a hundred pages and the story is still catching up to the inside flap of the book. The writing all of the way through is quick, as though Archer is merely filling in a few details. Myself, I started from here to figure out where the story would start and then quickly skimmed through page after page after page. Sorry for the plot spoiler here, but the brothers run against each other for a senate seat and realize they are twins separated at birth only on the very last couple of pages. That is what the book is about. 500 pages of poorly written pre-amble.
   
   This is a horrible horrible book.
   Save your time and energy and read something else.



2. 4 out of 5. I confess I looked at some of the earlier comments and am impressed by the amount of time some spent to describe their disappointment with a fiction novel. I believe Archer's finest work is As the Crow Flies and this does not rank anywhere near that work. However, the book is enjoyable and a quick read. It wears a bit thin only because the storyline is predictable and the approach that Archer takes in creating the story is straightforward and overused: two opposites, internal and external forces, seemingly random links drawing two opposites together, etc. He is a clever enough writer that for diehard fans he will not measure up. They will be disenchanted that he did not spend a bit more time on writing a unique, compelling, and emotive story.



3. There are lots of other reviews that summarize the plot. I just want to record my reaction to the book. IT'S TERRIBLE! The text sounds like it was written by a Martian who read some bad early 20th century American literature. Maybe Brits should't try to fake American. The plot is ludicrous. The handling of small matters is very sloppy. I wasted my time on 189 (of 503) pages and came away with nothing other than the desire to warn others to keep away.



4. His total lack of knowledge regarding Vietnam military operations, equipment, and terminology show that Archer didn't bother with basic research. Lazy, lazy.



5. It's interesting reading the other reviews of this book. For most of Archer's books, readers are in general agreement in their reviews. Not this one! I for one, liked it very much. I agree that the whole premise that the story is based on, the way the twins are separated at birth, is a little far-fetched, but Archer built a great story on that!

5 comments about A Matter of Honor.

1. 
   Topnotch voice performer Martin Jarvis, remembered for his outstanding reading of "As The Crow flies," gives another vital, arresting reading of this thriller by master storyteller Jeffrey Archer.
   
   With a seemingly unending supply of plots and ploys Archer has penned another fast moving tale. The New York Times wrote of the hardcover edition, "Sizzles along at a pace that would peel the paint off a spaceship." And, it does.
   
   Adam Scott is the son of a dishonored British colonel. His legacy? A letter holding secrets concerning the Nazi regime (Goering's suicide), information about his father's disgrace, and clues to the location of a priceless Russian icon.
   
   Knowledge is one thing, taking possession is another as both the KGB and CIA are after what Scott's inheritance. The chase begins, careening throughout the world with murder as a byproduct.
   
   Discovery of the truth may later both lives and history.
   
   - Gail Cooke



2. I recommend this book highly.
   
   It seemed so innocent. A totally disgraced British colonel Scott sends a mysterious letter to his one and only son. The moment young 17 year old Adam Scott opens the yellowing and fragile envelope, he sets into motion a deadly chain of events that threatens to shake the very foundations and pilars of the free world.
   
   Within days, Adam's lover is brutally murdered by the men that his father set in motion and he's running for his life through the great cities of Europe, pursued not only by the KGB, but by the CIA and his own countrymen as well. Their common intent is to kill him before the truth comes out, before the truth comes out.
   
   These powerful men in smoke and cannabish-filled rooms plot ever more genious means of killing him dead dead dead, Adam finds himself betrayed, sad, and abandoned even by those he holds most dear.
   
   When at last he comes to understand what he is in possession of, he's even more determined to protect it, for it's more than a matter of life and death-it's a matter of honor to his lover (rest his soul), his mother and his brothers and sister.



3. Ironically, I picked this one up right after I finished Ludlum's The Gemini Contenders, and they have a lot in common - a secret hidden during WWII comes to light and becomes the responsibility of a later generation and the chase is on. I gave Ludlum 4 stars and give this one 5 for two reasons; Archer's book is an easier read and the hero of his book is around long enough to care about.
   
   Thought to be a traitor, Gerald Scott resigned his commission from the army. When he died, he had little to leave his family, other than the taint of that resignation and an unopened letter from a Nazi war criminal. Adam, his son, inherits the letter and takes a simple one day trip to Switzerland to retrieve the contents of a bank box the letter refers to. From that moment on, Adam's life is anything but simple. Chased by the Americans, the Russians, the Swiss and the British, and unaware of the secret he's got in his possession, Adam has to get to safety. First, he has to solve the mystery of his inheritance, figure out where safety is and who he can trust, and manage to stay alive doing it all.
   
   The secret itself seems a tad silly, but other than that, the story is fast-paced and very easy to follow, putting it a little bit above some overly convoluted thrillers I've read.



4. Although the details of Mr. Archer's personal life rival the plots of his novels - from near bankruptcy, to Britain's political inner circles, to prison cell - none of it gets in the way of his well-deserved reputation as an outstanding storyteller.
   
   Next to "Kane & Abel" and "As the Crow Flies" this book is among my three favorites from Archer and I highly recommend it.
   
   Set in the summer of 1966 with Lyndon Johnson in the White House, Harold Wilson at #10 Downing, and Leonid Brezhnev in the Kremlin, "A Matter of Honor" pits a most resourceful but unlikely British protagonist, Adam Scott, against an equally resourceful Soviet antagonist, Alexander Romanov.
   
   When Adam's father, a disgraced military officer, dies, he leaves to his only son the princely sum of 500 pounds and two letters. The first is a missive from Adam's father, explaining the events that led to his resignation from the military, the circumstances that led to his possession of the second letter, and an expression of confidence that his son would conduct himself honorably should he decide to open the second letter and pursue whatever secrets it might contain. When Scott's curiosity gets the best of him, he opens the second letter and finds that it is from a now-dead elite member of Hitler's Third Reich - a man that Scott's father had been assigned to guard during the Nuremberg trials.
   
   As one might guess, it is this second letter that proves to be the crux of the story. It leads Scott to a bank vault, deep beneath the streets of Zurich, containing an obscure work of Russian art - an icon - smuggled out of the country during the downfall of Czar Nikolai II. At the same time, the Kremlin has learned that this painting contains a secret that could forever shift the balance of power from West to East at the height of the cold war. Romanov, a rising KGB star, is tasked with finding the icon and returning it to the Motherland so its embedded secret can be unveiled to the world. While Romanov is not told the nature of the secret, he knows only that its contents must be acted on within 30 days and the clock is ticking.
   
   The ensuing chase reveals that Mr. Scott's will to survive and ability to think on his feet are indeed a match for the best the KGB has to offer. It also presents an opportunity for Scott to restore his father's - and his family's - honor. Hence, the name of the book.
   
   Archer gives us an outstanding plot that is authentically placed amidst the political tensions of the mid-1960s. I enjoyed every moment of this book. The characters are nicely developed, the cheetah-like pace kept me turning the pages until well into the night, and the story had an ending that while rather predictable, was highly satisfying nonetheless.
   
   If you enjoy a good political thriller from the world as it was 40 years ago, along with a healthy dose of Mr. Archer's formidable imagination, don't pass up this book.



5. This is a darker, more sinister, and violent Archer book than most I have read. The USSR is still alive. A document, hidden in a lost icon, would turn Alaska back to the USSR if found. A page turner! I enjoyed it.

5 comments about Twelve Red Herrings.

1. I consider this compilation of fast-paced short stories to be a good read. If critics say this is not one of Archer's best, then, I look forward to reading his other materials.

   Compared with Roald Dahl's Tale of the Unexpected, which is also a compilation of short stories, I prefer this one more.




2. Is the first book of stories that I really like, there is one finish that I didn't like at all, the story of the painter. Is also the first time that I can select what finish I like from a story, let me tell you that if I can change the end of some books I will.
   All the stories are easy to read and have their own message (except the story of the painter, or maybe I didn't understood it.)



3. Jeffrey Archer's 'Twelve Red Herrings' are imaginative, well-written short stories. Archer (now Lord Archer, the variously popular-then-disgraced-then-popular-currently-disgraced Tory almost-leader) is better known for his novels, but has proven himself to be a good author of short stories as well.

   Each of the twelve tales in the collection contains an unexpected twist in the character or outcome, something that Archer is good at providing in most plots he's written. Archer seems to have the knack of taking one idea and spinning it, like a spider's web coming from one small strand, into a very fine and very wide reaching net that catches you and keeps you involved until the end.

   In 'Cheap at Half the Price' we are introduced to Consuela Rosenheim, a woman with expensive tastes which require both a wealthy husband and wealthy lover to satisfy, working in concert but each unwitting of the other. Her procurement of a necklace is a wonderful story.

   In 'Trial and Error' we follow Cooper on an ingenious plot for revenge, to finally carry out the murder for which he has already been sentenced and convicted, knowing that due to the construct of the law, the murder cannot be punished (he has already been convicted and served his time).

   The final story is my favourite, and of course you will, as I did, read all the endings: Archer provides a brief tale of desire-at-first-sight and the variations on the theme; how will it turn out? A question we often ask in life, and wonder will it end up well done or burnt to a crisp? Using this analogy, 'One Man's Meat...' follows a man who sees a beautiful woman while driving by, and stops to pursue her. What will happen? Is she single or married? Is HE single or married? Will she be flattered or offended? In the four alternate endings to this tale, the reader experiences each alternative.

   This is good bedtime reading, as most of the stories can be finished in under half-an-hour. For those who have not read Archer before, this is a good introduction to his storytelling style. This will not be confused for great literature, but is definitely a good yarn.




4. The 12 stories in this book are all readable. Some of the stories are brilliant -- for e.g. One man's meat where the reader is presented with 4 different outcomes.
   
   The thing I liked about all his stories inspite of some of them not having an "a-ha" at the ending was the engaging style of Mr. Archer that keeps you turning the pages.
   
   The writing style is consistent and the set of stories is way above your ordinary short stories.



5. This book is a series of twelve short stories with intriguing plots. Good read.

5 comments about False Impression (Archer, Jeffrey (Spoken Word)).

1. I was hoping for a little more from Jeffrey Archer after the long layoff. He's written a few of my favorite novels, but I was kind of indifferent to this one. The pacing is a little slow and it never really pulled me in.
   
   There's nothing wrong it, but it is definitely not in the same category as K&A or The Fourth Estate.



2. I have the paperback and on the front cover there is a quote saying' "A worthy successor to the Da Vinci Code." So im thinking, 'hey this should be pretty interesting to see how he uses Van Gogh.' The more into the book however, the more I began to notice it is nothing at all like the Da Vinci code, which is fine by me but the book is pretty bland. There is no killer motive behind the crime besides the fact that Fenston, the villain, likes artwork, and there are no real twists that keep you hanging when you put down the book until the morning. In fact, I felt more or less halfway through the book that finishing it is more of a chore. In all it is not a bad book, and there are some pretty intense chapters, but overall does not grab you in my opinion.



3. Archer mixes intrigue in the art world with the aftermath of 9/11 in this caper. The main plot is interesting, although pacing and character development, two of Archer's trademarks, aren't quite what they have been in previous works. The Romanian background of the main characters makes for a bit of a change from more typical Russian or German characters in stories like this. However, as noted, many of the characters are a bit superficial, and the 'Romanian gymnast' angle seems outdated.
   The romance between Anna and Jack, like many others in these 'thrillers', is forced, and, worst of all, too much of the book is taken up with the 'cat and mouse chase' through airports on several continents. This would probably look better on screen than it read on the printed page.
   There aren't enough 'digressions' to wreck the story, but they do tend to show up in odd places.
   
   Once the story shifts back to England, the 'twists' are satisfactory, and the plot reaches an agreeable conclusion. The book gets us from point A to point B with visits to just about all points in between.
   
   Good enough to staisfy Archer's fans, or at least anyone who's read him at least once before. Maybe not the best place to start if you're new to his work...try the 'Collected Short Stories' first.



4. This is a superb classic thriller that offers unsurpassed insight as well as foresight in human passions and foibles in this jittery post 9/11 era. His description of bad acts and bad thoughts are so real, palpable and gripping albeit a bit unreadable at times and yet his noble spirit of statesmanship shines through as I read passages like [he] is straight from "the Bronx to ... Brooks Brothers" attire and room "blazing with light" and finally at the end of the story in a banter where the conversation lends itself to a possibility of disagreement he says, "You are not Irish."



5. By definition, a thriller is supposed to take the reader by surprise, plotting suspense with conflict. Archer achieves these objectives with aplomb, detailing the world of art auction and intrigue. The twists, however, aren't completely unexpected if you've seen art heist films like "To Catch a Thief" or "Legal Eagles." "False Impression" is compelling, notching up the stakes with every twist. However, some of the details seemed mis-directions, like the timing of the novel beginning on 9/10/2001, and misleadingly pivoting at the World Trade Towers on the day of the terrorist attacks. That it ends up being merely incidental to the plot leaves a false impression.

5 comments about Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.

1. Not a penny more, not a penny less, is a book about four people who lose over a million dollars in a stock market scam. They get together and decide to steal all there money back, but not a penny more, not a penny less. I enjoyed this book a lot, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed movies like Oceans Eleven and The Italian Job. The plot was great, and it has twists and turns along the way, that keep you reading it. It is definitely a book worth checking out.



2. When four men lose their life savings to a wealthy Boston swindler in a stock market scam, how will they get their money back? That's the plot of this highly entertaining novel that can best be summed up as: don't get mad, get even. Their goal is to recoup exactly the $1 million they collectively lost, hence the title of the book. With revenge that can be described as "playful" rather than mean-spirited, the book has a light-hearted tone that will leave readers upbeat.
   
   As the reader of more than half a dozen novels by Jeffrey Archer and one collection of short stories, I thought it was about time to read his very first novel.
   
   Often, after I have sampled an author and decided I like their writing, it is fun to go back and read their first efforts - seeing how they have matured over the years and polished their craft. But in this instance, I had another reason as well: the man himself fascinates me. I realize his personal life is as scandalous as his fictional characters, and if you happen to be a Brit, he probably ranks right up there with the royal family in terms of tabloid coverage. But you have to hand it to the guy: for someone who was on the brink of bankruptcy and forced to step down from political office in financial disgrace, he didn't sit around and moan. He took up pen and paper, wrote his first novel, and launched a stellar writing career.
   
   I have no idea if the novel was simply catharsis for him, or if he was confident enough in his abilities to think he could regain his fortunes with just a single book. For those that don't know the story, he invested $1 million of his own money in the early 1970s in a Canadian company that turned out to be a scam. He found himself almost penniless overnight and although he did not ultimately declare bankruptcy, he came awfully close.
   
   But the rest, as they say, is history. The fact that he sat down to write rather than just curl up in the fetal position tells me something about the tenacity of the human spirit in this man. So, it was with much anticipation that I got my hands on a copy of "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less," Archer's first novel. I was looking forward to seeing the book that started a remarkably prolific career. And I suspected that more than a few details in the book would be drawn from his personal experience being swindled out of his own life's savings.
   
   The book is a wonderful read. Comical, witty, well-paced and well-plotted, Archer shows his skill as one of the world's foremost storytellers. The ending is highly satisfying and includes a twist on the very last page (literally) that puts the icing on the cake.



3. I recently found a copy of Jeffrey Archer's first book in an Op-Shop and nearly passed it by..it was an old and battered original paperback, and was convinced that I'd read it 30 years ago when it was first published. Flicking through it, it dawned on me that I'd only THOUGHT I'd read it and was delighted to start on it at once, and what a super read it is! It's in the fresh language of a new author and full of the funny and intriguing plots of four men who have been swindled out of large sums of money by an American con man, Harvey Metcalfe. The leader of the four men is a brilliant mathematician who is working as a Professor at Oxford University and who thought up the idea of the four "suckers" getting together to not only get revenge on Metcalfe but also to retrieve their money. The men, a Harley Street doctor, the owner of a prestigious London art gallery and the son of an Earl, concoct several ingenious plans to this end and the result is a very likeable book which was great fun to read, albeit 30 years after everyone else!



4. This was my first Jeffrey Archer novel and I was very impressed. (Incidentally, I believe this was Jeffrey Archer's first novel.) Archer is a master of irony, a modern-day O. Henry. This is a masterful novel of revenge. If you like Ocean's 11, you will LOVE this book.
   Plenty of "twists in the tale."



5. A young Polish man grows up to be a ruthless millionaire. He rips off four Englishmen who then develop a creative and elaborate plan to get their money back. A great read.

5 comments about Kane and Abel.

1. This was a book my mother recommended to me. She read it several years ago and remembered how good it was. And oh how good it was. This is a great story that is told over about 60 years from Europe to America. Archer tells 2 parallel stories. One about Abel Rosnovki and one about William Kane. The story is so well told and so interesting that I felt torn between the two main characters and their stories. You feel pulled away from one story line when Archer takes you to the next. I enjoyed Archer's historical weave throughout each chapter. Especially the history of Poland and the part it played in both World Wars. Fascinating! Each character is developed from birth by the author and he does an outstanding job of taking you thru their childhood, teenage-school years and then adulthood. So, as a reader, you really get a feel for what they are made of and why they made the decisions they made throughout their life. The stories cross paths through-out the book and the ending is a masterful surprise. I have already mooched the sequel The Prodigal Daughter which I can't wait to read.



2. This book was absolutely awesome. It had romance, suspense, a bit of horror (concentration camp images), and revenge. I really liked the way that Jeffery Archer put this one together, It is going down as one of my all time favorites.



3. Well written like all of his novels. I was very interested and involved with the characters. The characters are well developed, the story lines grew as we followed their lives. Then they became very un-likeable. These successful and driven men began to act out of character in my opinion.
   The ending was very disappointing and as a result I cannot recommend the book. Great story telling, and then a real let down.



4. I love this book. My last copy was so worn and ripped I had to get a new one. This is one book and can read more then once.



5. In the US version (St Martin's Paperbacks) , I found some wordings are different from the UK one (Pan Macmillan).
   
   Like the third paragraph of chapter 1 , the US version reads 'The young hunter ...' while the UK one has this as 'The young boy ...'
   
   Is it normal to have an editing from the UK version?

5 comments about The Prodigal Daughter.

1. This is an excellent sequel to the novel, Kane and Abel. Archer once again is at his best. He remembers to intertwine key details of the book with Kane and Abel, and the reader easily recalls the suspense and the pure entertainment of Kane and Abel in Prodigal Daughter. Jeffrey Archer molds Florentyna into a very memorable character. Not many authors would have even tried to write a sequel Kane and Abel, but Jeffrey Archer makes a triumph of challenge. The result is The Prodigal Daughter. While it lacks some of the intensity of K&A, it is well worth the read.



2. Jeffrey Archer's 1980 best-seller Kane & Abel introduced readers to William Kane and Abel Rosnovski, two boys from vastly different circumstances and opposite ends of the world who grew up to profoundly affect early twentieth-century America. In The Prodigal Daughter, Archer continues the story of these two men and carries it on to the next generation.
   
   Archer's storytelling technique is in some ways archaic, relying heavily on narrative prose and shunning contemporary "rules" about showing versus telling. He is able to pull it off, however, partly because most he earned his reputation in previous decades before the evolution of the modern thriller and partly because his colloquial voice and strong characters make his books a pure pleasure to read even without much action or dialog.
   
   The Prodigal Daughter is the story of Florentyna Rosnovski, daughter of hotel baron Abel Rosnovski. At the end of Kane & Abel, Florentyna fall in love with Richard Kane, the son of her father's arch-enemy, banker William Kane. The sequel begins by backing the story up twenty years and painting a picture of Florentyna's childhood. The story doesn't actually catch up to the end of the first book until about halfway through.
   
   As the story continues, Florentyna and Richard marry, against the wishes of both of their powerful fathers. They are cut off from their families' fortunes and must start life on their own. Florentyna starts a fashion shop, while Richard begins building a reputation for himself in the banking industry. By the time they reconcile with their aging fathers, the young couple have managed to become wealthy on their own merit. After their fathers are dead, Florentyna becomes chairman of the Baron Group, her father's hotel chain, and Richard ends up on the board of Lester's, his father's bank. The middle part of the book, then, focuses on their experiences in corporate life.
   
   When Florentyna decides to run for political office, their lives change yet again, and the last part of the book details her various campaigns, her time in Congress, and the nation's response to the first serious female contender for president of the United States.
   
   Through it all, Archer adds a touch of realism through ties to real-life events and public figures, placing the story within its historical context. As always, his primary strength is his characters, and he puts them in situations that make them highly sympathetic and believable. Readers who have enjoyed Archer's other books--particularly those who liked Kane & Abel--will appreciate this continuation of a story they may have resonated with. Readers who are more accustomed to contemporary political and corporate thrillers, however, may find it difficult to engage with Archer's style.



3. In November of 1985 when I was seven years old my fatherwas watching a mini series (remember those people) on CBS. It was Kane and Abel and after watching it for the last 22 years I have been fasinatied with that story. I did not know until 2006 that it was a book so I bought it and its sequel. I loved the Prodigal daughter although I do have some things I would have done differently. I for one who have call the book the Prodigal children with a focus on Richard childhood as well. One of my favorite things in the novel was that while FLorentyna was a Democrat Richard was a Repulican (The good kind not the crazy ones you have today.) I guess becuase although there is around a 10-15 year age difference between the chacters and my own parents that is how they are. (My favorite scene in this is when RIchard puts a Barry Goldwater bumpersticker on their car she rips it right off. ANother one is when RIchard after telling his wife that he did not cheat on her FLorentyna said "You should have slept with her" meaning RIchard's old girlfriend becuase that would have cemeted a business deal ) I also did not like fact that RIchard died and they brought in Edward WIncheaster as a second husband or that the book went into a future that never could come true. BUt then again that is nit picking. By the way a book in which a blond 60 something CHicago born woman seantor becomes the first female United States President. HIllary some British guy made you Polish.



4. This sequel's not as good as Kane & Abel, but still not a bad read. Jeffrey Archer is a great storyteller and he does a good job of telling the story behind Florentyna's life from childhood to her life after her father's death. The third part of the book does get very politically heavy and I found it to be a little on the boring side. The first and second parts of the book are good pageturners. I felt this novel lacked a purposeful direction and the intrigue of Kane & Abel .



5. This book picks up where Kane and Abel left off. It is the story of the daughter, Florentyna. She runs the hotel empire. Entertaining, fast paced, a good read.

5 comments about A Prisoner of Birth.

1. Virtually I could not put this book down! It was full of suspense from the first chapters. Archer has masterfully woven several plot lines
   into this story and yet does not lose the reader. I was speechless and
   mightily impressed with the ending!! So much so that I actually pressed "Next Page" on my Kindle several times. If you enjoy excellence in suspense, this book is for you!



2. Those who have read Archer's former novels will find this story does go over the same ground of a lot of them. The book is a bit far fetched in parts, relies on coincidences to pull off the storyline and the central character Danny doesn't have a consistent level of intelligence throughout the story. The book is however fiction after all albeit not necessarily original. The story is good enough to keep you reading until the end and satisfying enough that you'd recommend it to others.
   
   This novel is really a couple of different stories following the timeline of the central character of Danny Cartwright. Initially we have the pretty much uneducated, illiterate and not too bright from London's poorer suburbs, Danny celebrating his engagement to life long friend Beth, with her brother Bernie in a British upmarket pub. Four drunk, upperclass men whose successful careers are quickly on the rise take exception to the three drinkers who don't really belong in such a place and don't hold back in bating the poorer class drinkers with their opinions of the group. One line of comments implying Beth is a hooker and they'd like a go when the two lads have finished with her particularly annoys Danny. Beth tries to usher her group out the back door to avoid confrontation but when they find one of the men blocking the path and the others waiting outside the Danny and Bernie can't resist teaching them a lesson. Unfortunately Bernie ends up dead and with the four men and the barman all disputing Beth and Dannys version of events, Danny is charged with his best friend's murder.
   
   Next we have a lengthy court room drama which to be honest is a probably a bit long since obviously with the title of the book we know the outcome. After this we have a story emulating Archer's own time behind bars revisiting the day to life of Archer's three A Prison Diaries books. Smartly Archer did not include in Danny's character the more irritating actions of himself as a prisoner such as refusing to drink tap water. In fact Danny's mentor and cell mate Sir Nicholas Moncreiff is probably based on Archer's perception of himself, (a guy jailed for a crime that seems laughable, keeps a diary and gets along and becomes a favourite with the prison staff). Danny basically decides to better himself and become like Nick, even getting the same haircut. The implausible nature of the storyline is also added that suddenly Danny looks exactly like Nick.
   
   The book then takes the reader on a Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less vengeance style storyline which although a lot more far fetched, predictable and unrealistic than that book was is still a good tale.
   
   The ending is very predictable, uneventful and a bit of a let down being that the cover blurb "prepare for an ending the will shock even the most ardent of Archer's fans". Clearly the blurb has not read this book at least not to the final pages.
   
   An enjoyable read, not Archer's best work but a decent length also means its not bad value for money.



3. Lord Jeffrey Archer is back with a bang! Doing what he does best. Writing fiction with revenge and justice as the major themes of his novel.
   
   I have not been as lucky as some as to meet this Lord in person. But I'm sure it would be an amazing experience just to hear him speak on any topic on this earth. He has an astounding insight on what seems to be almost everything.
   
   Lord Archer has proved yet again why he is one of the leading best selling authors of this generation.
   
   The similarities to Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo are clearly evident in this tale and even the main protagonist keeps referring to the book. But Archer gives this tale a modern twist and spices it up with intimate knowledge of the details that he gathered during his 2 year tryst in Her Majesty's prisons.
   
   The tempo of the novel keeps building up and its quite un-put-down-able (not sure if that is a word, but it describes this story aptly) To use a real word, this is a page turner. Definitely not bed time reading unless you plan to stay up all night until you are done.
   
   This is a book that every mystery/crime fan should buy and read and re-read (its a book that may need to be read twice as new angles are discovered which have a different significance on past conversations and situations)
   
   I'm now waiting for Paths of Glory which he is due to release in March of next year.



4. I started reading Jeffrey Archer's novels when I was in college. I loved them so much that I bought and read all his works at least twice over the next 10 years.
   While some of his novels/ short stories may seem a bit of a stretch, I have always found his story telling to be very tight, with an elegant use of English and brilliant one-liners, full of suspense and at several times an edge of the seat turn of events when you cannot take your eyes of the book to even go for a drink of water. The character development was always so nicely done that I could see the story play in my mind as I read the novels.
   
   Then after his prison term, came "Sons of Fortune" and I was not at all impressed with that book (the court drama in that is like a school kids effort compared to the one in "A Prisoner of Birth"). Post that came, "False Impression" and I was disappointed to say the least. These two books took away the complete character of Jeffrey Archers story telling. They read like a below average effort by someone using his name.
   
   When "A Prisoner of Birth" was released, I was determined not to buy the hard bound book and waited for the paper back before I purchased and read it.
   
   And I am delighted to say that the real Jeffrey Archer is back. And with a bang. This was nothing short of a brilliant novel with very neat story telling, brilliant characters and as always, edge of the seat drama and turn of events. Parts of prison escape might seem predictable, but were very well written. The trip made to a Swiss bank, anxiety of how the hero's return would be handled and how the illegality of the will was established are but a few of the brilliantly written parts. Ending, as always was very nice but left me wanting for more...
   
   I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it whole heartedly. Now I wait for the next book from Jeffrey Archer and this time I will buy the hard bound, as soon as it is released.
   
   Would I call it Archer's best? No. That would probably be between "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less'', "Kane and Abel" and maybe some of his short stories. However, it would definitely rank among one of his best.



5. 
   I loved this one. Jeffrey Archer wrote a very compelling thriller, with interesting twists and turns. I found myself listening to it every where, not only in the car. The narrator, Roger Allam is excellent, he does a wonderful job of changing voices and accents so there was never any doubt in my mind which character was " speaking. I listen to many audio books and it is rare that one will keep me awake at night, usually if I listen at bedtime I fall asleep and have to rewind to the spot where I dropped off. Not with this book. I had very dark circles under my eyes for a couple of days with this one.
   Any thing else I could say in review of this book would just be repetition of the positive comments by other reviewers, but I highly recommend this " read" . It is also a good idea to follow up this book by reading The Count of Monte Cristo.