This kind of novel is a bit like junk food—fun to consume, but it probably should not constitute the bulk of my literary diet. It’s an historical epic in the vein of Clavell and Uris set in late 19th Century London, but focuses more on the plot lines of the fictional characters than historical events.
I would have preferred fewer raunchy brothel scenes, but I guess I kept reading anyway…

Review of the audiobook narrated by Michael Page.

This is my fourth book by Ken Follett and I can't help but notice his formula now. Generational stories told in periods that are broken up into parts by long time jumps (this works well). Great villains that you will hate, yet at the same time find sympathetic (another win). A male protagonist who is a plain looking overachiever and a female protagonist who is a beautiful and strong ahead-of-her-time innovator (getting a little old). The good characters will have something or someone they love taken away from them when they are about to achieve happiness (every. single. time.). Follett will be obsessed with every female character's breasts (must we?). But the formula works well as Follett is a master of intrigue and is great at getting you to identify with all of the characters, good and bad.

For those fans of the Kingsbridge series, that town is mentioned and has tertiary characters appear in the plot. Chronologically, this book is set hundreds of years after the last book in that series, but it's still a nice reminder that you're in Follett's universe. If this were my first Ken Follett book I likely would have given it 5 stars like I did with A Place Called Freedom (my first of his), but this now familiar formula gives the book an element of predictability that does take away from the overall enjoyment and in the end it's a satisfying 4 stars instead.

This audiobook was recorded in 1994. With the recent boom in audiobook production I don't listen to many which were produced so long ago. Usually these cases are narrated by long forgotten actors, but this time it's a narrator, Michael Page, who I also enjoyed in a contemporary production (his performance of The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of my favorites). He's great here with the various characters and accents and I will continue to choose books just because he is the narrator.

Final verdict: 4 star story, 5 star narration, 4 stars overall

Good story, but way too lengthy. 2,5 Stars.

Când ești o familie foarte bogată și cu ambiția de a rămâne în vârf ai de înfruntat foarte multe pericole: trădări, crime, secrete și incapacitatea de a delimita interesele familiei de cele ale afacerii. Toate astea nu pot avea decât un singur sfârșit- falimentul.

If you enjoy historical fiction I definitely recommend this one, colorful characters (specially the wicked ones) and an interesting storyline, thoroughly enjoyable!

Podia começar aqui a adjectivar este livro, mas quem me conhece sabe que os únicos enredos que me interessam são os das estórias.
Ken Follett é de facto um senhor contador de estórias! Este é um livro fantástico, com personagens excelentes!
Não vou opinar sobre a escrita do autor porque o que li foi uma tradução e acho um pouco fantasioso afirmá-lo sem ler originais, mas posso avançar que o texto estava isento de erros.

Quanto à estória... temos um grupo de colegas de colégio que passam por um acontecimento que lhes marca a vida, uns mantém-se unidos outros são obrigados a tomar decisões...

What a fun read! The characters are the stars of this novel. Some you love, some you hate and some you feel sorry for. Love, greed, betrayal, and regrets. This book has it all.

https://booknation.ro/recenzie-o-aver...

Parts of this book were worthy of four stars; some parts three; mostly two however. Very predictable, formulaic plot. After having read the first two installments of the Century trilogy and then coming back to this very early novel in Follett's career, the common elements in his formula are so much more obvious: the socioeconomic class struggles; the upper class/lower class love affair; the illegitimate child; the evil matriarch; the good ole'boy protagonist with blue eyes; the sex. Ah, yes, the sex. Always the sex.

An entertaining read, no doubt. But definitely formulaic and predictable. And one thing I have to say about Follett's dialogue writing: it's pretty bad. Really, really flat and just not how people talk. Not in this century, not in the 19th, not ever.

Will read more Follett someday, but this one did not blow me away.

Um livro cheio de altos e baixos mas simplesmente arrebatador!

Yes, this book is somewhat predictable and serves less as a mystery novel and more as a historical drama/romance, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the novel simply as it was. It may also be a bit too familiar to Follett followers as the model of storytelling remains consistent with his typical writing techniques, but it also displays Follett's tremendous ability to set a mood and create an atmosphere that makes almost all his books so hard to put down. The historical detail makes A Dangerous Fortune quite informative and it made me an instant fan of the 19th century setting. The characters are, as usual, utterly captivating, and Follett has a knack for making you sympathize with, root for, or despise even the most evil of characters. This book is the perfect combination of historical insight, suspense, and romance all intwined in the 19th century setting making this a book I would recommend to any reader, Follett fan or otherwise.

Can always count on Ken to absorb me in those times when life gets in the way of reading something deep and literary! COVID's isolation had me unable to focus on a book for about three weeks, so I turned to a writer I knew would allow me directly into a story. I was right. This is not one of his best, but it was one I hadn't read and I knew if anyone could get me to lose myself in a book, he could. Thank you Ken for bringing me back to a decent reading pattern. Have read five books since!