This is a truly fast-paced and engrossing read.

I have perused her Starbridge books that center around ecclesial drama on numerous occasions, yet I had never delved into one of her earlier works.

I am extremely glad that I finally took the plunge.

This book is set within the time frame of the 1920s and 30s. However, the financial intrigue and the various shenanigans described within its pages read as if they were happening in 2017.

The author has managed to create a narrative that is both historical and yet feels so relevant to the present day.

It is a remarkable feat that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

The vivid descriptions and the well-developed characters add to the overall allure of the story.

One can't help but be drawn into the world that the author has created and become invested in the outcome of the financial dealings and the lives of the characters involved.

It is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

I really liked the way this piece was written by different characters.

Each character brought their own unique perspective and voice to the story, which made it truly engaging.

The author did a great job of differentiating between the characters, so that you could easily tell who was speaking or thinking at any given moment.

This added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the narrative, as we got to see the events unfold through the eyes of multiple people.

It also made the story more relatable, as we could identify with different characters depending on our own experiences and emotions.

Overall, I thought the use of different characters to tell the story was a brilliant technique that really enhanced the reading experience.

The story was filled with twists and turns on every single page.

There were so many instances when I found myself thinking "no way!".

And then, all of a sudden, it just ended with a simple "thank you for listening".

Despite the unexpected ending, the book was engaging from start to finish.

However, I would recommend this book to some with caution.

The reason being that it contains sexual situations and strong language.

Both of these elements were not really what I was expecting when I started reading.

But by the time some of it came up, I was already captivated by the story.

So, while it was a great read in many ways, potential readers should be aware of these aspects before diving in.

Indulgent fluff! This description truly hit the mark. The content seemed to be something from a bygone era, lacking the freshness and relevance that one would expect in today's context.

It felt as if it was trapped in a time warp, unable to break free and adapt to the changing times. The fluffiness of it all was perhaps a bit too much, making it difficult to take seriously.

While there may have been some elements that could have been interesting, they were overshadowed by the overall sense of being dated. It's a shame really, as with a bit of modernization and a more focused approach, it could have had the potential to be something much more engaging and worthwhile.

But as it stands, it's just a relic of the past, a reminder of how things used to be and a lesson in the importance of keeping up with the times.

I absolutely loved this one.

Dinah and Cornelius are both truly amazing characters.

Dinah is a character full of charm and charisma. Her every action and word draw you in, making you eager to know more about her story.

Cornelius, on the other hand, is a character with depth and complexity. His struggles and triumphs add an interesting layer to the overall narrative.

Together, Dinah and Cornelius create a dynamic duo that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Their interactions are filled with chemistry and emotion, making it impossible not to root for them.

Whether they are facing challenges or celebrating victories, you can't help but be invested in their journey.

This story is a testament to the power of great characters and their ability to capture our hearts and imaginations.

A good read indeed. However, it has its drawbacks. The length of the article can be a bit overwhelming at times, and some of the content is rather technical, which might pose a challenge for some readers.

Nevertheless, despite these minor flaws, it is still well worth reading. The author has clearly done a great deal of research, and this is evident throughout the piece. The information presented is accurate, detailed, and well-structured.

Overall, if you are willing to invest the time and effort, you will find this article to be a valuable and informative read. It offers unique insights and perspectives that are sure to enhance your understanding of the subject matter.

A good read…

..if a little too long and, at times, a bit technical.
That said, it’s well worth reading. It’s very well researched.

This piece of writing is really good.

It has a certain charm that intrigues the reader from the very beginning.

The details provided are sometimes a bit excessive, but on the whole, they add to the overall richness and authenticity of the narrative.

Despite the abundance of details, the story still manages to flow smoothly, keeping the reader engaged and interested.

The author has done a great job of creating a vivid and immersive world that draws the reader in and makes them want to know more.

Overall, this is a piece of writing that is well worth reading, despite its few flaws.

It has the potential to leave a lasting impression on the reader and make them eager to explore more of the author's work.

I read this book twice as a teenager growing up in the suburbs of Hartford.

My mother had it in the house, and out of curiosity, I picked it up.

At that time, it opened up a whole new and fascinating world for me, one that I had never encountered before.

The story was so engaging that I couldn't put it down.

Looking back now, I'm not sure if I would give it five stars.

However, I still remember how thrilling I thought the literary technique of shifting first-person narrators was.

It added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the story, making it even more captivating.

This book had a significant impact on me during my formative years and remains a memorable read to this day.

I really enjoyed this book. However, I have to admit that it was extremely long. In my personal opinion, it could have been reduced by about a quarter.

The central character who ties together all the other characters' lives is Dinah Slade. She is a young and ambitious single woman who lives in Mallingham on her old family's estate. She manages to attract Paul Van Zale, a married man who lives in New York and is a managing partner in an investment bank during the late 1920s and 1930s. When Paul passes away, Dinah then sets her eyes on Paul's protégé, Steve Sullivan, who unfortunately also meets an untimely death. To make matters more complicated, she has children out of wedlock with both men.

The book spans over many years and is so long that it would be very difficult to fully explain. Essentially, it is a saga that focuses on the Van Zale Bank and the power struggles that occur between the partners and Dinah Slade.

This flipping fabulous tome of a book, which was written in 1977, is an absolute scream. I loved every single word of it.

Ostensibly, it is a re-telling of Antony and Cleopatra, with all the brilliant allusions to Roman poetry and prose. However, it has been updated to the 1920s - 1940s and has trans-Atlantic settings.

The scope of this book is clearly quite massive, but it is so well handled and narrated with a prism-like technique by Susan Howarth that it never feels difficult. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

What a great find this book is. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story, well-written prose, and a unique take on a classic tale. It is a book that will keep you engaged from beginning to end and leave you wanting more.

I had accidentally picked up "Sins of The Father", the 2nd book in the series. I had read a few chapters before realizing it was the second in the series and had to go and get the first one. Without any prior knowledge of the book's plot, I was rather confused as to why the characters were behaving the way they were. Even when Paul meets Dinah, I thought, "Oh, she ripped that off from Cleopatra." It wasn't until I was halfway through, around 50%, that I realized this was about Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and Octavius set during the time period between WW1 and WW2. Once I understood the context, that's when the book started to become more interesting. Howatch makes just enough deviations from the historical events to keep you in suspense about how it will end.

However, there are a few things that prevent it from being a 4 or a 5 for me. The change in time works better than it might have, but there are still moments where characters react to Paul in a certain way simply because that's how they would react to Julius Caesar, rather than because the plot or the characters have earned that reaction. Also, since this book was written in the 80s about the early 20th century, certain events and conversations are framed in a very dated way. Some of this is intentional, while some is a consequence of when it was written. The whole conspiracy with O'Reilly felt a bit sloppy to me personally. And I wasn't a fan of Steve's death, although I will admit that the car accident was probably the easiest way to achieve a Mark Antony-like death in this particular universe.

Having said all that, this is still a very strong 3. I came into this series with low expectations, hoping for some 80s nighttime soap opera/miniseries type drama, and ended up getting something a little more interesting.

Still great 20 years later!


I first read this book during my teenage years. Even then, I was completely engrossed in the soap opera-like lives of Dinah, Paul, Sylvia, Steve, and Cornelius. Their stories were so captivating that they remained etched in my memory all these years. I've always had a strong desire to re-read this book, and now that I finally have, I find myself loving it just as much as I did back then. What makes this book truly special is that each of the main characters gets the opportunity to tell their side of the story. It provides a unique and multi-faceted perspective that enriches the overall narrative.


Despite being a hefty book, it is surprisingly an easy read. The author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it a pleasure to immerse oneself in the world of these characters. This book has truly solidified itself as one of my all-time favorite books. It has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with me on a deep level. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story filled with drama, romance, and complex characters.