Jeffrey Archer is a well-established English author, who has written such bestsellers as Kane and Abel and Honor Among Thieves, but his latest addition to the publishing world, Sons of Fortune, fails in many ways; maybe it is because he wrote it under the duress of incarceration?

For about a year now Archer has spent his time in prison because he was essentially embezzling money as a member of the House of Lords. In that time he has written and produced a play pleading his innocence, and has written this book. It is about two brothers (as many of Archer’s books are), but they do not know they are brothers, separated at birth due to the apparent stupidity and gullibility of the medical industry, as well as the necessity of one nurse to look good. The result is these two brothers aspire to be politicians and eventually run for governor against each other, even though they are unaware that they are twins.

And this thin and coincidence-filled plot is not all that is wrong with this book. The two characters simply excel in every possible way: doing great at school, getting the girls they want, getting the positions they want, and getting recognized for their brilliance, to the extent that it becomes sickening.

Sons of Fortune is a book that deserves to be set with the likes of those written by Danielle Steel and James Patterson, to be read by those who seek very little out of a book, but simply to divert themselves from their inane lives.

Originally published on April 21st, 2003 ©Alex C. Telander.

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