An Inheritance

by Caro Fraser

As a child, Orlando had everything he needed; brought up by two devoted aunts he was surrounded by love and wanted for nothing. But his aunts feel that love is not enough - what Orlando needs to secure his future is money, and it is only by an accident of birth that he is not to inherit the hugh Estate of Stow Stocksley and all that goes with it. So Orlando is introduced to the grandfather he has never known and the lifestyle he could never have imagined. An excellent education, a promising career, the right Social circle... now all Orlando has to do to inherit his grandfather's fortune is prove himself a worthy heir. Unlike his wastrel, drug-addict cousin - Roger who was destined for the inherirance. But life is not running quite as smoothly as everyone planned. Love, sex and a decidedly dubious friendship get in the way. And with the appearance of the infamous Roger, charming, self-destructive and the true heir to Stow Stocksley, Orlando's life - and his future - is turned upside down.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1997

Reviews

[Melanie]

Didn't finish this one - just couldn't get into it so it's off to the Canberra Bookcrossing Uncanvention :)

[Nikki H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different characters and a different story from her other books, but very recognisable as Caro Fraser.

Although first published in 1996, it is set in the 1980s, with the final scenes played out against a backdrop of (although the candidates are not named) the US 1988 Presidential election. But in spite of references to “modern” things like park-and-ride, the story has a distinctly old-fashioned feel to it – all about whether an illegitimate child, brought up by poor(-ish) relatives, is going to inherit his grandfather’s huge estate instead of the drug addict legitimate heir.

Caro Fraser excels at writing about upper-middle class relationships, including the petty jealousies, lusts, and so on that make life interesting. Here she’s particularly good on Orlando’s relationships with a prostitute, with his first love, and with the aforementioned legitimate heir.

Not everything rang true, though: I couldn’t believe that Orlando would bump into both his first love (not seen for many years) and the legitimate heir (never met before) at the same dinner dance! But it was another easy, very enjoyable read for me.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating it highly but still unsure about it. The author makes liberal use of omniscient narrative which can feel a bit spoon fed at times, and some of the writing lacks depth, but I found myself feeling oddly connected to the characters throughout. Explores privilege in an obvious and ordinary way, and the last third of the book picks up significantly.

[Lisa van Zyl-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good. Quite enjoyable. Some good characters and some fairly horrible ones too...

[Pamrla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about youth of Leonardo and the obstacles to gaining an inherited estate . Set amongst secrets, intrigue , misunderstandings, pride and stubbornness of character and sex.

[Victoria Conlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. Nicely written. But seems to have forgotten to another with an actual plot.