A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A Prisoner of Birth
Book Review: Jeffrey Archer Once Again Has Written A Riveting Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
In A Prisoner of Birth Jeffrey Archer offers up another multilayered thriller that includes a bevy of crimes emanating from a wrongful murder conviction. Among the transgressions are: the escape from Belmarsh prison that is a high-security establishment in southeast London, identity theft, stealing a very valuable stamp collection and its subsequent sale, perjury and forgery.
The story unfolds with a Prologue where we read about Danny Cartwrights's marriage proposal to his girlfriend Beth Wilson. To celebrate, the couple decide to meet Beth's brother Bernie, who was also Danny's oldest friend, at a local wine bar to celebrate. It is here where the trio encounter four obnoxious individuals, an attorney, Spencer Craig, a well-known actor, Larry Davenport, an investment dealer, Gerald Payne, and an aristocrat, Toby Mortimer. The four, who seem to be inebriated, begin to spout vicious remarks at Danny, Beth and Bernie, particularly at Beth who they call a slut.
Eventually, Danny, Beth and Bernie decide to leave the bar and they wind up at the back entrance where a fight ensues wherein Danny and Bernie take on two members of the quartet. Beth witnesses what is happening and heeds her brother's advice to grab a cab and as she enters the cabs she tells the driver that Danny and Bernie will be along shortly, whereupon the cab driver retorts, "I don't think it is a taxi they'll be needing, luv. If they were my friends, I'd be phoning for an ambulance."
After this prologue, Archer then goes onto divide his tale into six books Trial, where Danny is falsely convicted of murdering his best friend Bernie, Prison, where Danny befriends two prisoners who will have quite an influence on his future life, Freedom, where Danny escapes prison impersonating one of the prisoners, Revenge, where Danny becomes very creative in settling scores with the guilty parties who were all instrumental in contributing to his unlawful incarceration, Redemption and Judgment.
Archer once again shows himself to be gifted as well as being very creative.
From the very first pages the story-telling clutches the reader and never lets go.
He has written a carefully contrived thriller with great momentum and some very interesting characters which no doubt can be attributed to the two years he served in Her Majesty's prisons as well as his five years as a member of the British Parliament. Some of his previous novels as Prison Diaries, Kane and Abel, and False Impression have been international bestsellers and it would not surprise me if A Prisoner of Birth likewise reaches this plateau.
Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures
Book Review: Ken Dowe Reviews Jeffrey Archer's PRISONER OF BIRTH
Summary: 5 Stars
Here's a book that proves there is good reason Mr. Archer is Great Britain's best selling novelist. What good can come when a Cockney lad shares a pint with his fiance and his best friend in the wrong (posh) end of London inside a pub full of drunken gentry? A few sodden comments, a leer here and there, and his friend lies dead outside the drinking establishment. With enough money, one can avoid the consequences of sin in any court. With power, pounds, and position, the three guilty "gentlemen" can manuever through the English courts with relative ease. The innocent "Danny" loses his lover, his unborn child, and 20+ years of his life. But, education can find its way even through locked cells, if one seeks it. In prison Danny is tutored by a genteel man whose own world has been rocked. Danny becomes a student of protocol. He is taught to dress like, talk like, and becomes even more of a look-a-like of his new friend and mentor. Suddenly, during a prison riot, Danny's soon to be released friend is killed. Fortuitously, (and because it makes for a great story!), Danny is mistakenly identified as his teacher, and summarily released from prison. It this was a great story before, and it was, PRISONER OF BIRTH now goes to max power and soars. Danny, becomes his friend. With all the accoutrements of fortune, and the new faculty of mind and body to right quite a number of wrongs. The first of whom will be each of the dandies who conspired to admit him to a generation of confinement. Vengence may be the Lord's, but the Almighy likely could not have done a better job of bringing the "olde public school tie boys" to their days of judgment. And, then there is the final twist. Of course, Danny is found out, and naturally he loses all that he gains; because, in the end justice must prevail. Or, must it? And, after all justice isn't always what comes out of a courtroom. Sometimes, "One good act of vengeance deserves another." This is an extremely entertaining read. Buy it. Buy two, in the event your spouse begins PRISONER and takes yours from you...Book Review: Lord Archer is back with a bang!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Most Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a person who normally writes a review. But, I want all of you to know a good book when you see one. All of you will definitely enjoy this one. There was not one boring page and not any places where the pace slowed down. The story was very cleverly written and I am a Jeffrey Archer fan from now on. This was the first of his books I have ever read and never have read one even similar to this one. Revenge is sweet when done in the right way. The ending was fabulous.
I just got another one of Archer's books and looking forward to it as well.
Book Review: Not up to par...
Summary: 3 Stars
Jeffrey Archer has been a favorite author. He has written great books, but his recent books have disappointed me. "A Prisoner of Birth" was lukewarm, and it took me a while to finish it, whereas in the past, I could not put them down...