Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The Heirs - Book Review




Eleanor and Rupert Falkes have raised five handsome, well-educated and successful sons in upper-crust Manhattan. Their family is admired and revered. When their beloved father Rupert dies, his sons and wife are still grieving his death when a claim is made against the estate. Another woman claims that her sons were fathered by Rupert and deserve an inheritance. Shocked by this revelation that may or may not be true, the sons and Eleanor struggle with their emotions and the possible disintegration of their family.

Written in thoughtful and insightful prose, The Heirs by Susan Rieger was an engaging and consuming read. The characters were humanly flawed and though I didn't really like most of the family members, I was completely intrigued by their reactions and choices in the face of their trial. I tend to gravitate towards books and movies about family relationships and The Heirs successfully explores family and how well they really know one another. Each of the five sons are very unique in their personalities and goals and it's very interesting to see how they react to the news.

The Heirs is a short novel, with taut prose that is beautiful and and packed with meaning. I devoured it quickly and found the characters, especially Eleanor and Sam, to be fascinating and memorable. Though primarily a character study, it combines the characters with a well-formed plot to execute a brilliant novel. It is definitely one of the better books that I've read this spring.

The Heirs by Susan Rieger is published by Crown and released May 23, 2017.

**I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinions. No compensation was received in exchange for this review.**

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