- Master of the Game
Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages - Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 2, 1988)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 9780446355452
- ISBN-13: 978-0446355452
- ASIN: 0446355453
- Amazon Review: 4.5 out of 5
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Another Sidney Sheldon Novel. Another piece of 'bollywood' type thriller that goes on following family ties and hot seductive chics. I know these novels do not have any sense or any thing to learn from. Yet I buy these novels and enjoy thoroughly. Like other Sheldon novels, this book also has a tale of greed, lust and revenge. Overall, it is enticing even though it leaves the reader wondering about certain questions.
The story spans for four generations, and most of the generations captivate the reader for the thrill and genuine passion for what the characters are doing. Action begins when Jamie McGregor, a young Scottish boy searching for a fortune, lands up in the southernmost tip of Africa and became part of the diamond rush. He was betrayed and almost conned to death by a dishonest man. But he returned, became a millionaire, took revenge on the dishonest man and later on became the richest man in the country by starting a company named Kruger-Brent Ltd. His daughter, Kate pushes it to become a worldwide conglomerate and moves to America. Her son wanted to become a painter. She tried to con him out from the painting career, but failed miserably. He even tried to kill her and ended up being in the asylum. Meanwhile, Kate raises her twin grandchildren, Eve and Alexandra. With Alexandra constantly being tried to be killed by Eve, so that Eve does not have to share anything, they grow up. Even with that varied natured descendants, Kate remains calm and on top of her game. Kruger-Brent continues to expand and its revenues keep sky-rocketing. Name of the novel is aptly chosen to portray the life of Kate, who spends her life buying and manipulating people from all walks in her path in her search for the perfect successor. Like other books by the same author, it has suspense in every page, thrilling joyrides through the dry plains of South Africa, scintillating descriptions of New York suburban life and twists and sharp turns in the path of the story's progress. Obviously, the presence of romance and lust are integral part of the works of this author. But hardcore sex scenes and a blond actress did not appear in this book till the story reached its middle ages.
I love Sheldon novels and expectations are literally high for any new novel that I read. Even if the story spans for four generations, it maintains it's flow properly. Nail biting situations and witty comments, high IQ characters really provoke the reader to think. Although may be because of the time span of the story, characters shaped up for something big and only then they either died or went out of picture. Initially I was getting frustrated by this, but I hung on to find out in the later part that the original hero/heroines were introduced later on (rather they were born later, it's not the author's fault, ain't it?).
All in all, even though it is an addictive and entertaining novel, I cannot put it very high in my Sidney Sheldon favorites, just because of the absence of proper material. I came to know a few things about the south african diamond rush in the nineteenth century and some other junk information, still I cannot say that I will remember this story for long. "Tell me your Dreams" is still my favorite Sidney Sheldon Novel.
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