Book Review: A Prisoner of Birth

I love it when audio books conclude with a brief interview with the author. Jeffrey Archer is such a stellar author that I welcome any comments he has to make about the writing process. He revealed, at the end of A Prisoner of Birth, that this was the seventeenth draft of the book. Moreover, he outlined his writing schedule (two intense months a year of 3 or 4 two-hour stints of writing per day). It is clear: great writing is hard work. It demands effort, even for a master.

Archer has done it again! He has crafted an intricate maze of conflict and resolution. This book was like a game of cat and mouse. At first, I had a hard time following where the story was leading, but by the midway point it was clear. I've never read The Count of Monte Cristo, but in the interview Archer explained his desire to recast the story in a modern light. What a successful venture!

Danny Cartwright is on the top of the world. His girlfriend has just become his fiance. They are celebrating the grand achievement at a pub with her brother, Danny's best friend. But before the night is over, the brother is dead and Danny is charged with his murder. The four responsible men think they can rest easy after Danny's twenty-two-year sentence. They do not expect the intensity of Danny's desire for rectification and revenge.

If you are looking for a riveting read, you cannot miss with a Jeffrey Archer novel. I'm grateful for all his hard work. He presents the reader with masterful storytelling and complex plotting. Many accolades for Archer again.