Customer Reviews

The Inheritance

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

In his acknowledgments, Savage likes to think that this novel owes so much to Poe, Hawthorne, D.H. Lawrence (a Gothic writer?!), Dickens and other 19th century writers. In fact, this novel (as do his earlier books) owes more to Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr and writers of fair play puzzle mysteries of the early 20th century. I don't think Savage has ever really read a real Gothic. He certianly doesn't acknowledge the creators of the genre: Anne Radcliffe and Horace Walpole, or the 19th centruy writers who made it entertaining Sheridan LeFanu, Wilkie Collins. This book is great on plot but is fairly mediocre in every other respect. Surprising since this is Savage's third novel. The characters are stock; the dialogue is banal, stilted and surprisingly lacking in wit; the setting (aren't Gothics supposed to be 95% local color?) is unimaginatively realized. It definitely is "lite" reading. But as always the Savage twists and surprises are plenty. It strikes me that this would do better as a tongue-in-cheek send-up of Gothic stories. It's a borderline gay camp thriller, if you read between the lines. The characters certainly lend themselves to parody especially the evil Catherine and her lusty husband. It's all so ridiculously serious and the plot is too preposterous to be taken seriously. By the end (outrageous and close to immoral), not a single character is who you thought they were, most of them having every last bit of decency wrung out of them. Easily knocked off in one sitting, "The Inheritance" is recommended only for those who like trying to outguess the writer at his own tricks.

I read this book in a matter of 2 days, which is good for me seeing how many books I have that have a bookmark somewhere in them where I either got bored or just quit reading. I thought the story moved well and you will get used to the fact that it's being told in first person. Don't worry, you find out who drowned the lady in the beginning and all the other questions you have throughout the book will be answered. I thought the last page of the book made the entire story. In fact, I covered it with a post-it so that the next person who borrowed it from me wouldn't cheat. I doubt it would make sense even if they did read it, but you never know. In fact, about 8 people have borrowed my now tattered book whose cover is long gone and all have loved it as much as I did and yes, the post-it note is still covering that last page and everyone agrees to just leaving it that way! ;)

Former travel agent, Holly Smith has recently discovered that she is the heir to the Randall fortune. When she was a baby she was put up for adoption and now her grandfather wishes to leave all his fortune to her after his death. She is unaware of the circumstances of her adoption but once she comes to live at Randall House she will learn the truth. Holly's other relatives are not happy with her appearance since she now owns most of the Randall Estate. They want her dead and make it look like an accident in order to get their hands on the money.

If you have not read any of Tom Savage's novels you are in for a treat. Things are not what they seem. This book has its requisite twist and turns with a surprise ending. Unfortunately most of his novels carry the same formula. If you have never read his novels you will enjoy this one, if you read him before the surprise will be lost on you.

This book was a great read!! It had twists and turns throughout with an ending that makes you reread the last chapter again. Savage did an excellent job of keeping the reader involved and tying up EVERY loose end. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who likes twists and surprise endings!!

I have been a fan of Tom Savage's since reading Valentine and couldn't wait to start this book. I thought the beginning was very well written, but this book lags in the middle. I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen, so why bother finishing it? I almost put it down but stuck with it and I'm glad I did!

I never saw the end plot twist coming at all, I was SHOCKED when I read it! Let me just say this, no one is who they appear to be. My advice is, if you read this book, is stick with it through the middle part which is some what boring, the pay off is worth it in the end! Now that I've read all of Mr Savage's brilliant novels, I just hope he puts another one out soon!

As one who has grown tired of the suspense/mystery genre, Tom Savage has rejuvenated me. Similar to Valentine's Day and the Precipice, the Inheritance is as page-turning as a Sidney Sheldon novel, but with twists that are not only believable, but mind boggling. Tom Savage, you da man!

Sometimes I listen to books that I won't read in print form. I had several audio books on request, but needed something on hand in case my sporadic insomnia came calling. So I browsed the shelves before I left work recently and came across this gothic novel. I haven't read gothic novels since I was a young teenager; I thought I'd revisit the genre.

The plotline is quite simple. An adoptee learns that she is really an heiress and heads off to claim her fortune. When she arrives at the stately mansion in Connecticut that is her newly inherited home, she discovers quite a cast of characters. There's the gorgeous chauffer who chases rich women, the chauffer's mentally ill sister who repeatedly buries a baby doll, the sickly sweet but secretly sinister aunt and uncle, the silent boy and his dog who wander the grounds and the physically deformed chess player who never comes out of his room.

But not everything is quite as it seems.

While most of the book is mildly entertaining, the last few chapters will make you feel like you've just seen a horrific accident. If you listen to the audio book in the wee hours of the morning, don't plan on going to sleep during the final cassette.

Tom Savage has become my new favorite author. I just wish he'd come out with a new one soon! Inheritance was a nice, easy read until you got to Chapter 13. If you can't dedicate yourself to finishing the book once you reach Chapter 13, put it down until you can. There was one shock after another. My husband thought I was having heart problems because I kept gasping!! Make sure to read the rest of his book; they are just as suspenseful!! Please, Tom, come out with another one soon!!!!

Savage is the master of the twisting thriller and this shocker is one of the reasons why.When Holly Smith finds out she is a inheritor of the vast Randall estate and must live with her new family she enters a web of murder and betrayal where nothing is at it seems.This chilling novel of murder, greed and betrayal will keep you guessing and shocked with it's sinister atmosphere,fiendish plot twists that don't end till the final page!A true Gothic chiller that you will never forget. Hitchcock would had been proud to film this novel.

I found the novel a bit dis-jointed at the beginning. Perhaps it was just me. I had trouble figuring out how the characters were related to one another. But as the novel progressed, those relationships became clearer.

I found the novel to be fairly fast-paced and not prone to getting bogged down in unessential details. A few unexpected twist and the surprise ending clerarly tells me that I would do it again (read) with this author.