Customer Reviews

The Perfect Fake

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own all of Barbara Parker's book -- at first I was a little disapointed to find this one a stand-alone. Well, until I started to read it. Then I was captivated by Tom Fairchild's dilemma -- can he create the "perfect fake?" I liked the multiple settings -- Miami, London, Italy; the clever ways in which quite a number of plot lines are resolved,the intelligence of the characters (the Weasel excepted -- I really hated him), and my introduction to the fascinating world of antique maps and their collectors. Perhpas the characters are not as richly complicated as those in Parker's "Suspicion of" series, but a really good caper (as this is) should, I think, command a willing suspension of disbelief -- The Perfect Fake is a delightful read.

Barbara Parker's "The Perfect Fake" opens with the brutal killing of Carla, a Miami prostitute, by a vicious brute named Marek. The author then introduces ex-con Tom Fairchild, who has been unable to stay out of trouble since he was thirteen. He has a juvenile record for shoplifting and smoking marijuana, and these offenses led to a stay in a residential facility. He is on probation for burglary after spending a year in the county lockup. If he violates the terms of his parole, he is looking at a stint in state prison. Unfortunately, Tom's probation officer, George (the Weasel) Weems, detests him, and will gladly have Tom sent away for the most minor infraction.

Tom has been trying to make ends meet as a freelance graphic designer and he also assists his sister, Rose, in her antique map shop, "The Compass Rose." Tom's grandfather, William Fairchild, founded the store; a love of old maps is in the Fairchilds' DNA. Tom frequently asks Rose for loans. Even though she is a single mother with quite a few expenses of her own, she always comes through for him.

The heroine is thirty-two year old Allison Barlowe, a lawyer who has yet to take the Florida bar exam. She has a rocky relationship with her wealthy father, Stuart, and an antagonistic one with her stepmother, Rhonda. Her stepbrother, Rhonda's son, Larry Gerard, is a venal and corrupt businessman with some shady associates. One of Larry's cronies is the aforementioned Marek Vuksinic; he is a violent and malevolent sociopath.

Tom and Allison once had an intimate relationship, and they are about to be reunited. What brings them together is a rare Renaissance map created by an Italian cartographer named Gaetano Corelli. After this valuable map is irreparably damaged, Stuart Barlowe hires Tom Fairchild to forge a new one that would be indistinguishable from the original. Tom undertakes the painstaking task with the help of his friend, Eddie, and Allison goes along to keep an eye on the work in progress. The map, it turns out, is more than just a valuable antique; it is a matter of life and death.

Parker's thriller is set in various locales including London and Italy. The author gives the exotic settings their due, and they add to the book's atmosphere. As the convoluted plot unfolds, it turns out that along with the rare map, there are other important matters pending: a multi-million dollar real estate deal, a smuggling operation, and even a potential political coup in a South American country.

Unfortunately, "The Perfect Fake" moves in too many far-flung directions, and it falls apart by the time Parker produces the obligatory twists and turns that mark the story's pat and rushed conclusion. The characters are mildly appealing, but they are sketchily drawn, and the dialogue is stilted and artificial. Parker has done fairly well with her series books in the past, but this stand-alone is at best, a pedestrian effort.

After reading all of Ms Parker's Suspicion of..... books, I eagerly bought this stand-alone. It was worth every penny.

Tom Fairchild was a hero with whom I could sympathize. After a misspent youth and several life challenges, he still remained a good person. As an artist, he sought a way back to a real life and found it.

The many locales were enriching as well as the history of maps. Very interesting. All the characters were well honed. I could not choose which character I loathed more: Marek or 'the weasel'.

There was a small surprise at the end. But the last 20 pages had my heart pumping til its conclusion. I'll await my next fix of Anthony and Gail for another time! This book was a fun read which I could not put down.

In Miami, realtor developer Stuart Barlowe lends a valuable five centuries old map to retired Judge Royce Herron before it was to be part of an exhibition and subsequently after that to be given as a present to a Russian mobster. However, someone assassinates the former judge whose blood seeps onto the rare map while the bullets also damage it.

Barlowe is upset as he needs the Russian money to finance his latest deal but also fears how the mobster will react if told the truth. He offers a lot of money to graphic artist Tom Fairchild, who used to date his daughter Allison the lawyer, to develop a fake map. Though Tom's sister Rose begs him not to take the job, he takes the position and obtains advice from a professional forger who skipped the country and Rose to avoid jail. None of the Barlowe family trusts Tom. Stuart, his wife, his daughter and his stepson watches his every move while behind them the nasty Russian observes all of these throwaway pawns scurrying for safety.

Except Rose, everyone else in this exciting thriller is at least bit amoral though the degrees vary amongst the players as Allison is much more ethical than her father or her former lover. The interplay between the members of the two families is fun as the audience wonders who will out-con who as trust is a dysfunctional verb. Fans of Barbara Parker will read THE PERFECT FAKE in one sitting to learn who is left standing.

Harriet Klausner

When I ordered this book I was expecting a paperback and was very pleasantly surprized to receive a hardback book. Book was received timely and in very good condition. This was the first time I order from this seller and will note their name and order from them again. Barbara was one of my favorite authors and she will be missed greatly.

First by Parker that I have read. Basic story line: Facing probation violation, a graphic artist is hired to forge a perfect fake of a valuable old map. Forced to take along the bosses daughter, who is an ex-lover, he, becoming they along the way, run into bad trouble in effort to prevent completion of the job.

On this plot-line Parker hangs, murder, attempted murder, bribery, deceit, gun-running, coup d'etat. beatings, not to mention, love. marriage, prostitution, and, some information on map-faking with modern technology.

This is no Linda Fairstein murder in the Met in which one is treated to a detailed tour of place and organization.

Here it is make a point, move on quickly to the next, keep it moving, don't spin anything out. For the most part, Parker does it well-enough to keep the reader bound to the basic story while interest is maintained by all the complications. For the Parker fan this should work sufficiently to enjoy the story. For the average reader who allows him/hersef to be carried away without asking questions, this should be a good read. The reader who expects credibility and takes seriously the absence of it, will probably not want to take the time to get irritated by the author.

In sum, this is a take-it-or-leave-it book, nice for an undemanding read on train, bus or plane, or while in an "I don't want to think about anything" mood. Those who want a challenge or are in need of stimulation, might do better elsewhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed this stand-alone book, as well as any in the Suspicion series that Barber Parker has written. It is obvious she carefully researched the locales as well as ancient map writing (I hate it when there is a good plot ... and then it is ruined by sloppy research/unbelievable events & locales). Great plot. Romance is in the background, so you are not distracted by steamy/unnecessary scenes. Nice twists, action, etc. This book does what a good book should do -- take the reader away into another world. I highly recommend it.

I have read all of Parker's books, beginning with Suspicion of Innocence (1994). Although I have enjoyed them all, this one was the best of the lot. Parker did an excellent job with the Italian venue. The plot was convoluted enough to keep me thinking---which most books cannot accomplish. It's always a pleasure to read an intelligent author like Parker who refuses to bend to the dumbed-down pulp fiction trash that so many other authors have succumbed to. Go to it Barbara. I look forward to your next one.

Enjoyable book that is a stand alone novel. No previous knowledge of the characters is required (always a plus). An ex-con must forge a map for a billionaire to set himself free. Plenty of plot twists and unexpected turns. I had never read anything by this author before and I will certainly look for her in the future.

There is not a writer who creates a tantalizing hero like Barbara Parker. ( I admit to being a fan, having read every single one of her books from the Suspicion series through BLOOD RELATIONS. In THE PERFECT FAKE, Tom has a dark past, or so people think, including his former girlfriend. Inside, he's noble and adores his sister, Rose, who owns a map shop. Tom works there, too, and in order to solve a brutal crime, he has to create a map. 'Nuff said, don't want to spoil your read, but the old world research Barbara Parker has done to create this lifelike tale is amazing. I eagerly await Barbara Parker's next novel.