The rich shall inherit [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Adler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1989

Millions of dollars will belong to the person who can prove he or she is a descendant of the mystery woman called Poppy Mallory.  Millions of lies have been told along California's Gold Coast, in Paris's demimonde, and Italy's dangerous underworld, to hide the identity of her daughter . . . or son.  Millions of hopes grip the hearts of five desperate people, each of whom claim to be Poppy's heir and are willing to commit shocking acts of passion--or even murder--to prove it.  Millions of dreams buried in the past with Poppy's secrets are now about to be exposed if one determines investigative reporter can uncover the scandalous sin behind it all . . .

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Adler's third novel ( Leonie ; Peach ), has the makings of a run-of-the-mill sex-and-Gucci jet-set frolic that condescends slightly to its readers (doesn't everyone know Geneva is in Switzerland?). Yet it rises above the genre to surprise, fascinate and eventually elicit a smile at its resolution. Mike Preston, an investigative journalist looking for a new subject, spots an ad in the L.A . Times seeking the heiress to the estate of Poppy Mallory (born in Santa Barbara, died in Italy). When he contacts the Swiss lawyer who placed the ad, advocate Lieber tells him that Poppy's estate is worth hundreds of millions, and agrees that if Mike finds the heiress, he can write a book about Poppy. The novel continues on two time lines. In the present, the various claimants, all somehow (but how?) linked with Poppy, gradually become aware of each other. Alternately, we learn that Poppy was seduced and abused, ran the most exclusive brothel in Paris, fell in love with a powerful Italian gangster, lost her son's love, died slightly gaga, very rich and utterly alone. But all is not cliche; here are scarlet herrings (men and women), genuine pathos, humor and inventiveness, and the rich actually reap the whirlwind while the riches are inherited by the meek and deserving. Troll Book Club main selection.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"Rises above the genre to surprise, fascinate . . . Genuine pathos, humor and inventiveness."
--Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 531 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press; First edition (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440501156
• ISBN-13: 978-0440501152
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,026,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elizabeth Adler is a self-confessed romantic, a travel addict and a foodie, all of which she brings to the reader in her novels, along with a tough thrust of suspense and an unfolding mystery that keeps you on your toes. Elizabeth has lived in many countries and when she's not writing spends time discovering even more places to bring to you, with her husband, Richard - still in love after all these years - as are the characters featured in her past three novels, Mac Reilly the Malibu PI and Sunny Alvarez, his lover and side kick. You have to read about them to know them! Elizabeth lives in California and has the ability to take you to all those romantic places she knows so well, Capri, Venice, Tuscany, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, and of course, Malibu. You will feel you are there, with her, sitting on that Italian terrace, sipping that coffee, smelling the delicious food, savoring the heat and the sunshine and the mystery unfolding for you. Elizabeth is five-three and wishes she were taller, blind as a bat without her glasses that anyway she is too vain to wear, and at 128 lbs till thinking about that diet. She has one daughter, Anabelle who is married to rock musician Eric Avery and two kitties, the Siamese, Sweet Pea who rules the household, and an adorable black cat Sunny.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tangled Web of Family History and Scandal Is Thrilling Read, October 6, 2003

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Rich Shall Inherit (Paperback)

This is the unforgettable and totally captivating story of Poppy Mallory. From Poppy's tragic youth spent with a n'er-do-well gambling addict who allowed her to be raised by ladies of the evening and orphanages, to her rise as a notorious woman of France, I was totally engrossed in finding out what would happen next. A life punctuated by lost love and the great sadness of giving birth to two children she could never fully know, make this one of the best novels I've read this year.

When investigative journalist Mike Preston is commissioned to find the missing heir/heiress to Poppy Mallory's fortune, he uncovers an incredibly tangled family tree and uproots all its darkest secrets. From California to Venice to Paris and around the globe, this fascinating story unfolds with a richly-textured plot and distinctive characters.

From the very beginning, when Poppy's father Jeb Mallory concocts a plan with immigrant Nikolas Konstant, the story leads readers on a magical mystery of scandals, lies, and deception. Who will emerge as the true heir becomes almost second in importance to the interesting lives Poppy, her friends, and descendents live. Her childhood friends Angel and Greg Konstant, her first love Felipe and her unforgettable lover Franco as well as all the offspring of these characters are woven into a remarkable tale that you won't want to put down. This book is ingenious, well-plotted, and totally intriguing. I look forward to reading more by this author.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, January 29, 2000

By 

Janine - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rich Shall Inherit (Paperback)

This was the first Elizabeth Adler book I read all the way through (I didn't enjoy her first two novels Peach/Private Desires) I have read TRSI about 4 times over a period of five years, and I still enjoy hearing the story of Poppy Mallory and her descendants. Even thought I have enjoyed all her other books I still rate this as the best

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read but...., July 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Rich Shall Inherit (Hardcover)

Poppy Mallory was a woman who lead a very difficult and interesting life and upon death left her inheritance to her heir. The problem was... who was the heir... an ad had been placed in the paper asking the heir to make him/herself known. Mike Preston, an investigative journalist found the add and decided he would investigate who was the rightful heir, for the sake of a book he wanted to write. Several people answered the ad, all believing they were the true heirs. As a reader also stated, I found myself rooting for some and hoping others were not. I liked the fact that present and past events were mixed in throughout the book. The only problem I had was that it didn't end as I would have hoped; slightly disappointed, but as I have read the reviews of others, they all seem quite satisfied.. so you be the judge.