A GOOD READ , 28 Dec 2008
i HAD NEVER READ ANY OF PENNY VINCENZI BOOKS BEFORE, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET INTO THE STYLE OF WRITING AND THE STORY LINE BUT I PERSEVERED WITH IT AND i ENDED UP REALLY ENJOYING IT.i WOULD NOT BE IN A HURRY TO RUSH OUT AND GET ANOTHER ONE OF HER BOOKS BUT I DID ENJOY THIS ONE.
Couldn't put it down!, 08 Sep 2004
I have read a number of Penny Vincenzi novels before and have always enjoyed them, however "Almost a Crime" really surpasses the rest. From the first chapter you find yourself turning the pages almost compulsively, and it is so difficult to put down that I ended up bringing it everywhere with me, just to snatch a few minutes reading wherever I could! A truly gripping read.
A Delightful Read, 23 Oct 2002
This story is about this perfect couple, Octavia and Tom Flemming who have a marriage made in heaven. Society looks up to this attractive and golden couple; in fact everyone does. Well heeled they both are and in prominent positions to boot.But that's until the cookie crumbles and Tom begins to have a torrid and steamy affair, putting his wife through so much embarassment, sickness and paranoia, she can hardly bear to leave the house. And look who he is having the affair with? There is betrayal amongst friends and this obviously affects the couple's professional lives interferring with their wealthy status . This book is a stunner with its variety of characters.....especially the ladies....some plain though interesting all the same, while others are attractive and rather hoity toity. The big question however is will this marriaage between this golden couple survive? Another good one from Penny Vincenzi....go for it. You love it and won't be satisfied until you've found out whodunnit.
a good plot but a slapdash end, 12 Feb 2002
The plot and the characters are really interesting but I was very disapointed by the end. I had the feeling the author wanted to be done with her book as she clearly not allowed her characters to explain themselves and resolve their issues (especially work/family time).
A fantastic unputtdownable experience!, 23 Dec 2000
This novel conveys the ultimate power marriage, its positive impact on the individuals' businesses and social life, and the intrusion into family quality time. It was an excellent portrayal of this power marriage and working parents' family life as well as conveying the ultimate betrayal in a marriage.
However, the beauty of the thrill of this novel which made me read and read as I couldn't put it down was the integration of the other characters. I was particularly fascinated by the Muirhead family, and Louise and her mother Anna. They were all very strong and interesting characters who introduced fascinating sub plots to the main drama.
I have been a big fan of Penny Vincenzi for a couple of years, and this novel is definitely one of my favourites as it covered such a lot of themes which did not cliche but enhanced the plot and characters.
A very enjoyable read!
whopping read, absorbing but annoying, 09 Sep 2008
In the end I decided the book was rather frantic - one minute you were being asked to accept something was exciting and wonderful and then you had to discard that notion. Any sequel might again be a farce like run of misunderstandings and secrets - however, it is absorbing and does keep you riveted, just perhaps not very worthwhile!
A Right Riveting Read!, 02 Apr 2008
This was my first Penny Vincenzi book and it certainly won't be my last. I was a bit worried that the politics side of it would be too heavy going for me (not being very knowledgeable in this department), but she actually made it easy to understand the goings on within 'The House', and actually quite enjoyable.
Although it was quite easy to work out who the parents of Kate were going to be, it was a good storyline and really well written.
Definitely recommended and my next job is to read the reviews to determine my next Penny Vincenzi book!
Fairly predictable but still a good read, 11 Jan 2008
The story revolves around three traveling students who become good friends and happen to quite unrealistically meet up later on in life. One of them abandons a baby at the airport after their travels when they were young and the reader is not told until later on in the book which one it is. Even though there are various points in each characters story to make you think it could be them, I felt it was quite obvious who it was from quite early on. I also guessed other twists in the story before they happened but I won't give too much away by saying what they were.
I still quite enjoyed the story but it is nothing out of the ordinary.
Thinking of abandoning reading it!, 06 Aug 2007
I have read all Penny Vincenzi's previous books and have been 'saving up' this one as a special treat! I'm about 100 pages in and, although I have only ever abandoned reading two other books in my life, I'm seriously wondering whether to waste any more of my time on this one. I am fed up of reading about her personal views of the terrible state of the NHS and the government - I'm not the biggest fan of either but really don't want it constantly being rammed down my throat when I'm trying to escape from the real world by reading a novel.
Really disappointed by this one - hope she returns to her usual form for the next one!
SHEER ABANDON, 23 Jun 2007
I have read all Penny's books and loved them all but this one. Normally her books leave me not wanting to put them down but unfurtunately I found this hard to pick up.I think it was plainly obvious from the onset who the father was and found the book quite boring. About to start on her latest novel hope she is back on form.
