Book Review : ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ by Jeffrey Archer

The twisted tale of the Cliftons and the Barringtons finds something of an end in this part, but still there never is an end to Emma's or later Sebastian's lives.

Welcome back, Lord Archer, was all I wanted to say at the end of reading the fourth instalment of the Clifton Chronicles. I had read the whole series, until now and I cannot remember how many people I have said this to... 'It should have finished in the first part itself.' I felt that over and over again; even through the third part of the series.

But, Archer comes back into his element with this one. Let’s see how…

‘Be Careful What You Wish For’, seems the appropriate title for this one. I got back from a holiday, and I opened this book, a few days after I received it. I was not concerned about the suspense frankly, because I was not expecting too much.

So, I opened it, to note that it began from where it had left off. Harry Clifton, who is on his book tour, receives a call from his wife, Emma. She tells him of an accident that took place that killed his son. So, he takes off from New York to London. Emma goes through hours of grief and suspense before she reaches the hospital.

She is quick to discover that Sebastian is alive but it was Bruno Martinez, his best friend who met with his death, much to the chagrin of his father Pedro Martinez. Pedro is quick to assign blame and with his devious plans wants to wipe out the Cliftons and Barringtons, as he was originally planning to do so, in the earlier part.

But, the thorn in his plan is the British government, and the latest friend of Sebastian’s, Cedric Hardcastle, chairman of the Farthings Bank. Barrington’s shipping company, which is now being run by Ross Buchanan as its chairman, finds itself in trouble with the arrival of Martinez’s puppet, Major Alex Fisher. Fisher who is now on the board of directors is gunning for the chairman’s position, when Buchanan has to quit it, due to financial reasons caused to the company by Martinez.

 

But, unfortunately for Fisher, Emma takes over thanks to the votes coming her way and she takes centre stage both on the personal and professional fronts. Meanwhile, Seb who will not be left behind starts working at the Farthings Bank and find himself in a wonderful position. With Hardcastle’s help, he manages to push forward the Barrington Shipping Company and sees them through their troubles.

We must not miss Emma’s brother, Sir Giles and his ambitions for the Labour Party. His story takes an unfortunate twist too, with the whole Martinez plan. Also, in the plan is Jessica, who is the adopted child of Harry and Emma’s. (Jessica, if you, remember right was Hugo Barrington’s illegitimate child.) Jessica is a terrific artist and was set to marry Clive Bingham, before a few unfortunate incidents play havoc with her life. Clive’s father, Bob Bingham enters into the fray, and plays the other kindly role in the Barrington saga.

 

Giles’s ex-wife Lady Virginia, the Argentinian mob, the IRA, the architecture, the art taken up by Jessica and eventually taken over by Seb’s newly found love, Samantha, all have different roles to play in all the right places.

How the whole thing develops is something only Archer can do. He manages to twist the story around, and make it land in exactly the right places with ease, showing us that the master storyteller is back. He never lets the story drag on, because he has got a few twists up his sleeve. You will be left, wanting to turn the pages and the story goes on with his ultra-cool twist, which he reserves for the end. Now, for 2015, we wait…

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Pan Macmillan 
ISBN: 9781447265092
Price: INR 399