Beloved number one internationally bestselling author Sidney Sheldon introduced the glamorous, scheming Blackwell family and its unforgettable matriarch, Kate Blackwell, in his worldwide bestseller Master of the Game. Now a generation has passed, and as the world has changed, so too has America's own royal family.
Yet the intervening years have not lessened the Blackwells' drama or talent for manipulation, domination, and passion. Though Kate is long gone, the children of her beloved granddaughters, Eve and Alexandra, battle to carry on her powerful legacy. Each is determined to control Kruger-Brent, Ltd., the multibillion-dollar international corporation with holdings in diverse industries around the globe. But only one can reign supreme. . . .
Lexi Templeton is a ruthless competitor with the brains and beauty to match. Raised by her psychiatrist father, Lexi burns to follow in her great-grandmother's footsteps and become her own Mistress of the Game.
She is not alone in her ambitions. Her handsome and nefarious cousin, Max Webster, the son of Eve, will stop at nothing to own the prize of Kruger-Brent. Driven by hatred, jealousy, and blinding devotion to his bitter and twisted mother, he will seduce, betray, and even kill to succeed.
And there is another player with plans of his own: a little-known descendant of Kate's great-grandfather. Growing up in poverty in Aberdeen, Scotland, handsome and cunning Gabriel McGregor is determined to fulfill his destiny . . a quest that will lead him deep into the heart of the Kruger-Brent empire.
In a family rife with secrets—murder, hidden identities, perversions—and a depraved sense of honor, the player who wins the game may be the only one who will survive.
Full of the late master's trademark elements—remarkable characters, dazzling plotting, and a page-turning narrative style—this sizzling sequel vividly captures the master's voice and irresistible magic. Vintage Sheldon, Mistress of the Game will enthrall loyal fans and introduce his enduring brand to legions more.
Having been a fan of some of Sidney Sheldon's earlier novels, I always considered his greatest achievement to be "Master of the Game." A sprawling, multi-generational page turner that charts one family's rise from abject poverty to the heights of a financial dynasty--"Master" traversed the globe from the diamond mines of Africa to the international boardrooms and bedrooms of the elite. Unforgettable characters like Jamie McGregor, the "Master" Kate Blackwell, and her twin granddaughters Eve and Alexandra have stayed with me for over 20 years!
So with curiosity, I picked up Tilly Bagshawe's "Sidney Sheldon's Mistress of the Game." I'm not a huge fan of this recent trend of publishers branding sequels (with different authors) in this way. I'm too cynical to find much meaning in this commercial appeal--I'm sorry, but this is not Sidney Sheldon's book no matter how large his name looms on the cover. However, Bagshawe does a nice job keeping the spirit and pacing of her predecessor alive.
Picking up with Eve and Alexandra (albeit briefly) late in life, "Mistress" is essentially about their offspring. Sexy, scandalous, and moving at breakneck speed through the years--this is the quintessential beach read. There's murder, molestation, betrayal, fraud, kidnapping, addiction and everything in between. Fun and superficial, this is entertainment for entertainment's sake. Often times, I wished for a bit more substance. The leaps in time prevent any real connection to the characters, but things do slow down at pivotal moments. I enjoyed "Mistress" and had a good time revisiting some familiar places with some old friends. But unlike "Master," if you ask me about "Mistress" in twenty years--I don't expect this tale to endure quite so vividly!
