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Title details for The Heirs by Susan Rieger - Available

The Heirs

A Novel

by Susan Rieger
Kimberly Farr
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
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2 of 2 copies available
An “original and moving” (The New York Times Book Review), “must-read” (People) portrait of an unforgettable, patrician Manhattan family and the tangled nature of inheritance and legacy, from the author of Like Mother, Like Mother
 
“An absorbing page-turner, full of sex and secrets . . . I loved getting to know the entire Falkes clan.”—New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub

AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
 
When English-born lawyer Rupert Falkes dies, his wife and five adult sons are bereft—even more so when six months later, their grieving is interrupted by an unknown woman suing Rupert’s estate, claiming that he was also the father to her two sons. 
 
The Falkes brothers are pitched into turmoil, at once missing their father and feeling betrayed by him. In disconcerting contrast, their mother, Eleanor, is cool and calm, showing preternatural composure. Eleanor and Rupert had made an admirable life together, and they were proud of their handsome, talented sons: Harry, a brash law professor; Will, a savvy Hollywood agent; Sam, an astute doctor and scientific researcher; Jack, a jazz trumpet prodigy; Tom, a public-spirited federal prosecutor. The brothers see their identity and success as inextricably tied to family loyalty—a loyalty they always believed their father shared. 
 
Struggling to reclaim their identity, the brothers find Eleanor’s sympathy toward the woman and her sons confounding, and they begin to question whether they knew either of their parents at all.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 23, 2017

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781524773830
      • File size: 299827 KB
      • Duration: 10:24:38

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from March 13, 2017
      In Rieger’s (The Divorce Papers) incisive novel a wealthy Manhattan family is thrown into disarray when their beloved patriarch, Rupert Falkes, dies and leaves a surprising legacy that may tear apart his heirs. When a woman claiming to be Rupert’s mistress and the mother of two of his sons demands her share of the estate, it’s not a question of money or reputation that sends the Falkes clan reeling, but the possibility that their close-knit bonds were all a lie. Rupert’s widow, Eleanor, and their five sons, Harry, Will, Sam, Jack, and Tom, all have different reactions to the grief and confusion as they weigh the decision to have DNA testing done to find out for sure. No matter what they decide, no matter what the outcome of that choice might be, they realize that what they really seek is closure. Rieger wrestles perceptively with difficult questions and, building off a deceptively pedestrian premise, shines incrementally increasing light on the Falkes’ extended web of familial and emotional ties, sucking the reader into the tangle of emotions and conflicting interests. Reiger’s book is a tense, introspective account of looking for truth, and instead finding peace.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Rieger's family saga is satisfyingly rich with complex characters and tangled relationships. Narrator Kimberly Farr's straightforward, crisply paced delivery keeps the text moving and the listener on track throughout. Rupert and Eleanor Falkes and their five handsome sons are wealthy Manhattan's golden family. Then Rupert dies, and the picture of perfection begins to crumple. Farr offers a reasonable British accent for transplant Rupert but wisely employs simple tone and inflection changes to differentiate between the many other characters. As buried secrets emerge, toppling long-held family truths, Farr conveys the emotional intensity without resorting to drama. Although some of the events challenge credulity, and some listeners may find intimate scenes too explicit, Rieger's story is intriguing, and Farr's masterful presentation makes it difficult to step away. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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