A Dangerous Fortune

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A breathtaking thriller featuring “political and amorous intrigues, cold-blooded murder, and financial crises” (San Francisco Chronicle), from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Column of Fire

In 1866, tragedy strikes the exclusive Windfield School when a young student drowns in a mysterious accident. His death and its aftermath initiate a spiraling circle of treachery that will span three decades and entwine many lives.

From the exclusive men’s clubs and brothels that cater to every dark desire of London’s upper class to the dazzling ballrooms and mahogany-paneled suites of the manipulators of the world’s wealth, one family is splintered by a shared legacy. But greed, fed by the shocking truth of a boy’s death, must be stopped, or the dreams of a nation will die.

©1993 by Ken Follett. (P)1994 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Breathlessly plotted...relentlessly suspenseful." (The New York Times)

"Ken Follett is a matchless storyteller, and this story is tailor-made for audio.... With Follett teamed up with Page, you can't stop listening." (AudioFile)

Downrated for gratuitous animal abuse

This was an interesting and absorbing book, but when authors include scenes of animal abuse, that's always going to be the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the book - and I don't like it. I wasn't having any trouble figuring out who the villains were without that kind of nastiness. It spoiled what I thought could have been a very enjoyable read/listen.

Good Victorian tale, classic Follett

This isn't your usual Follett thriller, and I wouldn't call this a thriller because of the pace of the story. That said, its a great tale with an excellent reader (lots of good accents, except perhaps the American one....). The story captures the flavor of the wealthy upper classes in Victorian London (with their clubs full of wastrel rich young gentlemen) exceptionally well. The "evil" characters are not evil so much as they are amoral manipulators out to maximize their gain. Great character development, a good story, and as a thriller, detailed and moderately paced.

Excelente story!

I loved this book. It is not the most dense and a great history representative, but its characters get sticked to us and they have a degree of complexity that captivate our attention without exhaustion. So it can be said it is enjoyable, lovely and catchy. What else to hear a good story could there be?

Gripping Read

As always Ken Follet produces an excellent well written story. You get so involved with the the people in the book that it feels like they are part of your life.

another very good ken follett listen

filled with twist and turns with the great ken follett's wit, surprises and feel good ending

The Effects of Money - Too Much + Not Enough

Where does A Dangerous Fortune rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A solid read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed the main character Hugh because he was a hard worker and conscientious about his responsibilities toward others.

Interesting

Always enjoy the twists and turns of Ken Follett. Good story line. A must read for any fan of Follett

An early Follett, worth listening to

This story revolves around an English banking family in the Victorian age. It was written by Follett before he became a best-selling writer of thrillers, but it's a pro job. Follett writes great sex scenes, and there are many in this book, but they become increasingly implausible. Nevertheless, I recommend this book, which is expertly narrated by Michael Page.

Captivating!!

Fabulous narrator! Long story but every moment was captivating! Although complex, it was written and read in a way that never lost or bored the reader.

Great Story

A bit tedious but expected knowing Follett but overall enjoyable and well written and detailed