Book Review: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

The first novel in a trilogy, this story concerns two men who were born on the same day but in different places and how their lives progressed and came together. As ever with Jeffrey Archer it is a great story that moves along quickly. You want to know what happens to the characters.

Each chapter focuses on one man or the other so you can appreciate how each character develops equally. However, one character is from a privileged background in the USA the other is at the other end of life in Russia trying to escape from his lifestyle.

The plot interweaves with real life history (the First World War and the Titanic sinking) so Archer skilfully places us in events that we are familiar with and how they affected the characters.

Abel escapes to the USA via Turkey and after a few close shaves manages to get to America. He works his way up from a waiter in a hotel to manager. This during the time of the Great Depression. However the hotel requires extra cash and the owner seeks money from Kane. Not getting it, the hotel owner commits suicide. Abel discovers the letdown from Kane and seeks vengeance.

The two men soon become rivals focusing on outdoing each other at every turn.

The plot thickens further when the two men's children fall in love.

The novel moves over a lifetime and over the generations and is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

9/10 from me on this one.