A prisoner from the first page to the last!. Review on Prisoner Of Birth, A - Jeffrey Archer

A male lead falsely accused of murder, a female lead

faithfully awaiting her husband's return(from where? keep guessing), a

determined lawyer who doesn't even expect the pay he rightfully deserves, and

four "villains" who are responsible for the crime in real. Before

you assume this book to be "just another flick", let me assure you

that it is most certainly not. I will not be exaggerating even if I said this

is the best of Archer's tales. Research is well carried out as is seen clearly in the book. Courtroom suspense

deserves 5 stars. All the characters remain alive in your mind long after you

have turned the last page, as promised by the summary, which in fact, gives a

very vague idea as to what to expect from the book. I suggest you read the

prologue before you decide whether or not the book is "your type". If

you are anything like me, you will love it. The characters are well described,

each one significant in the turn of events that finally leads to the

breath-taking ending. The story revolves around the life of Daniel Cartwright,

who is accused of committing the ultimate sin and sent to Belmarsh prison, from

where no prisoner has ever been foolish enough to attempt an impossible escape

• except Daniel. Now comes the first con. I find it hard to believe that such a

jail, reputed for its impeccable security, would not have had a single

"screw" who could win a game of "6 differences". And isn't

it too far-fetched(or should I say near-fetched) for a prisoner to just switch

names on the files of two fellow prisoners so as to make one of them escape? If

this is what "tight security" means in Belmarsh, I pity the other

prisoners for not coming up with naive ideas such as this.

The role of Elizabeth Cartwright could have been given more importance.

She seems to be nothing but a loyal wife, for which she will be admired, no

doubt, but remembered? I don’t think so.

The cunning Spencer Craig, the

not-so-bright Gerald Payne, the dim-witted drug-addict Toby Mortimer and the

oh-so-attractive Lawrence Davenport have been well characterized. But then

again, nobody is perfect. Spencer Craig, a reputed lawyer and a soon-to-be QC

not having anticipated to get caught for a murder so immaturely carried out seems

to me a tad too unbelievable.

The one character that I find no fault in is Sir Matthew Redmayne, father of

the lawyer representing Daniel. Though he plays a very small part in the book,

he undoubtedly captures the undivided attention of the jury as well as the

readers! His amusing ways fail to astound none, and his wit remains

unparalleled.

It is what you could call a typical Jeffrey Archer ending, which happens to

always be unpredictable. He has proved yet again the fact that he is the King

of Twists and Turns!