Nothing Lasts Forever (Audio CD)

Sidney Sheldon has no trouble hooking the reader by the first page or two. The writing is fast paced enough that it is easy --if one is willing -- to suspend reality and any disbelief long enough to enjoy the ride.

The main characters, while not exactly flat, aren't exactly multi-dimensional either, despite the author attempting (and sometimes succeeding) to make things suspenseful and interesting through the literary device of alternating depictions of the three main female characters, who have past histories, that shape their current life. (One who grew up in Africa; one who is brilliant, but with deep sexual wounds that time has not healed; and one who is an expert in the sexual arts of the Kama Sutra.) Ironically, the potentially more multi-dimensional and engaging character is killed off too soon in the story, mainly to emotionally tear at the reader, add some gratuitous violence and set up a subplot to investigate a murder. None the less, the characters and details are still interesting enough to keep the reader's attention. Most of the villains, however, come across as flat and self centered, hence they quickly become boring and are unmemorable -- fortunately they are not central to the story.

The book starts out with Dr. Paige Taylor being on trial for the murder of one of her patients, with the motive being money -- lots of it. The story then flashes back to events that lead to the murder charge as well as the tragic murder of her roommate and associate. The reader's sympathies are deftly manipulated and by the end of the book one feels complete sympathy towards the characters one started out not liking.

A part I really liked is where the murder of Dr. Taylor's associate is solved through clever medical detective work. (Not going to give many details, so as not to spoil things.) While the setup for the investigation is not real believable, the medical sleuthing is engaging and done with more care and attention to detail.

By no means a piece of literature, but totally in line with mass market pulp fiction. If you have a long evening you want to kill and you like to read, you will likely be entertained and not disappointed.

Sidney Sheldon has no trouble hooking the reader good, by the first page or two. The writing is fast paced enough that it is easy --if one is willing -- to suspend reality and any disbelief long enough to enjoy the ride.

The characters, while not flat, aren't exactly multi-dimensional either, despite the author attempting (and sometimes succeeding) to make things mysterious and interesting through the literary device of alternating the depictions of the three main characters, who have past histories, that shape their current life. (One who grew up in Africa; one who is brilliant, but with deep wounds in her soul; and one who is an expert in the sexual arts of the Kama Sutra.) Ironically, the potentially more multi-dimensional and engaging character is killed off too soon in the story, mainly to emotionally tear at the reader, add some gratuitous violence and set up a subplot to investigate a murder. None the less, the characters and details are still interesting enough to keep the reader's attention. Most of the villains, however, come across as flat and self centered and hence not real captivating, fortunately they are not central to the story.

The book starts out with Dr. Paige Taylor being on trial for the murder of one of her patients, with the motive being money -- lots of it. The story then flashes back to events that lead to the murder charge as well as the tragic murder of her roommate and associate. The reader's sympathies are deftly manipulated and by the end of the book one feels complete sympathy towards the characters one started out not liking.

A part I really liked is where the murder of Dr. Taylor's associate is solved through clever medical detective work. (Not going to give many details, so as not to spoil things.) While the setup for the investigation is not real believable, the medical sleuthing is engaging and done with more care and attention to detail.

By no means a piece of literature, but totally in line with mass market pulp fiction. If you have a long evening you want to kill and you like to read, you will likely be entertained and not disappointed.