Bloodline

by Sidney Sheldon

1982

Status

Available

Publication

Warner Books (1982), Edition: 27th Printing

Description

Sheldon's sweeping saga of greed and betrayal, sabotage and danger, and the ties that can kill... Roffe and Sons is a family firm, an international empire filled with desperate, cash-hungry family members. At its head was one of the wealthiest men in the world, a man who has just died in a mysterious accident and left his only daughter, Elizabeth, in control of the company. Now as this intelligent, tough, and beautiful young woman dares to save -- not sell -- Roffe and Sons, she will have to outwit those who secretly want her power, and the unknown assassin who wants her life.

User reviews

LibraryThing member nawapak
This book revolves around the usual “business conspiracy” involving an international Pharmaceutical company, desperate money-hungry family members and one big rule –the shares and stock must be kept only in the family- This story has smartly unravels the stories behind the scene of each
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family member and sews it into one big cloth of suspense with young Elisabeth Roffe the daughter of the dead head of company, weaving everything in place.

I think this book was very exciting and thriller as even at the end of the story I found the “bad guy” quite unexpected as Sidney Sheldon did a great job in hiding any additional hints that would lead to the culprit. Overall, it was a great story especially for those whom enjoy a story where the woman is the main character.

I would want to recommend this book to girls at the age of 14 and up as it is quite inspirational for women to be in power but the story line is yet quite complex for children.
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LibraryThing member buoyread
All of us dream of somehow inheriting a vast fortune, but for Elizabeth Roffe, this inheritance comes with an invisible enemy. Inheriting Roffe Industries after her father's mysterious death, things start happening that convinces Elizabeth that someone, or some people, are trying to take over her
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fortune - even if it means taking her life.

If the above plot has not moved you yet, then you probably have problems. The first few pages of this book is strongly gripping, forcing you to turn the pages and read it in one sitting. The ugly duckling to graceful swan that is Elizabeth's life is magical and full of beautiful imagery, her relationship with her stoic father very realistic and sympathetic. Fast-paced and dripping with exciting dialogue, this book will lead you on a thrilling roller coaster ride, only to have the ride stop at the top of the highest loop, the operator telling you that the ride is over.

What happened to Elizabeth's cousins? To the other characters? I can't believe that a book with so much promise could end so utterly disappointing. Yes, it did solve the mysteries but it just fell flat. The author has created such vivid characters that one would think they would each be given endings befitting their flamboyance. I would have thought that great character development + original plot + sharp dialogue + brilliant author = smashing novel. But I was wrong, glaringly, stupidly wrong. Without giving away a spoiler, I would have thought that the discovery of the bad guy would be more complicated than what happened. It's so disappointing to learn that while guessing whodunit, it turns out, it's not even worth knowing, as this book is hardly worth reading. Flat, flat, flat.

Obviously, I am very bitter about the ending, hence the low rating. But bad ending aside, this book is a superb story of maturity, love, wisdom, dysfunctional families, coveted fortunes, and gruesome murders and attempted murders. The author's storytelling is excellent, letting the reader see for him/herself what happens in each chapter, letting the reader feel and not just know, each word's impact in this story. I tried to get past the throng of questions and unresolved issues I had with the ending and the characters, but I just can't. I felt that it ruined the whole book for me. If you can be satisfied with how this turned out, then I admire you. Maybe it's my 'impatient reader' attribute kicking in again.

If you're planning to read this book, go ahead. As I say over and over again, preference is relative. What may be dull and flat for me may be the most exciting for another person. After all, I have seen a number of good reviews on this book, I just can't be swayed by other people's opinion. Maybe I'm just a stubborn ox.
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LibraryThing member TraceyPats
Great plot, travels all over the world and clevely written. A good 'who dunit' with a few twists within the lives within the diffferent characters who play the brothers of Sam the company president, who was killed in a skiing 'accident'. Then the story takes you through the exciting life of
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Elizabeth who get handed the company to run, but things don't go to plan according to the murderer when she refuses to sell the business and release the shares of the company, so she becomes the next victim. Its quite gripping and kept me interested and intrigued until the very end!
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LibraryThing member anmeland
This book really amazes me everytime..Sheldon is awesome and genius
LibraryThing member MarviaL
Great story! Simply love Sheldon's twists and turns and his stars. This was a great first read that got me searching and waiting for every Sheldon published.
LibraryThing member ShreeJan
Artfully Woven story line that keeps the reader so engrossed. Though there could be few more pages added about the company and whether she actually sells the shares!
LibraryThing member pussreboots
The book centers around a pharmaceutical company and the family squabble over control of it after the president dies mysteriously.

The book should be mostly about Elizabeth Roffe, heir to the Roffe and Sons empire, the man who wants to marry her and the person who wants to kill her. Unfortunately
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the plot is diluted by the backstories of all the other potential heirs to the company and with a lengthy exposition into Elizabeth's childhood, including her brief experimentation with being a lesbian.

Frankly, Elizabeth Roffe would have been a more interesting and sympathetic a protagonist if Sheldon had written her a lesbian all the way through the book. Instead he invents for her a dashing rags-to-riches Welshman named Rhys Williams who has risen through the ranks of the company and right into Elizabeth's heart.

By himself, Rhys Williams is an interesting character. His outsider's view of Roffe and Sons provides a nice counterpoint to Elizabeth's memories of her father. He doesn't need to hook up with Elizabeth to complete the story in a satisfactory fashion.

Finally there is the rest of the Roffe family, the sisters and brothers-in-law of the late president. One of them is out for blood. One of them wants to kill Elizabeth. Who the assassin is drawn out to the very end of the book, making a slow starting thriller, a fast page turner at the end.
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LibraryThing member katsmiao
Not one of his best ones
LibraryThing member sharon-williams
one of those books I could. not. put. down........my very first Sidney Sheldon book, read in 1980.....I was on the hunt for any and all previous books then......once done with my glom I had to wait for each new release......
LibraryThing member HenriMoreaux
Another Sidney Sheldon book, another adventure in to his creative mind. In Bloodline we find ourselves learning about the Roffe family who owns & controls the multinational pharmaceutical company Roffe & Sons. In the initial portion of the book each family members greed and desperation is laid out
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then the plot advances with the death of the President Sam Roffe and a fresh face in the form of his seemingly neglected daughter Elizabeth comes to the forefront of the company.

It's a well set out story line with plenty of twists and turns which keep going until the very last few pages making in difficult to tell whom the culprit is until it's revealed.

Will be reading some more of Sheldon's books after thoroughly enjoying the last few I've read.
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LibraryThing member lavallee
Good book!
LibraryThing member soosthemoose
A fast reading, enjoyable, and suspenseful novel.

Language

ISBN

0446364916 / 9780446364911

Barcode

1604058
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