Fortune

A Novel

By: Ellen Won Steil

Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer, Jennifer Aquino, Lauren Ezzo, Emily Lawrence

In this explosive novel about a decades-old mystery, shocking revelations of the past and the secrets of three women will be spilled when a small Midwest town announces a DNA lottery.

One drop of blood for a chance at a multimillion-dollar windfall. Is it a philanthropic gesture from a billionaire widow? Some suspect a darker motive behind the DNA lottery—one tied to the eighteen-year-old mystery of an infant’s unidentified remains that mars the history of idyllic Rosemary Hills, Iowa. Right after the blood lottery is announced, three local women fall under suspicion of knowing something about that night, and their carefully kept secrets threaten to spill out too.

Cleo is a divorced single mom forced to return to her hometown and accept a strange job reading to an invalid recluse; Jemma is a controversial state senator whose reelection campaign and teenage daughter have her on edge; and Alex, a divorce attorney, copes with a crumbling marriage of her own and the suffocating presence of a cold, overbearing mother.

Soon, unimaginable revelations of the past will collide with the present—and not just for Cleo, Jemma, and Alex. In this seemingly ordinary community, they aren’t the only ones with long-buried secrets.

©2023 Ellen Won Steil (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Edie—impressively voiced by Jane Oppenheimer as impeccably composed, often haughty—is determined to understand the 18-year-old cold-case mystery.… Jennifer Aquino convincingly captures Cleo’s vulnerable uncertainties.… Lauren Ezzo, who deftly imbues Alex with a steely control that’s just on the verge of breaking, is even more memorable as Alex’s ruthless mother.… Emily Lawrence voices Jemma and displays the broadest emotional range, energetically enlivening the dynamic politico. The dexterous quartet’s synchronized performances prove virtually flawless, ensuring that Steil’s ingeniously-plotted debut is a thoroughly expert production.”—Booklist (starred review)

“The unique premise of a DNA lottery had me hooked from the very first pages! Ellen Won Steil’s Fortune is an emotionally written tale demonstrating what happens when the power of a woman with the wealth and drive to find out the truth is pitted against three friends from high school with secrets to hide. The suspense culminates with the inevitable countdown to the DNA lottery.”—Georgina Cross, author of Nanny Needed, One Night, and The Stepdaughter

“With an irresistible premise that gets more unsettling by the page, Fortune is so much more than a random game of chance. Every ticket is a potential clue; every character has a fiercely guarded secret. You won’t be able to look away until the final name is drawn.”—Jessica Strawser, author of A Million Reasons Why

Unique concept that doesn't quite fulfill its promise

I was intrigued by the idea of the "lottery," and the author made the event as believable as a novel can make an event that wouldn't happen believable. The whole town being involved and in an uproar, the mayor parading and celebrating it all like a game show host--all of it ridiculous, and detracted from the validity of the possibilities. Felt like the author watched Hunger Games once too many times...
Other than that-
The characters were really well-thought out. I really liked how the author created detail and skillfully explained their past lives, and how she wove those lives and events into their current identities. There is solid conversation, and flashbacks of events that are telling but not in-your-face.
Nothing worse than an unskilled author spelling out every detail bc he or she can't write well enough for readers to figure some things out (like that end-of-novel letter that explains everything -UGH), or when the writer gets lazy, or forgoes research. and leaves gaping holes where details matter. The characters are really solid, and how they got where they are makes sense.
SPOILER--
Only major issue -and it is major-contrary to that point is about how NO ONE knew about the delusions regarding a non-existent child?? Come ON. That nagged at me hard--police figure it out in minutes, but the family and close friends, of someone in the very public spotlight, never noticed????? NO.
So-the event itself is silly. Again, interesting concept, but the circus atmosphere, especially bc the woman in charge was so dignified and intelligent, blew it for me.
The faking thing (which was very obvious, to me, almost immediately). What was going on there, and how it happened -again, a very famous person-?was never explained. Fell totally flat. Eye roll.
The ending wrapped things up pretty well. Don't get why, once the truth was revealed, there wasnt more sympathy for that person from her recent ex-but that might've been too much to add. Understandable.
The characters, and their actions and reactions, couldn't entirely save this book from its own highly-unbelievable aspects, but did make this a decent, easy read/listen.

All came together in the end

I had a little trouble following the book in the beginning, and had to restart, but everything resolved itself by the end. It was interesting and clever the way it resolved itself.

Intricate plot

The readers read so that you can feel what the characters were experiencing. You have to focus so you don’t get lost in the process.

Not her best

I like Ruth Ware, but this book was very long winded and repetitive. I wouldn’t have minded too much except the narration was extremely pedestrian and difficult to listen to. The character Cleo was especially annoying. Not my favorite.

Fortune

This story was full of twists and turns. So many surprises and Great character development

Meh…

The story was okay, though fairly predictable. Many parts of the narration, especially Cleo’s “voice,” was almost robotic. The intonations used for the kids’ voices were horrible.

Loved this book!

My favorite of 2023! I can’t believe this is her first book! So twisted and emotional!

Disjointed

So very hard to follow in an audio book. Got feed up with Maud. She deserved worse.

Well written

I did enjoy the writing style. The story was a little confusing. The author could’ve done a better job describing the back story of Maud and her relationship with the man. And tying his story to the girls’ a little better. But overall, it was a quick good read.

Great story

Loved this. Was racing near the end to see if I could figure out the mystery before it was revealed - my theory was way off. At first I thought that Violet was actually Alex’, and Maude raised her to avoid family shame. But then I thought…. Ah never mind.

The characters were believable and distinct, and Henry…. that was a great twist.

Book recommended. Would definitely read this author again.