The Prodigal Daughter

By: Jeffrey Archer

Narrated by: Lorelei King

Master storyteller Jeffrey Archer keeps listeners hooked with The Prodigal Daughter.

With a will of steel, Polish immigrant Florentyna Rosnovski is indeed Abel's daughter. She shares with her father a love of America, his ideals, and his dream for the future. But she wants more to be the first female president.

Golden boy Richard Kane was born into a life of luxury. The scion of a banking magnate he is successful, handsome, and determined to carve his own path in the world - and to build a future with the woman he loves.

With Florentyna's ultimate goal only a heartbeat away, both are about to discover the shattering price of power as a titanic battle of betrayal and deception reaches out from the past - a blood feud between two generations that threatens to destroy everything Florentyna and Richard have fought to achieve.

©1982 Jeffrey Archer (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Another fantastic book by Jeffrey Archer

Always spellbinding. You just can't resist getting the next one. Great story, lots of surprises, wonderful, rich characters. I love every Jeffrey Archer book I've listened to...

Boring repetition after exciting Kane & Abel

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The end of Kane & Abel was one scenario of many possible scenarios. It would have been exciting if in the Prodigal Daughter the original story would have ended differently, just to make a difference.

What was most disappointing about Jeffrey Archer’s story?

Half of the book was just a recap of Kane & Abel. If you heard Kane & Abel just beforehand, it is very boring.

The Prodigal Daughter

The first book in this series, Kane & Abel was released in 1980, the last by 1982. At minimum, read Kane & Abel, it is super – an extremely popular 1980s book, made into a mini-series in 1985.

The story is a familial-character driven tale, spanning decades. Kane and Abel are both born on the same day in 1906. William Lowell Kane is heir to a banking empire in New York City. Baron Abel Rosnovski, aka Wladek Koskiewicz, is born to poverty and nightmarish violence in war-torn Poland. Abel makes his way to New York and is eventually refused a bank loan by Kane’s board of directors. Blaming Kane for this embarrassing shun, Abel makes his way to a pinnacle of success as a hotelier. This has only been possible due to anonymous financial backing. Decades of visceral hatred ensue, but it isn’t hard to guess the identity of the philanthropist. Narrated by Jason Culp, about 20 hours of listening, release by Macmillon Audio.

Book two, The Prodigal Daughter is the story of the descendants of William and Abel, Richard Kane and Florentyna Rosnovski. They meet by chance, fall in love, and flee to San Francisco to escape the wrath of their fathers. The first part of this book is a replay of Kane & Abel through the eyes of Richard and Florentyna. Exactly. Same-o-same-o, precisely, only a different point of view. Starting at about Chapter 23, the story of The Prodigal Daughter lifts off. Archer’s characters in The Prodigal Daughter are like those of Danielle Steele, i.e., drop-dead gorgeous, filthy rich, hearts of gold. Florentyna successfully opens dozens of her own boutiques, eventually manages her father’s hotel dynasty. The boutiques and hotels merge. Richard and Florentyna move on the bank just because they don’t want to buy one; Richard becomes bank chairman. The story steps further beyond credibility when Florentyna nearly becomes POTUS and accepts the VP slot. The two become astronauts and … that part’s a lie. Also Macmillon Audio, but narrated by Lorelei King. About 15 hours long.

Book three, Shall We Tell the President, a short audiobook, is less than eight hours in length. also Macmillon Audio, also narrated by Lorelei King. The story begins with Florentyna winning the position of POTUS, a roll she has fulfilled since the untimely death of her predecessor. An assassination is attempted and the story is off an running. Much better than The Prodigal Daughter. An interesting aside: When this book was written 1982, President Kane is confronted with gun control – and is concerned about ‘a house divided’ on this volatile issue. Sound familiar? Although the story is fiction, a British author pointed out in 1982 what we argue today, close to 40 years later. *sigh*

No issues with narration in any book.

General opinions: Kane & Abel is an excellent story, and highly recommended. The rest of the series is not. Archer should have started with Chapter 23 of The Prodigal Daughter and combined an abbreviated Shall We Tell the President. In summary, book one is great, book two a look into how the ridiculously wealthy live, book three is a decent who-done-it, albeit short for my taste.

Outstanding audio

One of top writer Jeffery Archer' best stories. High quality audio and talented narration. Highly recommend whole series

The narrator was terrible

I have loved every one of Jeffrey Archer's books and this one I enjoyed but felt the ending...the last 25% of the book...was weak...not intriguing. This narrator almost ruined Archer's book! She was hard to tolerate. She was cold, stoic & read without any passion at all.

Florantina's Early Life x 2

More than half of the book was an abridged version of Florantina's life in Kane and Able. Boring! The latter part of the book was good.

I have listened to ten or more of Archer's books and would give them all five stars. Unfortunately not this one.

Just ok

I love Jeffrey Archer but this wasn’t one of his best books. Most places sounded like a politicians autobiography… I enjoyed it but was really ready for it to end. Disappointed.

Jeffrey Archer delivers

What did you love best about The Prodigal Daughter?

good story line and characters

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

the governesses death was touching

Any additional comments?

I have been reading Archers books for 15 years and will continue to read as long as new books come available.

Boring in parts

The audible part of this should have included male voices. Story good but too political. Not sure if I will read or do audible for the third book.

Excellent, highly recommend

Jeffrey Archer hit this one out of the park. Have thoroughly enjoyed the Kane and Able series. Florentyna Rosnovsk is one of a kind and her life is lived the same way. This book had several predictable areas as well as many unique, interesting twists and turns. Definitely recommend this book.