Rating: 
Summary: Sons of Fortune
Review: First, did it ever occur to Mr. Archer of his editor that this book should have been edited for American reading?
The story takes place primarily in Connecticut yet Mr. Archer would have you believe these two fine American young men have never set foot outside of England! How many times did I want to throw this book against the wall when reading phrases like "sacked" or "straight away" or "keen to see"? The overusage of British phrases in a decidedly American backdrop ruined the book for me. Notable case in point: Ralph Eliott issues an insidious brochure on Nat Cartwright and Cartwright (Medal of Honor winner)counters with a description of himself as "Americian Marine" instead of "United States Marine."
I am otherwise an avid Archer fan, having read "Honor "Among Thieves" (excellent) and recently, "The Eleventh Commandment", a real page turner.
I shall not, er..excuse me.., will not give up on Archer but if this sort of thing gives you the "fingernail on the blackboard effect" as it does me, avoid this one and move on.
Barring this blatant flaw, the story was suspect at best and the end laughable.
Rating: 
Summary: Sons of Fortune
Review: Jeffrey Archer remains one of the most riveting story-tellers in contemporary fiction. Although SONS OF FORTUNE may not be another KANE AND ABEL, I was thoroughly enchanted and caught up in this story of Nat Cartwright and Fletcher Davenport.A meddling nurse decides to play God and let one woman who gives birth to twins think one of them has died. She gives the other twin to her employer who has difficulty carrying a baby to full-term. So begins the story of two young boys whose lives parallel each other in remarkable ways through triumphs and tragedies. Nat grows up in his natural parents middle-class lifestyle while Fletcher becomes the heir to a wealthy family's largesse. Their days at boarding school and college are told in such a way that only enhances Archer's reputation as a master storyteller, albeit not so perfect on all factual information. Nat becomes a VietNam hero, Fletcher becomes a community savior. Both have lucrative careers in New York, but are brought back to their hometown in Connecticut. They are propelled into political careers that have them both running for Governor of the state. Meanwhile, an old nemesis of both is murdered and one stands trial while the other defends him. All the while, the reader is breathlessly waiting for the BIG NEWS to be revealed. Will anyone notice the similarities as they stand side by side? Will their innate connection tip anyone off to the true story? Will their lives change dramatically if the truth is ever revealed? Unfortunately, an otherwise great book falters terribly in the final section. Senseless tragedy in each man's family only compounded this reader's frustration. After being dumbstruck at the ending, I can only offer this to those of you who share my feelings at the ending: go back and read the beginning of Chapter 31 and then reread the last paragraph when the mayor TURNS AROUND to face the two candidates. Not perfect, but I still found it well worth reading and totally enjoyable if not a bit let-down by what could have been the most tear-jerking reunion ever, but wasn't.
Rating: 
Summary: His worst
Review: This improbable (more like impossible) story is so filled with gaps and poor research it would be laughable even from a first time author. Mr. Archer seems to have no knowledge of how the draft lottery worked (selected by birthdate) as one twin recieves a notice yet the other doesn't, nor how deferements worked. He never bothered to find out the difference between a Warrant Officer and a Commissioned Officer in the US military. He mish mash of time has a college junior starting law school. Then, of course, is his complete ignorance of how either primary elections or a general elaction for Governor works. Perhaps Mr. Archer should invest some of his royalties in a researcher to get at least some of the details right. Other then that the charaters are cardboard and the dialogue mostly childish. This book is a severe disappointment even by Mr. Archer's standards.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Acher's best effort
Review: With Sons of Fortune, Archer spins an intriguing tale of two twin brothers who, through a well-intentioned yet criminal act that remained secret for decades, were separated at birth. Each grows up in worlds that are parallel but different. As the decades pass, Archer takes the brothers through a variety of life experiences that were relevant and important in their day. At the same time, the lives of the brothers inevitably become more and more entwined. Although character development is solid, the story itself gets bogged down in places and leaves huge gaps in time in others. That said, Archer kept me turning the pages. Although this is not among Archer's best, his fans may want to at least give this a chance.
Rating: 
Summary: Repeating, repeating and repeating.
Review: The story of the book is about two twins that were separated in the hospital, why or how it doesn't really matters, it also doesn't really matters if they were twins, cousins or friends, when they find out that they were brothers you will be so bore that you will don't care.
The two biographies are the same but in different schools, how many campaigns could anyone write in a book? three, four, five? What happened with JA? How many girls will be pregnant in the last year of college? All of them? They go to college just to have sex? Come on Mr. Archer, this is your first book?
I will not say anything about the end because I don't have enough words to say it.
If you want to read a book of twins read The Hancock Boys by Thomas William Simpson
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