Guilty Pleasures

By Lawrence Sanders

Book Overview

The master storyteller's most searing novel of lust, corruption, and power.Only Lawrence Sanders could have created this saga of a family that breaks all the rules -- both God's and man's. Moving from the seventies to the nineties, Guilty Pleasures invites readers into the affluent arena of shocking acts and stunning revelations that is the South Florida world of the Folsby clan.Emmet Richard Folsby: Founder of a mighty publishing empire, a patriarch to be admired -- with one unspeakable exception...Constance Louise Folsby: Emmet's wife and cofounder of the empire, now an invalid dying by degrees -- resolutely blind to the moral missteps of those she cares for...Barbara Ann Folsby: The wildcat daughter -- a fiercely ambitious businesswoman -- inexorably lured to love at its most forbidden...Brett Sherwood Folsby: The dashing playboy son, his sister's most bitter antagonist -- and a man with sexual secrets of his own...Through two decades, the Folsbys embrace their checkered destinies as Barbara and Brett battle for future control of the empire -- never guessing that a trusted family friend with a hidden agenda is quietly manipulating them all....Lawrence Sanders's Guilty Pleasures flawlessly blends suspense and scandal to create a unique reading experience that jolts even as it fascinates.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399143653
• ISBN13: 9780399143656
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Putnam Publishing Group
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

"Guilty Pleasures" was a pleasure for me!!

Contrary to popular opinion, I really enjoyed this book. The plot and characters were twisted enough to keep my interest throughout. As always, I look forward to the next one.

A view into a world not often traveled by the masses!!

I disagree with all the bad reviews that this book has received. I've never read any book by Lawrence Sanders but I loved this book. It is a view into a world that no one wants to talk about but undoubtedly exists. Make no mistake, this book is not for the squeamish. I've never seen sexual manipulation and consensual incest handled with such insight. I cannot wait for the next book.

A dark tale of a family empire.

Guilty Pleasures may disappoint some Lawrence Sanders fans who have grown accustomed to the humor in the McNalley series or the procedural based Deadly Sin's/Commandment series. In this book the author takes you into the same dark areas of human relationships that he took you in with books like The Case of Lucy Bending or The Passion of Molly T. Sanders has covered a twenty year span in the life of the Folsby family. Emmet Folsby is the founder of a publishing empire, his wife who helped him in his business is now a house bound invalid. There is a son and a daughter - Barbara Ann and Brett. Barbara Ann is a fighter and wants to rise through the ranks in her father's empire; Brett is the wild one who expects everything given to him. This is a dark novel that deals with infidelity, incest, and homosexuality. I get the impression that Mr. Sanders wanted to continue the story with another novel, but his death in February this year may prevent that. From what I have seen this book has not been too well received, but I am a loyal Sanders fan and I liked this book. There are many scenes of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" that have become a Sanders trademark, along with his usual extensive vocabulary. Lawrence Sanders gave us 38 novels before he died and I for one will dearly miss him.