Dangerous to Know

by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Sebastian Locke, the fifty-six-year-old patriarch of a powerful American family, is handsome, charismatic, and a man of immense charm and intelligence. He is the chairman of the philanthropic Locke Foundation, funded by the vast family fortune built by his forefathers. Committed to relieving the suffering of those in genuine need, Locke travels the globe giving away millions a year to the poor, the sick, and the innocent victims of natural disasters and wars. He is seen as a beacon of light in today's darkly violent world.

That is why the police are profoundly baffled when Sebastian Locke is found dead at his country estate under mysterious circumstances. Has he been murdered? And if so, who would have wanted to kill the world's greatest philanthropist? Could such an upstanding man have had enemies?

Vivienne Trent, an American journalist, had been fascinated by Locke as a child, married him when she was a young woman, then later divorced him, but had always stayed close to him. Aware that there had been another side to this enigmatic man, she sets out to find the truth about his death and about Locke himself, much to the annoyance of his two grown children, who find her obsession irritating.

As she prepares to write a profile of Locke for the London Sunday Times, Vivienne uncovers startling revelations, revelations that turn her life around.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Chick Lit, Novels, Suspense, Adult Fiction

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Barbara Taylor Bradford was a British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. She wrote 40 novels, all bestsellers in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Reviews

[Noella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het verhaal bouwt zich op vanuit het gezichtspunt van de verschillende personages.
De (levende) hoofdpersoon is Vivienne. Het boek begint met het feit dat haar ex-man, met wie ze nog steeds op heel goede voet stond, dood gevonden is buiten zijn huis. Na onderzoek blijkt dat hij een overdosis barbituraten in zijn lichaam had. Zelfmoord? Of stond iemand hem naar het leven?
Vivienne is achterdochtig, omdat ze een paar dagen geleden nog met hem gesproken had, en hij er zeer gelukkig uitzag. Hij had haar zelfs toevertrouwd dat hij opnieuw de liefde gevonden had, en van plan was binnen enkele maanden te trouwen.
Vivienne kan het niet loslaten en begint haar eigen zoektocht.
Het verhaal gaat dan verder met het gezichtspunt van respectievelijjk de zoon en de dochter van Sebastian Locke. En uiteindelijk gaat Vivienne praten met Zoë, de moeder van Ariel, de vrouw waarmee Sebastian zou trouwen. Want met Ariel zelf kan ze niet praten, die is wetenschapper en werkt in Afrika, in quarantaine, omdat ze zeer gevaarlijke virussen bestudeert.
En het is door het verhaal van Zoë dat Vivienne eindelijk kan begrijpen hoe de vork aan de steel zit.
Zelf vind ik de conclusie nogal vergezocht en zeer onwaarschijnlijk...

Eigenlijk 2-1/2 sterren.

[Sidna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really surprised that other readers liked this book enough to give it nearly four stars. I had decided to stop reading any more books by this author because they are all the same. Fabulously wealthy people living the lives of the rich and famous. It was almost as if Taylor Bradford could not find enough adjectives to describe their fabulous homes, furnishings, and clothing.

This book veers a little from Taylor Bradford's formula. The main characters are all fabulously wealthy, of course, does she know anyone who is not? The main character, Sebastian Locke, whom we never meet when he is alive, dies suddenly. Is it murder or suicide? Vivienne Trent is a fabulously wealthy journalist (we all know lots of those, of course), who is one of Sebastian's ex-wives. She knew and loved Sebastian from the time she was 12-years-old when her mother became his mistress. Her mother dies mysteriously from a fall down the cellar stairs (that was never explored as I thought it would be--did she trip or was she pushed?) and Sebastian becomes her guardian. He has two younger children of his own. When Vivienne becomes an adult, she and Sebastian get married, which was more than a little off-putting for me. Although Sebastian is the great love of Vivienne's life, their marriage, which appears to be happy, lasts only five years. Why the marriage broke up is never fully explained.

After Sebastian's unexpected death, Vivienne decides to write an article about his fabulous life as she tries to discover what could possibly have made him kill himself. The first chapters of the book are told from the point of view of Vivienne and Sebastian's other two children. They could have been left out as far as I am concerned. The real story of the book is in Part Four. That could have been written as a short story with a short prelude about the Vivienne's life. The chapters about the other two children were superfluous. They did not add to the story.

Still, there was more to this book than some of Taylor Bradford's other books.

[Carol Storm · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the classic movie SUNSET BOULEVARD, doomed screenwriter Joe Gillis says, "it's interesting sometimes to see just how bad really bad writing can be. This promised to go the limit."

This book really does go the limit. Every time one of the characters starts talking about their feelings and experiences you feel like they're really putting you on. Like it's some kind of gag.

"Mother and father expected me to be successful. And of course I was. Fabulously so. And then I met her. The woman I had to have. She was beautiful, and I wanted her. Wanted her for sex. And we married almost immediately. And soon I found that did not want her. Only the sex."

The writing style makes you wonder whether the author is even taking this seriously. It's like, either Barbara Taylor Bradford is high up in a penthouse somewhere laughing at all the rubes, writing a bad book on purpose . . . or else she's a complete idiot.

[Lin Stepp · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting read! Each book section presented from a different characters' point of view....
and each new section surprised you, making you realize you didn't really know the characters as well as you thought! Loved the mystery threading through the book - and I'd have never have guessed the ending.
I think anyone would enjoy this one!

[S.J. Tyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had read books by Barbara Taylor Bradford previously, so I expected good things from this one when I purchased it. The tale of a journalist/writer, Vivienne Trent, who decides to investigate her ex-husband's death had great promise, but the book was very much a disappointment. The pace was slow, and I felt no connection toward any of the characters. Even though throughout I was interested in knowing whether the ex-husband had actually been murdered or committed suicide, which was the gist of Vivienne's investigation, that was about the only thing that kept me reading to the end. There were quite a few unexpected twist and turns at the conclusion, but they were undermined by the fact that the circumstances were so unbelievable, it just didn't ring true. I hope the next book I read by this author is an improvement, more on the level of "Everything To Gain", which I enjoyed.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although in this book Margaret Yorke seems to be wanting to also deliver a moral lesson--will not divulge what as it may spoil the ending--the writing style made me not want to put the book down. Read it in essentially one sitting.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I liked the different sections where you got the points of view of the characters. It was a bit predictable for me, though, because surprises in this book were similar to VC Andrews' plots.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really brilliant story with a big twist at the end.
Well worth reading.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Read it this afternoon. Engrossing.

[Darlene Emanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book very very good!

[C.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh i just know barbara taylor bradford was cackling to herself while writing this one

[Bodosika Bodosika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read and I never expected the turn towards the end.

[Debby]

About 50% into this decided it just wasn’t worth finishing…..

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, having seen plenty of her books around. I enjoyed it, and was extremely surprised by the revelations towards the end!
It’s a good story about a misfit rich family, told from four characters’ points of view which gives a nice variety. Written probably with older readers in mind it didn’t quite sit well with me but I enjoyed it all the same.

Update: having had a few days after finishing this book my feelings on it have changed. I’m cross at the author - the ending is truly ridiculous and unnecessary! One instance of the thing is almost believable but she took it way too far. Not happy.

[Rosaland Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a story of love, lust, envy and tragedy; also and excellent page turner. My favorite characters were Vivienne and Countess Zoe. Zoe went through so much with the Locke men and she was very strong. did not care for the entire Locke family. Jack was arrogant and at times, unfeeling all because he didn't want to take responsibility for his child with Catherine. Luciana was spoiled and selfish. By far the worst of all was Cyrus Locke because he was a rapist and he was ruthless. I enjoyed this book.

[Lavanya Nair · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lengthy but engaging story of human relations. The author sifts through various nuances of relationships to make a vociferous point about why it's important to label certain relationships. The story about a philandering philanthropist and how he ends up when one of such liaisons becomes incestuous forms the core of the plot. The author chose a language that's easy to comprehend. The story is explained in detail though I felt few situations weren't necessary keeping in mind the tempo of the story. I definitely recommend it as a good read.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

The more I read Barbara Taylor Bradford the less I like her. Her books are all about rich, successful people living rich, successful lives. Even the Emma Harte books are like that. Emma started out poor, but became insanely rich. And the dialogue!! The characters don't speak like any people I have ever met or seen on TV or read about in any other book. The conversations are very stilted and fake. It's too bad, because Bradford can tell a good story. But I just can't read these books anymore.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a good book. At first you are kind of mixed up as to what is the mystery. Then Sebastian Locke is found dead. It is determined it was suicide, but Vivian his xwife won't accept that. She is a writer and can't accept it so she insists in trying to find out why he would commit suicide. He had lunch with her not too long ago and he told her he was getting married again. She is happy for him and that is why she can't accept it.
What she investigates and finds out is unbelievable!!!

[Dorry Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to think of this book, much less what to write about it. It Was racy, jealously, and some other things I don't want to mention as it would give some of the ending away. The main character Sebastian Locke is found dead. Everyone is baffled by his death. There are 5 parts to the book each of 4 on the main people of his life. One covers a person 2 times. I will say it held my attention most of the time, but I feel it was sorta a sick book.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting book in that the story is told by the points of view of four different people and very near the end it has the strangest, weirdest and most unbelievable twists I've ever read EVER. The characters, except for Vivienne were not very likable for me. And there were parts that just dragged on like where Vivienne described her chateau and Jack described the winery and vineyard, and Luciana when on about the portraits of her ancestors.

[Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and repetitive. Vivienne Trent, the former ward and ex-wife of Sebastian Locke, finds it difficult to believe that he took his own life. As a journalist, she begins to investigate what he had been doing the last week of his life. There was nothing to indicate what the ending would be until the next to last chapter which presented a raft of new information so outrageously unreal that I was inclined to throw the book in the garbage. Don't bother.

[Sharkie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A reflection on a man's life shown through the eyes of the people who loved him most, Sebastian Locke is the main man of this story even after he's six feet under.

Unfortunately, I went into this thinking it a thriller, but it was anything but. Sure some big things were revealed, but nothing thriller-esque.

A point that reallt bothered me was the incest and age difference relationships. This is purely personal preference, but it was just too much for me.

[Carol Kraus · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was just okay. I have read several of her books years ago. I had ordered this when I belonged to a book club and found it the other day on one of my shelves of unread books. The book was fairly slow getting into but got somewhat better near the end. The ending was sort of bizarre to me. It's not one on my recommended list.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like the mystery involved of whether philanthropist, Sebastian Locke, committed suicide or was murdered.
The twists at the end were mind-boggling.
The book was written in 5 sections, by 4 different people. It was interesting to read how each person perceived the others, how each person perceived the same situations, and how each person perceived Sebastian Locke.

[Charice Lind mehring · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing story that takes you on a unique journey to find out exactly what caused Sebastian Locke to choose to commit suicide. The reason is not revealed until nearly the end of the book, which makes it so intriguing and a compelling read.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a real page-turner, but not one of Bradford's best efforts, in my opinion: too many highly improbable coincidences, unrealistic characters and life stories, and armchair psychology at play -- and way, way too much drama.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story worth of your time. Never boring though the start is a bit slow.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Taylor Bradford is always a good read. It is a little slow to start, but picks up the pace soon enough. Interesting story.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is something different.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit different, but I loved it. Great Expectations meets Game of Thrones meets Desperate Housewives meets Greek Tragedy.