The Heir

by Paul Robertson

Wealth. Fame. Power. Murder. Jason Boyer Just Got an Inheritance to Die For The fortune wasn't supposed to befall him. Jason Boyer had known all along his father's business empire would pass to different hands. Which suited him just fine. The money was crooked and the power corrupt. But when an accident claims the old man's life, everyone is stunned by the unveiling of the will. With the passing of the Boyer crown, power-hungry politicians and shady business partners all try to force Boyer's hand. Fighting the temptation of influence and riches, he simply wants to be a better man than his father--but attempting to stand for what's right soon brings murderous consequences. As those closest to him are endangered--and news emerges that his father's accident may be something more sinister--Boyer finds himself fighting for his soul…and his life! Is There Any Escape for The Heir? All the money he could ever crave. In the splintering crash of a car plunging through a railing, Jason Boyer's life is changed. All the fame he could ever desire. But the last thing he wanted was the throne of his father's corrupt business empire. All the power he could ever wield. The estate should have gone elsewhere, but the will was changed. And now everything is Jason's. But gaining the whole world just might cost him his life.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Christian, Christian Fiction, Suspense, Ebooks

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Paul Robertson is a computer programming consultant, part-time high-school math and science teacher, and the author of The Heir. He is also a former Christian bookstore owner (for 15 years), who lives with his family in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Reviews

[C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is very hard for me to choose between two and three stars for this novel--I rarely enjoy political fiction, and this book is no different in that respect.

Still, at its core, this novel is a murder mystery and the political elements that should support the mystery are more like a side-plot which could have mostly been edited out.

I struggled to finish this book; while I was reading it I was a little reluctant to put it down, but whenever I had set it aside for more than an hour I found myself far more than "a little reluctant" to pick it up again. It finally took me a couple of weeks to read this book--I'm glad I did, but I cannot recommend it.

[Lyndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I 1st started this book, I posted it on here and saw what a low rating others gave to this and couldn’t understand. Now I do. I got about 150 pgs into it and just couldn’t take it anymore (and I normally do not not finish books, even if it takes me forever to get through). This one was just plain BORING. So what that the main character was now a billionaire? And was buying a new house and his wife was happy that she could spend millions on new furniture and clothes, etc. Yes, there was the whole murder mystery going on, but it just wasn’t enough. I probably could have liked it, if I had liked either Jason or his wife Katie, but I didn’t. They just seemed really superficial. I ended up skipping up to the last 2 chapters to find out if it got better. So I did miss a few minor things, but not enough to entice me to read the pages in between. First book by this author and have to say, not sure if the rest are like this if I will ever read another. And for those who cracked on Christian fiction, trust me, they are not all like this. Most have more meat and potatoes.

[Cyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS - Pretty decent, actually. The Heir to a vast empire must figure out how to negotiate the world that his father left behind - and all the dangers that come with it. The moral of this story is one we are all too familiar with: the love of money is the root of all evil. And there's a lot of evil that goes down in this book. One of the main people I disliked the most, however, was the protagonist's wife. She was so blatantly money-hungry it was gross. Except maybe blatant isn't the right word. It was subtle, but it still screamed to me the whole time, and the longer the story went, the louder it got. Not an action-packed book by any means, but there are definitely moments of suspense at the end that make you wonder how - or if - the main character is going to make it through.

[Keiki Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When a man knows his purpose, everyone else knows as well" - the scene setting quote from the first chapter of Paul Robertson's "The Heir".

Simply put, the plot centers around Jason Boyer, a trust-baby young man happy to exist on thirty-thousand a month until the untimely death of his father which plunges him into the political world against his will.

You are immediately taken with Jason's strange wit often sarcastic and cynical, we see a daring man emerge. His wife, his brother, and his fathers business associates notice a change in him as he embarks on setting his fathers house in order.

As he begins to make devastating business decisions primarily affecting those that chiefly benefit from his fathers corrupt business machinery, people start dying around him.

These events coupled with his own inner desire to know, prompt him to ask the question "Why am I here?". You will follow along as Jason Boyer faces events that shape his own philosophy, his moral values, his morality concerning money, power, politics, and more. The reader will find redemption and hope when the final decision is made as to what Jason does with the money.

An intriguing tale, with quick witted dialogue, fast paced events, and grand storytelling in a moral framework make this a very interesting whodunit.

[AJ Payne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like to try out the free books on my Kindle sometimes, and this was one of them.

It was not good. Was it readable? Yes, but only just.

The characters were unbelieveable and nothing they did had any motivation. It never even made sense. I almost only had to keep reading to see what other ridiculous things they would do. None of them were any deeper than a few words on a page.

Not recommended!

[Malina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me think. It had a good story, intermixed with a lot of philosophical thought about happiness, the purpose of life, money, power and more. It is well written. It is clean, has a good mystery in it and causes you to think about things.

[Cheryl Van Til · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading The Heir. I won't rehash the plot since every other review on Goodreads does that; but, I wanted to add that I really enjoyed the book. As much as one can enjoy a suspense/mystery novel. I think Robertson's writing style is amazing: the conversations were very natural, the descriptions the author provides move smoothly. I think the book could've used one more edit to shorten it a bit. I really like Jason and his younger brother, Eric. Didn't really get to know Katie (Jason's wife) at all other than as a money-grubbing woman who stayed with her husband for his money. I was disappointed that their relationship was not explored more. And I really, really wish the ending would have been more thorough. It wasn't quite enough of an ending for me. Regarding the other reviewers who seem confused this book is classified as a Christian novel, I would agree that the Gospel should have been presented to Jason in answer to the question he asked throughout the whole book: "Why am I here?" I thought Nathan would be the one to talk to Jason about Jesus, but...

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my normal reading genres and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought I had it figured out but then felt someone else was the culprit. When Jason figured it out, I was back on my original suspect. I really didn't like the way it ended but realized it was an apt ending, so I gave it five stars. I think if you like mysteries you'll like this one. The main characters are well developed. I really liked Katie, but she seemed a little shallow to me. Hope you give it a try.

[Chasity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was left very unsure how to rate this book. There were parts of this book that were predictable. While that doesn't bother me the characters didn't help. I found I did't really care for any of the characters. I understand that the characters are supposed to be superficial but they needed a little something extra to help move the story along.

[Cindy Buss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book but I have decided every book I start I will finish. So once I got into it I was intrigued especially about murder 1 then another. But it certainly didn't end like I thought it would. So the best part of the book was the middle. Not sure I would chose this author again.

[Lyndall Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely, not what I expected

Loved this book, I could not put it down. An unwilling heir to a massive fortune - Jason’s struggle to find his purpose find him at odds with the rich and powerful. Fast paced. Really makes you wonder what you would do in a similar situation. I was with Jason and his ideals, I probably would do the same thing he did.

[Erin Rumsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a little slow for me. I also did not get enough information about the characters to care about what happened with them. I think more background or detail would have allowed me to become more invested.

[Diane Leeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting - suspense held to the end!

Oh my golly! Couldn’t put this down. Had me going almost to the very end when I figured out “who done it” just before Jason figured it out!
A must read for any thriller/murder/suspense/intrigue fan!

[Conner Demned · Rating 2 out of 5]

a lot of "I feel sad, I'm gonna buy something fuck you expensive." in this book. couldn't get into it, as the character was terribly unrelatable and pretty unlikeable.

I absolutely did not care if the main character lives or died.

[Tyr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both the protagonist of the story and his wife felt so self-entitled and whiny that I had to stop multiple times to contemplate whether it was a good idea to continue reading the book.

[Sandi McCreight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Lots of twists makes it unpredictable. Very interesting and evolving characters. Humor is an added bonus. Great story start to finish.

[Susan]

It was good. But I wish the ending was better. It needs to go on. Maybe a sequel?

[Carolyn Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! Son is heir to father’s fortune, which he doesn’t want because it was ill gained.

[Jeff Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful thriller/mystery/morality tale. I enjoyed this so much! I couldn’t wait to pick it up each evening and then was sad to finish it.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts slow, but increases pace to non-stop action. A who-done-it that examines whether money is the most valuable thing.

[Jodi Olmsted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery. Interesting premises behind story. Character development portrays what we see today in society: young people w/o purpose. Interesting how that premise becomes a character in & of itself thru the storyline.

[Divyesh Sheth · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good story that bogs down a bit

This is a good novel. Starts out really well , however after two thirds of it, plot goes awry and ending is so so.

[Honeybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this e-book for free for my CBD reader. I love Christian mystery/suspense, and this one looked like a winner.

This book was completely unexpected. From the first page, the author established a distinct voice for his obviously very lost, but morally decent main character. This is one novel written in first person that really works!

You know right off the bat that the main character, Jason Boyer, is not a Christian and has no idea why he is here on earth or what he is supposed to do. He has lived in the shadow, but not in a real relationship with, a rich and powerful father he has no desire to be like. But when Jason unexpectedly inherits his father's empire and responsibilities, Jason is appalled to see himself becoming more and more like the man he detests. Meanwhile, people around him are falling victim to a relentless killer Jason feels may be within his own family or close circle of associates. The suspense takes a while to build, but was enough to keep me reading for an entire afternoon--in spite of a raging headache--to find out what would happen.

I'm not sure why this is marketed as a Christian book. While it is "clean," with no offensive language or behavior, the only incidences where God is even mentioned are: 1) when Jason's secretary, Pamela says she prays for him, and 2) when he and his brother find notes from their deceased mom in a special hiding place. The name of Jesus is nowhere to be found. While Jason does find purpose for his life by the end of the novel, he does not find Christ. It makes me wonder if there is a sequel. If not, it was a somewhat dis-satisfactory ending to an otherwise intriguing book.

If you appreciate rather dry, cynical humor, this book is chock full of it. If you enjoy a good mystery, this book has it. And if you are wondering if there are any good first-person point-of-view books out there for adults, this is a fine one. Though not what you can call very spiritual, it is an engaging read.

[Dailycheapreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Heir by Paul Robertson opens at the funeral of Melvin Boyer, a wealthy businessman, politician and power broker. Jason Boyer narrates the story of his father’s demise and his own rise. He expects the estate from the father he hardly knew to be awarded to the do-good foundation, while he and his brother will live on a generous monthly stipend.

But just before his death, Melvin Boyer altered the will to name Jason the heir of all assets. At first, Jason tries to resist the inheritance. Then he gets a taste of the money and power. As the depth of corruption of his father’s empire is revealed, Jason becomes drawn in to the point that it seems impossible to escape.

It’s discovered that his father’s death may not have been an accident. Or is the investigation a political maneuver? Jason begins to trust no one and attracts powerful enemies.

The Heir is in the tradition of John Grisham thrillers, with fast-moving action and lots of plot twists that kept me reading well past bed time.

The character development is very thorough and the writing was excellent. Jason Boyer has a keen sense of wit and sarcasm, like this discussion with his father’s second wife:

“If a marshmallow could talk, that’s what it would sound like.

“I’d like for you to be on the board of the Boyer Foundation.”

“Oh.” It wasn’t the word, just the vowel sound, drawn out, like a marshmallow being stepped, real slowly.

The story had more depth than most legal thrillers, but the pace moved a little slow at times. Jason seemed very mature for a 28-year-old rich kid and a lack of mourning for his father, no matter how distant he was, seemed out of character. If you’re looking for a fast read that’s light on graphic details, yet realistic in the extent of corruption, The Heir is a good one to try.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Heir" is a suspense novel involving politics, business ethics, and a murder mystery. Jason's sarcastic humor lightened the angst of the novel as he tried to find a purpose for living and to do the right thing--even though he wasn't always sure what made a thing right.

All of the characters were likable or fascinating, though our view of them (through Jason's eyes) was rather shallow because he had shallow relationships with everyone. Jason was a cynical, sarcastic, searching character who gradually added some maturity to his complexity as he was forced to grow up.

The novel was very fast-paced, and I had a hard time putting it down. Since Jason usually acted in a way that made any situation worse (due to his temper), it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion while hoping that everyone survived the wreck. The ending was a bit sad though Jason did find answers to his questions.

There were a few, brief, generalized references to God (though none to Jesus), and there wasn't any preaching at the reader. There was no sex and no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel as well-written, clean reading.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if inherited a billion dollars from your father whom you didn't like? That is Jason Boyer's dilemma. He says he doesn't want anything to do with it, but then changes his mind. Jason Boyer had known all along his father's business empire would pass to different hands, to the foundation, which suited him just fine. The money was crooked and the power corrupt. But when an accident claims the old man's life, everyone is stunned by the unveiling of the will.

With the passing of the Boyer crown, power-hungry politicians and shady business partners all try to force Boyer's hand. Fighting the temptation of influence and riches, he simply wants to be a better man than his father--but attempting to stand for what's right soon brings murderous consequences.

As those closest to him are endangered--and news emerges that his father's accident may be something more sinister--Boyer finds himself fighting for his soul...and his life!

[Alan Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Heir was an interesting book that delved into the activities of Jason Boyer when he unexpectedly became a billionaire and found out about his father’s questionable practices. There was also the intri8gue of his family and advisors who all wanted to get a piece of the action.

Of course, then came the murders and the fun started.

I found-it long winded and for pages and pages did not seem to go anywhere. I was always going to finish it, but the book seemed a bit drawn out before anything really happened. A lot of time was built in building the profiles of the main protagonists

I did like the way that money drove Jason into a world he had not been part of and the way he reacted. I also found Eric a very believable character and what you would expect from a kid born into money.

If the book had been about 200 pages shorter, it would have been a better read.

[Ruth]

Wasn't sure where this story was going when I first started reading it but it definately caught my couriosity as I got further into it! Jason unexpectely gets his very wealthy dad's responsibility and $$$ when a mysterious car accident kills his father. Even though Jason does not want this he is drawn into it. One by one there are people being killed. Who is the killer? Will Jason be next? What will he do to get out of this horrible life style that he is in?
About the time I thought I knew who was the murderer it changed. THe ending definately surprised me. Glad I read this book that a friend loaned me.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first "free" kindle app book and I enjoyed it. One heir inheriting a billion dollar empire from his dad who he couldn't stand. He couldn't stand him because he was a horrible father, focused on the business. A businessman that everybody knew because he was cut throat. He didn't want to be like him, so he didn't want his inherited assets. Everybody else of course tries to get a piece of the action and he is more than ever set on getting rid of the money. There were times that this book was long but that's just a personal preference. Just like how I hate it when a "movie chase" goes on longer than I think is necessary. The ending is fulfilling enough.

[Victor Muthoka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in the same vein as John Grisham thrillers, minus all the sex scenes.
An inside look at the life of one who seems to have stables on to the good life after inheriting a multi billion dollar business empire, only to find out that things aren't as they seem.
He realizes that his father's empire was wrought by bribery, corruption and even murder and that he's expected to follow in the same vein.
He struggles w/ the fight between making things right and losing the fortune, or succumbing to the evil and keeping the power and fortune. I'm the end, what is really important comes to light. A super gripping read. Hard to put down once you start.