Silversmith & Son

by Caroline Burt, Adrian Burt (Editor)

Sir David Silversmith was one of the most successful and wealthiest property developers of his time. The fact that he took over the family business when he was demobbed at the end of WW2 when the Luftwaffe had made so many opportunities available doubtless helped him on his way to the top.
The story starts as his son James gradually takes over from him, in the good times of the early noughties. David is happy to watch as his son builds a small team of experts around him to help him build on his successes.
By far the brightest of these is Chantal Collier, one of the foremost interior architects of the time, who in a four year period helps the Silversmiths reach a new level of success.
The developing relationship between James and Chantal comes to an abrupt end when she leaves the company. This only shortly precedes the 2008 collapse of the Property Market triggered by the worldwide financial crisis.
The touching story of how the characters come to rely on and support each other in different ways to overcome financial disaster and personal trauma make for a gripping story and a surprising outcome.

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2015