Orphans

by Jean Simon

Left alone after her adopted mother's death, Rae Downing welcomes a call from her biological sister, but when she flies out to meet her, she discovers that there is more than one secret in this family she has never known. Original.

Genres: Horror

319 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of terrible triplets! Orphans kicks off with a prologue in a hippy commune in California where one of them is giving birth; turns out to be triplets! The mom went crazy and died, and the daddy split. The babies were given up for adoption and when the story kicks in, they are now 23. Our main protagonist, Rae, lives and works in L.A., just getting by. One day she gets a call from a stranger who claims to be her sister! After some hemming and hawing, she, along with her beau, fly out to Minnesota for an impromptu family reunion.

I have read several of Simon's novels and enjoyed them. Her protagonists all come from solid working class backgrounds who face strange situations. In Orphans, Rae meets her very wealthy sister, who lives in a mansion, servants and all. Josie is the town pariah-- spoiled rotten and rich, she has pushed people around all her life. Rae finds her living with some playboy when she arrives and the two could not be more opposite. Sparks fly and then other things, and the tale descends into hidden secrets and tales of power...

Again, like other of Simon's novels, this is a quick, fun read, paced well and with a cool denouement. Pure B grade entertainment for sure! Orphans is not really scary, but does have a decent plot and a bit of foo at the end; would make for a great beach read. 3.5 orphan stars!!

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story with a good twist. I like the writing style of Jean Simon a good page turner. I do believe the story ended a little to fast with not much depth but it was a great story none the less. Hope to read more of her books soon.