What do you think?
Rate this book
Fortune Is a Woman
Hard cover
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
46 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Winston Graham
215 books1,155 followersWinston Graham was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote contemporary thrillers, period novels, short stories, non-fiction, and plays. Born in Victoria Park, Manchester, he moved to Perranporth, Cornwall in 1925 and lived there for 34 years. Graham published his first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows, in 1934 and married Jean Williamson in 1939, who inspired the character Demelza in Poldark. During World War II, he joined the Auxiliary Coastguard Service. Graham became a member of the Society of Authors in 1945, serving as chairman from 1967 to 1969, and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, receiving an OBE in 1983. His Poldark series began with Ross Poldark in 1945 and concluded with Bella Poldark in 2002. He wrote 30 additional novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, including the acclaimed thriller Marnie, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964. Several other novels, including The Walking Stick and Fortune Is a Woman, were adapted for film. Graham also wrote plays, some adapted from his novels. His works have been translated into 31 languages, and his autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man, was published posthumously in 2003.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 14, 2014
A novel about a claims adjuster who falls for a married woman who may or may not be involved in an insurance fraud. 1953.
Full review (and recommendations!) at Another look book
I picked this one up on a whim and immediately found myself sucked in. It builds gradually over the first 40 pages or so, but after that it's just non-stop action/mystery/suspense. It's well-written, too (by the same author who wrote the Poldark series), so almost on that merit alone it stands out in the crime/suspense genre. The foreshadowing isn't too heavy-handed, either, which is something else that can be exaggerated in this type of book.
As I was reading, it kept making me think of a Cary Grant movie, something like North by Northwest. In some ways, I saw it as a period piece, as it's essentially about what happened after WWII when many families found they could no longer afford to maintain the "old" lifestyle--historic mansion, sprawling estate, large collection of antiques. In that way, and for the suspense part, it reminded me of Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger. Except, you know, without all that ghost stuff...
In all, a very satisfying read.
Full review (and recommendations!) at Another look book
I picked this one up on a whim and immediately found myself sucked in. It builds gradually over the first 40 pages or so, but after that it's just non-stop action/mystery/suspense. It's well-written, too (by the same author who wrote the Poldark series), so almost on that merit alone it stands out in the crime/suspense genre. The foreshadowing isn't too heavy-handed, either, which is something else that can be exaggerated in this type of book.
As I was reading, it kept making me think of a Cary Grant movie, something like North by Northwest. In some ways, I saw it as a period piece, as it's essentially about what happened after WWII when many families found they could no longer afford to maintain the "old" lifestyle--historic mansion, sprawling estate, large collection of antiques. In that way, and for the suspense part, it reminded me of Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger. Except, you know, without all that ghost stuff...
In all, a very satisfying read.
Want to read
June 2, 2024She Played with Fire (1957)
March 12, 2014
Roller-coaster novel of suspense. Enjoyed the human nature aspect of male having faith in female, then the next minute, the male is doubting what female has said. Enjoyed the spontaneity of marriage proposal. Overall good, quick read. This book was made into a British movie. A year later when the movie was released into U.S., the movie's title was "She Played with Fire".
February 12, 2018
This book has been sitting on my book shelf for many years, an acquisition from my in-laws when they moved from one house to another. I was cleaning of my book shelves to make room for different books when I noticed that this was written by the author of "Poldark." How could I not read it.
It was pretty good. About a man, Oliver Branwell, who changes his fortunes in his life because he was a soldier in the War, (I think WWI) He prove himself to others to be a competent man as an officer in the army and was offered a position as an insurance adjuster by a fellow soldier. He then had opportunities to become acquainted with the upper class society. But all is not as it seems with some of his friends who have suffered financial losses due to death taxes. The extent they go to to save their fortunes and life style has a disastrous effect on many people including the hero of the story.
It was pretty good. About a man, Oliver Branwell, who changes his fortunes in his life because he was a soldier in the War, (I think WWI) He prove himself to others to be a competent man as an officer in the army and was offered a position as an insurance adjuster by a fellow soldier. He then had opportunities to become acquainted with the upper class society. But all is not as it seems with some of his friends who have suffered financial losses due to death taxes. The extent they go to to save their fortunes and life style has a disastrous effect on many people including the hero of the story.
September 22, 2017
Great title but that's about it.
March 25, 2021
I read this a very long time ago and remember enjoying it but can now not remember a single thing about it!
July 17, 2022
The Sunday Times review in my copy says: 'One must congratulate Winston Graham on constructing a plot so good.' Quite.
July 28, 2024
2.5, Not bad but also not outstanding, very average. A good book if you like old movies/ that time period
July 26, 2025
somehow he made insurance genuinely interesting. also, "a novel of suspense" was a very accurate description
June 14, 2016
I've always been a sucker for noir crime fiction.
Oliver doesn't think much of himself in his younger days. He wanders the countryside with no purpose. Doesn't care much about his appearance and has no idea what his future will hold or if he even has one.
Until one night, when he stumbles upon Sarah. Her car has a flat. He fixes it and accepts a ride.
Later, when he is accused of stealing her bracelet, he almost believes it is something he would do, even though he knows he didn't. When his country goes to war, Oliver goes too. When he comes back, he is a man with a new life and a new attitude. He finds a job at an insurance firm where he investigates claims.
Imagine his surprise when he investigates a fire at Lowis Manor and finds Sarah married to a much older man named Tracey Moreton. Finding the fire suspicious, Oliver begins to have his doubts about Mr. Moreton and eventually Sarah, even though by this time, he realizes that he never forgot her. In fact, he loves her. But, something strange is going on at Lowis Manor and it involves more than just insurance fraud.
When an even bigger fire erupts at Lowis Manor, Oliver is in the right place at the wrong time. A questionable death results and Oliver finds everyone around him looking in his direction.
Fiction like this is hard to find nowadays. I absolutely love it. It reminds me of the film 'Laura.' Dark, mysterious, and definitely something I will remember for a long time to come.
Oliver doesn't think much of himself in his younger days. He wanders the countryside with no purpose. Doesn't care much about his appearance and has no idea what his future will hold or if he even has one.
Until one night, when he stumbles upon Sarah. Her car has a flat. He fixes it and accepts a ride.
Later, when he is accused of stealing her bracelet, he almost believes it is something he would do, even though he knows he didn't. When his country goes to war, Oliver goes too. When he comes back, he is a man with a new life and a new attitude. He finds a job at an insurance firm where he investigates claims.
Imagine his surprise when he investigates a fire at Lowis Manor and finds Sarah married to a much older man named Tracey Moreton. Finding the fire suspicious, Oliver begins to have his doubts about Mr. Moreton and eventually Sarah, even though by this time, he realizes that he never forgot her. In fact, he loves her. But, something strange is going on at Lowis Manor and it involves more than just insurance fraud.
When an even bigger fire erupts at Lowis Manor, Oliver is in the right place at the wrong time. A questionable death results and Oliver finds everyone around him looking in his direction.
Fiction like this is hard to find nowadays. I absolutely love it. It reminds me of the film 'Laura.' Dark, mysterious, and definitely something I will remember for a long time to come.
May 31, 2015
Quaint old fashioned story by Winston Graham, whose books include the Poldark series and Marnie, which was a popular Alfred Hitchcock movie in the 1050's. This one involves a insurance investigator and a young woman named Sarah. It's well done with suspense towards the end. As I said, it's very dated, very British and the writing style is very long-winded so may not be for everybody, but I enjoyed it.
April 28, 2014
Not my favorite Winston Graham, but anything he has written satisfies......
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews