The Trustees

by Caro Fraser

A rich man dies and leaves all his money in trust for his son and daughter. But one of the trustees is his estranged ex-wife, and to her he leaves only a beautiful country house and an income of twenty thousand pounds a year. Not nearly enough for an extravagant and greedy lady with a passion for the best things in life. But Marion is nothing if not resourceful and she immediately turns her considerable charm on one of her fellow trustees: Geoffrey Montacute, the dry-as-dust bachelor solicitor who lives with his mother in a hideous, gloomy suburban villa. So Marion, with no clear plan in mind, but an unerring instinct for the main chance, sets out to seduce him.

298 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Caroline Georgiana ("Caro") Fraser was a novelist.

Fraser began her career as an advertising copywriter. She became a commercial and maritime lawyer, and practised until 1992, when she became a full-time writer.

Reviews

[Nikki H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having finished the author’s Caper Court series, I am now working my way through her other novels. I really enjoyed this one. Initially, none of the characters seem likeable. Even Richard, the “nice” young articled clerk at Geoffrey Montacute’s firm of solicitors, isn’t averse to bedding the naïve schoolgirl daughter of one of their clients (albeit one who is 17 years old). However, I warmed to Geoffrey as the story progressed, and enjoyed the humour relating to his complete lack of sexual experience: eg, Marion discussing the excitement of seducing a middle-aged virgin with a friend, and Geoffrey feeling proud that he has got the hang of things after bedding her only once or twice.

[Richard Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite dry, with hardly a likable character. A useful study in middle class mores.

[Anne]

Very good read.

[Jo McLeay]

Surprisingly good