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POSSESSIONS
Katherine and Craig Fraser had shared ten golden years together. And they were still very much in love. Then one day Craig vanished leaving Katherine with two children, no job, no money - and the discovery that her husband has been living a double life. Severing all ties with the past, Katherine and her children flee to San Francisco. There she meets the affluent Hayward family - the family from which Craig fled fifteen years before. Swept into the heady world of San Francisco society Katherine forges a new life
533 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
31 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Judith Michael
83 books115 followersJudith Michael is the pen name of husband/wife team Judith Barnard (b. 1934) and Michael Fain (b. 1937).
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 8, 2020
OK, first things first: you must know by now that author Judith Michael is actually a pen name for...
https://sleaze-factor.blogspot.com/20...
https://sleaze-factor.blogspot.com/20...
June 26, 2024
Very enjoyable, very nostalgic!
4.5 ☆
4.5 ☆
September 15, 2014
Possessions is my favorite Judith Michael novel. Maybe even my favorite when it comes to women’s fiction, period.
It’s a little dated. The book was published in 1984 and that shows, especially with the references to “Eskimos” and the mention of a computer with disc drives that everyone oohs and aahs over. But although the heroine becomes as beautiful, beloved, accomplished, etc. as any other Judith Michael female protagonist, she starts out on the opposite end of that scale. Which was what hooked me on the novel.
The story begins when Katherine Fraser, an ordinary housewife in Vancouver, discovers her husband is missing. Craig Fraser left on a business trip but never reached his destination, and everything goes downhill from there. His business partner tells Katherine that Craig was embezzling from the company, and soon the police are involved.
But the publicity has an unexpected side-effect. Katherine believed her husband was an orphan, but a wealthy family in San Francisco reads about him in the papers and contacts her. They once had a son called Craig who disappeared after an accident, and it soon becomes evident this is no coincidence.
Rather than being any help, though, Craig’s long-lost family leaves Katherine feelimg even more alone—not to mention poor. Her attempts to get a job only underline the fact that she hasn’t worked during the ten years of her marriage, and even though she loves designing jewelry, her samples are turned down by buyers who point out that she’s an amateur with amateur techniques.
Finally she sells their house at a loss and moves to a tiny apartment in San Francisco because her best friend lives in the city. Slowly, she starts enjoying her independence. She takes classes in jewelry design, buys different clothes (albeit secondhand ones) and mends bridges with Craig’s family. Though this has an unexpected side-effect too. His cousins Derek and Ross are both intrigued by her—in different ways—but Craig’s presence casts a shadow over her. Especially when he sends money from Canada, without ever divulging his location, writing to her or telling her the truth.
The story isn’t flawless. I didn’t buy that any jewelry designer could get so good so fast, and—except for Craig—things are perfect for Katherine towards the end. Those who treat her well are good people who are rewarded, while those who do not are bad people who get their comeuppance. But the descriptions of settings—San Francisco, Paris, the Cote d’Azur—are wonderfully written. I always lose myself in those, and yet, because Katherine starts out in such low water, it doesn’t come across as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous either. Not a bad beach read at all.
It’s a little dated. The book was published in 1984 and that shows, especially with the references to “Eskimos” and the mention of a computer with disc drives that everyone oohs and aahs over. But although the heroine becomes as beautiful, beloved, accomplished, etc. as any other Judith Michael female protagonist, she starts out on the opposite end of that scale. Which was what hooked me on the novel.
The story begins when Katherine Fraser, an ordinary housewife in Vancouver, discovers her husband is missing. Craig Fraser left on a business trip but never reached his destination, and everything goes downhill from there. His business partner tells Katherine that Craig was embezzling from the company, and soon the police are involved.
But the publicity has an unexpected side-effect. Katherine believed her husband was an orphan, but a wealthy family in San Francisco reads about him in the papers and contacts her. They once had a son called Craig who disappeared after an accident, and it soon becomes evident this is no coincidence.
Rather than being any help, though, Craig’s long-lost family leaves Katherine feelimg even more alone—not to mention poor. Her attempts to get a job only underline the fact that she hasn’t worked during the ten years of her marriage, and even though she loves designing jewelry, her samples are turned down by buyers who point out that she’s an amateur with amateur techniques.
Finally she sells their house at a loss and moves to a tiny apartment in San Francisco because her best friend lives in the city. Slowly, she starts enjoying her independence. She takes classes in jewelry design, buys different clothes (albeit secondhand ones) and mends bridges with Craig’s family. Though this has an unexpected side-effect too. His cousins Derek and Ross are both intrigued by her—in different ways—but Craig’s presence casts a shadow over her. Especially when he sends money from Canada, without ever divulging his location, writing to her or telling her the truth.
The story isn’t flawless. I didn’t buy that any jewelry designer could get so good so fast, and—except for Craig—things are perfect for Katherine towards the end. Those who treat her well are good people who are rewarded, while those who do not are bad people who get their comeuppance. But the descriptions of settings—San Francisco, Paris, the Cote d’Azur—are wonderfully written. I always lose myself in those, and yet, because Katherine starts out in such low water, it doesn’t come across as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous either. Not a bad beach read at all.
April 22, 2018
This book was published in 1984, and the story stands the test of time. Sure, the technical references are outdated, but the story is so captivating that those details do not matter. The character growth and plot twists kept me turning the pages.
November 14, 2024
Katherine was the perfect housewife in suburban Vancouver, British Columbia. She had the perfect house, and kids. Then, one day, her business man husband Craig doesn't return home. He took a lot of money, and vanished, in the midst of a scandal. Katherine is left to fend for herself, as she starts a new life, in her hometown of San Francisco.
I feel bad for this rating, because I enjoyed this novel, for quite a while. The author(s)-Judith Michael are actually two people-are fantastic writers. Everything came to life. The main issue is, for a book that sets such high stakes, it doesn't feel like there's much, mid way through. Craig vanishes. Katherine can't track him, and is caught in financial hardship. Half way through, there's some evidence to suggest Craig is still alive, and in hiding. Katherine doesn't so much to look for him.
In a way, how she carries on as a single mother, feels more like a bad divorce than a crime scandal. I didn't like that her background was she grew up in San Francisco, where Craig happened to also be from, and lied about it. She didn't seem much like a California woman, and didn't have much connection to the city. Also, Craig's parents and siblings happened to be there, too? Weird.
She has a lot of struggles, but they go away too easily. Her Jewelry business just sort of happens, after a few attempts that were never really well thought out. Then it's just a log of her day by day activities. I wanted some more obstacles.
Another thing to note is the audio book was funny. It had different voice actors for different characters. So what is known as a full cast audio book. I think the digital version was adapted from the original copy of the audio recording, because the voices sounded so vintage. I didn't even know they had that kind of media, back then. I didn't like that the narrator's voice was a man, but, when Katherine spoke, it, I heard a woman's voice. She is the main character. Why not have the narrator also be the person who says her dialogue? The switch between the two was offputting. Also, there were some inconsistencies. The female voice actress sometimes said Katherine's thought, and, sometimes, it was the male narrator.
I feel bad for this rating, because I enjoyed this novel, for quite a while. The author(s)-Judith Michael are actually two people-are fantastic writers. Everything came to life. The main issue is, for a book that sets such high stakes, it doesn't feel like there's much, mid way through. Craig vanishes. Katherine can't track him, and is caught in financial hardship. Half way through, there's some evidence to suggest Craig is still alive, and in hiding. Katherine doesn't so much to look for him.
In a way, how she carries on as a single mother, feels more like a bad divorce than a crime scandal. I didn't like that her background was she grew up in San Francisco, where Craig happened to also be from, and lied about it. She didn't seem much like a California woman, and didn't have much connection to the city. Also, Craig's parents and siblings happened to be there, too? Weird.
She has a lot of struggles, but they go away too easily. Her Jewelry business just sort of happens, after a few attempts that were never really well thought out. Then it's just a log of her day by day activities. I wanted some more obstacles.
Another thing to note is the audio book was funny. It had different voice actors for different characters. So what is known as a full cast audio book. I think the digital version was adapted from the original copy of the audio recording, because the voices sounded so vintage. I didn't even know they had that kind of media, back then. I didn't like that the narrator's voice was a man, but, when Katherine spoke, it, I heard a woman's voice. She is the main character. Why not have the narrator also be the person who says her dialogue? The switch between the two was offputting. Also, there were some inconsistencies. The female voice actress sometimes said Katherine's thought, and, sometimes, it was the male narrator.
January 18, 2020
Although I couldn't put the book down, there were parts in the book that really bothered me.
May 20, 2025
This was an old 1980s book from my mother’s shelf. I really enjoyed the story line with the heroine being abandoned by her husband. She eventually finds out he has an entire family alive that he never told her about. She has to rebuild her life without much support from the husband. She does it all by being fiercely independent and only accepting help when it is honestly offered with no expectation or need to feel indebted to others. She gains her own power and chooses her own love not for money or support but as an equal partner in their future. She also gains a whole new family in their process. Well done, Judith Michael (a husband and wife team of authors).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
Loved this more than I expected. Lots of depth and character development.
January 4, 2023
Dated but had some interesting characters and dilemmas.
June 28, 2024
Great read, with lots of twists and turns. A few inappropriate sex scenes that aren't needed in the story line, but otherwise a good read.
January 4, 2025
Read when I was young
Read
August 8, 2011Whenever one finds the word “love” on a book jacket, stand by for a chick tale. Indeed, there is enough estrogen-produced mind probing contained within these pages to make one’s eyes occasionally glaze over. But the tale draws one into a series of interesting mini-plots and life styles that kept my curiosity continually contented.
Katherine Fraser, an orphaned naive Vancouver housewife married to a builder, suddenly finds herself alone with two children and no means of support. The unexplained disappearance of her husband under nefarious conditions forces her to cope with the realities of life. She discovers her spouse had a family she didn’t know existed. After moving to San Francisco, she struggles to make a living. She fights the problems of single motherhood. She grows.
Her growth was the most impressive thing for me. It’s gradual, palpable, and credible – weak to strong – and projected, formidable. It’s one of the better examples of character development I’ve experienced, and there was enough guy stuff to make me conclude this book was pretty darn good.
Katherine Fraser, an orphaned naive Vancouver housewife married to a builder, suddenly finds herself alone with two children and no means of support. The unexplained disappearance of her husband under nefarious conditions forces her to cope with the realities of life. She discovers her spouse had a family she didn’t know existed. After moving to San Francisco, she struggles to make a living. She fights the problems of single motherhood. She grows.
Her growth was the most impressive thing for me. It’s gradual, palpable, and credible – weak to strong – and projected, formidable. It’s one of the better examples of character development I’ve experienced, and there was enough guy stuff to make me conclude this book was pretty darn good.
June 11, 2012
Possessions has left me breathless and shocked when I reached the finale of the book... I love the novel from start to finish... The story was so absorbing, it really got me involved. Judith Michael was totally brilliant. Their book was so hard to put down. The couple behind this amazing novel has done an amazing job... Bravo!!!
March 17, 2016
Katherine frasier's husband disappears and she learns about a wealthy family he is part of and who thought he had drowned 20 years before. A nice story about a world of power and luxury. It was published in the 80's. I bought it in a used book store and while I realize things like that don't happen it was fun to read
April 23, 2009
I thought it was an average kind of story, set in both America and France with a theme of building - literally concerning a construction empire and metaphorically - the elements of what builds or destroys a family. A nice read for a distraction, nothing heavy.
March 3, 2011
Anche una piccola storia quotidiana può essere una bella storia. E' il caso di questo romanzo, che narra una storia semplice, di una donna che si ritrova sola ed abbandonata, ma che riesce a superare le avversità e a trovare il coraggio di rifarsi una vita, nonostante tutto.
February 3, 2016
1960's Canada and USA. A jilted woman connects with her husband's wealthy and talented family - people she had no idea existed. She grows and develops relationships with her 2 kids as well as the new family members, one of whom is an architect.
June 19, 2009
It has an interesting story line but falls short at the end. I could think of a dozen better endings.
April 17, 2011
Husband and wife team wrote this book, and I have liked every one I've read. Filled with filthy rich people with filthy rich problems. Always good for a plot.
April 12, 2013
Survival and finding ones' inner strength when there is no hope to be seen around. Amazing book ;) Loved it.
December 4, 2015
really good - enjoyed it
June 22, 2009
Totally improbable but none the less entertaining soap opera. It has it all.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews