This book has been on my father’s shelf for years. He has always told me to read it, and for some reason, I finally decided that now was the time. And what a book this was. Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. In Jeffrey Archer’s epic novel, family loyalties are stretched to their very limits as secrets continue to unravel. The Sins of the Father bears all the characteristic twists of a classic Archer novel, and leaves readers wanting more.

God is completely free to govern his universe. There is nothing that is outside of his sovereign will. But God grants free agency to his creatures. We are moral beings given choices to make. It is our nature that is bound in sin. One whose disposition is sinful will, quite naturally, follow the “north star” of such a nature. Conversely, one who has been redeemed from sin by the grace of God in His Son our Savior Jesus Christ has the opportunity to choose what is good and what is right. Albert also becomes entangled in his father's business as he becomes older, eventually being asked by his father to do various things for him. Although while doing so, his father, who at this point was increasingly desperate, vocally expressed his regret about having to involve a son who he never wanted in his business. We get to see another side of Roy DeMeo that the history books don't paint in between paragraphs about his grisly murders, the story of a father who did everything right by his kids and wife. The book often reads like the perspective of Michael Corleone if he were in Goodfellas. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” ( Exodus 20:5). I read all the series by JA Jance and they are such a comfortable, pleasant read. Well, they are all mysteries where there is often murder and some horrible things happen to people. But I love the style and the characters, who are so familiar to me.Overall, the primary theme in this installment is the complexity of family bonds- the good, the bad and the ugly. There are a few interesting juxtapositions and plenty of food for thought. Many reviewers wondered what Albert DeMeo was miserable about, since he lived a charmed childhood and what I say in his defense is our adulthood certainly clears the childlike cobwebs from our eyes and paints our parents as human beings with feelings and fears and sins of their own. Now apply that knowledge to a person whose father was in the mafia. I am sure there are many inner struggles between right and wrong, as the mafia has been famous for helping people who have been turned away by the police just as much as they've been nightmarishly devilsome in their dealings against people. It is likely such memories of the just and unjust actions of his father plague DeMeo as he walks with his memories today, so I believe he is deserving of a little complaining. The book serves as a sequel to Only Time Will Tell, the first part of the Clifton Chronicles. It was followed by Best Kept Secret, published in March 2013.

The strongest message of the book for me is that what we assume to be factual news is far from that. That baggage-handler defence had everyone going, and turned out to be just a strategy dreamed up by her legal team. And never mind the ongoing bulletins about Schapelle in the women's magazines... Critical thinking needs to be engaged when reading the news, that's for sure. Not too badly written. Paints the Corby family as complete media tarts, and Schapelle as as much a victim of their greed for money and fame as of the drug syndicate whose shipment she was carrying. But there's no real evidence in the book that Schapelle knew she was carrying drugs - just the assumption that because her family was involved in drugs, she would have known. There are a few loose ends left tantalisingly dangling, so I suspect this isn't the last we've heard on this. Emma seeks the help of her Great-aunt Phyllis in New York and her son Alistair who is a lawyer. She learns of Harry's recruitment in the army. If killers are just evil monsters, how can they be such loving fathers; genuine in their affection?I felt this was a most informative read and I feel very sorry for Corby,regardless of whether people feel she is innocent or guilty. It’s not for me to judge, I am not privy to the prosecution evidence or the full knowledge the AFP may have, but this aside, McCauley’s straight talking is very compelling. The book has a sort of 'fairy tale' vibe since the 'good guys' - though they face much uncertainty and hardship - generally prevail. And the 'bad guys' - who tend to be stereotypes (brutal bully; unscrupulous lawyer; greedy businessmen; etc.) - usually get what they deserve. In addition, who would believe Harry, who has an upper-class British accent, is an American? Still, I like the story so I'm willing to suspend disbelief (a little). Fans of intricate family sagas and/or soap operas would probably like 'The Clifton Chronicles' and I strongly recommend this book to them. A world of pretense, a “glass bubble” that eventually shatters and leaves everyone traumatized and outraged at the deception. The survivors will have to reconstruct their lives, trying to overcome the mental confusion that a revelation such as the one from this book carries.