The story of how Mary Abacus starts her dynasty in Australia with the help of Ikey Solomon is immensly engrossing. Luckily it is only the first of a trilogy. ( )

I was encouraged to read this after seeing a miniseries based on the book. I liked the miniseries more! Not too realistic plot with strange dramatic twists (twins born - one black, one white). ( )

I’ve slowly come to the conclusion that Bryce Courtney can’t write. Or, maybe he could once, but he’s lost the knack. There’s much to admire in this story, supposedly a fictional account of the real person behind Charles Dickens’s Fagin, but the overall effect is disappointing. Ikey Solomon begins as the main character, but by the end of the book, he is such a minor character that even his death is described almost as an afterthought. I’m not sure if a better editor would have done a better job, or whether Courtney himself needs to sharpen his act. This one won’t stay in my mind for long, thank goodness. ( )