Social Crimes

When Jo Slater, one of the grandest of New York's grande dames and great patron of the arts, befriends a young French countess, trouble begins. Ignoring warnings from friends, Jo abruptly discovers the truth about her mysterious guest. But it is too late. Jo is knocked off her pedestal and the young woman takes her place in society. Dethroned and dispossessed in the world where she once reigned, she sets out to recoup her fortune and reclaim her throne. Using her knowledge of the eighteenth century, she concocts an ingenious scheme based on the greatest historical swindle of all time, a true story involving Marie Antoinette. In order for the scheme to work, however, she must resort to the most desperate of all measures: murder.

I was expecting more chick-lit from the cover, but this is actually quite a serious novel (well, as serious as one can be with trophy wives of millionaires getting upset over social position in New York).

It's about Jo Slater, wife to a very wealthy man. Who loses everything to a particularly nasty woman (the french Countess Monique de Passy). And I mean everything. And she plots and gains her revenge. (There's no spoiler there, there's a second book in the series!)

An interesting examination of revenge and obsession. Probably of most interest to people who care about social position (or people who are fascinated by those who care).

Social Crimes is a difficult book to read. It deals with a woman in the upper social class of New York City. She was written out of her husband's will with all of his money going to his lover. The woman who was spurned by her late husband becomes obsessed with the woman who inherited everything including her life and friends. Social Crimes is extremely upsetting in its plot. Because of the immorality of the behavior of the characters, this book only received three stars in this rating.

I read this book for our bookclub month of September and I really enjoyed it! The only thing that disappointed me was there is a sequel and I just don't think it will have the bang this one did.The author did a great job giving us the run down on the social scene in New York.

Snobby, self-centered NY socialite loses everything and plots revenge. I listened to the audio book and wouldn't have finished it if I were reading this tedious story.

Listened to audio tape. Like the reader, Barbara Rosenblat. Book OK, not too exciting.

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