Mistress of the Game

It's difficult to try to follow in a famous writer's footsteps, to do a follow-up to a story he has created that was welcomed by a legion of fans. One can think of several who have tried to do this and not come anywhere close to replicating or even harmonizing with the original. That is certainly not the case with Tilly Bagshawe who took on the yeoman's task of writing a sequel to the late Sidney Sheldon's Master of the Game which featured the intriguing but scheming Blackwell family. Bagshawe manages to deliver Sheldon's hot, high powered prose filled with crime, drama, and suspense. Karen Ziemba does a masterful job of bringing these Dynasty-like characters to life, capturing each with an intonation or vocal emphasis. She narrates each scene in a smooth yet compelling voice that reflects the action taking place. Mistress of the Game takes place a generation after Sheldon first introduced the passionate, driven Blackwell family led by Kate. She is now long gone but her grandchildren seem to have inherited every fiber of her manipulative prowess as they battle one another. Murder isn't out of bounds for the supremely evil Eve as she plots to take hold of her family's business empire. Sheldon fans won't be disappointed with this return to the Blackwell saga, and will be very well pleased with the narration by the gifted Karen Ziemba. - Gail Cooke

Four cheers for Tilly Bagshaw! What a terific book, I could not put it down. It was the continuance of Sidney Sheldon's Master of the Game and Ms. Bagshawe did a great job. I am so glad the Sheldon family asked her to write this book. She has outdone herself and has captured the true essence of Mr. Sidney Sheldon and I sincerely hope the Blackwell family has another book comming, especially if it is written by Ms. Bagshawe.

This is for fans of Sidney Sheldon but also a love letter to Sheldon's great talent as a storyteller. Tilly Bagshawe has captured Sheldon's style but has also moved him into the next century. Hopefully, with this success, the publisher will continue the Sheldon legacy. Bravo! A captivating read.

Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for RebeccasReads (8/09) Sidney Sheldon passed away in 2007. He was the most popular fiction author in this part of the world- and there are several communities and groups devoted to Sidney Sheldon (especially in Orkut). And "Master of the game" was a phenomenal bestseller when it was published in the early Eighties. The saga of the Blackwell family, their rags to riches stories, of venomous deceit and murderous treachery captured the imagination of many a reader and Kate Blackwell became one of the most famous fictional protagonists. Now the saga continues with the story of Lexi Templeton, daughter of Alexandra Blackwell and the great granddaughter of Kate Blackwell and one of the heiress to Kate's legacy in Kruger Brent Limited. And also in the race for the coveted post of chairman of Kruger, Brent is Max Webster, Lexi's cousin, son of Eve Blackwell. Also interested in Kruger Brent...more interested in its downfall is Gabe McGregor a great grand nephew of Jamie McGregor. (For those who came in late Jamie McGregor was Kate's father and the founder of Kruger Brent). And the Blackwell's know only one way to success- the underhand way. And that person who plays the game of tricks well will become the Master....or...."Mistress of the Game." What follows is spectacular and vintage Sheldon action...Tilly Bagshawe would really make Sidney Sheldon proud and the greatest plus point of this novel is that it reads like a natural continuation to "Master of the Game." It was just like reading Book II of a big magnum opus. And Ms. Bagshawe if you are reading this...I sure would like to read a sequel to "If Tomorrow Comes."

I can't claim to have read most of Sidney Sheldon's works, but enjoyed the ones that I did. His plot lines were entertainingly complex and what I remember most was that I would always finish one chapter looking forward to start the next--that old leaving-you-hanging technique always worked with me. Bagshawe does an admirable job in continuing in the Sheldon tradition--producing a great story dotted by nefarious characters in a page-turning summer read--and introduces you to a group of people definitely worth taking with you on holiday.