Dramatic New Series from Fan Favorite Michael PhillipsThe death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whale’s Reef into turmoil. Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch’s heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David’s grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that … an estate that controls most of the island’s land. And while Hardy doesn’t enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate’s assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island–and its traditional way of life–hangs in the balance.
Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .
Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips’s dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.
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It was slow going at first, very detailed but once I caught onto the plot I bought the second and third book in the series because I was hooked.
Scotland, anyone? It’s an “Aye” for me! Especially when the author is Michael Phillips. The Inheritance is the first book in the Secrets of the Shetlands Series and is a story about a complicated inheritance that’s sent to probate court. By the time the court determines who is the closest relative (heir) to the last laird, we get to know the main characters and have an idea of how their personalities will play out in the story. There’s Loni Ford, a financial assistant in Washington D.C.; David Tulloch, the chief of Whales Reef and his third cousin, Hardy Tulloch, a fisherman on the same island.
Here’s what I loved about The Inheritance. The author didn’t rush the story. Though most authors could have finished the book in 250 pages instead of 450, I appreciated the extent Phillips took in setting up what’s gonna play out in the rest of the series. I really felt like the book was like an introduction to the story, you know, the kind that builds a strong foundation so everything makes sense in the next installment. For example, the time frame of the novel covered a whole year, and in that time, I really enjoyed seeing Loni, David, Hardy and their friends in their natural habitat. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew the characters. The best part? The story didn’t feel slow, instead, everything the characters went through in their personal lives was interesting! (The last 100 pages were really suspenseful for me!)
Another thing I liked was there wasn’t a lot of romance. We see Loni with her boyfriend Hugh, and Hardy pursue Audney, but these relationships aren’t set in stone. To me, this made the story feel more like real life because relationships take time and this book did a good job of portraying that. I loved it!
Conclusion: I tend to read more in the Historical Fiction genre than Contemporary Fiction, but I was so confident in Phillips style that I purchased the whole Shetland series anyway. He didn’t disappoint either! You know, when you read the back of the cover, the story is kinda outlined to intrigue you, but Phillips books are so much more than just what you read from the description! It’s not just about who gets named the heir of the inheritance… After you invest in a few chapters, you want to know more about Loni’s struggle with orphanhood and how David could still be single when every single woman on the island would marry him in heartbeat if given the chance! Then there’s the oil, money hungry macho man from Texas with his own plans for the little island of Whales Reef. So many stories within a story! If you’re looking for a deep and thought provoking novel about identity and family legacies, I highly recommend this book! Just be sure you have a lot of time on your hands – you won’t want to put it down!
Phillips makes you fall in love with the characters. I did not want to put it down.
The story and it’s characters were unique, informative and interesting, as was the setting in the Shetland Islands. The map and genealogy chart at the beginning of the book were very helpful and I referred to them quite often. The ending of the book was quite different which left a person to decide for themselves how the story might have ended. I’m hoping there will be a sequel to “The Inheritance”. It was well written and although I found it difficult to get into the story at the beginning, I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.
lst in a series of 3 books. Most say that Michael Philips has never disappointed me. He is an inspirational Christian author and great story teller
I’ve always loved Michael Phillips’ books. this series is no exception. Contemporary characters in old world Scotland, twisted, unpredictable plot, wonderful characters, great scenery! Can’t wait for the next book in this series!