The Rendition Experience

Now I have literally only just discovered that this book is also a film!! Impressed, it has the same name and is directed by Terence Young. It came out in 1979 so this book is a little older.

This is a good story!! I couldnt put it down on the way back from Reading. The time it was written in isn't even noticeable I thought it was a new book haha that's how timeless it is.

It's about Eliabeth Roffe a 23 year old young heiress to a giant Pharmaceutical and cosmetics company owned and ran by her father Sam Roffe and controlled by her extended relatives and their families.

In places this was hard to follow, there were so many threads to keep track of different family members having their own domestic problems each so very unique and all wanting the same outcome... let the company shares go public. Now Elizabeth doesnt do this she becomes suspicious about her fathers death (dont worry i havent spoiled it) is someone in the family trying to take down the company?? This is a completely family run company with no outside stock holders or board members so the story follows Elizabeth on her journey of being her fathers little girl to the most powerful member of the company. And buy does she do it well!! She's strong, beautiful and intelligent. You get to see her grow from being a child to a woman and all that she went through, you can empathise with her every step of the way.

The book starts with another character Rhys Williams who was Sam Roffe's closest aide and the only person allowed at board meetings who isnt family. He is a mysterious and yet completely raw character, who seems to be shaped by the presence of Elizabeth's character.

The family itself is amazingly well written, you have Helene Roffe a domineering, terrifying ambitious woman who is sadistic and cruel especially with her long suffering husband. You have Sir Alec Nichols born from his mother who was a Roffe and is an a reknown MP in England married to the most spoilt little girl whom he completely adores, and will do absolutely anything for and because of her. You have Simonetta Roffe a beautiful aggressive italien married to the italien male tart Ivo who is playing the field and managing two families!! And finally you have Anna Roffe frail, daydreamer married the love of her life Walther Gassner who is a movie star in his looks and personality but did he marry for love or for money??

There's so much in this book I cant even start to describe it. You're just going to have to read it I'm sorry :). I will leave you with a quote from the book I think it's a good one.

"Never let a friendly fox into your hen-house, one day he's going to get hungry"

Oh and this book shows you how the same can be true with friendly foxes amongst their own.