Review: The Great Pretender

Author: Millenia Black

ISBN: 0451216482

The following review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW Norm Goldman's Reviews 

Imagine for a moment you are living a double life with a wife and two teenage daughters in Miami, while tucked away in Orlando you have for six years being living with your mistress and a young daughter born out of this adulterous relationship. You divide your time between your two families, spending two weeks with each. On the other hand, your wife is playing around with your best friend, and your two teenage daughters have no qualms about jumping into bed with their boyfriends getting into all kinds of mischief, including an unwanted pregnancy. This just about sums up the dysfunctional family of Reginald Brooks and the story that Millenia Black recounts in her debut novel The Great Pretender.

It is a story of human folly depicting how one individual’s deceptive and deceitful actions can have a profound effect on several families leading to some very tragic consequences, wherein lives are changed forever. It is also a story of guilt and retribution and how humans in numerous ways deceive themselves into believing that what they are doing will eventually work out for the best. Although, this may be a work of fiction, unfortunately, this sad tale with different variations plays out every day in our real world.

Black is not a bad story teller and the novel will surely appeal to those who enjoy watching daytime soap operas. However, it does have its shortcomings, such as the underdevelopment of the moments of the greatest dramatic tension between Reginald and his mistress, Renee, as well as with his wife, Tracy. In addition, from time to time the momentum of the story slows down to a near somnambulant pace by rambling dialogue that borders on cliché.  Nonetheless, Black’s writing has plenty of moments where her writing sparkles and I look forward to reading more of her works.