The Darlings by Cristina Alger is one of my favorite books I’ve read in the past few years. The story centers around a family in crisis. As we all know, when business and family mix, odds are things will not end well. This family happens to be a New York City powerhouse that heads up one of the largest investment firms in the city. Suddenly, the firm is under investigation by the feds and loyalties are tested.
Alger’s writing style is superb. Reading like a cross between a thriller and a soap opera, she only gives you enough to keep the pages turning. Full of intrigue and odd character connections, I found myself wondering “Who dunnit?” even though it’s not a murder mystery. In reality, the novel is a giant puzzle and you have to piece together the implications between all the relationships.
The best part of the book is it felt real. Having lived through the 2008 financial crisis, the book feels familiar at every turn. The characters could easily be profiles we read on the front page of The New York Times. Incredibly intriguing and too good to put down.