Millenia Black The Great Pretender

The Great Pretender

Millenia Black

NAL, Sep 2005, $13.95, 304 pp.

ISBN: 0451216482

For six years in Florida, marketing vice president Reginald Brooks has had two families. His mistress Renee lives in Orlando with their daughter Denise while his wife of two decades Tracy resides in Miami along with their two daughters, Olivia and Valerie. However, Tracy is not pure as she is having an affair with Reggie's childhood enemy, Franklin Bevins, who simply is using her because he loathes her husband and plans to destroy him.

Reggie feels his age as his duplicity is exhausting. He informs Renee that their relationship is over as he has a wife and two other daughters. He further tells Tracy that he has another child living in Orlando and learns about her affair with his adversary Frank. Other truths surface with relationships apparently nuked as each participant in this sordid situation must make decisions about the future.

This is a fabulous insightful family drama with no one unscathed or perfect, which is why the tale is so good. The key cast is selfish and hedonistic, but though none come across as likable they all seem very human. Millenia Black writes a deep powerful character study that looks at the consequences on relationships when people live duplicitous lives to cover up bad choices.

Harriet Klausner