Jump in the Way Back machine to 2000/2001. There’s a new Fay Weldon novel out. But instead of the Book World going “ooooo new shiny book good” there’s “whiskey tango sellout”. Why? It’s a classic Weldon tale of husbands and wives with a touch of the different. Grace McNab Salt is out of prison (trying to run down her husband’s mistress) and starting her new life as a single woman. But fate or something else has other ideas. All trails lead to a portrait of Grace’s friend Lady Juliet in a lovely white gown wearing her cherished Egyptian Bulgari necklace….

And there’s the problem. Well to the Book World as least. In exchange for a reported 18,000 pounds, Weldon agreed to mention Bulgari at least twelve times. Thus the sellout allegations. With a lesser author (coughcoughdeankoontzstephenkingpatboothcoughcough) I would run the frosted pop tart the other way.

But Weldon? Interesting…and worth a read. The two Bulgari necklaces, Lady Juliet’s Egyptian masterpiece and Doris’ Roman coins, are compelling. The eternal Egyptian, sought after and cherished. The Roman coins, an empire won and lost. Now add intrigue, new loves, shady business connections and you have a winner.

The Bulgari Connection isn’t the perfect Weldon novel (my vote goes to The Life and Loves of a She-Devil) but it’s good Weldon, something you can re-read and enjoy. Try to get to the last few pages and not be flipping back to reference a comment in the earliest chapters. And as for the reported 18,000 pounds…good on you Fay Weldon git paid girl you git yours!