Her Father’s House by Belva Plain

Reviewed by Vicki Carver

[Large Print Edition]

 Belva Plain has been a highly respected author of fiction for nearly 20 years.  Most of her books involve precarious family situations with which the main characters have to confront and deal.

 Plain’s most recent book is titled Her Father’s House.  It concerns a lawyer living in New York City named Donald Wolfe.  Wolfe has a very successful career with a prestigious law firm when he meets a beautiful vivacious woman named Lillian.  After a whirlwind courtship Donald and Lillian marry.  Then the plot beings to thicken.  Lillian is not the woman Donald thought she was.  Before too long they decide to divorce.  But folded into the situation is an unborn child who is born after they have separated.

 Donald is indifferent towards his baby daughter, named Bettina, until she smiles at him from her stroller in a city park.  In an instant he realizes his love and concern for his four-month-old daughter.

 Lillian proves herself to be both an unfit mother and outrageous role model to her young daughter.  Donald’s concern for his daughter escalates to the point where he is concerned about Bettina’s safety.

 With a mixture of careful planning and extreme fear, Donald plans to kidnap Bettina to guarantee her safety.  Donald changes his name to Jim Fuller and Bettina is renamed Laura.  From the point where the new Jim Fuller and his daughter leave New York City there is a sense of urgency prevalent in the book.

 Jim travels with his daughter and eventually settles in a small town in Georgia.  He is accepted and eventually respected by the townspeople.  In time he meets another woman who becomes involved with Jim and helps him deal with his constant fear of being found and convicted for kidnapping his daughter.

 With many “twists and turns” Her Father’s House proceeds to Jim’s true identity being discovered.  The part of the novel deals with his anguish and courage in confronting and dealing with his past.

Highland County District Library
Highland County, OH