A Dangerous Fortune Guide

: The primary antagonist and Edward's mother; a cunning and manipulative woman who ruthlessly protects her son's interests.

is a popular 1993 historical thriller by Ken Follett. Set in late Victorian England (specifically beginning in 1866), the novel centers on the powerful Pilaster banking family and a web of intrigue that spans three decades. Core Plot & Premise A Dangerous Fortune

: The story begins at Windfield School with a mysterious drowning accident involving a small circle of schoolboys. This event serves as a dark secret that ties the characters together for decades. : The primary antagonist and Edward's mother; a