Entitled

If you would know what the Lord God thinks of money, you have only to look at those to whom he gives it. 

Maurice Baring

Even if only half the evidence cited in this book were true – and I’ve absolutely no reason to think the is anything less than exhaustive – it’s a damning portrait of two people who don’t ever seem to have heard the word No.

Ever.

This catalogue of reckless spending, lies, bribery, shady deals with even shadier individuals, sexual excess and criminal behaviour is at once effortlessly readable and – for me, at least – ultimately exhausting. Towards the end, there are three highly detailed descriptions of Mountbatten’s financial deals that I just couldn’t be bothered to read. I’d had enough. I couldn’t take another meeting with another dodgy businessman.

This is definitely much, much more than a dashed off hatchet job cashing in on the Epstein scandal*. It’s well-written – in newspaper style – impressively assembled and, to its credit, prepared to acknowledge the two main characters’ – few – saving graces. Whether or not you want to read about them is up to you.

*For those thinking they’ll read ALL about Epstein, be warned it’s just a portion of the narrative. No doubt Andrew Lownie will produce an update for the paperback.)