marry him, and although she complies she cheats on him openly with a younger man. Keith refuses to testify at the coroner's inquest and Kate gives Eve an alibi, believing Eve murdered George but thinking she will punish Eve in her own way. Before she can do so, Keith deliberately destroys Eve's face during a laugh line removal procedure, making Eve devoted to Keith in fear that he will leave her alone with her ugliness. Kate considers this punishment enough. Alexandra marries George's psychiatrist, Dr. Peter Templeton, and they have a son named Robert. Back in the present, Robert, now eight, is a classical pianist prodigy. Kate tries to meddle with Robert's future, but is rebuffed by Peter and Alexandra who say Robert will choose his own life and won't be forced to take over Kruger-Brent. Kate relents, saying she would never interfere in anyone's life choices. She then offers to introduce young Robert to a renowned musician as she once offered to help with Tony's art career. Reception Master of the Game debuted at #9 on the New York Times Best Seller List, spent four weeks at number one, eight weeks at #2, and remained on the list itself for a total of 38 weeks. The book became the fourth bestselling novel of 1982 in the United States, as recorded by The New York Times. The novel was also selected to be a Main Selection of The Literary Guild. In critical reviewing, The New York Review of Books stated that the book was "compulsively readable", and praised the author by saying "Any writer who can get his audience to ask breathlessly, 'What next?' needs no help from this or any other envious reviewer." Publishers Weekly called the book an "engaging and absorbing family saga", while the Los Angeles Times Review of Books commented that Sheldon was "a genius... at writing potboilers. In Master of the Game he has outdone even himself". The Los Angeles Times also reviewed the lack of sex in the book. "This viewer hoped for a wee spot of sex to relieve the monotony. The business of sexual union is depicted with curious, witless brevity" The New York Times disagreed, stating that "If your reading taste runs to rape, sodomy, homosexuality, and numerous other fleshy diversions, be assured; Mr. Sheldon has something for you." In Massachusetts, the Worcester Sunday Telegram reviews that "the title of this