Heart Breaker Part IV

Carta finds that she is being replaced in Gavin's life by Susanne, who is now his girlfriend, but this frees her to commit to her relationship with Eric. She and Eric finally decide to marry, but she still worries over Gavin. He seems to be avoiding social contact with everyone but Susanne and Lewis, the assistant priest. Gavin finally gives evidence in court about the violent and murderous activities of Elizabeth and Asherton, how they exploited gay men, were involved in sadistic sexual and psychic practices and made snuff movies with young gay guys who were impoverished and whom nobody cared for if they disappeared. He feels he has done something worthwhile in taking a part in putting away these 2 evil people, but then collapses with survivors guilt afterwards. He rarely goes out, and becomes upset by his gay past, finding it very hard to have contact with men Lewis continues to visit him however and over time, Gavin tells him about his past life. He is from a middle class family, but his parents were always closer to Hugo, his brother, than to him. When Hugo died in his teens, Gavin tried to make up for the bereavement by becoming a doctor, like his brother had planned to do, but he failed his exams and in despair walked out. His family acted like he was a failure, and not good enough to replace Hugo. He then worked at casual jobs in London, and ended up working for an escort agency, run by one of Elizabeth's associates. She decided to train him to entice gay men and made a lot of money with him. Gavin however has been haunted by the memory ghost of Hugo, who lives on in his mind, continually abusing him for his degradation and failures. He begins to improve, after long talks with Lewis, and to let Hugo go. Then his mother appears. She has remarried after the death of his father.. she tells him that they did try to find him after he left home but he was drifting and using aliases. He realises that his parents did thier best for him and become a little less depressed but he still finds it hard to think of leading a normal life. Carta has now married Eric, who is busy with his writing and she is still working on the Appeal for funding for the Healing Centre. She and Lewis persuade Gavin to try going to a healing service which soemtimes helps people who are blocked mentally. He agrees to go, but at first does not feel antying. Then, he hears his father's voice, and turns to see Lewis... and he puts his arms round him. He is finally healed. The book ends on this note - it is not my favourite Howatch. The plot is very long and complicated and the picture of violence and criminal activity is not that convincing. It is too melodramatic, unlike the Starbridge series which is about clergymen who get into trouble but never into anyting too outrageous.
It rather feels at times that Howatch has to hype up more and more wrong doing and drama to make a good story, and that she thinks that people from outside the church are in danger of getting involved in all sorts of murder and Mayhem.