Firstly, it is all but inconceivable that the prior marriage could have been kept secret from the world at large, even without considering the behaviour of the two main actors: Elizabeth and Erwin. Not a patch on “In Pale Battalions”, the only other book by Goddard I have read. An unlikeable narrator, a very complex plot, a femme fatale who is ludicrously brilliant and beautiful and sexy and bad news for our narrator. It was Goddard’s first book and has some good things in it in terms of the plot, but some of the characters are more than a little unbelievable. Oh, and there’s an embarrassingly bad sex scene too.

Past Caring by Robert Goddard - Publishers Weekly Past Caring by Robert Goddard - Publishers Weekly

As he does so smoothly and so well (Out of the Sun, etc.), Goddard again creates a narrator who uncovers secrets buried in the past that cast grim shadows on later generations. Here he takes classic Continue reading »

Into the Blue was adapted for television in 1997 and starred John Thaw in the lead role of Harry Barnett. Robert Goddard was not impressed with the adaptation. In an interview, he said "The TV version of Into the Blue was a travesty of the story I wrote and I am determined that any future adaptations should be more faithful to the original". Into the Blue (May 1990), ISBN 0-593-01808-7. (Harry Barnett, Book 1) (adapted as a TV film in 1996 starring John Thaw) This breathless and unending case takes Max to London from far North of Scotland and all the way to Paris, where the world’s government are still but bartering over the spoils right in the aftermath of the Great war. The stakes here are so high and it is a matter of life and death to everyone involved. Why did I think it was important to read this book again? Because my feelings about it have remained unresolved for two decades. How could a man so good, kind, and noble as Edwin be so betrayed? What kind of love does not even give the benefit of the doubt, does not even offer the chance for an explanation? So for the second time, I've read this book and my feelings remain unresolved. After this second read, I'm angry at all the characters for what they did to Edwin, and for thinking that any of the fruits of those betrayals were worth protecting. I hate that people kept preying on Edwin's goodness and his love for Elizabeth, and it tears me apart that someone he loved so much never even stopped to ask herself 'what if.' Goddard's 1997 book Beyond Recall was nominated for the Edgar Award Best Novel prize but lost out to Mr. White's Confession by Robert Clark.

Past Caring - Robert Goddard - Google Books

So far I’ve only read Borrowed time, Into The Blue and Out of The Sun but I’ve loved all of them. Great twisty plots, well researched and intelligently written, I’m looking forward to many more enjoyable reads ReplyBouchercon World Mystery Convention: Anthony Awards Nominees". Bouchercon.info. 2 October 2003 . Retrieved 1 March 2012.

Past Caring by Robert Goddard | Goodreads Past Caring by Robert Goddard | Goodreads

From a collection of more than 20 mystery thrillers, that will indeed enthrall and satisfy you as a lover of such genre, to unprincipled chicanery and unforgiven betrayals as well as unforgotten jealousy, are just but part of the infinite capacity of imagination and intrigues that Robert Goddard books will present to you. Basically, Robert novels and especially his thrillers do have a historical settings and elements staged in some provincial English towns and cities bringing in a number of plots twists.Plus, his books always involve the lead character, gradually unraveling a conspiracy which for a very long time been kept as a secret, and through means of historical documents like the diaries or simply by word of mouth testimonies that have been handed down from one individual to another. A friend suggested I read your book ( she’s up to second time reading as she thinks they are wonderful) and I’m now into a third book. Just love them. Brilliant. Exceptional writing. Many thanks, Kathryn from New South Wales, Australia. Reply Goddard's 1990 book Into the Blue was the inaugural winner of the W H Smith Thumping Good Read Award, presented to the best new fiction author of the year. Goddard's seventh novel (after A Debt of Dishonor ) about two dapper English con men in the 1930s, gets off to a droll and snappy beginning. Aboard ship after narrowly escaping prosecution for a Continue reading » Set in England during and after WW I, this is the story of three generations: the two Leonoras, mother and child (and their husbands, both handsome, adoring, young army officers), and of Penelope, Continue reading »Robert William Goddard (born 13 November 1954 in Fareham, Hampshire) is an English novelist. [1] Life and career [ edit ] Condition: Near Fine. A first edition, first printing published by Hale in 1986. A near fine book without inscription in a very good unclipped wrapper with one small closed tear to the top corner of the front panel A lovely copy. Robert Goddard is a true master storyteller. His normal format is to alternate between present day and past events which are interminably linked in some dark and mysterious way. This time he chose early 20th Century to set the scene. Famous politicians such as Lloyd George, Asquith, Churchill are in the story, brought to life by Goddard. Condition: Near Fine. Fine in light blue wraps printed with dark blue lettering. The Advance Reading Copy of the first U.S. pbk. printing of this, the British author's scarce first book. Blurb comparisons to John Fowles. Tight, clean, unread copy.

Robert Goddard - Book Series In Order Robert Goddard - Book Series In Order

The spring of 1977 found me, newly past thirty, a bad case of wasted talent in a largely waste city -- an unemployed, divorced ex-schollteacher of foundered promise and dismal prospect. The setting and concept are interesting. I always love a story within a story and with Stafford's Memoir we get exactly that. The parts of the book set in 1910, even though they do not concern real people, ring true and conjured Edwardian London in all of its tumultuous glory. For me, Martin's part of the story read a little historical as well, as it's set two years before I was born. It was funny to read about a world where not only did not everyone have a mobile phone, but not everyone had a land line either. The juxtaposition between the contemporary feel of the narrative and those reminders that this was 1977 instead of 2007, never once truly jarred me out the story, it is more a testament to Mr Goddard's wonderful writing.Martin is intrigued. Strafford resigned at the height of his career, disappearing from the public eye. The woman he loved, for whom he was willing to sacrifice everything, suddenly and coldly rejected him. All the reasons for his fall from grace are shrouded in darkness. So, for the first half of the book one is continually wondering what revelation could possible cause her (and Asquith) to behave in the way they did, and for the second half one is incredulous at the frankly bizarre and insipid behaviour of two people supposedly deeply in love. Past Caring is lengthy, but that is because it has to fit in the diaries of a long dead British minister as well as the historical research of the less than ideal Martin Radford. Radford is a failed academic and teacher who seems to enjoy drink more than books. A chance visit to Madeira leads him to hunt down the story of Edwin Strafford, a rising political star in 1910 who disappeared from politics for mysterious reasons. As he digs deeper, Radford finds that there are those who wish to keep the story buried along with Strafford.