Caught in the Light

By: Robert Goddard

Narrated by: Michael Kitchen

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

On assignment in Vienna, photographer Ian Jarrett falls suddenly and desperately in love with a woman he meets by pure chance, Marian Esguard. Back in England, he separates from his wife and goes to meet Marian at an agreed rendezvous, only to hear her tell him on the telephone that she will not, after all, be coming. Then she vanishes from his life as mysteriously as she entered it.

Who and where is the woman he met and fell in love with in Vienna?

©1998 Robert and Vaunda Goddard (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Enjoyable escape

Suspenseful to the end, this is a thoroughly enjoyable listen for those of us fascinated by ghosts from the past. The protagonist's history and relationships get entangled with the early history of photography. There's romance, suspense, and uncomfortable family relationships, but--in a manner true to life--some things never quite get resolved. The protagonist is not an especially likeable character, as other reviewers have noted, but that leaves room for him to grow and see his life in new ways. Other characters are well delineated through his somewhat narcissistic gaze. Best of all--and the reason I got this title in the first place--is Michael Kitchen's crisp, somewhat idiosyncratic, quite entrancing delivery. Having adored him as Inspector Foyle, I could listen to him read a laundry list with pleasure.

Good, Could Have Been Excellent

What did you like best about Caught in the Light? What did you like least?

I did enjoy the story, I read the other reviews and I guess I was expecting a little more. I did like the story. I know this is fiction, but it was just not believable enough for me.

If you’ve listened to books by Robert Goddard before, how does this one compare?

No

What about Michael Kitchen’s performance did you like?

I did like Michael Kitchen's performance. He did a fine job.

Was Caught in the Light worth the listening time?

It was good enough

Captivating! Spellbinding! A winner!

What made the experience of listening to Caught in the Light the most enjoyable?

Goddard's masterful weaving of characters and their entangled interactions with each other developed into an intriguing plot that held me captivated throughout the entire book! I could never anticipate the next development nor foresee the ultimate consequences of the current developments.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Caught in the Light?

Without giving this intriguing plot away, Ian's sheer shock, then his debilitating sorrow, and finally his justifiable rage when he reads Marian's letter of explanation was most memorable to me. Ah ha! Once Ian absorbs this 'confession', the plot thickens!

What about Michael Kitchen’s performance did you like?

Excellent performance -- Michael was walking in Ian's shoes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It held me spellbound. I could hardly fathom the all-too-believable twists and turns.

Any additional comments?

Caught in the Light is Goddard at his best! I recommend readers read this book first and then rush, don't walk, to purchase the next achievement of this gifted mystery writer.

Hmmm

My second Goddard book. I have to say he is a great writer and a fantastic creator of suspense. Once you start you just have to keep reading. BUT that's not to say I love the story.

I absolutely loved this book until Part III. There is a "historical" element that is fascinating and compelling and i adored the characters. It went on much too long and most of it was completely unnecessary for the overall plot, but I didn't care. I wish he had extracted that part and made a standalone book about it! But just like Painting the Darkness, it then took a huge nosedive once the great reveal was made. My love turned into hate, irritation and a feeling of being manipulated and screwed over by the writer.

SPOLIER ALERT!!


The villain in this was a caricature of evil, so over the top and ridiculous, After everything we go through in the set up, we are forced to be subjected to an insane sociopath. He is written to be so irritating--all knowing and superhuman and of course ten million steps ahead of everyone else. He was a caricature, unreal and silly. Worst of all, there is a murder of a child. I was so angry that Goddard made this happen. I do not think it was necessary and just seemed gratuitous horror. Goddard was much too enamoured of his evil puppet.

He is a great writer but his moral compass is whacked.

Another riveting listen!

Have you listened to any of Michael Kitchen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I think this "read" was even better then the last ("Painted in Darkness" by Goddard) - if that's possible!

Michael Kitchen reads lines so wonderfully and seems to understand each character so well that the slightest inflection or pause gives us hints of what is behind the written word - which is how the author would want it to be. His talent as a character actor teams up so well with Goddard's novels!! I hope there are many more to come.

Super!

This is my second Robert Goddard book and if anything, I liked it even better than the first (Past Caring). I did take Blood Count out of the library, but for me, it had too much violence and I couldn't continue it. Not surprising when one of the settings is Bosnia, but I gave it a try. But again with this book, you want to stop everything you are doing and stay with the book. I enjoyed Michael Kitchen (Foyle's War) as the narrator and for quite awhile, was picturing him as the main character, but in the second half, I was lost in his very effective narration. The books deserve great narrators and so far, they all have been!

Three rules when reading Goddard . . .

(1) Listen closely to the details, but (2) Never accept anything at face value, and (3) Never assume you have it all figured out until you have read (or listened) to the very end. Goddard is a master at constructing complex, constantly shifting stories, populated by characters that you may think you know until the next ground shifting revelation. Just when you do sort out how some of the threads are woven together, that’s when you need to watch out. How Goddard manages his juggling act without making you feel foolishly manipulated is part of his genius. All of the twists and turns make sense in their context.

As with the other Goddard titles I have enjoyed, I will reveal nothing of the plot. You really must enjoy the story as he intends you to discover it. The editor's summary may sound kind of bland, but don’t let that fool you. For me this was the edgiest of his books that I have listened to, whose central mystery has the most at stake and a protagonist with the most to lose. There are plenty of villians, and some you’re not sure what they are. Protagonist Ian Garrett is self-centered, yet lacking in self-awareness at the beginning, and must undergo a painful quest to find out why his life has turned upside down. Not very sympathetic, but by the end of his quest he is nothing like the man who started. Only by experiencing his journey can you judge if he is a better man in the end. Michael Kitchen’s reading is absolutely brilliant and is reason enough in itself for the download.

Listen & You'll Be Wanting More of Goddard's Work!

This is such a good, good story; read by a superb narrator! I had no idea when I started this book that it was going to captivate me totally.

First, the story. . . the prose is amazing and like poetry to my ears. Just fantastic literature. This is not the usual mystery novel. It is a sweeping story of love, loss and the reshaping of the human nature. It was so well written that at first I thought it was going to be a story of time travel; then perhaps personality disorders; than I just didn't know. The twists and turns were so effective, so realistic. The story was wonderful.

The reading . . . Michael Kitchen was excellent through and through; offering clear and appropriate definition to Goddard's characters.

I will now purchase more of Robert Goddard's books. His story-telling is simply outstanding!

full of mystery

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I most certainly would recommend it.

What did you like best about this story?

Great lead characters once again. Goddard had an amazing gift for story writing

Which character – as performed by Michael Kitchen – was your favorite?

The protagonist

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Could have but I listen while I drive long distances so having to wait for the next bit helps me look forward to the journey

Powerful story with hairpin twists and turns

If you could sum up Caught in the Light in three words, what would they be?

This is one book that just cannot be summed up in three words!

What did you like best about this story?

This is a powerful story of attachment, loss, and idealized love.It underscores for the reader how enduring and destructive revenge can be. It also demonstrated the role that unequal marital relationships can play in crushing creativity and achievement. This is the 6th Goddard book I have listened to in the last few months. They are all excellent in different ways, but this one was the first that prompted me to write a review!

Have you listened to any of Michael Kitchen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't think I have heard Michael Kitchen before, but in the hundreds of audible books I have listened to, I think he is the best narrator thus far. He is so good that you never notice the narration - you feel you are listening to the different characters as they speak. Fantastic.

If you could rename Caught in the Light, what would you call it?

I think this was the perfect name for the novel in view of the number of the meanings that it pulls from the story.

Any additional comments?

Audible needs to purchase more Goddard books! I am almost done with the ones you currently have.