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On a mild autumn afternoon in 1882, William Trenchard sits smoking his pipe in the garden of his comfortable family home. When the creak of the garden gate heralds the arrival of an unexpected stranger, he is puzzled but not alarmed. He cannot know the destruction this man will wreak on all he holds most dear.
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?
It is January 1721. London is reeling from the effects of the greatest financial scandal of the age, the collapse of the South Sea Bubble. William Spandrel, a penniless mapmaker, is offered a discharge of his debts by his principal creditor, Sir Theodore Janssen, a director of the South Sea Company, on one condition: he must secretly convey an important package to a friend of Janssen's, Ysbrand de Vries, in Amsterdam.
When Harry Barnett is informed that his son is in hospital in a diabetic coma, he is certain that there must be some mistake, since he does not have a son. But he soon discovers that he does. David Venning was a brilliant mathematician, and his tragic condition is taken to be the result of an accident or a suicide attempt.
Harry Barnett, a middle-aged failure, leads a shabby existence. He is reduced to caretaking a friend's villa on the island of Rhodes and working in a bar to earn his keep. Then a guest at the villa - a young woman he had instantly warmed to - disappears on a mountain peak. Under suspicion of her murder, Harry becomes obsessed by the mystery that has changed his life and begins to trace back the movements and encounters that led to the moment where she vanished into the blue.
Why should distinguished Edwardian Cabinet minister Edwin Straford resign at the height of his career? Why does the woman he loves so suddenly reject him? Why, 70 years later, should people go to such lengths to prevent the truth coming out?
On a mild autumn afternoon in 1882, William Trenchard sits smoking his pipe in the garden of his comfortable family home. When the creak of the garden gate heralds the arrival of an unexpected stranger, he is puzzled but not alarmed. He cannot know the destruction this man will wreak on all he holds most dear.
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?
It is January 1721. London is reeling from the effects of the greatest financial scandal of the age, the collapse of the South Sea Bubble. William Spandrel, a penniless mapmaker, is offered a discharge of his debts by his principal creditor, Sir Theodore Janssen, a director of the South Sea Company, on one condition: he must secretly convey an important package to a friend of Janssen's, Ysbrand de Vries, in Amsterdam.
When Harry Barnett is informed that his son is in hospital in a diabetic coma, he is certain that there must be some mistake, since he does not have a son. But he soon discovers that he does. David Venning was a brilliant mathematician, and his tragic condition is taken to be the result of an accident or a suicide attempt.
Harry Barnett, a middle-aged failure, leads a shabby existence. He is reduced to caretaking a friend's villa on the island of Rhodes and working in a bar to earn his keep. Then a guest at the villa - a young woman he had instantly warmed to - disappears on a mountain peak. Under suspicion of her murder, Harry becomes obsessed by the mystery that has changed his life and begins to trace back the movements and encounters that led to the moment where she vanished into the blue.
Why should distinguished Edwardian Cabinet minister Edwin Straford resign at the height of his career? Why does the woman he loves so suddenly reject him? Why, 70 years later, should people go to such lengths to prevent the truth coming out?
Recovering from the recent tragedy of his wife's death in a cliff fall, Tony Sheridan goes to stay with his sister-in-law, Lucy, and her husband at their new home - Otherways - a strange circular, moated house. Disturbed by memories of his wife and a growing attraction to Lucy, Sheridan is also troubled by weird and vivid dreams. And as he and Lucy embark on a secret and passionate affair, Sheridan begins uncovering the truth about Otherways.
I understand this was written in 1999 and does seem to have a different style to his later books.
It starts with Tony writing or talking to his dead wife. Tony is grieving, accepting the coroners decision and going to stay with his best friend and sister in law. Having arrived there, still overwhelmed by his grief, the world around him begins to filter in to his awareness. He becomes interested in best friends' new house and stats to learn it's history.
In keeping with Tony's numbing grief and ruminations this was a very very slow transition through his 'delusions' to an understanding that something is really very odd.
Some questions remain unanswered, and maybe Tony himself should not be alive to tell the story.
Be prepared to be patient with this story. It was for me, an interesting exploration both in style and plot development.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This one is a little more fantastical and less character driven than other of Goddard's intricate plotted stories. But Michael Kitchen's narration always elevates any material and so it was a very enjoyable journey.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Like all Goddard's stories this had me hooked straight away and I didn't want to turn it off. Enough detail to put you in the place, especially as I have lived in Edith Weston and Stamford. Kitchen has a certain style in reading that appeals to me greatly. Overall a fantastic listen even though it is my second time! What else can I say there is a good chance I will return to it again along with all of his other books.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I so wanted award 5 stars for this book but, what let down was the poorly clipped editing; on a number of occasions which, I found distracting.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I cannot give enough stars to Robert Goddard's books! Complicated enough to keep you listening again and again, well read too. Perfect!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I disliked the 'paranormal' elements in this story which, frankly, I found ridiculous. However I persisted with it because of Michael Kitchen's excellent narration.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I wasn't quite sure what to make of this book even though I felt it was reasonably well written. It seemed to start out as a romance, then ventured into the paranormal and finally morphed into a political mystery. I've given it four stars as, although I wouldn't necessary choose to read it and have never before read any of Robert Goddard's novels, I would recommend listening to Michael Kitchen read it, because as usual, he gives the characters dimension.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful