In 1707, the HMS Association was lost off the Isles of Scilly with no survivors. Thirty years later, an admiralty clerk is tasked with a secret mission.
And 200 years after that in 1996, a dive on the wreck results in a fatal accident. Ten years later Tim Harding agrees to return to Cornwall, to go to an auction, to bid on a low value lot, as a favour for his employer and friend Barney Tozer. Seemingly disconnected events come together to form a trail of deceit, murder and greed, activated when the auction lot is stolen.

The plot of NAME TO A FACE comes close to stretching the bounds of credibility. I usually enjoy Robert Goddard's books, and I really did enjoy this one, but there felt as if there was at least one plot element too many. It almost felt as if Goddard had painted himself into a corner, and had to pull another rabbit out of the hat in order to bind the plot together coherently. Part of the problem was the multiple time frames already described in the synopsis. But then Goddard introduced another, a legend from the 12th century, and I really felt he was clutching at straws. What I normally enjoy in Goddard novels, the juxtaposition of the past with the present, just felt overdone.

It took a long time to finally tie everything off, and even then a murderer goes free, and another escapes retribution. I was ready for it finish well before it did.

NAME TO A FACE is Robert Goddard's 19th novel, in a career that began in 1986. ( )

Once more Robert Goddard merges fiction with fact, taking as his theme the sinking of HMS Association in 1707 off the Scilly Isles, one of the worst British naval disasters of all time (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Asso...) and creating a modern mystery. Recommended ( )

Typical Goddard, with many twists and turns, but not one of my favourites from his pen. Diverting, but perhaps just a bit too contrived. Still worth reading once if you want to be entertained. ( )

I've just started this but as I always enjoy Goddard's books I'm sure I'll love this one too. I ( )