I have enjoyed over a dozen of Robert Goddard's novels and he is one of my very favourite authors. This is one of his best if you like unexpected twists and turns. It starts innocently enough, as all of his books do, with a photographer on assignment in Vienna where he meets and falls in love with a mysterious woman who subsequently disappears. The protagonist follows her trail across southern England and as the mystery unfolds the reader is in for a roller-coaster ride of unexpected twists right to the dramatic ending. Unmissable if you lie mystery stories. ( )

Photographer Ian Jarrett is on assignment in Austria when he meets a beautiful and compelling woman. Their 7-day whirlwind affair convinces him to leave his failing marriage and arrange to meet again when that deed is done. However, Marian doesn't show at the appointed time. Further investigation leads Ian to believe Marian doesn't even exist. Who was the woman he met? Where did she go? Is she in trouble? How does this relate to the invention of photography? Ian is obsessed with the woman and the mystery and won't rest until he has answers.

This book grabbed me from the first chapter and wouldn't let me go. The intrigue was complicated more at every turn, but (except for one very minor plot point) all came together and made perfect sense in the end (unlike a lot of 'complex' thrillers, which leave major plot holes and loose ends dangling). While Ian is not always a likable character, he is compelling and relatable. In fact, he's almost a stand-in for the reader as the author does not use an omniscient device to reveal any clues to the reader that are not given to Ian.
I always appreciate books from which I learn something that can help me at trivia, so extra points (not that it needed it) for teaching me about the invention and early usage of photography.
p.s. if you have read this and want to have a chat about that plot point I mentioned, please message me. I'm dying to talk about it! ( )

Ian Jarrett is visiting Vienna on a photography assignment when he meets a beautiful woman named Marian Esguard and falls madly in love. He plans to go back to England and end his strained marriage, while Marian tells her husband she's leaving him too. When Marian sends him a note telling him she's not coming and destroys all the photos he took of her, he can't let her go. Robert Goddard then spins the reader into an intricate plot, while weaving the intrigue and suspense of the story line.

The characters and events are brilliantly put together. Robert Goddard has a unique style of writing that completely mesmerized me and kept me guessing from beginning to end. If you haven't read a Robert Goddard novel before, I urge you to pick one up. He's an amazing writer. ( )

I've had this book at home for a while and finally picked it up a few days ago. And wow, it was so worth reading. Ian is on assignment in Vienna when he meets this woman Marian whilst taking photographs. She confronts him as the she is in the photo he has taken. Ian is attracted to her and suggests breakfast at a café which she declines and leaves. When he arrives at the café she is there and they have breakfast together and subsequently end up in bed together. They spend the week enjoying each other and decide to leave their respective partners. Ian goes home, leaves his wife and goes to the meeting point only to get a phone call that Marian is not going to come and he mustn't try to find her. Ian starts looking for her anyway as he knows that he loves her. But the story get more and more difficult to understand and finding Marion leads him to meeting lots of people and even some murders. Its dangerous but he continues his search and refuses to give up.
This was a compelling read. I have never read a book by Goddard and this certainly won't be the last. I was unprepared for the complexity of it all and it did keep me guessing right up to the very end. 4/5 only because a small part of the book was a little bit farfetched but hey, that's why its fiction! ( )

This is my first time reading a book by Robert Goddard. Other members of my reading group, who are familiar with his writing, were better prepared for some of the twists and deviations we took in this book. 

Ian, a photographer on assignment in Vienna meets a mysterious woman, Marian. After they begin a whirlwind affair, the decision is made to leave their respective spouses. Ian returns to England, breaks up with his wife and heads to the proposed rendezvous. Marian fails to show and, worse, appears to have never been real. Ian begins his search for Marian and along the way learns more about Marian as well as himself.

Overall, the book was well-written with an interesting story and fascinating historical detail and I look forward to reading more by Mr. Goddard.

Rating: 4.0 ( )