In Pale Battalions

If people would just tell each other the truth, it would prevent so many problems. That's what I wanted to shout at all of the characters. This is an engaging historical novel, tracing one man's fateful decision, and how it affected people for generations. Social mores were so different a century ago, so many things were 'not spoken of' and it just blighted so many lives. WWI was definitely the end of an era.

The narration in this novel was mostly individual characters telling other characters about a particular series of events. So it lacked the narrative drive we're used to in more modern works (it was written in 1989). All the secrets surrounding an unsolved murder in a country mansion getting laid bare, layer upon layer, kept me show more reading. On the other hand, I got frustrated by how many times a character would say, "I can't talk here," and then everyone would have to go to a different place to hear more of the story. The tale itself is rich and layered, but the manner in which it was told was sometimes a little offputting, circling around and around without getting to the point. This creates its own kind of tension, but it was more frustrating than not. There were lots of twists and changes of perspective. Overall, I liked it but found the format and structure of the story to be detrimental to my enjoyment. show less

"In Pale Battalions" by Robert Goddard is a captivating and intricately plotted novel that weaves together elements of historical fiction, mystery, and family drama. Goddard’s second novel showcases his early mastery of suspenseful storytelling and his ability to craft complex narratives that keep readers guessing until the final pages. Set against the backdrop of World War I and spanning several decades, the book explores themes of secrets, deception, trust, and the long-reaching consequences of hidden truths.

The narrative opens with Leonora Galloway and her daughter Penelope touring France's Thiepval Memorial, a monument honoring the Somme's dead. There, Leonora reveals a puzzling detail: her father, Captain John Hallows, is listed show more as having died in April 1916, yet she was born in March 1917, making it impossible for him to be her biological father. This revelation sets the stage for a multi-generational tale that unfolds through shifting perspectives and timelines, pulling readers into a web of family secrets centered around the Meongate estate in Hampshire.

The story explores Leonora's early years, which were characterized by the controlling influence of her cunning step-grandmother Olivia and the aloof demeanor of her grandfather, Lord Powerstock. As an orphan raised in a household steeped in mystery, Leonora’s quest for the truth about her parentage drives the story forward. Lieutenant Tom Franklin, a friend of John Hallows and a wounded soldier, joins the story and, while recovering at Meongate in 1916, discovers a complex web of deceit, extortion, and murder. Characters like the scheming Olivia, the enigmatic American Ralph Mompesson, and the vulnerable yet resilient Leonora Hallows add depth and tension to the unfolding drama.

The author's careful plotting and poetic prose are exquisite. The novel’s structure—told through multiple narrators, each revealing partial truths—mirrors the elusive nature of the mystery itself and kept me engaged as I pieced together the puzzle. The World War I setting serves not just as a backdrop but as a catalyst for the moral ambiguities and identity crises that permeate the story. show less

In Pale Battalions tells the story of the newly widowed Leonora Galloway who sets off, with her daughter Penelope, on a holiday in Paris. The first stop on their journey is the Thiepval Memorial for those who died at the Battle of the Somme during World War I. This is where Leonora's father has been memorialized as one of the WW1 heroes. The memorial lists her father's date of death as April 30, 1916 but Leonora isn't born for another eleven months. She realizes this man can't be her father. Thus starts the story, told mostly in flashback by Leonora, of the skeletons hidden in the closets of Leonora's relatives.

The novel is part mystery and part historical fiction. In some places it reminded me of a Daphne DuMaurier Gothic novel, with show more all the elements of evil relatives, unexpected plot changes, huge manor houses, and psychological twists.

The writing is elegant and lyrical but totally readable. The story is very cleverly written and you can never be sure what you think is going on is real or just a plot twist. Some readers may find the pacing slow, but I was completely dazzled by the story. show less

Other than the opening prologue, which stumbles badly, this is an interesting, very convoluted mystery. The whodunnit was, in the end, the one person I hadn't considered. The family dynamics were strange and twisted, but it was a compelling read. I'll have to see if the author has other options out there.

This is the first book I've read by Robert Goddard and it most certainly won't be the last. Very intriguing story that defies you to name the genre - Gothic romance, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, literary fiction - all apply. Based on the title, I thought this would be more of a war story and while the war certainly is part of this book, it's not the main story. It's a complicated story so you need to pay close attention to details. Just as one mystery is resolved, another one pops up. There are points where you think, well, that's that but the mysterious story goes on and isn't resolved until the last page. Excellent writing by Mr. Goddard. This is a wonderful book to get lost in.

This is an interesting and engaging novel about WW1 and the conflict it generated in the lives of many British families. It was an ugly war made worse by the staggering incompetence of its generals. A whole generation of young men, from the engaged foes, were annihilated by the lack of a coherent strategy, archaic tactics, and the machine gun.

A classic serious historical, very much of its time and in that style. It's a literary book, wordy and more tell than show, a classic 1980s good literary work. Well worth a read.

The story is slow and thoughtful in pace. Leonora Galloway takes her grown up daughter and goes to visit the war graves in France, where her father is buried. Or is he? The past unfolds, as Leonora knows it, told by various people and it is a complicated tortuous unfolding twisting and turning right to the final pages.

Nice touches give us a picture of English country living during WWI and some fascinating characters.

No stars until I can have a personal system which does not affect the writer’s ratings.