Borrowed Time

In the summer of 1990, five weeks after his oldest sibling Hugh died of a heart attack at forty-nine years old, thirty-seven years old Robin Timariot needs time to decide his future so he plans to hike for six days along the Offa's Dyke ridge in the Welsh Borders. Though he enjoyed his work with the European Commission in Brussels, since Hugh died he finds it oppressive and ponders if he should come home to join the family business since his uncle, mom and the other relatives insist they need him.

On the ridge at a heavenly view, he meets a lovely middle-aged woman whose nearby parked Mercedes seems to put her in the wrong place. They amiably chat about truly changing things before they part. A week later, Robin reads in the Daily show more Telegraph the shocking article of artist Oscar Bantock raping and murdering Louise Paxton, the woman who impressed him for that short interlude chat on the trail. He tells the truth about their encounter, but finds the reactions of Louise's loved ones odd. Counseling himself to mind his business, Robin still makes some simple inquiries that turn out to be extremely complex and dangerous to anyone who learns the truth.

My only criticism of Goddard's novels is that the endings can be somewhat weak and that sometimes, the characters take actions that seem to be beyond justification. Nonetheless, Goddard still is a master plotter who creates complex, believable characters. show less

There are three types of mystery novels. The best of them grab you by the throat and pull you along. You give up eating and sleeping to get through them in one sitting. The worst of them can be encapsulated in a page and a half; and you've figured out who the killer is in three sentences. The third type sits between the two. It's well-written enough, and fine while you're reading it, but you don't feel that compulsion to continue when something else beckons; you don't resent the phone ringing when you hear it. These are the good mysteries (as opposed to the great ones).
Robert Goddard writes good mysteries. This is his eighth, the story of how a man on a hike's chance encounter with a beautiful woman gets him (and some members of his show more family) tangled up in her family's odd twists and turns. It's well plotted, moves along at a steady if not brisk pace, and there are enough satisfying twists and turns to keep the reader occupied. But it doesn't beg to be picked up every time it's put down.
My main criticism of Goddard's novels is that the endings can be somewhat weak and that sometimes, the characters take actions that seem to be beyond justification. Nonetheless, Goddard still is a master plotter who creates complex, believable characters.
This is not Goddard at his best. The writing is solid in that slightly languid, meandering style that Goddard does so well. There are plenty of twists and turns, but unfortunately there is a bit more "tell" than "show" as some of the mysteries are revealed to the protagonist.
If you're well into Goddard you'll enjoy it. If you're new to Goddard I recommend "Of Pale Battalions", "Into the Blue" or "Caught in the Light". show less

This book has been lurking on my TBR for longer than I care to remember. One thing that has put me off reading it is the small format of the paperback and of the print. I've been spoilt by the adjustability of reading e-books.

Robin Timariot is walking Offa's Dyke while trying to make a decision about the rest of his life. His accidental meeting of Louise Paxton should have had no lasting consequences but her death only a few hours later draws him into her family.

This is one of those plots that twists and turns and seems as if it will never end. Just when you think you have it all sorted out it darts off again. In fact I came to a conclusion early on about who was likely to be responsible for Louise Paxton's death, and, as it turns out, show more I was right, but not really for the right reasons.

The plot meanders along a bit with elements about the cricket bat company that Robin's family owns, and then strands related to Louise Paxton's family. show less

Robert Goddard is a hugely accomplished mystery writer, but this one is a dog. The characters are one-dimensional, the central conceit of the plot wildly implausible. No doubt it's all wrapped up neatly, but by halfway through I'd had enough so I'll never know.

A great story with many twists and turns. The details all come together very nicely at the conclusion. Beautiful prose, well-written. Highly recommended.

I only used three stars but wanted to go for four but....I'm just 32 pages in and I'm hooked, so far. I fully expect to use four stars before long. This is a great book, so very readable on many levels. Interesting charactors and settings. It's easy to see that nuance isn't a description of Robin's individual family members. But each is oh so fleshed out, I think I recongnize one or two of them! The book already promises something sinister and intriguing lurking around every corner, in everyday events and casual occurances...

My first Robert Goddard novel, since when I've avidly ready most of those he's written. A typical Goddard story of an unwitting victim of circumstance, being lead on a merry dance to find the truth about a situation over which they have little or no control. Keeps you turning the page until the very end. In this case the hero is walking in the Welsh Borders and sees a woman whom he later discovers has been raped and murdered.