Robert Goddard, Found Wanting (2008)

Robert Goddard´s books are not exactly musts for me, but when I need something light and entertaining, I may pick one of his many thrillers. I chose this one because the Danish title “The Dane” made me curious.

And this is indeed a Goddard of the usual kind. Richard Eusden, a middle-aged civil servant is persuaded to bring a mysterious, old bag to Brussels by his ex-wife and his old friend (who has also been married to the wife). Connoisseurs of Goddard will suspect that something fishy is going on, and voila, Richard is not met by old friend Marty in Brussels, but by Werner Straub who claims Marty asked him to fetch the bag.

What follows is a complicated conspiracy and a story about the daughter of the Russian tsar, Anastacia. A search that brings Richard and Marty to Denmark. Interesting to read these sections, but somehow Aarhus did not quite strike me as the same town as I studied in. One example is the old family farm. A successful sheep farm near Aarhus? Hardly.

But can quiet, sensible Richard be certain that happy-go-lucky Marty has told him the full truth? Read the novel and find the answer. If you are a Goddard fan, you will also like this one.

I borrowed the book at the library.

Robert Goddard, Never Go Back (2006)

This British thriller is the third in the Harry Barnett series.

Ten old soldier buddies who participated in an experiment fifty years earlier agree to meet in Scotland. One of them is Harry Barnett who is now happily married and has a little daughter. One of these ten mates disappears on the train to Aberden, and soon they begin to die at an alarming rate. Who can have an interest in wiping out the participants of an unimportant, failed experiment in the fifties?

This thriller is a typical Robert Goddard. There is an old story which suddenly grows important, a touch of conspiracy, and a protagonist who may be likeable, but has some kind of flaw (a criminal past, infidelity, deceit or such) which later leads to his downfall, assisted by none-too-competent, overzealous policemen. Suspected by the police, Harry and a tarnished, fellow soldier engage in the case, and of course justice prevails in the end.

Not strictly realistic, but easily read entertainment.

A library book.

Robert Goddard, Du kan ikke vende tilbage (2008)
Denne britiske spændingsroman er den tredje i Harry Barnett-serien.

Ti gamle soldaterkammerater, som deltog i et undervisningseksperiment halvtreds år tidligere, aftaler at mødes i Skotland. En af dem er Harry Barnett, som nu er lykkeligt gift og har en lille datter. En af de ti forsvinder i toget på vej til Aberdeen, og snart begynder de gamle venner at dø i et foruroligende tempo. Hvem kan have en interesse i at udrydde deltagerne i et ligegyldigt, mislykket forsøg i 50erne?

Denne thriller er meget typisk for Robert Goddard. Der er en gammel forhistorie som pludselig bliver aktuel, et snert af sammensværgelse, og en hovedperson, som ganske vist er meget sympatisk men har nogle fejl i bagagen (måske kriminalitet, måske utroskab, svigt eller lignende), som senere er med til at fælde ham, godt hjulpet af emsige politifolk. Mistænkt af politiet kaster Harry og en anløben gammel soldaterkammerat sig ud i selv at opklare sagen. Og i sidste ende sejrer retfærdigheden naturligvis.

Ikke vildt realistisk, men udmærket, letlæst underholdning fra biblioteket.