Pooh Bridge

by Nigel Lampard

When Richard Blythe's wife, Rachel, dies from cancer after a protracted illness, he is determined to get away from it all amid the wilds of the countryside, abandoning his young twins, his job, his friends and all known responsibilities for a few precious weeks of recuperation.However, within days, the world has caught up with him, confronting him with a vulnerable girl whom he finds unconscious and who clearly has more of a story to tell than she is divulging.This unfortunate meeting kicks off a series of events that unsettle Richard's life to the point where he can no longer anticipate what will happen next or gauge who is on what side, until he meets the seductive Sophie who has all the appearances of liking him but seems to be working to another agenda Richard can only guess at.'Pooh Bridge' is a mesmerising murder mystery, seeped in grief, which continuously offers the promise of the beguiling snake that is coiling and coiling in readiness to strike you.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Murder Mystery

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2011

Reviews

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book solely based on the title. I have a slight obsession with Winnie the Pooh - and have a friend in the UK who lives near the bridge that "pooh sticks" was conceived on. That alone was enough to intrigue me.

What I found was a beautifully crafted story following the changes to a recently widowed 39 year old man, with twin 13 year old children. Richard is completely lost without his wife Rachel: and to 'keep her close' he wanders on a walkabout through the countryside, to be alone with his memories, and unsurprisingly a direction for his life.

We travel with Richard through his guilt at traveling so much of the time for work, his inability to feel accepted and liked by his inlaws, his confusion at events unfolding around him. Written with a sweetness and depth of feeling, I really did see Rachel through Richard's eyes, and felt their connection. The connection that he describes as so consuming, so self-sufficient that I know her parents felt utterly isolated and useless.

It isn't until many different pieces fall into place with the progression of the story do we see the significance of the bridge, it's ties to the past, and the possible path the the future.

If you are looking for a well crafted story with many twists and a great heart - I would recommend this book. It's not your typical love story - it's far more realistic.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it three stars more for the touching ending than for overall quality.

It had some serious flaws. In the first chapter, the man finds a body and thinks the woman is dead. We then get a long background dump of the man's history before he bothers to find out she's alive. It's written in first person and I find it impossible to believe anyone would think so many details of their past when confronted with that situation. A quick image of his wife's body perhaps as he kneeled to feel for a pulse but not a dump.

Then the time line is screwed up. He's suddenly on a plane then it hops back a week or so to spend chapters working up to the plane again. That makes no sense.

I almost always finish anything I start, but I came close to giving this up several times. The characters don't feel well developed and at times I found it quite difficult to believe the story at all. The middle was simply boring.

I should probably only give it two stars but there was a nice touch at the ending that made me feel compelled to give it more in the moment. In retrospect, it didn't earn at least half the third if not all of it.

Sure glad I had only downloaded it from amazon when free and hadn't spent any of my very limited funds on it.

[Karon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the title of this book and assumed it would be set in Sussex, however I found it was set much closer to home and I found myself retracing walks that I had taken in Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
The story had me gripped for a while but it then became a bit contrived with the lead character traveling to various countries which just coincidentally had a link to the murder.
I found that it was all wrapped up a bit quickly with one character coming along in the last chapters to explain what had been going on.

[Michelle LeKander · Rating 2 out of 5]

again wish that goodreads would allow 1/2 stars as this was 2 1/2 stars for me. the first couple of chapters had me hooked and periodically throughout the book I would get drawn in again. but to be honest I'm not even sure I could explain what this book was even about. the author was all over the place in this book almost like he was writing and revising all at the same time. the ending was very anti climatic as well. it was just a strange book

[Aunty Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book. A newly bereaved man sets off on a walking trip, avoiding people where possible, to come to terms with his loss. His solitude ends abruptly by a shocking event which changes his direction completely. The mystery then twists and turns through Germany and Brunei, in unexpected and sometimes rather far-fetched ways. The conclusion does not completely satisfy, leaving one or two unanswered questions. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off as a story of lost love with the main character losing his wife through cancer....turned into a story of intrigue involving murder and drugs gangs, ended up as a love story with Richard finding a new woman....the middle bit was the best bit for me.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mystery featuring a man who finds himself caught up in events he can't understand. The story does eventually fizzle out however, rather than reaching an ending.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

did not keep my interest. stopped 54% of the way through.

[Ed Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent story. Sometimes you have to say, "It can't be possible for anyone to have bad luck like our main character. I guess that's why it fiction. Gotta keep you wondering what can go wrong next.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a pretty good book, but it suddenly wrapped up to a very boring ending.

[Julieanne Lowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected from the blurb but held my interest well enough