Biding My Time: A Cambridge Mystery

by Martyn Goodger

A law firm. An obsession. A death.

Alan Gadd is a first-rate commercial lawyer.

Or so he likes to think. But he finds it hard to make friends. Or to keep girlfriends. And his Cambridge law firm seems to be looking for reasons not to promote him to the partnership.

Alan’s troubles worsen when one of the firm’s most popular lawyers is found dead at the foot of a multi-storey car park. Was it really suicide, and if so are people right to blame Alan? Or is there another, more disturbing explanation for the death?

Alan is determined to find out the truth, but it quickly becomes clear that he is risking not only his career but possibly also his life.

"Biding My Time" is the first book in the Alan Gadd Cambridgeshire Legal Mysteries series – novels featuring the lawyer who has been described in various five-star reviews as narcissistic, self-centred, self-righteous, cowardly, conniving and obsessive ...

263 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2022

About the author

Martyn is a former lawyer. He spent many years in private legal practice in Cambridge (England). He has also worked as an in-house lawyer at two universities, taught on the postgraduate Legal Practice Course, and owned his own company providing legal consultancy services. Before law, he was a dealer in second-hand books, specialising in crime and detective fiction. He also used to write regularly about crime fiction for 'Book and Magazine Collector'. He lives in Cambridgeshire, with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deception, Obsession, Justice

When ambition collides with morality, lives are often left in shambles, a truth that resonates in the pages of Martyn Goodger’s Biding My Time. The novel’s unflinching look at Alan Gadd, an ostensibly brilliant yet socially alienated commercial lawyer, holds a mirror to the pressures of corporate and personal life. The story opens in the venerable city of Cambridge, a place steeped in history and intellect but serving as the backdrop to a modern tale of duplicity and death. The enigmatic fall of a well-loved colleague from a multi-story car park sets the stage for a tightly woven mystery, one that forces Gadd into the uncomfortable territory of self-reflection and mortal danger.

Goodger masterfully ties the unraveling of the mystery to Alan’s professional and personal struggles, creating a protagonist who is both deeply unlikable and oddly sympathetic. While Alan’s narcissism, cowardice, and obsessive tendencies alienate those around him, they also make him uniquely equipped—or perhaps uniquely compelled—to seek out the truth behind the apparent suicide. Goodger’s legal acumen shines through, lending authenticity to Alan’s investigations and highlighting the moral ambiguities of the legal world. Particularly memorable is the way Goodger captures Alan’s mental spirals, offering readers an intimate yet unsettling glimpse into his psyche. The recurring imagery of the car park—a cold, impersonal space—parallels Alan’s isolation and sets an eerie tone for his pursuit of answers.

This book will resonate most with fans of cerebral mysteries and character-driven narratives. Those expecting a traditionally heroic protagonist may find Alan’s flaws grating, but for readers who appreciate layered, morally ambiguous characters, his complexity is a highlight. The story’s atmosphere and tone evoke comparisons to John le Carré’s explorations of individual fallibility in high-stakes environments, while the focus on professional and personal ethics recalls Scott Turow’s legal thrillers.

To sum it up, Biding My Time reads like a maze of glass and shadows, reflecting the fragility and duplicity of human connections while casting long, haunting questions about truth and accountability. Its subtle exploration of humanity’s darker edges, tied to the ever-relevant themes of justice and ambition, makes it a contender for Books for Humanity Global’s Book of the Week Award.

Yes, this book deserves the award. While not every reader will embrace Alan Gadd’s personality, the novel’s intricate plotting, moral depth, and atmospheric writing transcend conventional genre boundaries. Its unique ability to marry a tightly constructed mystery with an unvarnished exploration of human flaws makes it more than just an engaging read—it’s a meaningful one. The way Goodger interweaves Cambridge’s academic prestige with Alan’s personal shortcomings creates a rich setting that lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page.

[Book Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“BIDING MY TIME: A CAMBRIDGE MYSTERY” by Martyn Goodger is an extremely well-written murder mystery that takes place in Cambridge, England. The novel is totally engrossing from start to finish and a very smooth read, too, so hats off to the author.

The main character and first-person narrator, Alan, is an experienced lawyer at a firm in Cambridge, England, and we quickly become aware of his foibles. He is socially awkward, at best, but at times his self-centered misanthropy nearly reaches a sociopathic level. His quirky, odd thoughts constantly assail the reader -- what he thinks others are thinking, why they are not fair to him, what motivated certain behaviors, and so forth. At first as these musings fly at the reader, non-stop, Alan comes cross as a little bit "off" but perhaps reasonable . . . but eventually, the reader begins to doubt that credibility and one wonders if this is an unreliable narrator.

This adds an extra level of tension to the story, as the plot builds.

The story wanders through complex dynamics that weave together the law firm, its clients, the various lawyers and paralegals and secretaries. Before long, we understand the loner Alan is truly an outsider, living his worklife inside the firm. He is not invited to social gatherings, is never part of joking little coffee klatches or after-hours pub gatherings, etc. He feels he is being manipulated by Sam, the partner he reports to, desires some of the women in the firm and is jealous of other males’ success with the opposite sex.

Complicating everything is that he had earlier been in a relationship with Helen, one of the other lawyers, suffered a break up, and now has to watch her involvement with another suitor at the firm, the sleazy Jeff.

This novel is very thorough in building a believable world inside a middling law firm, Dovelys, and takes the reader through its processes and structures in a rational, non-boring way. One comes to understand how a loner like Alan can succeed within such a setting, but also be challenged.

The story really takes off when his ex-flame Helen is found dead, having fallen from the top floor of a car park. There is no shortage of suspects as Alan’s mildly paranoiac mind begins trying to unravel the event.

[Anita Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a real page turner, mainly because the narrator is not your usual, likeable protagonist. Alan Gadd is a self-righteous loner who finds it difficult to make friends, despite his efforts to ingratiate himself with the 'in crowd'. Although he has a good work ethic and scrupulous attention to detail, he is unpopular and very much an outsider at the large law firm in Cambridge, England, where he has been employed for over ten years. The story opens a few weeks after Alan's year-long relationship with his colleague Helen has ended, and she is now seeing someone else who also works at their office. From Alan's point of view, his work colleagues do not have the right attitude to each other or their work, and we are quickly introduced to several colleagues and clients that he is suspicious of. When Helen is found dead, from an assumed suicide, Alan goes into undercover investigative criminal lawyer mode, certain that someone in his office caused his ex-girlfriend to take her own life.

There were plenty of clues and red herrings to get me thinking and keep me turning the pages in this well thought out plot, and the ending did not disappoint. Author Martyn Goodger has many years experience in the legal profession and has set this psychological crime mystery in Cambridge, the historic university city which he clearly knows well. He conveys the atmosphere of office politics and gossip – relevant to the story – in a natural and realistic way. Despite Alan leading a pretty dull life, the plot has plenty of pace and the characters are very believable. Martyn Goodger has a fluent, easy to read writing style and the book is well written and edited. There is no sexual content or violence and the few instances of 'adult language' are used appropriately for good effect. I'm sure I will read more of this author's work and I recommend this book to fans of murder mysteries and psychological thrillers.

[Kitty Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biding My Time is a gripping legal thriller and mystery novel set in Cambridge. Martyn Goodger weaves a tale of obsession, suspicion, and intrigue, setting the stage for a series that delves deep into the complexities of the legal world and the darker aspects of the human psyche. Alan Gadd, the protagonist, is far from your typical hero; his narcissism, self-centeredness, and deep flaws make him a compelling character. Readers are drawn into his internal struggles and the external challenges he faces. The story takes a dark turn when one of the firm’s most beloved lawyers is found dead under suspicious circumstances. As tension escalates, Alan becomes a suspect, forcing him to confront a potential career-ending scandal. His obsession intensifies as he takes matters into his own hands, risking not only his career but also his life. Goodger introduces plenty of minor characters and red herrings, cleverly woven into the narrative. His writing is sharp and engaging, with a plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to balance the commentary on social intricacies with psychological depth. Biding My Time is a must-read for fans of legal dramas and mysteries, and it’s a promising start to the Alan Gadd Cambridgeshire Legal Mysteries series.

[J. Witcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has that one person in the office who is annoying. Maybe they have irritating habits, or maybe they’re the type to run to the boss when something doesn’t go their way. They whine and complain and always, whatever happens, is someone else’s fault, and never theirs. These types of people are not the sort one would usually associate with being the protagonist in a fiction novel, but that’s exactly who Alan Gadd is in Martyn Godger’s mystery Biding My Time.
The setting is in Cambridge and although Mr. Goodgear worked as a lawyer in Cambridge, he denies having known anyone quite like Adam. Maybe that’s true but Adam does feel like a real person. In this book, Adam has been recently separated from his girlfriend, and he is angry, jealous of her new boyfriend, and determined to find out the real reason she dumped him. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with personality, there must be some dark, sinister secret.
There is a secret, but one totally different from anything he imagined. Finding out the secret is what keeps your interest and also finding out what inept thing Adam will do next. As a bumbling, selfish, imitation of a detective, he stumbles onto the truth and it nearly kills him

[Eduardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping mystery that takes you into the life of a commercial lawyer, Alan Gadd, who navigates the competitive and tense atmosphere of a Cambridge law firm. The story begins with Alan struggling to fit in, facing professional setbacks, and grappling with strained personal relationships. When one of his colleagues is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Alan's life takes a darker turn. The book blends office politics, personal vendettas, and legal intricacies into a suspenseful narrative. Alan’s flawed personality, marked by arrogance and social awkwardness, adds layers of complexity, making him a protagonist who is both intriguing and frustrating. As Alan investigates the supposed suicide, you are drawn into a web of secrets, hidden motives, and unexpected twists. The book’s setting in Cambridge is vividly described, providing an atmospheric backdrop to an unraveling mystery. The pacing may feel slow at the beginning, but the tension steadily builds, culminating in a surprising and satisfying ending. Overall, this an engrossing and thought-provoking read that keeps you guessing until the very end; ideal for fans of legal thrillers and traditional detective mysteries. It’s a strong start to what promises to be an engaging series.

[Emirhan Korkmaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Biding My Time for the mystery and stayed for the uncomfortable, oddly compelling voice. Alan Gadd is not the charming, quippy guide most crime novels hand you. He’s prickly, self-absorbed, and frequently his own worst enemy. That choice works. Goodger uses Alan’s blind spots to sharpen the office-politics tension inside a Cambridge firm where collegiality is mostly theater and ambition does the real talking.

It’s a slow burn early, so if you need the murder on page one, you may get impatient. But the pacing pays off: once the death lands and Alan starts digging, the book tightens and the reveals come in clean, satisfying steps. Cambridge is sketched with just enough texture to feel lived-in without turning into a travelogue, and the final act delivers a genuine jolt.

On the downside, my edition had some editing glitches—typos and a distracting formatting quirk where the font color randomly flipped. Not fatal, but it pulled me out of scenes more than once.

Overall: good suspense, a fresh (if frequently infuriating) narrator, and a legal-world backdrop that feels authentic. If you can tolerate a protagonist who’s hard to like but hard to ignore, this is an engaging start to a series I’d read again.

[E.B. Hauk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the prose is swift and not overly bogged down in details, I found the advancement of the plot quite slow. Despite foremost being advertise as a murder mystery, the first 20% of the book focuses much more on our character's many grievances about the politics, relationship dynamics, and perceived slights of those in his office space. This main character is a man with a chip on his shoulder. The author does a decent job of showing him as a lonely man who isn't very good at playing the game, but his continually negative behavior and judgment of others made him difficult to like.

I was hoping that we would get to the murder much sooner than we did. If it came even 5-10% sooner, maybe I could've gotten into this more. Or if the characters had deeper and more compelling characterization. They aren't necessarily bad but I wouldn't say they're well-rounded, well-defined presences, either. They're closer to archetypes, I would say.

If you're looking for a coffee-book read, this might do it for you.

[Aaron Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biding My Time by Martyn Goodger is a riveting read about Alan Gadd, a not so typical protagonist who is self-centred, rude, and isolated from those around him. Driven by his own ego and ambitions, he sets out to uncover the mystery behind a colleagues death for his own benefit more than anything.

Alan is what made this story interesting and unique. We spend so much time trying to relate and like characters that it is fun to find out what happens when we don’t them. This didn’t take away any enjoyment for me, as I found Alan to be far more human for many reasons, particularly his tense break up with Helen and the strain he felt in the workplace. I enjoyed how his legal background made him a good person to solve a mystery, almost like a detective without the training, and the latter half when he uncovers various plots and schemes were a joy to read.

This book, despite having a legal setting, is very accessible and doesn’t get bogged down in jargon or case law. It is a gripping thriller above all and a great read for many.

[Finlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodger’s novel, Biding My Time is a rather unconventional murder thriller that has a unique and, at the same time, very classic feel to it. Alan Gadd, a rather a peculiarly-minded, self-centred, and socially not very skilled Cambridge solicitor takes on private investigations when his ex-girlfriend and colleague is found dead. The murder case itself is the red thread. As a plot, it builds slowly at first, but picks up speed, with time. However, the detective trope itself is not necessarily the underlying theme of the book. Rather it grapples with the drives, motivations, and emotions of Alan, in what way his own perception is conveyed to the reader and how this relates to the “objective” knowledge of the case the reader holds themselves. The book is thought-out. The details and setting of the law firm and legal world, the dialogues, and wording feel very realistic. The book is generally very well-written and certainly makes for a good read for anyone who has an appetite for psychological explorations. Recommend!

[readit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery about a lawyer who decides to try to find out who killed a colleague. Everyone thinks it’s suicide, but Alan doesn’t believe it.

I haven’t read many stories with a lawyer as the protagonist, and this is done very well. Alan is a socially awkward lawyer and I felt bad for him with all the difficult interactions with other colleagues in his firm. No one likes him, and none are interested in his investigating the death. He is definitely not your normal leading man type.

The mystery grabs you and pulls you in with its many unexpected turns. I love a good mystery and always try to figure out the clues. This one kept me guessing the whole way through the book, and I was sufficiently surprised when the ending came.

The book is well-written, and well-edited, with no significant errors to distract me as I read. Although I was glad when the final revelation came, I was also disappointed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

[J-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good slow-burn mystery

Truly one of those slow-burn reads. Yet, I never had the urge to flip ahead from boredom, nor did I ever want to stop reading. This book places the reader directly into the life of a lawyer named Alan and his round about way to get to the bottom of a tragic death, he was certain it should have been categorized a murder. I found I was often attempting to understand this Alan’s psyche and was routing for him to move ahead as a person.

It was easy to visualize characters as well as appreciate several key relationships between them given the author’s creativity with details.

The author had a good handle on office politics and routines which created a solid backdrop to the majority of the scenes in the book.

I enjoyed this story and would definitely read another book from this author.

I gave it 4.5 stars rather than 5 primarily as I was anticipating a greater outcome at the end of the book.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great legal mystery!

Biding My Time by Martyn Goodger is a clever legal thriller that pulled me in with its unusual protagonist and well-layered mystery. Set in Cambridge, the story revolves around Alan Gadd, a socially awkward and self-absorbed lawyer who seems to alienate everyone around him. Alan isn’t the kind of hero you root for right away—he’s frustrating, a bit narcissistic, and constantly playing the victim. But as the story unfolds, you can’t help but get caught up in his world.

When his ex-girlfriend and colleague Helen is found dead in an apparent suicide, Alan becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened. His investigation feels chaotic and risky, but it’s also what makes the story so engaging. The office politics and legal world feel very real, and the tension builds naturally as Alan unravels the truth.

The book is an easy but thought-provoking read with a twisty ending that left me thinking, “What just happened?” If you’re into legal thrillers or mysteries with flawed but fascinating characters, I’d definitely recommend this one.

[Matt Mememaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biding my Time is an excellent, extremely well written legal thriller masterpiece by Martyn Goodger. The narrative is written in the first person, keeping us inside Alan's mind at all times. He is a cunning and self-absorbed character as a first-rate commercial lawyer.
This story blends the classic elements of a whodunit with a nuanced investigation of its protagonist's inner struggles, setting it apart from traditional mysteries. Alan Gadd, with his intricate personality and troubled past, serves as an unorthodox and unpopular hero whose journey into the depths of the university's seedy underbelly is just as much about seeking redemption as it is about solving the crime.
Once again, the plot is skilfully crafted, blending suspense with an in-depth dive into the mind of a man on the edge, causing readers to question what it really means to confront one's personal demons. This novel is typical of what I’ve come to expect from Martyn Goodger.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Biding My Time: A Cambridge Mystery” by Martyn Goodger is a slow-paced mystery with a protagonist who, while a good lawyer, is a bit of clueless jerk when it comes to getting along with people. Alan’s story is told in first person past tense, and readers are provided with his inner thoughts; at times these thoughts are lengthy and superfluous. He wants to be made partner at his firm, but his unpleasant personality may hold him back from rising in his career. He is hurting from being dumped by his girlfriend, Helen, a coworker and fellow lawyer. Helen is a good lawyer and a nice person who has suffered from depression. Putting salt on Alan’s wounded feelings is the fact that Helen quickly moved on to a new relationship, and her new boyfriend, a co-worker and lawyer named Jeff, is congenial and popular. When Helen dies from a fall, Alan is shocked and decides to investigate what happened.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as protagonists go, Alan Gadd isn’t one you would be cheering for. He’s a senior solicitor in a Cambridge-based law firm, hoping to make partner very soon. The problem is, no one likes him. And with good reason because he’s a socially inept, jobsworth of a man who tries to be liked. But his attempts come over as downright creepy - especially regarding the women he works with. The smile politely when he tries to engage in conversation and they stop talking when he comes near. The men treat him the same way. Plus, he never gets invited out for after-work drinks or meals.
When someone dies, he spends most of his time trying to figure out who killed her. And then there is the Julia connection. I saw that one from a mile off.
It’s not a bad book, but like Alan, it’s slow and it’s mostly about his thoughts. His creepy thoughts.
In that way it works, because I’m sure everyone knows someone like Alan and from the perspective of the story, we’re meant to dislike him.

[sureshot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book, hoping to read a good mystery. But what got me was the perspective character, Alan Gadd. The author took a first-person perspective for this book, and that worked very well for this character. Gadd was so well written that it was hard to remember this was a book. That’s how immersed I became in the character. I think Gadd as a character was a risk. Some people are really going to hate the guy. But I really admire that the author chose to go with him. Given his cynical nature and general disdain for society, I felt Gadd was very real. I didn’t expect to go into this story and be hooked on a character. But good writing caused it anyway. Though Gadd himself was the driving point of this novel for me, the storyline was good too. The mystery of it all was tense and thrilling. Overall, I recommend this book to all lovers of mystery fiction, especially character driven mysteries.

[Eyejaybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Gadd has worked for a firm of solicitors based in Cambridge for several years and is keen to be made a partner. As the novel opens, he is about to attend a meeting with a new client, accompanied by his colleague Helen. It is only later that we learn that Helen and Alan were until recently a couple, but that the relationship had ended and, indeed, Helen is now involved with another mutual colleague, Jeff.

We do quickly learn that Alan is an obsessive character, and that his level of self-awareness may be lower than that of most of his colleagues. He is frequently stunned when he learns of other colleagues’ perceptions of his behaviour and approach to work, as such opinions tend to be far less favourable than his own. Everyone in the firm is thrown into disarray when one Helen is found dead at the foot of a multistorey carpark near the office building. It is not clear whether she had had a tragic accident, jumped of her own volition or been pushed. Alan vows to find out.

Martin Goodger handles the tension very deftly, feeding it through the filter of Alan’s obsessive and often almost paranoid perspective. I thought his portrayal of the tensions and jealousies within the office was very adroitly done.

[Margaret B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable legal mystery/thriller. The legal background and Cambridge setting are convincing. The solicitor narrator isn't the most admirable of people (to put it mildly!), but I was rooting for him to solve the mystery. Didn't see the ending coming.

[Aileen Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan, found the character annoying. At first felt sorry for him but then got very annoyed with him. I ended up skim reading to the end. Weak plot and I had worked out Julia was involved. Pity I live not too far from Cambridge and love legal novels. Not sure I'll read next one.