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The Wide World Trilogy #1
The Ways of the World
1919. The eyes of the world are on Paris, where statesmen, diplomats and politicians have gathered to discuss the fate of half the world’s nations in the aftermath of the cataclysm that was the Great War. A horde of journalists, spies and opportunists have also gathered in the city and the last thing the British diplomatic community needs at such a time is the mysterious death of a senior member of their delegation. So, when Sir Henry Maxted falls from the roof of his mistress’s apartment building in unexplained circumstances, their first instinct is to suppress all suspicious aspects of the event.
But Sir Henry’s son, ex Royal Flying Corps ace James ‘Max’ Maxted, has other ideas. He resolves to find out how and why his father died – even if this means disturbing the impression of harmonious calm which the negotiating teams have worked so hard to maintain. In a city where countries are jostling for position at the crossroads of history and the stakes could hardly be higher, it is difficult to tell who is a friend and who a foe.And Max will soon discover just how much he needs friends, as his search for the truth sucks him into the dark heart of a seemingly impenetrable mystery.
But Sir Henry’s son, ex Royal Flying Corps ace James ‘Max’ Maxted, has other ideas. He resolves to find out how and why his father died – even if this means disturbing the impression of harmonious calm which the negotiating teams have worked so hard to maintain. In a city where countries are jostling for position at the crossroads of history and the stakes could hardly be higher, it is difficult to tell who is a friend and who a foe.And Max will soon discover just how much he needs friends, as his search for the truth sucks him into the dark heart of a seemingly impenetrable mystery.
544 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2013
255 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
Robert Goddard
111 books874 followersIn a writing career spanning more than twenty years, Robert Goddard's novels have been described in many different ways - mystery, thriller, crime, even historical romance. He is the master of the plot twist, a compelling and engrossing storyteller and one of the best known advocates for the traditional virtues of pace, plot and narrative drive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
January 19, 2015
Definitely above average in broad spectrum of espionage fiction. It leans toward: historical atmospherics, though with less of a focus than in Furst’s World War 2 tales; suspenseful intrigue, though less twisted than Le Carre; and levels of thriller action that are less pervasive than most, perhaps on the level of early Follett. As a plus we are treated to the fascinating setting of Paris after World War 1, a time when so many countries and factions had people in town trying to tilt the negotiations for the Treaty of Versaille, which was to divide up much of the world into colonial domains and make arbitrary boundaries for disputed lands.
Our hero, Max Maxted has returned to London after serving as a pilot in the war and dreams of starting a flying school. The death of his father, Henry, a diplomat in Paris, leads his mother and older brother to send Max there to bring back the body. But the suspicious circumstances of his death (a night-time fall from the roof of his mistress’ apartment building) compels Max to look for enemies and motives for the killing his father, despite the fact that all the powers-that-be want the case closed as an accident, thereby avoiding any disturbance of the talks with a scandal..
His father’s past consul postings in places like Japan, Russia, Austria, Hungary, and Brazil opens up many possibilities for intrigue when Max makes the rounds of Henry’s foreign friends linked to that past. In the process the reader gets to visit a number of colorful places and night spots in Paris, and a bit of romance for Max on the side (not an excessive diversion). Soon Max turns up a nest of spies and information brokers and schemes of betrayal and blackmail. He must be making progress because someone proves eager to kill him, and the British and American espionage apparatus get interested in letting him stir things up like a Judas goat. Fortunately, his former sergeant and mechanic in the war has got his back in certain dangerous situations. His friendship and teamwork with Max are a definite plus.
The ending resolves a number of issues but opens a surprising door to the next in the trilogy. I like better closure on each book in a series, so I join with others who object to the blatant posting of the phrase “To be continued” at the end.
Our hero, Max Maxted has returned to London after serving as a pilot in the war and dreams of starting a flying school. The death of his father, Henry, a diplomat in Paris, leads his mother and older brother to send Max there to bring back the body. But the suspicious circumstances of his death (a night-time fall from the roof of his mistress’ apartment building) compels Max to look for enemies and motives for the killing his father, despite the fact that all the powers-that-be want the case closed as an accident, thereby avoiding any disturbance of the talks with a scandal..
His father’s past consul postings in places like Japan, Russia, Austria, Hungary, and Brazil opens up many possibilities for intrigue when Max makes the rounds of Henry’s foreign friends linked to that past. In the process the reader gets to visit a number of colorful places and night spots in Paris, and a bit of romance for Max on the side (not an excessive diversion). Soon Max turns up a nest of spies and information brokers and schemes of betrayal and blackmail. He must be making progress because someone proves eager to kill him, and the British and American espionage apparatus get interested in letting him stir things up like a Judas goat. Fortunately, his former sergeant and mechanic in the war has got his back in certain dangerous situations. His friendship and teamwork with Max are a definite plus.
The ending resolves a number of issues but opens a surprising door to the next in the trilogy. I like better closure on each book in a series, so I join with others who object to the blatant posting of the phrase “To be continued” at the end.
February 9, 2014
The Paris Peace Conference was an international meeting that took place in January 1919 at Versailles, with its purpose to establish and agree the terms of the peace after the Great War.
In total the number of nations attending was almost 30, but the main representatives and influencers were France, Britain, America and Italy (the big four), and it is amongst this gathering of nations and inter-country politics that Robert Goddard's new book links itself and is set.
The story has many twists and turns that involve the main character James "Max" Maxted, a former Royal Flying Corps pilot, and a large cast of supporting characters who are part of or party to the peace negotiations including diplomats, policemen, spies, and displaced persons.
Central to the story is, as with any Goddard book, a murder or two with enough passions, crimes, alliances and mysteries that kept me interested and turning the pages.
I liked the setting and the involvement of a number of countries citizens, not just the big 4, who play a part in the plot directly or indirectly but also remind the reader of the reason they were in Paris.
And the reasons for being in Paris are for the cast varying and complex linked and yet separate to each other and the aftermath of the war.
For me that complexity made this not only another enjoyable and well-written Robert Goddard book but one of his best, and for that I really look forward to the next instalment.
In total the number of nations attending was almost 30, but the main representatives and influencers were France, Britain, America and Italy (the big four), and it is amongst this gathering of nations and inter-country politics that Robert Goddard's new book links itself and is set.
The story has many twists and turns that involve the main character James "Max" Maxted, a former Royal Flying Corps pilot, and a large cast of supporting characters who are part of or party to the peace negotiations including diplomats, policemen, spies, and displaced persons.
Central to the story is, as with any Goddard book, a murder or two with enough passions, crimes, alliances and mysteries that kept me interested and turning the pages.
I liked the setting and the involvement of a number of countries citizens, not just the big 4, who play a part in the plot directly or indirectly but also remind the reader of the reason they were in Paris.
And the reasons for being in Paris are for the cast varying and complex linked and yet separate to each other and the aftermath of the war.
For me that complexity made this not only another enjoyable and well-written Robert Goddard book but one of his best, and for that I really look forward to the next instalment.
February 4, 2015
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2017
After reading a good many of Robert Goddard’s novel one thing he does to perfection is take you back to the past. I’m still not sure how he does it - whether it is the tone of his writing, the way his characters talk or an accumulation of details relevant to a particular time but it works. You are in that particular decade and not just because he mentions one famous incident associated with that decade; you are in that particular part of the country and not just because he names it. I trust Goddard’s research implicitly and he makes details count in evoking the past. Here is a perfect example. The opening of The Ways of the World, the first novel in his trilogy The Wide World featuring the young James Maxted (Max) and his friend (former aircraft mechanic) Sam Twentyman. Here are the two men:
“They could ignore the telephone. That was one of the unwritten clauses of the Armistice. No telephone would have rung unanswered for long at the squadron base in France where their paths had first crossed in the summer of 1915. But they were not in France and the war was over. So they stood, side by side, aware of the importunate ringing the unattended office in the corner of the hangar, but unmoved by it, lulled by the scent of oil and varnish and the fluttering of a pigeon in the rafters and the vernal brightness of the light flooding in around them.”
And you are there, right? And with the news (the telephone) that James’s father has died in mysterious circumstances in Paris you are off on a great adventure peopled with embassy officials, government agents, spies, trustworthy/untrustworthy friends, displaced persons and the mysterious, shadowy Fritz Lemmer. And don’t forget there is strange individual that may or may not be on Max’s side - Le Singe (the monkey) a young Algerian given to hanging around on rooftops.
“They could ignore the telephone. That was one of the unwritten clauses of the Armistice. No telephone would have rung unanswered for long at the squadron base in France where their paths had first crossed in the summer of 1915. But they were not in France and the war was over. So they stood, side by side, aware of the importunate ringing the unattended office in the corner of the hangar, but unmoved by it, lulled by the scent of oil and varnish and the fluttering of a pigeon in the rafters and the vernal brightness of the light flooding in around them.”
And you are there, right? And with the news (the telephone) that James’s father has died in mysterious circumstances in Paris you are off on a great adventure peopled with embassy officials, government agents, spies, trustworthy/untrustworthy friends, displaced persons and the mysterious, shadowy Fritz Lemmer. And don’t forget there is strange individual that may or may not be on Max’s side - Le Singe (the monkey) a young Algerian given to hanging around on rooftops.
July 11, 2014
Starts brightly but as the pages mount the cleverness that marked the other books by this author flee to be replaced by a real clunker, great for anyone who loved Biggles and wanted a non ironic refresh. This book thuds flatly. Maybe splats might be a better description.
February 26, 2022
The book takes place entirely in the Spring of 1919. Most of the action (and plenty of it!) takes place in Paris, where the Peace Conference is occuring. There are small references to the fact that James Maxted was a pilot in the war and that he spent the last year of the war as a POW. The book opens (or nearly opens) with the information that James' father, Henry Maxted is dead. His mother had supplied little in the way of concrete information. Sir Henry had died in a fall from a roof, apparently. It was, Lady Maxted had emphasized, an accident. Max wants to see where it happened and at the scene decides this was no accident. Are the police so naive as to believe this was truly an accident or are they just trying to avoid a scandal? Max wants to learn the truth and we're off to learn it with him.
I found Robert Goddard quite by accident, I think, looking at/for books having to do with WWI. I would have thought I wasn't a reader of mystery/thrillers, but I've found myself quite taken with him. I don't think I could make a steady diet of such fare. Leave it to me that I ordered the 2nd installment of this trilogy before I'd finished this title. I've no doubt I'll also order the final installment, and that I'll find a way to get them read before the end of the year - maybe before the end of summer!
I don't fool myself that what draws readers to Robert Goddard is his sterling prose or his superior characterizations. It's the plot, the plot, the plot. That doesn't mean, however, that his prose stinks and his characterizations are flat. Both of these elements are good enough for me to keep my eyes on the page. I have been known to be an eye roller - not so here. Still, with such a heavy reliance on plot I can't force this into the 5-star group. Still and all, it's a darned good 4-stars!
I found Robert Goddard quite by accident, I think, looking at/for books having to do with WWI. I would have thought I wasn't a reader of mystery/thrillers, but I've found myself quite taken with him. I don't think I could make a steady diet of such fare. Leave it to me that I ordered the 2nd installment of this trilogy before I'd finished this title. I've no doubt I'll also order the final installment, and that I'll find a way to get them read before the end of the year - maybe before the end of summer!
I don't fool myself that what draws readers to Robert Goddard is his sterling prose or his superior characterizations. It's the plot, the plot, the plot. That doesn't mean, however, that his prose stinks and his characterizations are flat. Both of these elements are good enough for me to keep my eyes on the page. I have been known to be an eye roller - not so here. Still, with such a heavy reliance on plot I can't force this into the 5-star group. Still and all, it's a darned good 4-stars!
September 25, 2014
Set in Paris just after World War I, The Ways of the World takes a look at the battle for peace. James ‘Max’ Maxted was a Royal Flying Corps ace during the war but now finds himself in a completely new situation. While the world looks to Paris as diplomats and politicians try to negotiate peace, Max is trying to work out what happened to his father. Sir Henry Maxted was a British diplomatic who mysteriously died from a fall off the roof of his mistress’s apartment building. The authorities rule the death as a suicide but Max suspects there is something far more suspicious going on.
The Ways of the World is everything I expect from an espionage novel; nothing like the popular spy thrillers. I view the intelligence game as one of diplomacy and manipulation, not high tech weapons and action. Robert Goddard uses the murder mystery as a device to manipulate the story and keep up the pace. This is a successful tactic as the majority of the novel is told in conversations and the novel could have easily fallen into the realm of boring and tedious.
The Paris Peace Conference allowed the game of espionage to play out. France, Britain, America and Italy all have representatives there and inter-country politics feature heavily here. Each country has their own agenda and I really enjoyed watching this play out. As the host country, France also wanted to quash any notion of a diplomat being murdered and keep their image. This perfectly sets up the story that Robert Goddard wanted to tell.
However there is something terribly wrong with this book. There are three words that took me from loving this book to throwing it across the room. I actually didn’t physically throw this book across the room because it was a library book but I was very tempted. Those three words at the end of the novel that ruined everything were ‘To be continued’.
I am normally ok with a story continuing into a series, but when you end a book without a sense of closure, it really doesn’t work. When I was getting close to the end of the book, I wondered to myself how to possibly conclude the novel that quickly, and then I found out. This works well in a television show when people only have to wait a week for the next episode but in a book there is normally a year between them. This situation makes me so mad that I don’t think I can continue the series.
This review originally appeared on my blog: http://literary-exploration.com/2014/...
The Ways of the World is everything I expect from an espionage novel; nothing like the popular spy thrillers. I view the intelligence game as one of diplomacy and manipulation, not high tech weapons and action. Robert Goddard uses the murder mystery as a device to manipulate the story and keep up the pace. This is a successful tactic as the majority of the novel is told in conversations and the novel could have easily fallen into the realm of boring and tedious.
The Paris Peace Conference allowed the game of espionage to play out. France, Britain, America and Italy all have representatives there and inter-country politics feature heavily here. Each country has their own agenda and I really enjoyed watching this play out. As the host country, France also wanted to quash any notion of a diplomat being murdered and keep their image. This perfectly sets up the story that Robert Goddard wanted to tell.
However there is something terribly wrong with this book. There are three words that took me from loving this book to throwing it across the room. I actually didn’t physically throw this book across the room because it was a library book but I was very tempted. Those three words at the end of the novel that ruined everything were ‘To be continued’.
I am normally ok with a story continuing into a series, but when you end a book without a sense of closure, it really doesn’t work. When I was getting close to the end of the book, I wondered to myself how to possibly conclude the novel that quickly, and then I found out. This works well in a television show when people only have to wait a week for the next episode but in a book there is normally a year between them. This situation makes me so mad that I don’t think I can continue the series.
This review originally appeared on my blog: http://literary-exploration.com/2014/...
July 1, 2013
An excellent spy story set in the aftermath of the Great War. It's 1919 and the victorious gather in Paris to decide the fate of Germany. When one elderly diplomat falls from a roof, his son Max travels from England to prove that his death was not an accident. The war continues...
Full review http://forwinternights.wordpress.com/...
Full review http://forwinternights.wordpress.com/...
August 27, 2013
3.5 - 4 stars.
The Ways of the World tells the tale of James “Max” Maxted’s efforts to uncover the truth behind his diplomat father’s death in Paris, during the 1919 peace talks. The city is full of international diplomats discussing what should be the outcome of Germany’s defeat in the First World War, when Sir Henry Maxted falls from a roof and dies. The French police have decided that suicide is the most likely reason for the fall, but Max uncovers certain clues which will not let him rest.
The novel is full of interesting characters, some of whom are not fictitious, but it is the plot which drives the story along. There are many strands to the story of espionage and murder and also, several surprises. It is a long time since I read a novel by Robert Goddard and I had forgotten his skill at authentically creating time and place. The dialogue, the descriptions and the style of writing took me back to the days when I read books by John Buchan! This is a real, old fashioned adventure story, which will please lovers of a good yarn.
The only disappointment I felt was when I realised, a few pages before the end, that it would be impossible to bring the novel to a satisfactory conclusion in these last pages. Then I came across the “To be continued” phrase and all became clear. I do hope there is not too long to wait!
I received this free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The Ways of the World tells the tale of James “Max” Maxted’s efforts to uncover the truth behind his diplomat father’s death in Paris, during the 1919 peace talks. The city is full of international diplomats discussing what should be the outcome of Germany’s defeat in the First World War, when Sir Henry Maxted falls from a roof and dies. The French police have decided that suicide is the most likely reason for the fall, but Max uncovers certain clues which will not let him rest.
The novel is full of interesting characters, some of whom are not fictitious, but it is the plot which drives the story along. There are many strands to the story of espionage and murder and also, several surprises. It is a long time since I read a novel by Robert Goddard and I had forgotten his skill at authentically creating time and place. The dialogue, the descriptions and the style of writing took me back to the days when I read books by John Buchan! This is a real, old fashioned adventure story, which will please lovers of a good yarn.
The only disappointment I felt was when I realised, a few pages before the end, that it would be impossible to bring the novel to a satisfactory conclusion in these last pages. Then I came across the “To be continued” phrase and all became clear. I do hope there is not too long to wait!
I received this free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 7, 2021
Setting: Paris, France; 1919. This is the first book in The Wide World trilogy and features ex-WW1 flying ace, James 'Max' Maxted. As the Peace Conference rumbles on, Max's father, a former diplomat who is part of the British delegation, dies following a bizarre accident. But when Max and his elder brother Ashley both travel to Paris to recover their father's body at the behest of their mother, Max is convinced that his father has been murdered and did not die in an accidental fall as the French Police and the British government would have him believe. As Max delves into his father's Paris life, he comes across some very untrustworthy and dubious characters - and soon finds his life under threat as the body count around him mounts....
This was a gripping read - although partly-resolved at the end of the book, there is clearly more to the story as Max continues his hunt. There is also a 'prologue' chapter available free online - it is a pity that they didn't advertise it as being available at the beginning of the book rather than at the end as it would have set the scene well prior to starting the main story. Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy - 8.5/10.
This was a gripping read - although partly-resolved at the end of the book, there is clearly more to the story as Max continues his hunt. There is also a 'prologue' chapter available free online - it is a pity that they didn't advertise it as being available at the beginning of the book rather than at the end as it would have set the scene well prior to starting the main story. Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy - 8.5/10.
June 18, 2014
This book is written to a formula;a formula that has been out of date since 1957, about when I started reading thrillers. I enjoy a good thriller, but this is not a good thriller.
There are derogatory and anachronistic references to the Japanese.. the use of 'Jap' very jarring in the context of 1919; it should be remembered that we fought on the same side in WW1 and there would have been none of that sort of reference.
There won't be any spoilers as I've stopped reading it on page 190 and I've given it to the charity shop.
There are derogatory and anachronistic references to the Japanese.. the use of 'Jap' very jarring in the context of 1919; it should be remembered that we fought on the same side in WW1 and there would have been none of that sort of reference.
There won't be any spoilers as I've stopped reading it on page 190 and I've given it to the charity shop.
February 14, 2015
I have read all of Goddard's novels, but this novel disappointed me so much I can't see myself rushing to buy another. The cover promises 'adultery... Paris 1919', but the adultery took place before the novel started, and - apart from some crippled veterans begging - there was little sense of place. I love historical mysteries for being educated whilst being entertained, but know no more about The Treaty of Versailles and postwar Paris after 500 pages.
As Max tried to discover his father's murderer, a number of shadowy possibilities were introduced, but when he finally discovered the culprit it seemed just another shadowy name to me rather than a revelation (possibly my fault as I was so disengaged by the romp at that point that I was reading another book in tandem).
What really took the biscuit though was the non existent ending. It seemed that, like me, Goddard got bored mid-paragraph and simply put his pen down. There was a note saying Max's story continues, and the first chapter included of the second novel, which didn't continue with him walking down a French road, but in Scotland I think. I can only guess that Goddard is too big a name for his publisher to have demanded the novel be completed?
As Max tried to discover his father's murderer, a number of shadowy possibilities were introduced, but when he finally discovered the culprit it seemed just another shadowy name to me rather than a revelation (possibly my fault as I was so disengaged by the romp at that point that I was reading another book in tandem).
What really took the biscuit though was the non existent ending. It seemed that, like me, Goddard got bored mid-paragraph and simply put his pen down. There was a note saying Max's story continues, and the first chapter included of the second novel, which didn't continue with him walking down a French road, but in Scotland I think. I can only guess that Goddard is too big a name for his publisher to have demanded the novel be completed?
June 24, 2015
This is my second book by this author. The first one was “Long Time Coming” and I found it to be okay. On the other hand I really did enjoy this one. The story takes place mostly in Paris during the peace talks that took place after WW I, in 1919. There are a lot of historical facts about the participants in that conference and the machinations that took place behind the scenes. It also involves the participation of the British Secret Service, created in 1909, which is the predecessor to MI 6. That is the background for a mystery involving the murder of a British diplomat made to look like an accident and the investigation conducted by his son, a WW I pilot.
The plot is captivating as it involves all kinds of shady characters such as Russian Czarists, German spies, undercover operatives, professional thieves and murderers. There is a lot of action and the pace of the story is captivating and the main characters are diverse. There is also a personal part of the story involving the pilot and his family in England. This is the first of a series which now is it in its third episode. I look forward to the next book. One of the drawbacks to the story is the large number of characters and the ability to keep track of them.
The plot is captivating as it involves all kinds of shady characters such as Russian Czarists, German spies, undercover operatives, professional thieves and murderers. There is a lot of action and the pace of the story is captivating and the main characters are diverse. There is also a personal part of the story involving the pilot and his family in England. This is the first of a series which now is it in its third episode. I look forward to the next book. One of the drawbacks to the story is the large number of characters and the ability to keep track of them.
July 28, 2015
James Maxted is an ex-RFC (Royal Flying Corps) pilot, hero, and POW. When his father, a retired British diplomat, baronet, knight of the realm etc. falls to his death in Paris while serving as an aide to the British delegation at the Versailles peace conference, James ("Max" to all but his family) goes into action to find out the truth about his father's death (that it was murder). Max shows the same gutty disregard for personal danger that he showed in the war. Aided by his former chief mechanic and his father's former mistress (to the surprise of many), Max ignores the Paris police, the British government and his stuffed shirt brother, Ashley, to identify the people responsible, all of them quite dangerous. The plot is boy's own adventure stuff, but Max is an attractive character, despite the seemingly interminable plot (which will continue into a second volume, at least).
November 16, 2015
seemed interesting and the first few pages were entertaining, but then it became a run of the mill thriller which I fast read just in case it became more interesting; even a sort of cliffhanger ending left me completely uninterested in more
September 12, 2015
like someone else said it was like biggles all over again, which i read over 50 years ago, i have put away childish things, including religion..
December 15, 2019
Excellent reader, intriguing plot, but I wish there had been a proper ending. It was inconclusive, to pave the way for volume 2, presumably, but I wasn’t expecting that.
August 29, 2015
If you were about to sit down and write a historical espionage thriller what better setting could you imagine than Paris following the Great War. Paris, 1919 with historical characters ranging from Ho Chi Minh to Woodrow Wilson all together in the city of lights, trying to redraw the boundaries of defeated empires and bring about self-determination is an amazing setting. It is on this stage that Robert Goddard has created an engrossing tale entitled, THE WAYS OF THE WORLD. Goddard has written over twenty historical novels, and this is my first exposure to his writing and it will not be my last. We first meet the protagonist, James Maxted, a former flying ace for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during World War One, who spent the last eighteen months of the war in a German POW camp after being shot down, trying to set up an aerodrome business with his wartime compatriot Sam Twentyman. During negotiations he receives a message from his mother that his father has been killed in Paris. Sir Henry Maxted, a career British diplomat who served in Russia during the revolution, Brazil, and Japan among many postings was part of the British delegation to the Versailles Conference. The French police under pressure from the British government rule Sir Henry’s death was accidental and from this point on the story line begins to evolve.
After going to Paris with his brother Ashley, James, known as “Max” does not accept the French police’s conclusion that his father suffered an accidental death when he supposedly finds his mistress having a liaison with a French artist, and falls off a roof peering into the Frenchman’s apartment. For Max, his father’s honor is of the utmost importance and he is on a quest to learn the truth. His older brother, now, Sir Ashley, does not want to make waves, and under the influence of his scheming wife, Lydia wants to accept the findings of the French police and move on and collect his inheritance. Sir Ashley informs his brother that the land he was promised by his father for his aerodrome venture would not be forthcoming if he pursued his own investigation of his father’s demise. From the outset the family setting and some of the characters seem to have been borrowed from a Downton Abby script, but about a quarter of the way into the book matters become very serious and British officials are very clear they do not want Sir Henry’s death to create a scandal at Versailles that could ruin the tenuous negotiations that are taking place.
Goddard creates a number of interesting characters apart from the Maxted family members. There is Travis Ireton, a supposed American friend of Sir Henry, who traffics in obtaining information concerning peace negotiations and selling what he learns to interested parties. Madame Corinne Dombreux, a French woman who had been married to a spy during the Russian Revolution. Now a widow she had been Sir Henry’s mistress, and she too questions Sir Henry’s supposed accident. Senor Baltazar Ribeiro, a Brazilian diplomat who knew Sir Henry well and worked with him to settle Brazilian and allied disagreement as to how many German merchant ships should remain in the Rio government’s control. Fritz Lemmers, the fugitive head of the German Secret Service who is working behind the scenes to foster German interests by recruiting spies all over Europe and had been an attaché in Tokyo in the 1890s when he Sir Henry was posted there. Masataka Kuroda, a Japanese official who knew Henry in 1891 at the time of the plot to assassinate the Tsarevitch during a visit to Tokyo. Nadia Bukayeva and her uncle, leaders of the trust, a group bent on restoring the Russian monarchy to the throne after the revolution. In addition, there are numerous others ranging from American, French, and British secret police to Maxed family members who will provoke the reader’s interest. All developed well by Goddard, and each makes an important contribution to the ever complex plot. When it seems that the closer Max gets to the truth, the more people with important information die.
It is important to keep in mind that the novel is taking place during the Versailles Conference. The atmosphere is intense because so much is at stake for so many nationalist movements and countries. Things became even more problematic as the major powers, the US, Italy, France and the UK decide that they will make the “major” decisions to the exclusion of Japan. Goddard blends this atmosphere well with his plot concerning Sir Henry’s death, the chicanery that is the Maxted family as Sir Ashley tries to protect his selfish interests, Max’s pursuit of the truth and where it leads him, and the ultimate result of his investigation. My only disappointment came when the book came to an end rather abruptly. However, once you turn the final page you learn that the second installment of Goddard’s’ worldwide trilogy, THE CORNERS OF THE GLOBE continues the story. For me, I cannot fathom where Goddard will take the story next.
After going to Paris with his brother Ashley, James, known as “Max” does not accept the French police’s conclusion that his father suffered an accidental death when he supposedly finds his mistress having a liaison with a French artist, and falls off a roof peering into the Frenchman’s apartment. For Max, his father’s honor is of the utmost importance and he is on a quest to learn the truth. His older brother, now, Sir Ashley, does not want to make waves, and under the influence of his scheming wife, Lydia wants to accept the findings of the French police and move on and collect his inheritance. Sir Ashley informs his brother that the land he was promised by his father for his aerodrome venture would not be forthcoming if he pursued his own investigation of his father’s demise. From the outset the family setting and some of the characters seem to have been borrowed from a Downton Abby script, but about a quarter of the way into the book matters become very serious and British officials are very clear they do not want Sir Henry’s death to create a scandal at Versailles that could ruin the tenuous negotiations that are taking place.
Goddard creates a number of interesting characters apart from the Maxted family members. There is Travis Ireton, a supposed American friend of Sir Henry, who traffics in obtaining information concerning peace negotiations and selling what he learns to interested parties. Madame Corinne Dombreux, a French woman who had been married to a spy during the Russian Revolution. Now a widow she had been Sir Henry’s mistress, and she too questions Sir Henry’s supposed accident. Senor Baltazar Ribeiro, a Brazilian diplomat who knew Sir Henry well and worked with him to settle Brazilian and allied disagreement as to how many German merchant ships should remain in the Rio government’s control. Fritz Lemmers, the fugitive head of the German Secret Service who is working behind the scenes to foster German interests by recruiting spies all over Europe and had been an attaché in Tokyo in the 1890s when he Sir Henry was posted there. Masataka Kuroda, a Japanese official who knew Henry in 1891 at the time of the plot to assassinate the Tsarevitch during a visit to Tokyo. Nadia Bukayeva and her uncle, leaders of the trust, a group bent on restoring the Russian monarchy to the throne after the revolution. In addition, there are numerous others ranging from American, French, and British secret police to Maxed family members who will provoke the reader’s interest. All developed well by Goddard, and each makes an important contribution to the ever complex plot. When it seems that the closer Max gets to the truth, the more people with important information die.
It is important to keep in mind that the novel is taking place during the Versailles Conference. The atmosphere is intense because so much is at stake for so many nationalist movements and countries. Things became even more problematic as the major powers, the US, Italy, France and the UK decide that they will make the “major” decisions to the exclusion of Japan. Goddard blends this atmosphere well with his plot concerning Sir Henry’s death, the chicanery that is the Maxted family as Sir Ashley tries to protect his selfish interests, Max’s pursuit of the truth and where it leads him, and the ultimate result of his investigation. My only disappointment came when the book came to an end rather abruptly. However, once you turn the final page you learn that the second installment of Goddard’s’ worldwide trilogy, THE CORNERS OF THE GLOBE continues the story. For me, I cannot fathom where Goddard will take the story next.
February 8, 2014
"The truth, it struck him, was like that, revealing itself, if at all, only by its effect on something else.”
How good is this book? Let me count the ways…etc.
Beautifully written, a wonderful evocation of a much maligned and partially forgotten time - apart from those who lived through it, I guess - and tense and thrilling and intriguing and all that and more.
The period between the two great Wars (in Europe I should perhaps hasten to add) has interested me for a number of years now and is reflected in many of the books I read. I’m talking the period from, say, 1919, to 1940 (I know WWII started in 1939, but there was at least a feeling of it 'all being over by Christmas', for at least a year). I think it began when I read a book called 'Forgotten Voices of The Holocaust’ (by Lyn Smith) about Jewish people's recollections of their lives before and of course during, the Second World War. I was maybe somewhat strangely, most affected by their descriptions of how their lives were in Europe, that is to say Germany and Eastern Europe, before and in the early years of the rise of Nazism and Hitler. A quite - for me - overwhelming sense of loss of promise and innocence, described by the people themselves in a matter of fact way. They describe their lives and you, the reader, get this overwhelming feeling of sadness at what was lost, the potential their lives held and all that they, and we, lost. Of course, we now know what happened after the incidents and memories they describe and the feeling is almost physical, the coming of Nazism and the war is a huge black cloud on the horizon. Unstoppable and moving towards us as we read their words. But the sunlight before the storm, the quiet and the innocence of the lives and times described, is what really intrigued me. I knew (as much as I can ‘know’ without having been there) about what happened in WWI and more about what happened in WWII, but the period I between, away from the events surrounding the Nazi party and its rise to power, were a mystery to me. And still are. I guess I'm trying to pin down and experience the ordinary person’s feelings Was it a 'thank god that's over, thank god we'll never have to go through that again. It's all alright, it's going to be better now.’ Seems like it should have been. That must have been the feeling that existed in many parts of Europe, for Jews and non-Jews. For how long? On the face of it and taking the stock market crash into consideration, the best part of 10 to 15 years. It's a feeling I'm after, a mood and an atmosphere, nothing physical, I don't want to collect artifacts. I want to get the mood absorbed. Luckily there are many great books dealing with this period. To that list, I’m adding 'The Ways of the World.’
The quote at the top, describes how the book works, I think. On the face of it, a simple problem. The father of a couple of landed gentry gentlemen has died in Paris in 1919 and the two brothers have to go over, complete the paperwork and bring their father’s body back for burial. But how did he die? Was he killed. If so, why? One brother feels the need to find out, the other doesn’t see why. Better for the family and the smooth hand-over of family power (to him) if there’s a quick resolution to the French Police’s investigation,with no awkward questions asked. So life can go on in its time-honoured, thoroughly stiff upper lipped, British way. Luckily for us, with the brothers' arrival in Paris, the story starts unfolding, like unravelling a piece of origami. from what it is, to what it was. That’s my go at describing how the story happens. New avenues and ideas appear as the logic is followed. He died. How? he fell? Where? He jumped? But how could he have got in a position to just jump? So, was he pushed? Slowly unfolding and unfurling and revealing its plot, the book takes us forwards, sometimes a little backwards in the timeline of the family. We’re constantly moving, but almost without seeming to. It is written with such elegance and poise, teasing out the facts necessary to understand - even solve - the plot, that you read it almost mesmerised, but never alienated, by the subtle cleverness. Read it yourself, see if I’m right.
What it’s also about, I dare say, is the start of the modern spy industry. The change-over from being a great game, played by well-off aristocratic gentlemen with largely nothing else to do but indulge themselves in games they could afford, to the modern nitty-gritty, down and dirty selling of state secrets, ruthless spy masters and the ideologic espionage world we know from the second world- and cold- wars.
I wasn’t familiar with Robert Goddard’s work before this book and I think, from looking at his website, this is the first of his to be not set in the here and now. The Ways of the World was a stunningly good read and an absolutely wonderful way to start my 2014 book reading.
How good is this book? Let me count the ways…etc.
Beautifully written, a wonderful evocation of a much maligned and partially forgotten time - apart from those who lived through it, I guess - and tense and thrilling and intriguing and all that and more.
The period between the two great Wars (in Europe I should perhaps hasten to add) has interested me for a number of years now and is reflected in many of the books I read. I’m talking the period from, say, 1919, to 1940 (I know WWII started in 1939, but there was at least a feeling of it 'all being over by Christmas', for at least a year). I think it began when I read a book called 'Forgotten Voices of The Holocaust’ (by Lyn Smith) about Jewish people's recollections of their lives before and of course during, the Second World War. I was maybe somewhat strangely, most affected by their descriptions of how their lives were in Europe, that is to say Germany and Eastern Europe, before and in the early years of the rise of Nazism and Hitler. A quite - for me - overwhelming sense of loss of promise and innocence, described by the people themselves in a matter of fact way. They describe their lives and you, the reader, get this overwhelming feeling of sadness at what was lost, the potential their lives held and all that they, and we, lost. Of course, we now know what happened after the incidents and memories they describe and the feeling is almost physical, the coming of Nazism and the war is a huge black cloud on the horizon. Unstoppable and moving towards us as we read their words. But the sunlight before the storm, the quiet and the innocence of the lives and times described, is what really intrigued me. I knew (as much as I can ‘know’ without having been there) about what happened in WWI and more about what happened in WWII, but the period I between, away from the events surrounding the Nazi party and its rise to power, were a mystery to me. And still are. I guess I'm trying to pin down and experience the ordinary person’s feelings Was it a 'thank god that's over, thank god we'll never have to go through that again. It's all alright, it's going to be better now.’ Seems like it should have been. That must have been the feeling that existed in many parts of Europe, for Jews and non-Jews. For how long? On the face of it and taking the stock market crash into consideration, the best part of 10 to 15 years. It's a feeling I'm after, a mood and an atmosphere, nothing physical, I don't want to collect artifacts. I want to get the mood absorbed. Luckily there are many great books dealing with this period. To that list, I’m adding 'The Ways of the World.’
The quote at the top, describes how the book works, I think. On the face of it, a simple problem. The father of a couple of landed gentry gentlemen has died in Paris in 1919 and the two brothers have to go over, complete the paperwork and bring their father’s body back for burial. But how did he die? Was he killed. If so, why? One brother feels the need to find out, the other doesn’t see why. Better for the family and the smooth hand-over of family power (to him) if there’s a quick resolution to the French Police’s investigation,with no awkward questions asked. So life can go on in its time-honoured, thoroughly stiff upper lipped, British way. Luckily for us, with the brothers' arrival in Paris, the story starts unfolding, like unravelling a piece of origami. from what it is, to what it was. That’s my go at describing how the story happens. New avenues and ideas appear as the logic is followed. He died. How? he fell? Where? He jumped? But how could he have got in a position to just jump? So, was he pushed? Slowly unfolding and unfurling and revealing its plot, the book takes us forwards, sometimes a little backwards in the timeline of the family. We’re constantly moving, but almost without seeming to. It is written with such elegance and poise, teasing out the facts necessary to understand - even solve - the plot, that you read it almost mesmerised, but never alienated, by the subtle cleverness. Read it yourself, see if I’m right.
What it’s also about, I dare say, is the start of the modern spy industry. The change-over from being a great game, played by well-off aristocratic gentlemen with largely nothing else to do but indulge themselves in games they could afford, to the modern nitty-gritty, down and dirty selling of state secrets, ruthless spy masters and the ideologic espionage world we know from the second world- and cold- wars.
I wasn’t familiar with Robert Goddard’s work before this book and I think, from looking at his website, this is the first of his to be not set in the here and now. The Ways of the World was a stunningly good read and an absolutely wonderful way to start my 2014 book reading.
June 1, 2015
The Ways of the World is a period espionage thriller set at the end of WWI, and the first of a trilogy featuring Lieutenant James “Max” Maxted, a royal flying corps veteran. Robert Goddard's novel is impressive, full of well-developed characters, fast paced action, and accurate historical details. Any lover of mysteries set during the end of WWI will enjoy The Ways of the World.
Some of my favorite Agatha Christie novels are her classic spy thrillers, such as The Man in the Brown Suit and The Secret of Chimneys. What many of these have in common, is that a somewhat ordinary person, talented and courageous is drawn almost by chance into the world of international espionage. He or she succeeds where professionals have previously failed. The Ways of the World reminded me of these novels, combining historical detail with espionage in a thrilling way.
The First World War is nearing its end, and Lieutenant Maxted, formerly a pilot with England's Royal Flying Corps is looking forward to starting a flight school with his friend Sam Twentyman. Their plans are put on hold indefinitely when Max is called home upon the death of his father in Paris.
Unlike his brother Ashley, Max finds his father's death suspicious. His father was a respected diplomat, involved in the current peace conference. Calling his death an accident would avert scandal, but the facts don't add up. His father was raising a large quantity of money, but to what end? What connection did his father have with the German spymaster Fritz Lemmer and his agents? Max's questions put him in the sights of powerful men, and there are some willing to kill in order to keep their actions secret. Others hope to use him for their own ends.
Espionage is a dangerous game, and uncovering the truth of his father's death may have unforeseen consequences for Max and for the end of the war.
The Ways of the World is an exciting novel that is difficult to put down. The characters are fascinating. Even those with smaller roles are realistic and memorable. Max is heroic by nature, drawn to espionage in the same way he was drawn to being a fighter pilot during the war. He has an innate desire for justice, despite the possibility that he may encounter danger. His friend Sam is the more practical of the two, but is endlessly loyal to Max and willing to provide whatever help is necessary.
I absolutely loved reading The Ways of the World and eagerly look forward to the next two books in Robert Goddard's new trilogy. If you like murder mysteries set around WWI or period espionage thrillers, this is a novel for you.
The Ways of the World will be available June 2, 2015
I received an advanced reader copy of The Ways of the World from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Some of my favorite Agatha Christie novels are her classic spy thrillers, such as The Man in the Brown Suit and The Secret of Chimneys. What many of these have in common, is that a somewhat ordinary person, talented and courageous is drawn almost by chance into the world of international espionage. He or she succeeds where professionals have previously failed. The Ways of the World reminded me of these novels, combining historical detail with espionage in a thrilling way.
The First World War is nearing its end, and Lieutenant Maxted, formerly a pilot with England's Royal Flying Corps is looking forward to starting a flight school with his friend Sam Twentyman. Their plans are put on hold indefinitely when Max is called home upon the death of his father in Paris.
Unlike his brother Ashley, Max finds his father's death suspicious. His father was a respected diplomat, involved in the current peace conference. Calling his death an accident would avert scandal, but the facts don't add up. His father was raising a large quantity of money, but to what end? What connection did his father have with the German spymaster Fritz Lemmer and his agents? Max's questions put him in the sights of powerful men, and there are some willing to kill in order to keep their actions secret. Others hope to use him for their own ends.
Espionage is a dangerous game, and uncovering the truth of his father's death may have unforeseen consequences for Max and for the end of the war.
The Ways of the World is an exciting novel that is difficult to put down. The characters are fascinating. Even those with smaller roles are realistic and memorable. Max is heroic by nature, drawn to espionage in the same way he was drawn to being a fighter pilot during the war. He has an innate desire for justice, despite the possibility that he may encounter danger. His friend Sam is the more practical of the two, but is endlessly loyal to Max and willing to provide whatever help is necessary.
I absolutely loved reading The Ways of the World and eagerly look forward to the next two books in Robert Goddard's new trilogy. If you like murder mysteries set around WWI or period espionage thrillers, this is a novel for you.
The Ways of the World will be available June 2, 2015
I received an advanced reader copy of The Ways of the World from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
July 8, 2024
Много обичам да се разхождам в някой любим град, в който нямам никакви спешни и неотложни задачи да обикалям туристически забележителности, да сядам по кафенетата и да си чета книжка, в която действието се развива във въпросния град. Париж е един добър пример за такъв град, а The Ways Of The World на Робърт Годард е едно добро четиво. В криминалните истории на този автор винаги има някаква историческа тайна и някаква ситуация, която аха-аха и да обърне световното развитие или най-малкото да нанесе значими корекции на политически карти, каквито ги знаем. Но точно тогава се намесват убийците, а когато тайната се разкрие, вече е късно. В тая книга цялото действие се развива в избрания исторически период - мирната конференция в Париж след края на Първата световна война. Замесени са честни и нечестни типове, лоялни дипломати и предатели от няколко от основните делегации - Англия, САЩ, Франция, Япония. Руското участие не представлява болшевишката власт, а напротив. А германското е съвсем задкулисно. Има, разбира се, и cherchez-la-famme момент. Les-fammes по-точно. Главният герой е английски военен летец, втори син на убития дипломат. След войната не му предстои очевидна кариера, защото никой не си представя, че авиацията би могла да има приложение и в мирно време, а цялото имение на баща му е останало за брат му (ключовата дума в английската традиция е примогенитура). И така му остава цялото време на света да си разследва из Париж това, което всички освен майка му искат да бъде потулено. Тя и майка му не обещава, че няма да поиска да се потули, но чак след като си задоволи любопитството. А и току виж изскочили и някои ценни артефакти, не описани в наследството. Убийството (дефенстрацията) става на кръстопътя Вавен, който днес се нарича Пикасо, но ъгълът на пресичане на булевардите Монпарнас и Распай не се е променил през последните 98 години. Ако свърнеш по улица Дьоламбр и часът е някъде между 3 и 7 след обяд, като нищо можеш да си намериш спокоен декадентско-артистичен бар-читалня, в който да прекарате времето съвсем сами с приключенията на Макс и пинтата Кроненбур. Други адреси, на които се случват случки в романа, и които могат да се отметнат с кратки спирки за кафе и френски макарони са авеню Клебер, църквата Александър Невски, паркът Монсо, рю де Пирамид 33, дирекция на полицията на остров Сите, катедралата Нотр Дам, външното министерство на ке д'Орсе. Специално внимание да се обърне на линия 1 на метрото. А ако ще пътувате обратно за Лондон, за да инспектирате и тамошните замесени преди развръзката на действието адреси, можете да хванете влака за Кале от Гар дю Нор. Лошата новина е, че развръзката не развърза всички възли, а ме насочи към следващи два романа от трилогия. В които действието няма непременно да се развива във Франция и Англия
September 27, 2014
The time is 1919, the war is over, and an ex-RFC pilot, James Maxted, learns that his father, a senior British diplomat, has died by falling off a roof in Paris. At the same time, an important conference involving the victors is going on, James suspects that the death of his father was no accident. James' elder brother inherits everything, including the baronetcy, and wants the father's death to be buried, and just about everyone else shows little interest, nevertheless with a lot of effort, very gradually James becomes involved in an ever-increasingly broad range of suspicious characters, and it becomes increasingly difficult to decide who is friend or foe.
The story is well-written, but because of the number of characters, the build-up is slow. On the other hand, the action is realistic and the story plausible, which is good. Then James uncovers the truth about his father in a climatic scene that occurs about 80 pages before the end. This scene itself has more questions than answers, though, and if this were the ending, it was almost in the deus ex machina category. If this were to be avoided, I felt that the next 80 pages were going to be exciting. However, I was wrong, and if anything, more threads were uncovered than were resolved, and the reason became clear: it ended nowhere, and the last 80 pages were really a slow build-up to the sequel. Overall, the writing held my interest nicely, the background felt plausible, but I did not like the way it ended. I do not mind a book ending with an indication that there will be more, as this is inevitable in a trilogy, but it should finish the main aspect of the book, and this does not. It identifies the reason for the father's death, but the way it does it requires a very major something else going on for which there have been no reasonable clues.
The story is well-written, but because of the number of characters, the build-up is slow. On the other hand, the action is realistic and the story plausible, which is good. Then James uncovers the truth about his father in a climatic scene that occurs about 80 pages before the end. This scene itself has more questions than answers, though, and if this were the ending, it was almost in the deus ex machina category. If this were to be avoided, I felt that the next 80 pages were going to be exciting. However, I was wrong, and if anything, more threads were uncovered than were resolved, and the reason became clear: it ended nowhere, and the last 80 pages were really a slow build-up to the sequel. Overall, the writing held my interest nicely, the background felt plausible, but I did not like the way it ended. I do not mind a book ending with an indication that there will be more, as this is inevitable in a trilogy, but it should finish the main aspect of the book, and this does not. It identifies the reason for the father's death, but the way it does it requires a very major something else going on for which there have been no reasonable clues.
February 7, 2016
Robert Goddard skriver spændingshistorier med udgangspunkt i verdenshistorien. Der udkommer en ny cirka en gang om året og 2015 blev ingen undtagelse
Denne gang hedder romanen "En affære i Paris" og foregår lige efter 1. verdenskrigs afslutning. Paris er hjemsted for fredsforhandlingerne og alverdens diplomater er samlet her for at trække nye streger på verdenskortet, fordele kolonier og få verden i gang igen. Det blev som bekendt ikke en ubetinget succes. Goddards historie i historien omhandler en engelsk diplomats - Sir Henry Maxteds mystiske dødsfald. Han er tilsyneladende faldet ned fra et taget af den bygning, hvor hans elskerinde bor. Politiets teori er at den aldrende sir Henry er kravlet ud på taget for at udspionere elskerinden. Sir Henrys hustru sender derfor sine to sønner til Paris for at forsøge at neddysse affæren. James 'Max' Maxted, dekoret krigspilot og en handlingens mand har dog andre planer. Max starter sin egen efterforskning og den fører ham vidt omkring. Med sig har han sin tro væbner - mekanikeren Sam - og de involveres hurtigt i kampen mod en mystisk og meget hemmelig sekterisk organisation. Romanen rammer efterkrigsstemningen og formidler fint atmosfæren af krigstræthed i et Paris som er befolket med sære eksistenser. Hvis man har læst Goddards øvrige romaner, tilføjer denne dog ikke noget væsentligt nyt. Goddard har læst historie på Cambridge og der er således styr på de historiske detaljer. Denne gang synes jeg dog ikke plottet fungerer tilfredsstillende. Fortsættelsen er også udkommet på dansk. Den hedder "Fjerne Horisonter"
Denne gang hedder romanen "En affære i Paris" og foregår lige efter 1. verdenskrigs afslutning. Paris er hjemsted for fredsforhandlingerne og alverdens diplomater er samlet her for at trække nye streger på verdenskortet, fordele kolonier og få verden i gang igen. Det blev som bekendt ikke en ubetinget succes. Goddards historie i historien omhandler en engelsk diplomats - Sir Henry Maxteds mystiske dødsfald. Han er tilsyneladende faldet ned fra et taget af den bygning, hvor hans elskerinde bor. Politiets teori er at den aldrende sir Henry er kravlet ud på taget for at udspionere elskerinden. Sir Henrys hustru sender derfor sine to sønner til Paris for at forsøge at neddysse affæren. James 'Max' Maxted, dekoret krigspilot og en handlingens mand har dog andre planer. Max starter sin egen efterforskning og den fører ham vidt omkring. Med sig har han sin tro væbner - mekanikeren Sam - og de involveres hurtigt i kampen mod en mystisk og meget hemmelig sekterisk organisation. Romanen rammer efterkrigsstemningen og formidler fint atmosfæren af krigstræthed i et Paris som er befolket med sære eksistenser. Hvis man har læst Goddards øvrige romaner, tilføjer denne dog ikke noget væsentligt nyt. Goddard har læst historie på Cambridge og der er således styr på de historiske detaljer. Denne gang synes jeg dog ikke plottet fungerer tilfredsstillende. Fortsættelsen er også udkommet på dansk. Den hedder "Fjerne Horisonter"
November 19, 2013
Cliffhanger. Botheration. Checking facts for GR listing finds last page -- "To be continued". Don't do it, spoils surprises. Stuffy stick elder brother heir Ashley and selfish wife Lydia criticize proud mother hiding that younger son RAF pilot Max shot their diplomat father Sir Henry's killer in London flat. Why does Max believe mom about his blood-father? If this is a spy story, "it ain't necessarily so", as the song goes.
Dash it all, the clues have just begun to tease. Paris "underrated in the spring", dripping, cold. At scene of seven-story fall, pigeon droppings on roof, window glass broken from inside, overlook Bohemian Italian artist Spataro's studio, "versatile", more than "a ladies man". Police Commissioner Zamaron has Poirot-like "suspiciously black hair", minor roles depicted visually.
Why acceptable father sells spy secrets to run off with young lover? Sleep with Nadia first night? Max and Sam are brave and loyal, "gullible and lucky". Very different from http://annetoronto1.blogspot.ca/2013/...
Dash it all, the clues have just begun to tease. Paris "underrated in the spring", dripping, cold. At scene of seven-story fall, pigeon droppings on roof, window glass broken from inside, overlook Bohemian Italian artist Spataro's studio, "versatile", more than "a ladies man". Police Commissioner Zamaron has Poirot-like "suspiciously black hair", minor roles depicted visually.
Why acceptable father sells spy secrets to run off with young lover? Sleep with Nadia first night? Max and Sam are brave and loyal, "gullible and lucky". Very different from http://annetoronto1.blogspot.ca/2013/...
July 29, 2014
This was a different type of book from what I usually expect from Robert Goddard. The novel was more a Bulldog Drummond style spy adventure than a mystery, which is not a genre that I particularly like. Therefore, it’s not surprising that I found the drama of the family inter-relationships more engaging than the adventures of the spies and detectives. There were other things I liked about the book, such as Goddard’s crisp writing style, although this book was written in the third person and did not have the all-enveloping feel of his first-person narratives. In spite of my lack of enthusiasm for spy stories, I enjoyed reading the novel, as there were some likable and interesting characters, and a lot of fascinating period detail. So overall, it was an entertaining read, but I was really irked when I came to the ending, since there wasn’t a conclusion to the book. After the final chapter, it simply said, “To be continued” and left the reader wondering what the outcome would be. Needless to say, I won’t be buying the sequel. I’m not impressed by the current ‘Cliffhanger’ approach many series writers engage in as a marketing ploy. It’s a ploy that backfires on readers like me.
September 9, 2022
Warning: This book ends abruptly and you need to search out part 2 (which I don’t have) of three (I have book 3 dammit) to find out what happens. All this goes to show that former World War One pilot, James “Max” Maxted and his engine-minded sidekick, Sam Twentyman, rather improbably, survive at least that long.
The sudden death of Max’s father - in 1919 Paris as part of the British delegation at armistice peace talks - thwarts the pair’s plan of starting a flying school on dad’s Surrey estate and Max is honour-bound to seek the truth. Was it suicide as the French police prefer to think, or murder? And if so, how and why? Aided by surreptitious support from Appleby (not the Michael Innes one) of the fledgling secret service and various dubious ne’er do wells as well as his father’s former associates and conquests, Max relentlessly pursues those responsible at no little cost to his own health and those in his vicinity don’t always escape Scott free either.
A trawl of the second-hand and charity shops of Britain is about to commence.
P.S. Gottit! In a charity shop in Paignton.
The sudden death of Max’s father - in 1919 Paris as part of the British delegation at armistice peace talks - thwarts the pair’s plan of starting a flying school on dad’s Surrey estate and Max is honour-bound to seek the truth. Was it suicide as the French police prefer to think, or murder? And if so, how and why? Aided by surreptitious support from Appleby (not the Michael Innes one) of the fledgling secret service and various dubious ne’er do wells as well as his father’s former associates and conquests, Max relentlessly pursues those responsible at no little cost to his own health and those in his vicinity don’t always escape Scott free either.
A trawl of the second-hand and charity shops of Britain is about to commence.
P.S. Gottit! In a charity shop in Paignton.
November 1, 2015
I was really looking for a 3.5 star rating. I've always loved Robert Goddard books (granted some a lot more than others), so was looking forward to this one. I'm glad I read a review before reading it though as I would have been unaware that it was part of a trilogy. After reading that I decided to park the book until all 3 had been published so I could read together.
Just finished this 1st one and I'm glad I waited because I doubt I'd remember all the names and what role they played. A few too many characters at times but I got through it. Probably not as many twists and turns as usual but I suppose they are spread out more across the 3 books. Looking forward to unravelling the mysteries in the next one.
Just finished this 1st one and I'm glad I waited because I doubt I'd remember all the names and what role they played. A few too many characters at times but I got through it. Probably not as many twists and turns as usual but I suppose they are spread out more across the 3 books. Looking forward to unravelling the mysteries in the next one.
July 27, 2013
James (aka Max) Maxted is one of Robert Goddard's strongest and most interesting characters yet. Returning from the war, he intends to use his pilot skills by starting up a flying school, when he gets a call to say his father has died in Paris.
Suspecting things are not quite straightforward when he arrives in Paris to repatriate his father's body, he remains there in search of answers and there follows a breath-taking adventure which puts his life in danger and that of his friend Sam Twentyman, a loyal friend who was his mechanic during the war, who he intends to set up the business with.
Be warned though, by the end you'll be desperate for the next instalment of the trilogy!
Suspecting things are not quite straightforward when he arrives in Paris to repatriate his father's body, he remains there in search of answers and there follows a breath-taking adventure which puts his life in danger and that of his friend Sam Twentyman, a loyal friend who was his mechanic during the war, who he intends to set up the business with.
Be warned though, by the end you'll be desperate for the next instalment of the trilogy!
September 10, 2013
I felt like something a bit different to what I had been reading of late, so decided to give this a go. Yay for it paying off. I have read other Goddard books over the year and always enjoyed them, so shouldn't really be surprised. He is a good writer, very readable, and creates engaging characters.
In this instance it is the main character 'Max' who you find very easy to read about. A solid, traditional hero, though not without foibles which of course only add to the readers interest. In Sam, Goddard has created an entertaining offsider, who might be somewhat stereotypical (much like some of Max's characteristics), but because it is all rather good fun you don't actually mind.
In this instance it is the main character 'Max' who you find very easy to read about. A solid, traditional hero, though not without foibles which of course only add to the readers interest. In Sam, Goddard has created an entertaining offsider, who might be somewhat stereotypical (much like some of Max's characteristics), but because it is all rather good fun you don't actually mind.
February 9, 2018
An decent enough tale that's starts simply and becomes more complicated as it develops. Didn't realise it as part of a trilogy until the end, so a bit of searching to be done to find the next chapters! decent enough with sufficient turns to keep the reader occupied and without making the plot over complicated or visible. Quite a different construct from the other books by the author that I've read to date.
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