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According to Their Deeds
Charles Beale lives happily in the shadows of Washington, D.C., as a respectable rare-books dealer. Or mostly respectable. He has a streak of the gambler in him and when a devoted client dies--a man deeply connected to the Justice Department--Beale eagerly regains the man's book collection...and soon finds himself with more than he bid on. In one volume, Beale discovers documents incriminating a host of major political figures--blackmail material that might have led to murder. Weighing questions of justice and mercy--and with a bull's-eye on his back--Beale must untangle a complicated knot of deadly lies and dangerous secrets.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Paul Robertson
71 books38 followersPaul Robertson is a computer programming consultant, part-time high-school math and science teacher, and the author of The Heir. He is also a former Christian bookstore owner (for 15 years), who lives with his family in Blacksburg, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 9, 2021
For Literature Lovers
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! All the literary references and quips, the mystery angle, the soft Christian presence which permeates the work without being overt, the themes ranging from the enlightenment ideas to the tension between justice and mercy, and especially the relationship between the husband and wife really made the work a delightful read. Not as a thriller necessarily, and the style is certainly unique, but I enjoyed just sitting with my coffee and reading it on a relaxing Saturday morning. If you like books in general, this one is worth a read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! All the literary references and quips, the mystery angle, the soft Christian presence which permeates the work without being overt, the themes ranging from the enlightenment ideas to the tension between justice and mercy, and especially the relationship between the husband and wife really made the work a delightful read. Not as a thriller necessarily, and the style is certainly unique, but I enjoyed just sitting with my coffee and reading it on a relaxing Saturday morning. If you like books in general, this one is worth a read.
April 18, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had romance, mystery, intrigue and the characters were all interesting . I loved the relationship of M/M Beale. You can tell they truly loved each other. Also I liked how they rescued Angelo from the streets. It showed compassion, patience and trust on their part. I didn’t give it 5 stars, because there were lapses In the story telling, that I found boring. But, I highly recommend this book.
January 30, 2017
If you've ever dreamed of owning (or simply working in) a great bookstore, and you also like mystery/suspense, then there is a good chance you will enjoy this book! The plot works and the protagonist is interesting, but most of all I thoroughly enjoyed the witty repartee - not only the literary puns, but also the philosophical discussions.
January 27, 2020
Very well written and inventive, "According to Their Deeds" is a professedly Christian book, but it is not preachy.
It is a fascinating look at the world of antiques, especially of antique books, but these books are also involved in the corrupt world of Washington, D.C., the inhabitants of which we often deem "DCvers."
Author Robertson is dealing with some very serious subjects but he manages a frequently light, even humorous touch.
For example, when his protagonist wonders why a person particularly selected a tome by philosopher John Locke … well, prepare to groan, at least a little.
I looked up the author here at Goodreads and see he has almost a dozen titles and I want to read at least most of them.
No obscenity, no vulgarity, but an inventive and engrossing story in "Deeds" gives me hope for his other work.
It is a fascinating look at the world of antiques, especially of antique books, but these books are also involved in the corrupt world of Washington, D.C., the inhabitants of which we often deem "DCvers."
Author Robertson is dealing with some very serious subjects but he manages a frequently light, even humorous touch.
For example, when his protagonist wonders why a person particularly selected a tome by philosopher John Locke … well, prepare to groan, at least a little.
I looked up the author here at Goodreads and see he has almost a dozen titles and I want to read at least most of them.
No obscenity, no vulgarity, but an inventive and engrossing story in "Deeds" gives me hope for his other work.
April 30, 2022
I found this signed book in the YMCA thrift shop. I discovered that it was by a local Blacksburg resident.
The story is a mystery that is centered around a book store in Alexandria, Virginia. After the owner of the book store discovers several papers in a book, he is thrown into unraveling their meaning and how they affect the lives of several high profile people. During the course of sorting out the sordid mess, several people are killed until the killer is confronted and stopped cold. The identity of the killer was a complete surprise to me.
The book kept my attention. Some of the writing is a bit stilted and the jokes and puns somewhat corny. Overall the book kept my attention, and I found the story interesting.
The story is a mystery that is centered around a book store in Alexandria, Virginia. After the owner of the book store discovers several papers in a book, he is thrown into unraveling their meaning and how they affect the lives of several high profile people. During the course of sorting out the sordid mess, several people are killed until the killer is confronted and stopped cold. The identity of the killer was a complete surprise to me.
The book kept my attention. Some of the writing is a bit stilted and the jokes and puns somewhat corny. Overall the book kept my attention, and I found the story interesting.
November 6, 2016
This book was AWESOME!!! Very colorful characters, and such an interesting story line! To me, though it is set in modern times, it feels like a step back in time--like an old movie--which makes it almost timeless. Take the time to read this! You won't regret it!
March 20, 2025
According to Their Deeds is one weird book. The storytelling was wooden, but that didn’t bother me. It seemed to fit the characters. I’m not sure I want to read another book like it, but other than repeatedly thinking, “This is a weirdly written book,” I enjoyed it.
May 7, 2009
According to Their Deeds by Paul Robertson is an unexpected delight disguised as a political thriller/mysterious book quest. Charles Beale is quite content with his life as a rare book store owner in Alexandria, Virginia. Married to his soulmate , Dorothy, and buying and selling books that inspire his soul, life has settled into a comfortable rhythm, even with the addition of a part-time worker named Angelo who is doing his probation working at the store. After the death of Charles' friend, Derek, he purchases back the antique books on philosophy that Derek had purchased over the years. He discovers Derek had a hidden life built on profiting from the secrets of others, and Charles determines what to do with this knowledge as well as discover who really murdered Derek and why. Most books with this plot as a set-up would quickly spiral into car chases, gunfights, and treks across the world. Robertson instead turns the entire genre on its head with this quiet and incredibly intelligent mystery. Charles' method of investigation involves enigmatic conversations with the many suspects, and much of the book is simply conversations. Charles is polite, and the definition of a good man. The secrets he discovers weigh heavily on his heart as he tries to determine whether to administer justice or mercy. As a reader, I fell in love with the subtle rhythm of the book, along with discerning the truth. It's a rare gem in a cluttered genre, and I hope that Robertson isn't finished with Charles and Dorothy. I would love a sequel.
February 15, 2012
The story is about the proprietor of an antique bookstore who investigates the murder of one of his friends. It is as much about his moral dilemma--whether to act for justice or for mercy--as it is about the solving the mystery. Rather than slowly building, the plot ambles along until POW! surprise and tragedy strike.
The writing style is either bothersome or brilliant. First of all, be prepared for hundreds of puns and wordplays. I enjoyed them, but if you dislike puns... Second, the writing is in the foreground; it's impossible to ignore the writing and fully enter the story. For a pop book, that's a defect, but on the other hand, it's fully expected of a Steinbeck or a Faulkner. The author experiments with descriptions of particular themes; watch for the descriptions of the wind, of Dorothy (the protagonist's wife), and of different kinds of peace and silence.
This book contains some of the best descriptions of romance I've encountered--and the romance is between the protagonist and his wife, totally G-rated. The book has a very low-key Christian subtext.
The writing style is either bothersome or brilliant. First of all, be prepared for hundreds of puns and wordplays. I enjoyed them, but if you dislike puns... Second, the writing is in the foreground; it's impossible to ignore the writing and fully enter the story. For a pop book, that's a defect, but on the other hand, it's fully expected of a Steinbeck or a Faulkner. The author experiments with descriptions of particular themes; watch for the descriptions of the wind, of Dorothy (the protagonist's wife), and of different kinds of peace and silence.
This book contains some of the best descriptions of romance I've encountered--and the romance is between the protagonist and his wife, totally G-rated. The book has a very low-key Christian subtext.
May 9, 2009
According to Their Deeds is one of those fun books that touches a lot of genres -- and I think will appeal to a lot of readers. It's got suspense with a light-hearted mystery feel, it has a bit of a literary quality with a good deal of humor, and it makes you think about how far mercy and justice should go.
The main character, Charles, runs a rare book bookshop in Alexandria, Virginia, and he stumbles upon some secret information about Washington D.C. movers and shakers when he buys back rare books he'd sold a now-deceased client. While he runs his shop with the help of his lovely wife, he begins to talk to the people listed in the papers, amazed at how easily his client's name opens doors.
The main character, Charles, runs a rare book bookshop in Alexandria, Virginia, and he stumbles upon some secret information about Washington D.C. movers and shakers when he buys back rare books he'd sold a now-deceased client. While he runs his shop with the help of his lovely wife, he begins to talk to the people listed in the papers, amazed at how easily his client's name opens doors.
August 10, 2009
Christian literature is improving. The mystery was compelling. Our hero is the owner of a rare books store in Alexandria, VA, outside of Washington D.C. He purchases a book collection at auction and discovers secrets in one of the volumes that connects to the Justice Department.
I loved the banter between Charles, the store owner, and his staff. Puns on the classics. I also loved the relationship he has with his wife Dorothy. It is clean and thought provoking. I hope this is the first in a series.
I loved the banter between Charles, the store owner, and his staff. Puns on the classics. I also loved the relationship he has with his wife Dorothy. It is clean and thought provoking. I hope this is the first in a series.
November 25, 2015
This book was very hard to get into. I almost gave up the first fifty pages but something after that held my interest. This book is very different from a lot of books that I read. I can understand why many people think that it is boring because of the plays on words and dry humor. It did make the point that the author was getting to but I found that for a suspense it was not very suspenseful. I did enjoy the book because it was thought provoking. It you want a nice light read this is not what you are looking for.
October 23, 2021
For the first time in a long while, I finally met an author I took an instant liking to.
His mastery and usage of words wowed me and made me realise I was never going to give my copy of this book out.
It is a masterpiece! Even Agatha Christie would be impressed.
I enjoyed it so much I finished it in less than 24 hours. I am grateful he wrote this book. It is no coincidence I read this book. My story is just well written too.
I loved his play on words and references to books. Mr Robertson did a great job. I would now go and try his other books.
His mastery and usage of words wowed me and made me realise I was never going to give my copy of this book out.
It is a masterpiece! Even Agatha Christie would be impressed.
I enjoyed it so much I finished it in less than 24 hours. I am grateful he wrote this book. It is no coincidence I read this book. My story is just well written too.
I loved his play on words and references to books. Mr Robertson did a great job. I would now go and try his other books.
July 29, 2014
The "conversation" style of the book was difficult to follow. I often didn't know exactly who was speaking. Wish the author had used less of that because the descriptions of surroundings that were given were well written...would've liked more of them! I did LOVE all of the talk of books woven into the plot! I also really liked the main character and his wife. Definitely "liked" the book but can't say that I "loved" it.
May 15, 2012
Amazing murder mystery book! When I started reading it I thought it was the most boring mystery ever, but when I finally realized what the author was trying to display I was glued to the pages. :D
Only for those who have a mind for philosophical/ethical questions in mystery/fiction and/or only for those with great imaginations or attention to detail.
Only for those who have a mind for philosophical/ethical questions in mystery/fiction and/or only for those with great imaginations or attention to detail.
August 13, 2011
it was an okay book. I had a hard time with all the dialogue and sometimes got lost as to who was talking and what was going on. Charles Beale was an interesting character but it was an okay read nonetheless.
June 28, 2012
This book took me a very long time to read. I had a hard time following it at times and keeping all the characters straight. If you enjoy classic literature, this book is for you, but since I don't, I didn't get all the references that were made and it at times it only added confusion.
August 16, 2014
I liked it... the writing was clever and the literary references served as tasty little nuggets throughout the story. I kept having to remind myself that it was set in modern day Washington DC rather than early 20th century Britain. It was a delightful adventure to read.
January 17, 2010
I found this book browsing at the library. It is reminiscent of Nick and Laura Charles, (The Thin Man). I also enjoyed the book store setting. It was an interesting, easy read.
January 24, 2011
Finally finished this one, yeah! I am not sure why I had such a hard time gettting into this book. Overall I did find the story interesting, and I enjoyed the ending.
May 2, 2011
Amazing mystery that addresses the themes of justice and mercy. My favorite part was all the literary humor.
December 22, 2024
Got book as a free download on my Kindle and was pleasantly surprised to find it was Christian fiction. Well done and not overtly "religious." Nice read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews