Closed Circle

by Robert Goddard

A luxurious trans-atlantic liner, Empress of Britain is making her eastward passage back to England in 1931. Among he first-class passengers are two English confidence tricksters who have left ill deeds in their wake. As luck would have it, they find fresh prey in the person of the wealthy Miss Charnwood and her beautiful niece Diana. The plan of action is nothing they haven't tried before with considerable success, but who could imagine they would let their hearts take over at the most inopportune time--leading then far too deep into an increasingly troubling and dark maze.Readers will find more than one strange echo of more recent times--notable in the Robert Maxwell story--in this riveting new novel.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Historical

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

In 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.

Reviews

[Chris Steeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The man who wheedles his way into Diana Charnwood’s affections wheedles his way into a fortune’

Con artists Max Wingate and Guy Horton decide to do just that in this Robert Goddard novel published in 1993 and set in the 1930s. By chance, they bump into Vita Charnwood, Diana’s aunt, on the ship, Empress of Britain, that is travelling back to England.

Events quickly transpire leading to a gruesome murder. Max and Guy’s con is way above them this time. Things much bigger than them are afoot.

Con artists. You can’t like those characters, can you? Well, the narrator, Guy, is very likeable. The story unfolds in typical Goddard fashion. Things are never quite what they seem as the complex web is unravelled. Guy is our detective in this one as he tries to work out what is going on and gets himself well and truly involved.

Money is the root of all evil as the saying goes and that is certainly the case with the Charnwood family and of course our con artists.

Another solid rollercoaster piece of storytelling by Goddard. Always dependable.

[Thomas Stroemquist]

DNF at 30 %. Shockingly unengaging from an author that I kept as a "go-to" when in need of a good read. Maybe it's just me, but the story of two con men in the early 30's that sets out to charm a wealthy young girl, only for one of them to fall head over heels in love with her to her father's strong objections did not make me want to find out anymore at all, really. I let it rest for a while, picked it up and realized that I probably forgot some of the characters and almost certainly a detail or two that will prove important later, so I'm just letting this one go. Will definitely read more Goddard, though.

[LG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skipped way too far ahead in the Goddard chronology with Long Time Coming, so I’m glad to be back on track with this one. Not that it matters what order you read his books in, since they don’t trace the brilliant career of only one main detective/special agent/little old lady with knife-sharp intuition. Goddard gives us someone new every time, and this time it’s a “bad guy with a good heart” I took a liking to: Guy Horton.

As a dirty rotten scoundrel, he’s besties with partner in crime Max Wingate, but as our narrator, Guy confides more freely in us than in anyone else. In fact, for a professional liar, he’s probably the most honest of Goddard’s narrators. The book’s action lives up to its synopsis: boys meet girl (Diana Charnwood, eligible heiress), one boy loses heart to girl, other boy has to fight for life and limb in one escapade after another. Fun for all. In case you’re thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I know where it goes from there,” I should tell you it doesn’t … necessarily. As our anti-hero disentangles himself from each web of lies, the story arc may well bend in a way you won’t expect.

The turn started gently – what happened to Charnwood, what Guy overheard, what Diana did – but when the journalist told Guy what he knew, my surprise was complete and bordered on incredulity. Nothing in the book’s blurb had prepared me for it. (This is with good reason – if we knew from the outset what Goddard divulges on his website about the idea behind the book, it would really spoil our fun.) It took the completion of that turn of events for me to trust that the author knew where he was going (sacrilege, I know), and that only lasted until the question, “Where is H. L.?” came up.

So, on it will go, Goddard spinning improbable circles around you. Around page 400 you may feel like you’re going around in circles, but you won’t say you’re not enjoying the ride. By the end of it, you might even marvel at the neat way he’s tied up every loose end.

[Joe Stamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read my first Robert Goddard novel last year after taking a chance on Sight Unseen as part of a 3 for £5 offer (not that it's much of a gamble at that bargain price). What a great decision that turned out to be! Closed Circle is my 8th and fortunately I've quite a few left to go at.

Goddard writes a particular type of book that blends several genres including historical fiction (which may or may not be in the form of flashbacks), mystery, romance, crime and thriller to name a few. He has an excellent command of the English language and an incredible imagination.

Closed Circle is set in 1931 and as always Goddard makes the reader believe that he was there. The tale is told by Guy, who along with his partner-in-crime Max has lived a life of deceipt in order to con people out of their money. Whilst escaping a scandal in America, they meet heiress Diana and her mother on the cruise ship carrying them home to England. Guy and Max sense money to be made but of course things don't quite turn out as they expected.

In keeping with all the other Goddard novels I've read, Closed Circle is a pleasure to read and difficult to put down. The experienced Goddard reader knows that whatever can go wrong will go wrong and that every character is capable of treachery. I know what to expect, but as it's the unexpected I've not tired of it yet.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book led me to believe that it was set on a transatlantic liner , but that part of it was very small. Regardless of this I found the book to be a very good read, as I expected from this author. The main characters were not at all likable, and the plot was a stretch of the believable, but it was excellent. So many emotions were caught up in the story, and the politics of the war looked at from a different angle. Such a lot went on in this book, it is hard to pinpoint any one of the different parts without giving anything away.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targeting the beautiful daughter of a wealthy munitions dealer in the hopes of receiving a payoff from her father, scam artists Guy Horton and Max Wingate find their plan upset when Max really falls in love.

I've started to notice a reoccurring theme in Robert Goddard's books. A theme that provides for a fascinating, intriguing story with an array of believable characters with all too human qualities. They aren't always good guys but most have some redeeming qualities. The crimes committed in the past always come back to haunt the protagonists in the present. The Closed Circle was no exception...but what a story! Goddard is a master story teller and writes in such beautiful prose. The story sees our hero...Guy... stumble through twists and turns while uncovering truths that may turn out to be lies in the end. This is one of Goddard's very best. It's like watching a Hitchcock movie.

[Sally McRogerson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of Robert Goddard's books are among my all time favourites, others are real turkeys and it's impossible to tell the difference without investing a deal of time in the thing. This is one of the turkeys, imho. In his defence, they are all different. He's not a "theme" author.

[Debbie Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Robert Goddard’s fiction the main character/narrator is male, middle-aged and generally flawed in some way. Goddard’s most famous character, featured in three books, is Harry Barnett who loves to drink and is without ambition. Nick Paleologus from Days Without Number had a breakdown in his youth and Chris Napier from Beyond Recall has been estranged from his family for most of his adult life. But so far I have never come across a character like Guy Horton. He is a swindler and fraudster on the run with his friend Max from some dirty business they were involved in in the United States.
It is 1931 and on board the transantlantic liner Empress of Britain the two meet a wealthy heiress, the beautiful Diana Charnwood and her aunt Vita Charnwood. Both men are on the make but it is Max who “seems” to win Diana’s heart. Both think their new plan will work and although it is Max who is dating Diana they agree to split the profits of their scheme. However Fabian Charnwood, Diana's father is no pushover as Guy soon finds out. He offers $2,000 pounds for Max to break it off with Diana. However before this has been done tragedy strikes.
“I re-entered the wood, moving as quickly as the inky blackness permitted, anxious to minimise my use of the torch in case I needed it for something more important than dodging tree roots. Suddenly, away to my left, there was a shout. ‘Who’s there?’ It was a woman’s voice, raised in alarm, perhaps Diana’s, perhaps not. Either way it was not aimed at me. There was a crashing in the undergrowth from the same direction, somebody bursting through leaves and branches. Then the sound was on the path ahead. No, on the other path, reaching and passing the fork as I listened, the sound of somebody running headlong towards the road. ‘Who’s there?’ came the shout again. ‘Stop, I say!’ It was Vita, not Diana, her voice cracking as she shrieked out the command. But the command was not heeded.”
This is just one of many exciting passages in the book and I was surprised at how I actually enjoyed being in the head of a con-artist. But who is playing who? That is the ultimate question in this excellent novel by Robert Goddard. Highly recommended.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a tremendous fan of Robert Goddard, and loved his Harry Barnett trilogy years ago, but this one just didn't grip me the way his books usually do, although I kept reading and did finish. The twists and turns were a little too convoluted, and all of the characters had enough negative qualities that I couldn't find anyone to root for; the ostensible protagonist just had no appeal, even after he supposedly redeemed himself by joining forces with the "right side." Goddard does a good job of tying the plot into 20th-century European history, including the start of World War I and the trauma of post-WWII soldiers trying to re-integrate into society, and often failing because of then-unrecognized PTSD. There is a good sense of the futility of it all, in that forces beyond our control repeat the horrors of history again and again. This one won't stop me from reading (or re-reading) Goddard, who is one of the best authors of this kind of historical suspense; it just wasn't the best book for me. Definitely read the Harry Barnett books if you like fast-paced but literary suspense: Into the Blue, Never Go Back, and Out of the Sun. They are on my future retirement re-reading list!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targeting the beautiful daughter of a wealthy munitions dealer in the hopes of receiving a payoff from her father, scam artists Guy Horton and Max Wingate find their plan upset when Max really falls in love.

I've started to notice a reoccurring theme in Robert Goddard's books. A theme that provides for a fascinating, intriguing story with an array of believable characters with all too human qualities. They aren't always good guys but most have some redeeming qualities. The crimes committed in the past always come back to haunt the protagonists in the present. The Closed Circle was no exception...but what a story! Goddard is a master story teller and writes in such beautiful prose. The story sees our hero...Guy... stumble through twists and turns while uncovering truths that may turn out to be lies in the end. This is one of Goddard's very best. It's like watching a Hitchcock movie.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the wake of the Wall Street Crash two British fraudsters, Guy and Max, leave the US to return to England. On the ship they encounter a wealthy heiress and begin to plan what may be their most lucrative con yet. But it starts to go wrong, Max is implicated in a murder and Guy is determined to clear his name. It soon becomes clear that things aren’t quite what they seem and there are powerful forces at work.

The writing has a nice period feel and the plot adds extra layers as it develops, however, it does so at a glacial pace and there were a couple of times when I almost abandoned it. Power on through though and it reaches a satisfying, if slightly downbeat, conclusion. An enjoyable read but feels like hard work at times.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Goddard novel I’ve read, but certainly won’t be the last. It was cleverly crafted throughout and like all exceptional thriller writers, let you ‘in’ on ideas, just before they were revealed in the novel...sometimes, you are even right! Definitely a ‘good read’, though the phrase does it no real justice.

[Evelien · Rating 3 out of 5]

ah, goddard, master storyteller .. he did it again :) Strong characters with solid backgrounds, a fluent narrative, combination of a love-history-thriller-novel. never dissapoints!

[Claude · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a slow start, after which the story picks up with great twists and turns, some of which did not seem unlikely to me.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Classic Goddard - weaving an intricate story of lies and deception

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his writing style.

[Chantal Gareau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce livre a su conserver mon intérêt du début à la fin. J’ai aimé la relecture d’un évènement de l’histoire. J’ai aussi aimé l’originalité de l’intrigue, beaucoup de ramifications.

[Bryan Higgs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the continuation of my quest to read all of Robert Goddard's books in chronological order.

Flawed protagonist: check
Multi-twisted plot: check
Many layers of unraveling the solution: check
Maintain interest on the part of reader: check
Keep reader guessing: check, although sometimes things were clearly going to happen, but how, we didn't know.
Interesting historical background: check -- this time, 1931, with the Great Depression unraveling the UK government. I now want to learn more about the details of this particular part of history, not least because I see many parallels in today's recession/depression. Also, the beginnings of WW1.

As usual, Goddard sucked me in, despite his use of what feels like out of date language (perhaps intentional, given the period), and characters that seem to alternate between the astute and the gullible. What seems to matter is not the characters, but the details of the plot twists.

On to the next one...

[Biogeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are few things as good as Goddard novel to sink your teeth into during a holiday, especially after an unsatisfactory reading holiday such as the one I just had. When you are looking for dependably enthralling, Goddard is your best bet. Because even when he adds one twist too far, or less than satisfactory explanations, the pace of his writing remains perfect. This one has all the great characters and historical twists to qualify as one of his stronger novels. Read this one after Past Caring and In Pale Battalions and you will be well on your way to be a Goddard fan.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read it before but didn't really remember much, and I realize why, the plot is complicated. What starts off as a sort of love triangle among scoundrels becomes a lot more. Be warned that if the politics of the beginning of WWI are completely foreign and/or boring to you, you probably will bog down here. I see other readers have liked one half and not the other, which makes it difficult to recommend. It's certainly not a "cozy".

[West Hartford Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

King of hoax authors, Robert Goddard's suspense novel features two schemers who get caught in their target's trap. Suddenly the odds go up sharply--to life or death. Always one step ahead of reader, Goddard has created a puzzle few will solve.

[Nanou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Québec, 1931. Guy Horton et Max Wingate embarquent sur un transatlantique afin de regagner l’Angleterre, fuyant les États-Unis et un scandale de fraude fiscale auquel ils ont été mêlés. Guy et Max se connaissent depuis le collège, ils ont fait la guerre ensemble en Macédoine en 1915. Si Guy en est revenu indemne, Max a été gravement blessé à la tête et en conserve une certaine fragilité. La croisière va leur donner l’occasion de réitérer leur exercice favori : L’un des deux va séduire une riche héritière puis acceptera la confortable somme d’argent que lui offrira la famille de la jeune fille pour cesser toute relation avec elle. Les deux compères se partageront évidemment le pactole en attendant la prochaine combine.

La cible de leur nouvel intérêt s’appelle Diana et elle est la fille unique de Fabian Charnwood, président de Charnwood Investments, acteur majeur du monde de la finance. Max réussit sans mal à s’attirer les bonnes grâces de la jeune fille qui voyage en compagnie de sa tante. Mais la mécanique bien huilée se grippe lorsque Max tombe vraiment amoureux de Diana et envisage de l’épouser, ce que refuse totalement Fabian Charnwood qui a déjoué le manège des deux amis. Max ne s’avoue pas vaincu et projette de fuir avec sa dulcinée. Hélas, le rendez-vous prévu avec Diana en pleine nuit aux abords de la propriété où elle demeure tourne à l’horreur et Max s’enfuit, devenant le seul suspect d’un meurtre qui ruine définitivement les espoirs de Guy de tirer un bénéfice quelconque de l’opération.

Comme souvent chez Robert Goddard, le héros est un homme faible et balloté par des évènements qu’il ne maîtrise pas. Cette fois, il est de surcroit guidé par son appât du gain et, même si dans un premier temps il ne peut croire à la culpabilité de son ami, il ne dépense pas beaucoup d’énergie pour le défendre. Balancé entre la nécessité d’assurer son existence et la culpabilité envers son ami, Guy se retrouve entrainé dans une folle aventure, pleine de rebondissements plus ou moins crédibles mais auxquels j’ai trouvé tout de même un certain intérêt.

En effet, grâce aux investigations que Guy effectue afin de comprendre qui était véritablement Fabian Charnwood, on revisite les évènements qui ont précédé la déclaration de la première guerre mondiale et cet aspect historique est bien mené, d’autant que Goddard sait y mêler un complot impliquant ses personnages.

Ce que j’ai regretté par rapport à d’autres romans de Goddard, c’est que les personnages sont plutôt antipathiques et caricaturaux. Celui de Diana manque de nuances, je n’ai pas compris sa réelle motivation. Max disparait assez vite dans l’intrigue, de façon peu vraisemblable. Même Guy, malgré tous les aléas auxquels il est confronté, ne réussit pas à susciter la compassion car il n’a pas l’honnêteté que pouvaient manifester d’autres héros de Goddard, par exemple Geoffrey Staddon dans Sans même un adieu ou Harry Barnett dans Heather Mallender a disparu. Et parmi les méchants, aucun n’a ce petit plus qui pourrait susciter un brin de sympathie.

J’ai malgré tout passé un bon moment avec ce gros roman dont j’ai tourné les pages avec hâte, curieuse de découvrir les péripéties imaginées par l’auteur. On ne s’ennuie jamais avec Robert Goddard !
Sur mon blog

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting this would be a fairly easy read, a story of two conman & of their hustles on board the liner “Empress of Britain”, with one of their scams leading them into a dangerous situation or two but it turned out to be a more complex & darker tale than I thought it would be.

Once on board the liner, the two friends, Guy & Max, set their sights on Diana, the (rather unlikeable) daughter of a rich & powerful man, with the intention that whoever wins her hand will split his good fortune with the other. Of course, the path of "true love" never runs smoothly with the romance taking the friends down a rather unexpected path & a murder rather thwarting their plans.

With the back ground of the first World War as it’s setting, this was an intriguing & well-written story. I was certainly kept me on my toes with all the double-crossing & double dealing that was going on left, right & centre making me continually unsure as to who could or couldn’t be trusted & just what their motives were. It all made for a engaging read with a conclusion that wrapped things up satisfactorily & with what I felt was a nice surprise.

Overall a good read & one which gave pause for thought thinking about the terrible possibility of such actions actually having happened….

[Nd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sailing back to Britain in order to avoid entanglement in a bit of U.S. scandal, suave British confidence men and longtime friends Guy Horton and Max Wingate encounter sister, Vita, and daughter, Diana, of millionaire British armaments dealer Fabian Charnwood. They embark on an ploy to have Diana fall in love with one of them, expecting that her father then will buy him off because he doesn't want his daughter married to a gentleman who is slightly less than upper crust. It so happens that there is a deeper side to Charnwood's wealth acquisition as well as to the two women, and his approach to dealing with Guy and Max is both informed and underhanded. There are multiple unexpected developments: murder and suspected betrayal, deceitfulness, duplicity, double-dealing, disloyalty, espionage on a global level, trickery, pretense. Each time the plot unexpectedly makes a twist, Guy struggles with taking the appropriate path versus the convenient way out. Robert Goddard books never disappoint and somehow the protagonist is always left as being both moral and roguish.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page turner from Goddard. Perhaps a few less twists and turns than most of his books. but still a good few more than from most authors. None of the characters are particularly likeable but that does not detract from the enjoyment of the story. Many of the characters, whilst having serious flaws, still manage to show a better side to their nature and Goddard is good at exploiting the dilemmas people face when deciding which side of their nature they will follow.

The end was not the kind of end I was expecting but it was a very satisfying ending. This is a real strength of Goddard. Whilst sometimes the book can be a bit slow to develop as we are introduced to the characters and developing plot line, the end is always satisfying with few, if any loose ends. Too often with other authors, the end is highly contrived or when it comes you just think "Oh! Is that ?" That never happens with a Goddard novel.

[Jackie Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book, beautifully written and a good plot with unexpected twists (particularly unexpected by the protagonists). The chapters are a good length for reading before bed and they don't end with a cliff-hanger.
The opening chapter is really clever. It moves the narrative along but, at the same time, seemingly effortlessly introduces key characters and gives back story of the protagonists. A masterclass.
It provides an interesting picture of the early 1930s, still haunted by World War One and suffering the after-effects of the Wall Street Crash. It is a little more sombre than the first chapter would perhaps suggest but more satisfying for it. I'm not sure about the protagonist's philosophical musings that reconcile him to what he has found out but there is some comfort at the end.

[Solexann · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’ai beaucoup aimé ce roman qui a pris une tournure à laquelle je ne m’attendais absolument pas! Le style d’écriture est entraînant. J’ai eu par moment du mal à poser le livre!
Très vite, j’ai eu de l’empathie pour Guy, j’avais envie de croire à sa bonté et en sa capacité de résilience.
Le personnage de Diana en revanche est restée énigmatique tout au long de ma lecture. Embourbée dans ses mensonges, je n’ai pas su démêler le vrai du faux et je ne sais toujours pas d’ailleurs, après refermé ce livre, ce que je dois en penser...
C’était mon premier Robert Goddard et j’ai très envie de lire d’autres titres!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Robert Goddard since I picked up my first of his - Beyond Recall.
As soon as I started this, my thoughts were "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and I was partially right. The double crossing, twists, deviousness etc. are far more complex than the, now seemingly factuous, film I started to compare it with.
Brilliantly plotted. One just knew that the good "bad" guy couldn't possible win, but how that was to be achieved was well hidden until the end.
Another classic from the fabulous Robert Goddard.

[Neville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guy Horton and Max Wingate are a couple of conmen out to make money from women or more specifically, their fathers to stop them from marrying. Little did they know that the Concentric Alliance would play a part in their lives involving death, love and treachery.

The story was a bit slow to start and it seemed to be a bit unusual for Goddard based on the other books that I have read of his. The story has a number of twists and turns and in some cases, unexpected happenings.

[Olea Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping story

This story is one of Goddard's best. It's inhabited by characters you wouldn't wish to meet in real life, but nevertheless help to make an absorbing and gripping page-turner on paper.

Despite the main characters being con men, Goddard manages to paint them as redeemable as they fight for justice against those who are truly wicked or cowardly. His character portrayal is excellent.

A thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.