Hand in Glove [Paperback]

Robert Goddard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2006

In her seaside cottage, Beatrix Abberley bravely confronts an intruder moments before her life is brutally taken. The crime stuns the elderly spinster’s family—especially Beatrix’s niece, Charlotte Ladram. But Charlotte has little time to mourn the loss of her beloved aunt and little patience when police quickly arrest a man Charlotte believes is innocent. For Charlotte, a harrowing quest for answers begins—one that will take her into the shadows of the past…and into the life and secrets of the dead woman’s brother, famed poet and casualty of the Spanish Civil War, Tristram Abberley.

Now, amid shattering revelations about her family, and in the aftermath of a second savage crime, Charlotte finds herself at the center of a widening storm. And for Charlotte, something extraordinary is beginning to happen. As fifty years of secrets begin to unravel, shy, cautious Charlotte is coming alive in the shadow of a mystery—uncovering a shocking tale of wartime greed and treachery, and a vendetta of violence seemingly without end….

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Combines the steely edge of a thriller with the suspense of a whodunnit, all interlaced with subtle romantic overtones."
— Time Out

"Cliff-hanging entertainment."
— Guardian

About the Author

Robert Goddard’s first novel Past Caring was an instant bestseller. Since then his books have captivated readers worldwide with their edge-of-the-seat pace and labyrinthine plots.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 435 pages
• Publisher: Delta (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385339216
• ISBN-13: 978-0385339216
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put This One Down!, July 8, 2006

By 

Christine "loves to read" (Setauket, NY, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hand in Glove (Paperback)

The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

No, his book is not about the "War", rather it's a superb mystery/thriller brilliantly written by British author Robert Goddard.

Beatrix Abberley boldly confronts an intruder in her home and is brutally murdered. What is so bizarre about this heinous crime is that the dialogue suggests that she was actually expecting the perpetrator and she knew what he was going o do and why he was going to do it. We soon find out that weeks before her murder she asked a confidant to mail four preaddressed letters to four different individuals in the event of her death. These letters will contain the reason for her murder and will reveal who the murderer is. Charlotte Ladram, Beatrix's niece, doesn't have long to mourn the murder of her elderly aunt when she is involuntarily pulled into a tangled web of betrayal and lost loyalties. As she enlists help from a most unexpected source she discovers a twisted connection between her aunt's brutal murder and a long lost secret from the Spanish Civil War.

Hand in Glove is part mystery, part thriller, part police procedural (although Goddard convincingly finds a way to tone down the necessity of the police). The characters are wonderful. They are lively, exciting and jump right off the page. They have distinct personalities. As I read each page I felt as if I were standing right there watching all the action and listening to their dialogue. Which brings me to my second point, the dialog is fresh, natural and incredibly engaging; never stiff or boring, and the author uses it expertly to shape the characters and move the story along at a good clip. The plot is well formulated. There is something here for everyone. Every nuisance is covered, every action brings new revelation. And Goddard's research is implacable. He has given us keen insight into an interesting historical period. HAND IN GLOVE is all that you expect a thriller to be and more. Goddard masterfully proves that fiction can go beyond mere entertainment and can inform and enlighten (as well as delight) readers when written well. One caveat...towards the end of the book, as the plot begins to unravel and secrets are revealed, the events and characters get a little complex. Stay with it, all will be settled in the end.

This is a superbly written novel! I am looking forward to reading Goddard's other titles.

Enjoy.

Cris Cunningham for Amazon.com

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Writing & Robert Goddard go Hand In Glove, October 3, 2006

By 

Red Rock Bookworm (St. George Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hand in Glove (Paperback)

Duplicity and intrigue run rampant through the once quiet life of Charlotte Landram. The murder of her Aunt Beatrix is only the beginning of a series of events that confronts Charlotte and places her in the "eye of a storm" that has been brewing for over 50 years.

Mr. Goddard is an expert at integrating history into this clever thriller and has produced an absorbing, plausible story that captures the imagination. He has developed a situation populated by a cast of realistic, well-defined characters so convincing they seem familiar to the reader.

Compelling from page 1, you will find this journey rewarding.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Literary Mystery, February 1, 2007

By 

Suspense Fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hand in Glove (Paperback)

I have read quite a few books by this author lately and I am impressed by the way he tells a story. The plots are intricate and involved,with many unexpected twists and turns, yet at the end everything is explained in a way that leaves you satisfied as a reader. His books usually touch upon a deeper meaning and his characters are both flawed and likeable. I also enjoyed Into the Blue, Borrowed Time and In Pale Batallions.