With the Nazis bombing London on a nightly basis, many working-class families sent their children to the comparative safety of the countryside. When the Blitz ended, the families came for their kids . . . but no one ever came for Simon Thorn. His name appears on no list of the evacuated children. And none of his meager belongings offer any clues to his origins. Now an adult, newly moved to London, Simon is puzzled by an odd sense of familiarity when he walks down certain streets. He remembers his years of terrible nightmares – nightmares that would cause him to wake up screaming, terrifying his bewildered foster parents. And he resolves, once and for all, to find out where he originally came from . . . even as everything he uncovers suggests that, really, he doesn’t want to know. Widely praised for his deliciously, maliciously witty mysteries, the multi-award-winning Barnard takes a decidedly different tack in this fascinating novel of wartime London and the dark side of identity.
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“Barnard untangles his riddle with great skill . . . I suspect he [will] outwit all but a handful of readers” – New York Times --New York Times
“There are shrewd characterizations and villains aplenty in this oddly affecting tale” --Time --Time
“An engrossing tale of a man’s search for his identity and his discovery of an alarming past” – Publishers Weekly --Publishers Weekly
“There are shrewd characterizations and villains aplenty in this oddly affecting tale” --Time --Time
“An engrossing tale of a man’s search for his identity and his discovery of an alarming past” – Publishers Weekly --Publishers Weekly
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Out of the Blackout,
By Ricky N. "Ricky C. Nelson" (Commerce, GA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Out of the Blackout: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)
"Out of the Blackout" is my favorite novel by British author Robert Barnard. Simon Thorn, a young man who was lost in the London blitz during World War II as a child, searches for his true identity. This mystery novel is one of the most unusual books I've ever read. I read this book in one sitting because I quite simply could not put it down. I was totally engrossed in this novel; I had to know what happened. I can only remember 2 or 3 books as good as this one. It is a masterpiece, and is very highly recommended!
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Barnard's best stories,
By Hortensia "Sunshine" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Out of the Blackout: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)
This is one of my favorite Robert Barnard books - and he is my favorite writer. His plots are never ordinary, and his characterizations very shrewd, as one editorial review put it. You can't help caring about his characters, and the plots are engrossing and keep you reading until the end of the book.
This story is subtle and builds slowly to a surprise ending that is very satisfying. I can't decide what is best about Barnard's writing - the character development, the plot lines, the way he sets the reader down in the scene and makes the sights and sounds very real, the way he understands his characters and is often fondly amused by them, while also being cynically witty at their expense. His protagonists seem like real people you would like to know. When he writes about an awful person you are in no doubt about how awful that person is. Also, which is very satisfying, he knows the English language and grammer, and uses them well. So many popular novels are written by people who aren't really sure about their own language, and the editing can be pretty sloppy. Not so here - the writing and editing is elegant.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barnard is in top form here!,
By
This review is from: Out of the Blackout: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)
"Don't kill her! Don't!" The young Simon wakes up screaming! The gentle couple who have taken Simon in are more than a little confused. In Robert Barnard's "Out of the Blackout," the author sets this finely-tuned and suspenseful novel during the blizt of London during the War. Children have been evacuated to the countryside for their own safety, more often than not to live for the duration of the war with complete strangers. Young Simon Thorn shows up in the village of Yeasdon, along with the other evacuated children. However, his name is on on list, his address doesn't exist, and few clues can be found in the few items he possesses. Many questions abound and Barnard, with his accustomed patience and logical thinking, sets out to solve this mystery. He does so in a touching, poignant manner, and he brings vividly to life all the aspects of these dark and dangerous days of the blitz. Barnard deserves his well-earned reputation.(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
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