Hand in Glove

by Robert Goddard

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385339216
• ISBN13: 9780385339216
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Delta
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Intriguing Literary Mystery

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.

Great Writing & Robert Goddard go Hand In Glove

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.

terrific international amateur sleuth

In England elderly wealthy Beatrix Abberly greets the intruder into her home as Mr. Spicer whom she says to him that she was expecting him. She recognizes the candlestick holder he carries and uses to kill her. Her niece Charlotte grieves her loss in what seems like a robbery gone bad. The police arrest antique dealer Colin Fairfax whose motive was to steal Beatrix' priceless artifacts to sell. Colin's brother Derek firmly believes he is innocent and plans to prove that though it means finding courage he does not possess. At the same time, Charlie also believes that the motive was not robbery; she assumes the few items purloined were to cover a more sinister crime especially after she finds letters between Beatrix and her brother, highly regarded poet Tristram who died fighting on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War five decades ago. Charlie and Derek team up as both believe the homicide ties back to the war on the Peninsular in the late 1930s, but neither expected that they could be next. This terrific international amateur sleuth tale grips the audience from the moment the calm Beatrix says hello to Mr. Spice and never slows down until the final believable twist. The action-packed story line works because of the lead pairing; Derek is shy and struggles to be a hero while Charlie grieves and is a bit overweight while also strains to accomplish something way out of character for her. Part of Robert Goddard's genius is to take everyday people placed in arenas outside their norm performing extraordinary but plausible deeds. HAND IN GLOVE is a superb thriller by an English grandmaster. Harriet Klausner

Spanish Civil War casts suspensenet 50 years in future

This is my fifth Goddard, and each maintains a freshly unique, suprising, suspensful character. The Spanish Civil War is an active character in the novel, and offers a valuable learning experience in itself. The theme of webs, connections and linkages continues from Goddard's other novels. All issues are finally resolved but not without unexpected twists and turns that make it difficult to put the book down.