 |
|
Random House Australia, Bantam Press, June 2006
Reviewed by Kerrie Smith
Mystery/Thriller
How good or trustworthy are your memories of fifty years ago? Fifty years
ago Harry Barnett was doing his National Service and taking part in a
psychological experiment at Kilveen Castle in Scotland. Now living in
Canada, Harry has returned to England to finalise the estate of his
recently deceased mother. An old mate from the Kilveen Castle days is
organising a 50th anniversary and for Harry it presents an opportunity to
go back and relive the good times. Even better, it will be expense free
because the reunion organiser Johnny Dangerfield has done well over the
years and is paying for everything. Harry looks forward to catching up
with his former business partner, the dodgy Barry Chipchase. But even
before they arrive at the castle, one of their group has disappeared and
soon after they arrive another dies in strange circumstances. It seems
that Harry doesn't remember some things that others do, and before long
the old team, he and Barry, are not only investigating some very strange
circumstances but are in fear for their own lives.
NEVER GO BACK is the third in Goddard's Harry Barnett series and is set
ten years after the second title OUT OF THE SUN. I wondered seriously
about reading it, because although I generally look forward to reading a
new title from Robert Goddard, I had only 'read' the first two titles on
audio CD. I was not disappointed. Goddard writes with a lovely turn of
humour. Harry Barnett is near 70 and no longer athletic, if indeed he ever
was, and throughout his life he has drunk and smoked too much. What the
reader has to admire about Harry is his persistence and dogged pursuit of
the truth, although he doesn't always recognise it when he meets it.
Don't worry if you haven't yet read the first two titles in this series,
INTO THE BLUE (1990) and OUT OF THE SUN (1996). While it probably does
help to read them in order, this one is definitely able to stand on its
own. But be warned, you will probably like Harry and his adventures enough
to search the first two out. I'm also fascinated by the thought of a
series written over a period of more than 15 years. Goddard has created a
character in Harry Barnett that feels true to himself over that period of
time, but in whom there has also been growth and development.
Robert Goddard has an impressive string of titles to his name beginning
with PAST CARING in 1986. INTO THE BLUE in 1990 won the first WH Smith
Thumping Good Read Award and was dramatised for TV in 1997, starring John
Thaw. For me that's what NEVER GO BACK is - a thumping good read.
There is an excellent website about Robert Goddard's books at
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/robert-goddard/ .
July 2006 review, first published on Murder and Mayhem
All cover art used at Reviewer's Choice Reviews is copyrighted by the
respective publisher. All reviews and articles found at Reviewer's Choice
Reviews are the sole property of the contributor and are copyrighted by
the same.
|
