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12th out of 22 books
—
23 voters
Borrowed Time
It is a golden evening of high summer in July 1990. Robin Timariot has set out that morning on what he has planned as a six-day tramp along part of Offa's Dyke. At the close of his first day's walk he encounters an elegant middle-aged woman who seems strangely out of place among the sheep and gorse of Hergest Ridge. They exchange only a few words of conversation, but their...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
January 31st 2006
by Delta
(first published January 1st 1995)
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Great summer read! Loved the character development and multiple plot twists. While so many writers back themselves into a corner, Goddard did the opposite. He could have ended this book in half a dozen ways, and any one of them would have been believable and satisfying.
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Oct 26, 2011
Bettie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
autumn-2011,
mystery-thriller,
fraudio,
britain-wales,
published-1995,
art-forms,
families,
filthy-lucre
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Shall I compare the plot of this drama-mystery to a cricket match? Or maybe a hike through the twists and turns of the English countryside. It does take its time to unravel, but narrator Robin Timariot makes a pleasant enough companion, if not always forthcoming. It’s ironic that he makes so much of Paul Bryant’s affable reticence when that trait could very well be applied to him – he only hints, for instance, at the depth of his relationship with Bella. She turned out to be my favorite characte...more
Jun 13, 2011
Stefan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mysteries-and-thrillers
Once again, Goddard managed to keep me flipping the pages because of his intelligent characters, interesting commentary, solid plot and ingenious twists. What I appreciated about Borrowed Time is that it starts with a single event (in this case, a bit of small talk between two strangers) and expands it into a plot that stretches into the past and future. The central event is always the narrative's reference point, which prevents the story from getting too unbalanced and, furthermore, always make...more
Having finished reading my trip-book on the way to my parents' house, I asked my mom to lend me a book while I was visiting, something somewhat suspenseful that would keep my attention. She had just read this book and recommended it, although she has liked other books by this author better. I had a lot of free time and therefore got through it pretty quickly, and it did the job that it was supposed to do. I think there are books that I qualify as "stuck" books--- good for if you're stuck at an a...more
A chance encounter with a stranger on a hiking trail near the Welsh border leads Robin Timariot into a maze of murder, intrigue and deceit. The story embraces a wide range of characters and human emotions and presents a sharp exercise in family in-fighting and "looking out for number one". Goddard has mastered the magical secret at the heart of all compelling fiction as he takes you into Robins'nightmare adventure.
Each Goddard book is a real treat, and each is as different from the previous as...more
Each Goddard book is a real treat, and each is as different from the previous as...more
Excellent vacation read for the mystery lover. The writing is uniformly pleasant and the plot twists are really well done. I particularly liked the way that I kept forming and reforming an opinion of the victim's character, as the facts were reinterpreted in light of new information. It made me think about how often we do make character judgments on incomplete information based on what is plausible in light of the information known. And the book is available on Kindle from the library; what coul...more
I love Robert Goddard, and since discovering him a few years ago I've been working through his work in chronological order (sort of) by reading one every now and then. His books are always enjoyable, and sometimes excellent. He has quite a rich writing style, pleasant to experience with the odd exotic (to me!) word that requires a bit of thought.
Goddard's novels twist and turn and often the protagonist develops in a similar way. The reader never knows which characters to believe, what is actuall...more
Goddard's novels twist and turn and often the protagonist develops in a similar way. The reader never knows which characters to believe, what is actuall...more
There are three types of mystery novels. The best of them grab you by the throat and pull you along. You give up eating and sleeping to get through them in one sitting. The worst of them can be encapsulized in a page and a half, you've figured out who the killer is in three sentences, and you can safely consign them to the fire without enduring the rest of the writing therein. The third type sits between the two. It's well-written enough, and fine while you're reading it, but you don't feel that...more
Though not as consistently engaging as his Past Caring or as emotionally interesting as Pale Battalions, Goddard manages to squeeze in as many twists and turns as possible in this thriller. In fact, by the end, I have to admit I had lost track of which crime we were trying to solve, and if the original accused murderer who was later shown to be innocent but who it turns out had actually confessed to the crime but had been hired unknowingly to kill the victim, but not before he had been betrayed...more
Once again, a clever, twisting plot which I couldn't figure out right to the end.
However this time I was less than convinced. I found the characters, especially Robin, shallow and underdeveloped. I could not find any explanation for Robin's obsession for a woman with whom he only ever exchanged a couple of sentences, nor for Sarah and Paul's behaviour. I suppose the main characters were basically all lacking in depth.
A pity because Goddard knows how to think up a really good mystery.
However this time I was less than convinced. I found the characters, especially Robin, shallow and underdeveloped. I could not find any explanation for Robin's obsession for a woman with whom he only ever exchanged a couple of sentences, nor for Sarah and Paul's behaviour. I suppose the main characters were basically all lacking in depth.
A pity because Goddard knows how to think up a really good mystery.
Another reasonably interesting novel from this prolific author. A chance meeting on Offa's Dyke leads the protagonist to 3 years involvement and angst with the family of the victim he met-who was murdered shortly after their meeting. There were many twists and turns in the plot:which was initially interesting, and what we come to expect from Goddard. Yet the continual change of focus as to motivation and culprit, stopped the novel developing. It could have had more psychological depth, had he co...more
Good, enjoyable read. Characters were well developed and believable on the whole, complete with a twisting plot. However, I feel the whole plot rests on the return of the hero and his pushy sister in law to the place of the murders. I didn't get that bit, not quite plausible in my eyes. Never the less, a good read that would suit a beach or sunlouger. I would hope to read more Goddard in the future.
This is the latest from the list of Robert Goddard's books I am reading (in chronological order). As usual, it hooked me quickly and held me the entire time. However, it's the first one of his that just didn't seem to satisfy. It just seemed a little too complex and contrived. And perhaps his prose was just a little more than it had been in earlier books.
I'll continue reading him in the hopes that this isn't a trend -- or that it's a sign that I'm tiring of him, perhaps?
I'll continue reading him in the hopes that this isn't a trend -- or that it's a sign that I'm tiring of him, perhaps?
Whilst I enjoyed this book the whole experience was spoiled by the ending. Whilst it gave the plot a big twist it just did not do it for me. I almost came to the conclusion that I had become to hate the author for this. I will give another book a try just to see because overall I liked the style. But that ending.....
this was one of the slowest moving, dullest, most excruciating books i've ever read. the last 8 pages or so before the epilogue were decent, but the rest ... it just dragged terribly. there was more about the board meetings of the cricket company than discussion of the mystery. i was disappointed.
OK--I have liked this author in the past and probably will read him again, but enough is enough for the moment. Too many twists and turns to get to the end, which in this case, left me unsatisfied. Maybe I need a break from Goddard's complicated plots.
This was one of those books I literally could not put down - because every time I did, I ended up picking it back up again to read some more. Goddard has a mind more twisty than a corkscrew and this novel was a very strong example of such twistiness. Read it!
Having loved Past Caring I ordered three more Goddard books. Borrowed Time has a very complicated plot - just when you think the mystery is resolving it all unravels again. Not as good as Past Caring but still impressive.
I normally like Robert Goddard's books as they usually have a fantastic twist. This was not one of his good ones. I found the main character unlikeable and the story pretty pedestrian. I wouldn't recommend this one.
Great ending - didn't see that coming, and worth it after quite a slow but still absorbing story which built up and built up
It was okay but more than 400 pages of waiting for him to get to the point was dragging me down.
A bit long winded, but really good characters. The ending was unexpected
I really like Robert Goddard--good characters and good suspense.
I tried to finish this book, but it was just too slow moving.
Excellent British mystery with many twists and turns.
very good, hard to put down
ok, bit boring
Liked it but thought the ending was a bit thrown together in order to bring everything to an orderly conclusion. Always enjoy Robert Goddard and he doesn't disappoint for suspense to the end.
What I love about this book is the depth to which the reader gets to know each character, especially the narrator, Robin Timariot. The novel is very well-written and absorbing. However, this is one of Goddard's weaker books in terms of plot. At times, the story here borders on the very edge of credibility. Equally disappionting is the ending. The "mystery" was quite foreseeable and came as no surprise at all.
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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.
More about Robert Goddard...
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