Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Brigandshaw Chronicles #5

On the Brink of Tears

Rate this book
Can bitter enemies ever be friends?

Harry Brigandshaw is presumed dead, missing in the wilds of Africa. And Colonial Shipping is stolen.

Tina is miserable on Elephant Walk whilst the new generation of Brigandshaws and St Clairs are on the threshold of new beginnings. Young, carefree, full of excitement and eager for success. The Great War is behind them, the world has licked their wounds and a new future beckons.

But menacing undercurrents are permeating. There's talk. The Fourth Estate spinning their stories. Scaremongering. Rumours. Hitler inciting hatred. His power seductive. Yet the Allies are grinding Germany into the dust but for how long? The Gestapo and the Brownshirts are lurking, raising national pride, waiting to strike.

And back in England, the youngsters are living the high life, trying to ignore the gossip. But how can they when all the signs are there for the inevitable?

It's the calm before the storm! The world is on the brink of tears.

491 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Peter Rimmer

164 books89 followers
Peter Rimmer was born in London, England, and grew up in the south of the city where he went to Cranleigh School. After the Second World War and at aged 18, Peter joined the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Pilot Officer before he was 19. Then at the end of his National Service and with the optimism of youth, he sailed for Africa with his older brother to grow tobacco in what was then Rhodesia, and the odyssey of his life began.

The years went by and Peter found himself in Johannesburg founding an insurance brokering company. Over 2% of the companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were clients of Rimmer Associates. He opened companies in the United States of America, Australia and Hong Kong and travelled extensively between the branches.

His passion had always been writing books, which he started at a very early age, though running a business was a driving force too and a common thread throughout his books. By the 1990’s, he had written several novels about Africa and England, and his breakthrough came with Cry of the Fish Eagle published by HarperCollins, Zimbabwe. It was a bestseller, which was followed up with the release of Vultures in the Wind. However, during this time, Zimbabwe was going through its struggles and the books did not get their just international recognition.

Having lived a reclusive life on his beloved smallholding in Knysna, South Africa, for over 25 years, Peter passed away in July 2018. He has left an enormous legacy of unpublished work for his family to release over the coming years, and not only them but also his readers from around the world will sorely miss him. Peter Rimmer was 81 years old.

To learn more about Peter, and to get a free starter library of novels, visit his website at www.peterrimmer.com, or find him on Facebook.com/PeterRimmerAuthor, follow him on Twitter @htcrimmer.com, and on BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/peter-rimmer

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
360 (54%)
4 stars
213 (32%)
3 stars
69 (10%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
199 reviews
July 9, 2019
Exceptional Read.

I enjoyed installment 5 of the series,bringing us readers nearer to WW2. The storyline was free flowing,following on from the previous novels and wetting appetite for no.6 due soon.I have read now all five of this series and found them all great reads.
The author has the same kind of style and story content as novels Jeffrey Archer and Ken Follett write,when writing continued sagers I thought.I look forward to no.6.
1 review
May 7, 2019
I love this series, but this particular book not as much as the previous ones. Will still stick with it though and I hope theres more of the next story set in Africa. It's still a captivating read though and its set up lots for the next book which I'm patiently waiting for.
39 reviews
Read
May 15, 2023
I love this series. I am now on book 6. It is the story of an English family where one family member moves to S. Africa, which becomes Rhodesia. The story starts before WWI and continues through the generations slowly tellling you all the stories and the life at that time in Rhodesia and Africa. History is followed and you are reliving it through the pages of these books. Very well written and the characters are believable. You finish one and can't wait to start the next one. I listened to the first 3 on Audible and am completing the series thru Kindle. You won't regret starting this series.
83 reviews
August 8, 2019
Another gem.

Peter Rimmer, sadly no longer with us. His work lives on through his daughter and Kimba Publishing.
Having read all his books so far published I now find it hard to get by without my Africa fix.
This chapter of the Brigandshaw family saga is mostly set in England with occasional references to Africa but loses none of the usual intrigue, an ever changing panorama of characters and settings, well worth a read.
16 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2023
It was all real.

My father never spoke of the war and now I know why. There was something about this book...a great part were all the different people and all their different lives and how the coming war affected each of them...differently.
I could feel each of them. I was there. The fear and anxiety and anticipation were real.
I highly recommend all of Peter's books. He's one of the best by far.
198 reviews
December 13, 2021
I'm really loving this series but am a little fatigued from the continual re-hash of what has happened to each life every time a new character is introduced. I'll keep reading because I am interested in the characters but really the books could of been shorter without this extra verbiage throughout the stories.
Profile Image for Karin Eisermann.
2 reviews
August 12, 2023
The Brigandshaw Chronicles

I was very apprehensive when I started this series but got totally into it! The descriptions of the social system in England and the impact it had on people was masterful, so was the interaction between politics and the impact on the individuals. Actually, there was nothing so far I didn’t like it. I’m starting book 6 now
13 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2019
This continues to be a great series. The era between the 2 world wars is often missing or only discussed briefly in history books and is a fascinating era. Peter Rimmer was a tremendous author and I am looking forward to the next book. Hopefully, more will follow.
389 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2022
On the Brink of Tears

As with the previous novels from the Brigandshaw Cronicles an excellent continuation. A Wonderful historical family saga that began with England and centered in Africa and branched across the oceans.
298 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2023
Good book, but I prefer the action from Elephant Walk to the London scene; however, extra points for setting the prevailing moods in the time leading up to WWII. I felt this was meant to be a prequel to the next book.
Profile Image for jean m. koprowski.
12 reviews
October 4, 2023
the best

I love these books what a wonderful series. The writing and the characters are so well drawn and colorful that it’s almost like watching a film while reading. If you love historical novels like I do you must read Peter Rimmer’s books.
120 reviews2 followers
March 31, 2025
Human ability to Deny signs of War

Rimmer in sites to World blinded by denial of Hitler and danger of his ambitions. Not just British Empire but America as well as what was happening in Spain and Italy and Japan.
10 reviews
November 12, 2025
Kept the story line going throughout

Imnitially I had trouble remembering the characters and how they fitted in but having just finished the third book “ On the Brink of Tears “ I can now see how it is all tying in
202 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2019
Having read all off this authors books I can recommend his work. Cannot wait for book 6 to be available
323 reviews
May 15, 2022
The saga continues - looking forward to reading #6 in the series.
Profile Image for Joan Freehoff.
38 reviews
June 17, 2022
History or Bust

World War 2 and the Path leading to it. How the Brigandshaw family wander from path to path to Land from Rhodesia to London and on to Capetown
61 reviews
December 3, 2022
Series very good

I was searching for a new author and have not be disappointed. Just finished book 5. I have found it hard to "pause" the series.
12 reviews
February 14, 2023
a wonder

Love this series, the characters and the charm of this era 1930’s. Wish it was available on audible
Works better for me
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,650 reviews7 followers
February 22, 2023
These books are contrived to some degree but they are still very interesting & educational. It’s convenient that the main characters all have great wealth.
2 reviews
April 28, 2023
Good but.....

Wasn’t as good as previous books in series . There was a lot of padding I thought and continuous repetition which meant I skipped through some pages.
Profile Image for Sandy.
851 reviews
August 21, 2023
This story line is amazing. Harry Bradshaw's family and his story continues to keep me enthralled.
The world is on the brink of WWll and the lives it will impact continues to make me want more.
105 reviews1 follower
Read
November 25, 2023
Wonderful

I can't stop reading these books. Thank goodness there are lots of them. I'm on to the next one now!
4 reviews
April 3, 2024
I am loving the proverbial sweep of the saga and identifying with the timeframe and the characters in a “personal” way. What fun!
Profile Image for Sharon Pulford.
15 reviews
May 8, 2026
good read

For a set of books it’s amazing how many different stories can come from one set of caraters but keeps u hooked
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews