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William Dougal #2
Waiting for the End of the World
The story opens with the lunatic fringe: a public meeting being addressed by an apostle of apocalyptic doom. But Dougal soon realizes that it's his own doom that may be at hand. He decides not to get involved in another of Hanbury's dangerous plots, but when Zelda, the ravishing black girl who trustingly turns up on his doorstep, is kidnapped by Hanbury, what can Dougal do but follow in hot pursuit?
At least he has a trustworthy aide, the conscienceless Malcolm, and together they plan to take Elmny Castle by storm—Elmny being where Zelda is imprisoned. But of course it is not as simple as that. Dougal finds that, after all, he is becoming implicated in Hanbury's nefarious projects: gunrunning, drug smuggling, and other shady pursuits. He also has to cope with the devious Dr. Vertag, and with ancient and batty Lady Graver and her ineffectual son Thomas, the owners of the castle. And then it becomes clear that Zelda isn't just what she seems, although Dougal could forgive her anything.
At least he has a trustworthy aide, the conscienceless Malcolm, and together they plan to take Elmny Castle by storm—Elmny being where Zelda is imprisoned. But of course it is not as simple as that. Dougal finds that, after all, he is becoming implicated in Hanbury's nefarious projects: gunrunning, drug smuggling, and other shady pursuits. He also has to cope with the devious Dr. Vertag, and with ancient and batty Lady Graver and her ineffectual son Thomas, the owners of the castle. And then it becomes clear that Zelda isn't just what she seems, although Dougal could forgive her anything.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
26 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Taylor
61 books731 followersAndrew Taylor (b. 1951) is a British author of mysteries. Born in East Anglia, he attended university at Cambridge before getting an MA in library sciences from University College London. His first novel, Caroline Miniscule (1982), a modern-day treasure hunt starring history student William Dougal, began an eight-book series and won Taylor wide critical acclaim. He has written several other thriller series, most notably the eight Lydmouthbooks, which begin with An Air That Kills (1994).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2023
A convoluted attempt at parodying the world of CIA espionage, as series character, William Dougal a private investigator finds himself highly embedded in a CIA murder plot in the UK. Taylor actual is reportedly a good author, so I am presuming this is one of his lesser lights. I couldn't get into it at all, and it took me awhile to finish. This is the second book in the 'Dougal' series. 2 out of 12 One Star read :(
2011 read
2011 read
January 19, 2024
Waiting For the End of the World
I love the breezy, conversational flow of Taylor's writing and his descriptive style is wonderful. His William Dougal character is a brilliantly different type of hero, well educated but not trained - a cross between Bond and Bertie Wooster.
I love the breezy, conversational flow of Taylor's writing and his descriptive style is wonderful. His William Dougal character is a brilliantly different type of hero, well educated but not trained - a cross between Bond and Bertie Wooster.
September 30, 2022
Hard going
Showed its age. Lots of minute-by-minute action got a bit tedious amidst complicated roles and relationships which I found difficult to keep track of.
Showed its age. Lots of minute-by-minute action got a bit tedious amidst complicated roles and relationships which I found difficult to keep track of.
June 16, 2011
From Andrew Taylor's website:
The book's early reviewers often attached the word "amoral" to it, and in particular to Dougal. (I doubt if they would do so now.) It would be more accurate to say that Dougal is morally flexible, as most of us are, to greater or lesser extent.
He's actually talking about Caroline Minuscule there but I noticed the 'amoral' tag on the back cover of this book and wanted to comment on it though finding Taylor's comment has rather stolen my thunder by saying that the idea of Dougal as amoral is outdated but I'll post my take on it all the same. I don't think that William Dougal is at all unconcerned with whether things are right and wrong.
In the first book of the series William walks in on a dead body and decides that rather than getting caught up in the complexities of reporting it he'll pretend he was never there, that's probably a crime but more like a sin of omission than one of commission. He's done something which is part of my worst nightmares: made one relatively minor mistake and from that the rest of his life has simply spiralled out of his control. Two books later and there's no way he's going to get his regular life back any day soon.
To me though William always seems to be trying to do the right thing, which is definiteley acting morally; he's just got a knack for digging himself in deeper as he tries to get out.
A fun series, I don't think I'd like it half as much if I felt the the central character was amoral.
The book's early reviewers often attached the word "amoral" to it, and in particular to Dougal. (I doubt if they would do so now.) It would be more accurate to say that Dougal is morally flexible, as most of us are, to greater or lesser extent.
He's actually talking about Caroline Minuscule there but I noticed the 'amoral' tag on the back cover of this book and wanted to comment on it though finding Taylor's comment has rather stolen my thunder by saying that the idea of Dougal as amoral is outdated but I'll post my take on it all the same. I don't think that William Dougal is at all unconcerned with whether things are right and wrong.
In the first book of the series William walks in on a dead body and decides that rather than getting caught up in the complexities of reporting it he'll pretend he was never there, that's probably a crime but more like a sin of omission than one of commission. He's done something which is part of my worst nightmares: made one relatively minor mistake and from that the rest of his life has simply spiralled out of his control. Two books later and there's no way he's going to get his regular life back any day soon.
To me though William always seems to be trying to do the right thing, which is definiteley acting morally; he's just got a knack for digging himself in deeper as he tries to get out.
A fun series, I don't think I'd like it half as much if I felt the the central character was amoral.
September 10, 2013
When I was a kid I read several books from the "Bomba the Jungle Boy" series--the adventures of a kid slightly older than I was who was essentially Tarzan. He was in and out of episodic trouble, every chapter ending in a cliff-hanger, and the good guys winning in the end. This book reminded me of those, although it's set in England (a different kind of jungle, I guess) and is for grownups. Not much suspense for a thriller, some lame attempts at humor, good guys winning because they happened to throw the best punch, many cliff-hangers. I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them; but this one not so much.
October 20, 2014
Very disappointed with this book. Cannot give it more than 3 and it not that bad I'd have to give it 2
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews