Borrowed Time

by Robert Goddard

Book Overview

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 talk is enigmatic -- and unforgettable. A few days later, at the end of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385339224
• ISBN13: 9780385339223
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Delta
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Borrowed Time

An excellent read! I discovered this author and his books only recently, and I've read almost all of them since. His writing reminds me of the fine writer of novels set in England, Elizabeth George. His characters are well developed and the story keeps you in suspense until the end. I highly recommend this book and other books by Robert Goddard.

Excellent Mystery

This is an excellent detective story. Well written and characters are quite well developed. An excellent read.

terrific amateur sleuth

In the summer of 1990, five weeks after his oldest sibling Hugh died of a heart attack at forty-nine years old, thirty-seven years old Robin Timariot needs time to decide his future so he plans to hike for six days along the Offa's Dyke ridge in the Welsh Borders. Though he enjoyed his work with the European Commission in Brussels, since Hugh died he finds it oppressive and ponders if he should come home to join the family business since his uncle, mom and the other relatives insist they need him. On the ridge at a heavenly view, he meets a lovely middle-aged woman whose nearby parked Mercedes seems to put her in the wrong place. They amiably chat about truly changing things before they part. A week later, Robin reads in the Daily Telegraph the shocking article of artist Oscar Bantock raping and murdering Louise Paxton, the woman who impressed him for that short interlude chat on the trail. He tells the truth about their encounter, but finds the reactions of Louise's loved ones odd. Counseling himself to mind his business, Robin still makes some simple inquiries that turn out to be extremely complex and dangerous to anyone who learns the truth. This is a terrific amateur sleuth tale that overcomes the inherent credibility flaw that hurts much of the sub-genre as the audience readily can see Robin (or themselves) making simple testimony, condolences and curious minor inquiries that twist and turn into something beyond the protagonist's control. It is the plausibility that this could happen to anyone that makes BORROWED TIME a fabulous thriller that fans will devour in one sitting and seek other works by Robert Goddard (see INTO THE BLUE). Harriet Klausner

Lengthy ingenious thriller

I thought this was a very cleverly crafted mystery, a bit slow at first but all of the detail ultimately important to the plot. I live only a mile from where the initial fictional crime occurred, and the author has got the local detail just right. It was good for two long plane flights!

The BEST Robert Goddard book!!!

This was my first Robert Goddard book. Without doubt, it is the best. I highly recommend it to lovers of suspense and mystery. 10 out of 10, Mr Goddard!!! (PS. Past Caring is also an excellent read, if you survive the politics!)