| Name to a Face |  | Author: Goddard, Robert
Publisher: Delta
In Stock
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 15,451
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Edition: Original
Pages: 352
Number Of Items: 1
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
ASIN: B002D9ZLK0
Publication Date: June 14, 2009
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Product Description
A centuries old mystery is about to unravelâ¦
When Tim Harding is sent by his employer to buy an antique ring at auction, little does he realize that he is about to restart a chain of events which began many years before. The ring was first lost in a sinking off the isles of Scilly in 1707. When centuries later it is rediscovered in 1999, once again its appearance coincides with a terrible tragedy.
But before it can be sold, the ring is stolen and looks set to disappear forever. Until a shocking murder draws attention to a sequence of events designed to conceal crucial facts about its origins. At the heart of the mystery is a young woman whom Harding is certain he recognizes, even though they have never met before. As he goes in search of her identity, his life begins to unravel around him. Somewhere, a perilous truth about the ring awaits him, coupled with a dreadful realization: those who uncover the truth are not allowed to liveâ¦
From the Paperback edition.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
 first half is decent, then it tails off badly October 30, 2007
David W. Straight (knoxville, tennessee United States)
23 out of 23 found this review helpful
(from my amazon UK review)
Robert Goddard has written some truly outstanding novels. The best are Past Caring, In Pale Battalions, and Painting the Darkness. I reread those books every couple of years, I've sent numerous copies to friends via Amazon, and I keep 3-4 copies around myself just in case I lose one or loan a copy and at that moment have an urge to read the book again. Goddard's books usually center on the unearthing (sometimes literally) of secrets and events from 20 to 40 years back. He's a master of this genre, with the genre's prototypical example being Du Maurier's Rebecca. The only other master who comes to mind is Ross MacDonald--if you havent't read any of his Lew Archer mysteries and enjoy Goddard's novels, give them a try.
Name to a Face features secrets from 10, 270, 300, and 650 years back. The book starts off in a promising fashion, with the protagonist Tim Harding finding himself in the middle of a swirl of strange events which almost everyone else seems to know more about than he does: this kind of situation is usually a Goddard signature--reminiscent of Kafka's The Trial, but not so ubiquitous. But as Harding learns more, the pace seems to slow rather than to accelerate, unlike in Goddard's best works. The last part of the book almost seems to create more loose ends than to tie them up--it feels as if Goddard has put together parts from different books. I felt myself pausing and saying "What on earth is going on here?". One of the major themes of the early part of the book, if you want a bad and mixed metaphor, turns out to be kind of a red herring in the stargazy pie (popular in Penzance--for US readers google stargazy pie and see the cornishlight entry--you'll see what I mean here!)
So if you enjoy Goddard's novels, this is not bad--but it also is not one of his best works--read the book. If you haven't read any of Goddard's novels, don't start with this, you might not read any of the others. Start with Past Caring, and continue on to Pale Battalions and Painting the Darkness--all three are truly deserving of a 5-star rating.
 Constantly Anticipating What Surprises the Master Has in Store For You June 29, 2009
Bookreporter.com (New York, New York)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
British author Robert Goddard has been called "the master of the clever twist" and has achieved worldwide acclaim for producing nearly 20 thrillers within the past few decades. There are many authors out there who excel at keeping the pages turning and mastering plot elements to keep readers off balance --- but there may not be anyone writing today who does it as consistently and effectively as Goddard.
NAME TO A FACE was originally released in the U.K. in 2007, and now this excellent book is seeing publication in the U.S. As Goddard's reputation has grown, and as more stateside readers have been introduced to his fine work, we have begun to see more and more of his previous titles released in the U.S. Reading a Robert Goddard novel is the equivalent of viewing M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense for the first time. The unexpected twist at the end of that film had fans reeling, and you now come to expect the same from all his succeeding efforts. However, where Shyamalan has failed to repeat the thrill of that initial success, Goddard has effectively pulled out all sorts of shocking twists from each of his novels. It is almost distracting when reading one of his books as you are constantly anticipating what surprises the master has in store for you.
With NAME TO A FACE, as with many of his novels, the mystery that transpires takes place in both the past and the present. The protagonist, Tim Harding, has offered to represent his tax-exile friend, Barney Tozer, at an auction in Penzance. The intention is to purchase a ring that has sentimental value to Tozer. However, Harding has no idea that this apparently simple task is actually just the tip of the iceberg surrounding the history behind this antique ring. The ring is actually tied to three tragedies that have taken place throughout history: the sinking of the HMS Association off Sicily in 1707, a murder in Penzance 30 years later, and the drowning of a journalist diving at the Association wreck site in 1999.
Harding is quickly alarmed to find that the ring in question is stolen prior to the auction. As he seeks to take action in reclaiming it, he begins to uncover some of the infamous history behind it. Before Harding can get going with his search, a shocking murder takes place that instantly propels him into a web of conspiracies surrounding the history of the ring. Most suspiciously, Harding has an eerie déjà vu experience as he sees a young woman who he swears he has met before, but doesn't know where or when. Harding takes on the additional task of uncovering who this mystery woman is, having no concept of the fact that there are those nearby who will go to any lengths to keep Harding from discovering the truth behind both the mystery woman and the stolen antique ring.
Harding's life begins to swirl out of control as he finds himself trapped within a mystery that is almost surreal. What Harding is experiencing is actually a signature of many of Goddard's works --- the protagonist who steps innocently into a situation where nothing and no one turns out to be as it/they seem(s). Additionally, Harding begins to question the motives and intentions of everyone involved (including Barney Tozer), further confounding him as he realizes there is no one he can trust. With his life suddenly complicated almost beyond repair, Harding acts out of the desperation of survival mode --- and the swirl of strange events threatens to totally consume him.
I guarantee that any reader who picks up this book will immediately become a Robert Goddard fan, and I encourage readers to seek out any and all of his previous titles. Just as the World's Fair/Disney World attraction "It's a Small World" proclaims that the entire world is more closely connected than people may realize, I can only hope that the worldwide appeal of Robert Goddard's work will now find a fan base of readers in the United States. NAME TO A FACE might do just that for him.
--- Reviewed by Ray Palen
exhilarating suspense thriller June 25, 2009
Harriet Klausner
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Eight years ago, landscaper Tim Harding moved to Monte Carlo following the death of his wife. His best client is Barney Tozer, who has given him investment advice. When Barney's Uncle Gabriel dies, he asks Tim to do him a favor that he will be greatly compensated for. He wants Tim to go Cornwall where his uncle died and has placed his estate in auction. There he wants Tim to bid on a ring that he swears Gabriel stole from his father. Tim reluctantly agrees as he feels guilty over having an affair with Carol, the wife of his benefactor.
Tim tries to do his assignment only, but is stunned with the drowning death of journalist Kerry Foxton who looks like Hayley Winter whom he met at the Tozer family home. He also learns the ring is gone; someone stole it before he could bid on it. As he begins to dig deeper, Tim begins to learn the tragic lethal centuries of history of the ring.
Filled with the usual Robert Goddard zillion twists and spins that never let the reader or Harding settle back into a comfort zone, NAME TO A FACE is an exhilarating suspense thriller. The story line in some ways feels like a seven day tour with Sunday being Monte Carlo, Monday in Cornwall, Tuesday in the Scilly Isles, etc. Although Harding is not an engaging "hero", fans will be hooked just like he is wondering what is going on and whether what has happened remains plausible. This is another terrific tale as Mr. Goddard keeps the tension high throughout.
Harriet Klausner
Awesome mystery September 13, 2008
L. J. Mytych (Baltimore, Maryland)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A must read - easy to follow with an engaging story line about a century old mystery and intrigue. The characters are solid and have depth which is a great match to the story line that spans centuries. Must read!
Warning August 6, 2009
D. P. Birkett (Suffern, NY USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A British amateur sleuth mystery/thriller with a historical background, told SPOV. This is not great writing. It will not give you new insights into human nature or change your life. Characters are adequately described; the dialog is serviceable; the settings (Monaco, Dulwich, Deal, Penzance, Lincoln, Munich and the Scilly Isles) are attractively depicted, but the plot's the thing. It grips. Be warned that if you start this book and have a lot of stuff to do, like papers to write, or deadlines to meet, or getting some sleep you may not get it done.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 9
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