Helpful Score: 1
I read this many years ago and still remember it. Very good read.
In the best tradition of British storytelling, here murder, deceit, family honor, and intrigue are intricately woven into a compelling drama of decadent British aristocracy set during World War I. Leonora Galloway, who has for 50 years meticulously shunned discussion of her unpleasant childhood at the family ancestral home near Portsmouth, reveals her past to her daughter. In a controlled and measured way, Leonora recounts her tale, which includes discussion of Leonora's own questionable parentage, the details of an unsolved murder that occurred before she was born, her father's desertion from the army, and the ignominious end of a revered family name and a noble house. Enthralling to the final page.
Shades of Daphne du Maurier...a tale of old misdeeds and present solutions, murders and sleuthing, remorse and retribution worthy of the past mistress herself.
"The Times"
London
"The Times"
London
This is a very good mystery book and numerous plot twists. The ending left me feeling quite sad though.
IN PALE BATTALIONS was the September 2013 pick in my neighborhood book club.
The mystery of what went on at Meongate Manor, and all the players who lived there pulled me along, but some parts were more compelling than others. The author used a very obvious (and at times laborious) technique of writing several stories within the story.
As the story progresses, there are several twists, some believable, but others? You guessed it! Not so believable. I think there was about one twist too many. Right up until the final pages.
I enjoyed and appreciated the scope of Leanora Galloway's backstory, but can't help but feel that none of the characters we learned about had much depth or substance. They all seemed rather hollow...so much so, that when the final page was turned, I was left wondering whether a single one of them had been worth the 350 pages....
Alas, if you enjoy mysteries written for mystery's sake, I can recommend this one. I give a C+.
The mystery of what went on at Meongate Manor, and all the players who lived there pulled me along, but some parts were more compelling than others. The author used a very obvious (and at times laborious) technique of writing several stories within the story.
As the story progresses, there are several twists, some believable, but others? You guessed it! Not so believable. I think there was about one twist too many. Right up until the final pages.
I enjoyed and appreciated the scope of Leanora Galloway's backstory, but can't help but feel that none of the characters we learned about had much depth or substance. They all seemed rather hollow...so much so, that when the final page was turned, I was left wondering whether a single one of them had been worth the 350 pages....
Alas, if you enjoy mysteries written for mystery's sake, I can recommend this one. I give a C+.
One of my favorite books by Robert Goddard. Very suspenseful!
