Robert Goddard, Never Go Back

Never Go Back

Robert Goddard

Delta , Aug 2007, $12.00

ISBN: 9780385340632

In 2005 former RAF pilot Harry Barnett enjoys living in Vancouver, Canada with his his wife and daughter. However, he returns to England for the funeral of his mother. Harry plans to stay as short a time as possible while closing out his late mom's affairs.

However, two veterans from his old military squad find Harry at his mother's house. They persuade him to attend a fiftieth anniversary gala of their National Security unit at Scotland's Kilveen Castle where they stayed back in 1955 for three months as part of a psychological experiment. However, the good time is shattered with a suicide followed by the death of another compatriot. What frightens Harry is each has different memories of what happened during their three month stay. Although in his late sixties and out of shape Harry and his as old and out of shape former business partner Barry Chipchase investigate what is no longer a party atmosphere.

The latest Harry Barnett tale is a great suspense thriller as the hero and his partner know they are too old and too out of shape to investigate, but do so anyway. Although this escapade is a stand alone, newcomers would enjoy reading the previous tales first and fans will want to refresh themselves with Harry as it has been a few years (see INTO THE BLUE and OUT OF THE SUN; Harry is in his fifties). Thus besides a fabulous thriller, Robert Goddard cleverly ages Harry in real time.

Harriet Klausner