This is the Night They Come For You: A TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR

Product Information

The difference between convicted criminals and unconvicted ones is that the unconvicted ones run the country.’ A story that takes place in Algeria, France and the Uk, that spans years and details Algerias independence from France, and all the bloodshed and corruption that came with that, This Is the Night They Come For You by Robert Goddard is released 24 March from @penguinrandomhouse @penguinukbooks. This is a superb and well researched thriller from Robert Goddard, a blend of fact and fiction, that immerses the reader in the horrors and blood soaked history between France and Algeria. Nigel Dalby is a witness to the 17 October 1961 Paris torture and massacre of protesting Algerians by an out of control police force, throwing huge numbers into the River Seine, a bloodbath that later leads to him being caught up in a nightmare scenario that results in him having to move to Algeria and running the Chelifere bookshop. After his death, his daughter, Suzette is asked to verify that a 'confession' apparently left behind by him is false, for which she will receive a small financial reward. Wanting to know more about her father, she seeks to determine the truth of the matter, going to Hampshire to meet Stephen Gray, the brother of Harriet who went missing in Paris in the 1960s, he has devoted his life to trying to solve the mystery of her disappearance. Superintendent Moloud Taleb is an Algerian policeman heading towards retirement. He may not be important enough to have his own air-conditioned office, but his life is about to become very interesting (in every sense). He is seconded to work with Souad Hidouchi, a female agent with the feared Algerian secret service. A former agent is on the run, after serving twenty years in prison for his involvement in a high-level corruption scandal. Hidouchi and Taleb are instructed to find him. Taleb is reluctant: he’d like to live long enough to make it to retirement and becoming caught up in this case does not bode well. But he becomes caught up in Hidouchi’s search.

Goodreads Loading interface - Goodreads

In short, This is the Night They Come for You is an outstanding thriller with a memorable cast of characters, a riveting plot and some top-notch writing by the acclaimed master of the genre. I greatly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to everyone who is looking for a solid thriller with a lot of substance. Robert Goddard is a natural storyteller and the tale unfolds easily with the added political and historical intrigue reinforcing the story. His characters are believable and his sense of humour lightens the fiction. The banter between his colleagues and Hidouchi is fun. Goddard writes amazing novels of mystery/suspense. His new one is magical and the title is simply the best' Stephen King Set between Algeria, France and the U.K., Goddard tells a well paced tale of power & corruption, secret organisations pulling the strings of those in power, murder, scandal, fraud and mystery after mystery! Meanwhile, Stephen Gray in Hampshire, England receives an unexpected visitor from the remote past, with a strange request. Suzette, the daughter of an Englishman named Nigel Dalby—resident of Algiers since the 1960s until his death in the 1990s—wants Gray to read the copy of a document supposedly typed by her father and verify its authenticity, based on certain events described in it involving Gray.

This is an intriguing story, enveloped in politics, inter-agency distrust, betrayal and murder. I absolutely loved Taleb and his dry sense of humour, his self-deprecating manner, and his and Hidouchi's rather entertaining interactions. Overall, if you like clever complex thrillers that are well researched and which lends an air of authenticity then this is for you. Two main things occur simultaneously in the present - in Algeria Superintendent Taleb, a self-deprecating policeman beyond retirement age, is forced to work with a female intelligence officer, Agent Hidouchi, to investigate the disappearance of Wassim Zarbi from his villa - he'd been on parole from a 20yr prison sentence for embezzlement from the national oil company. His "partner-in-crime" had been Nadir Laloul, but he'd escaped the country with millions in funds, leaving Zarbi behind. If they could find Zarbi they might also locate Laloul. Years later Algerian police superintendent Taleb, waiting for his retirement but known as an honest man is called in to search for a missing corrupt ex official .He is joined by one of Algiers feared secret police Agent Hidouchi but what is her purpose and is she there to help solve the case or bury it and maybe Taleb with it.

This is the Night They Come for You (by Robert Goddard) - RdrStr This is the Night They Come for You (by Robert Goddard) - RdrStr

Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was a fantastic & rewarding read and I’d recommend it if you love crime & thrillers with heavy historical & political influences. Superintendent Taleb and Agent Hidouchi are characters I will never forget and nor 'God forbid!' Barbarossa. Goddard sprinkles head-turning double-crossing with delightful by-play between his two leads' The Times

Our servers are getting hit pretty hard right now. To continue shopping, enter the characters as they are shown Meanwhile, in rural Hampshire, Stephen Gray is approached by someone from the past who appears to have information about the disappearance of Stephen’s sister in Paris over fifty years ago. Stephen becomes caught up in an investigation of his own: he wants to know the truth. My sincere gratitude to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for sharing with me a digital Advance Reader Copy of This is the Night They Come for You through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. He’s a forgotten man. But not by all, apparently, since at that moment his telephone starts to ring.’ With a sprinkle of humour and satire added to the mix, this is brilliantly crafted and beautifully written stuff, it’s very intelligent, it’s gritty, tense and I was completely engrossed with a set of characters so well drawn.

This is the Night They Come For You: A TIMES THRILLER OF THE

This is the Night They Come for You sees Robert Goddard in fine form. All his best novels are based around real historical events, and in this case it is the massacre of Algerian demonstrators in Paris on 17 October 1961. Using the tense mid to late 20th century relationship between Algeria and France, Robert Goddard cleverly weaves a story of love and family, betrayal and revenge using a key moment in the Algerian war of independence that took place on French soil: The Paris massacre that took place on 17 October 1961; where French police killed some (officially) 40 Algerians [unofficially the number may be as high as 300]. Robert Goddard has a stellar reputation for delivering well-researched, intricately plotted thrillers set in a variety of locations and his latest offering bolsters this repute. In This is the Night They Come for You, Goddard masterfully blends historical fact with ingenious fiction to present a narrative that is both authentic and absorbing. The primary strength of this novel lies in the brilliantly etched characters; they are utterly realistic and command the reader’s attention and sympathy. Particularly fascinating is the starkly contrasted characterisation of Taleb and Hidouchi—mismatched on almost every count and acting under conflicting instructions from their superiors—and the subtle growth of their relationship from the bumpy beginning. The plot builds up slowly and steadily in intensity, with several compelling twists along the way, towards the exhilarating, highly satisfying finish. For readers with no knowledge about Algeria—myself included—This is the Night They Come for You offers considerable insight into the country’s troubled recent history including its subjugation by the French, and the continuing exploitation even after decades of independence. However, what a storyteller. I felt myself involved in the troubles from the start and totally lost myself in the story.This review originally appeared, and is available, on Mystery and Suspense Magazine at this link... The story has Goddard's characteristic style of telling the story from two time periods with the forces that were involved in revenge and shameful cover-up all meeting in one final fatal finale.