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"People" There's one thing you can count on: just when you think you've figured out what Barnard is up to, he'll outfox you again.
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Book Description
Can the truly rich get away with murder or is there always a price?
Two days in May bring Colin Pinnock's career to a peak. His party wins a stunning election victory and he wins a new government office. What a pity that among the congratulations pouring in lurks one grubby card asking: "Who do you think you are?" Is this someone trying to put him down a peg, or is it someone holding damaging information? Come to think of it, could it just be that Colin's parents are not what they appear? As he probes, he,s led back in time to an old political scandal and a murder case ushering a politician out of office, and out of sight ever after. Soon events in the present start tangling with those of the past and Colin finds himself facing something worse than the toppling of his career, his life is in danger.
Barnard mixes fact with surmise over an actual 1980s murder case. No one does this kind of story better than the crafty master of mayhem, winner of the Nero Wolfe and Golden Handcuff Awards, as witnessed in the brilliant A Scandal in Belgravia.
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Format:Hardcover
Robert Barnard, currently lives with his wife in Yorkshire. He was born in Essex on 23 November, 1936. Educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College, Oxford, taking his Ph.D. from the University of Bergen, Norway, in 1972, he spent many years as a distinguished academic while establishing himself as one of today's most distinguished crime writers. His fascination with the pure detective story is evident in his many novels.
It is May, spring is in the air and everything in the garden is rosy for Colin Pinnock, at least that is how it seems to him. A stunning election victory followed by a new government and a junior office for himself. Bit amid all the congratulations that he receives there is one hostile message, asking: "Who do you think you are?"
Is this merely a jealous rival or even somebody trying to make sure his feet stay on the ground. Or does the statement have a more sinister meaning? Indeed' who is he, really? and who were his biological parents? As Colin begins to investigate these question he is led back to an old political scandal. Events from the past begin to intertwine with the present and Colin finds himself the object of a series of incidents that at first threaten to affect his career, but later actual threaten his very being . . .
It is May, spring is in the air and everything in the garden is rosy for Colin Pinnock, at least that is how it seems to him. A stunning election victory followed by a new government and a junior office for himself. Bit amid all the congratulations that he receives there is one hostile message, asking: "Who do you think you are?"
Is this merely a jealous rival or even somebody trying to make sure his feet stay on the ground. Or does the statement have a more sinister meaning? Indeed' who is he, really? and who were his biological parents? As Colin begins to investigate these question he is led back to an old political scandal. Events from the past begin to intertwine with the present and Colin finds himself the object of a series of incidents that at first threaten to affect his career, but later actual threaten his very being . . .
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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8 reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Barnard Turns Out Another Good One
10 May 2000
Format:Hardcover
Robert Barnard's latest mystery, A Murder in Mayfair, contains a number of devices Barnard has used before. There's an engaging young man embarked on a quest for his parentage, a bit like the earlier Out of the Blackout. Then there's the solving of a 35-year old murder to help clarify current events, much like A Scandal in Belgravia. Finally, there's an unexpected homoerotic twist, like...oh, how many Barnards shall I name? All in all, this was a fast-paced, interesting, and engaging mystery. Not Robert Barnard at his best, but Robert Barnard in good form.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Intelligent mystery by prolific UK writer
26 Nov 2002
Format:Paperback
In its authors native UK this book was published as "Touched by the Dead" ,the title being a quotation from Tennyson,reflecting the writer's main career as a professor of English literature.It is a more evocative title than Murder in Mayfair and illustrates a key theme of the book-the role of the past in shaping the present.
It opens in May 1997 the day after New Labour has been returned to power in the UK following 18 years of Conservative government.The narrator is Colin Pinnock a Labour MP who is designated a junior minister in the Department of Education.He receives a note thrust under the door of his London apartment aking the stark question "Who do you think you are?
It prompts him to undertake a search for his family origins which lead back to a minor sixties political scandal.This is clearly modelled on the real life affair of Lord Lucan who went missing after allegedly killing his wife.
In the book the Lucan figure is Lord Revill who vanished after killing his wife and conducting an affair with his children's nanny.Research uncovers that Pinnock is the illegitimate child of the liasion between Revill and the nanny and there are other ,less welcome suprises lurking round the corner as he delves deeper into the case .These include a stalker,an assailant with a knife and other relatives emerging from the woodwork.
Barnard has tackled political themes before (see Political Suicide)and his view of politicians stops some way short of idolatory.He makes some sharp observations about our political lords and masters and his disillusion with the present adminstration comes through loud and clear
Well and clearly written with compassion and warmth this a good book and merits reading by devotees of the British crime novel
It opens in May 1997 the day after New Labour has been returned to power in the UK following 18 years of Conservative government.The narrator is Colin Pinnock a Labour MP who is designated a junior minister in the Department of Education.He receives a note thrust under the door of his London apartment aking the stark question "Who do you think you are?
It prompts him to undertake a search for his family origins which lead back to a minor sixties political scandal.This is clearly modelled on the real life affair of Lord Lucan who went missing after allegedly killing his wife.
In the book the Lucan figure is Lord Revill who vanished after killing his wife and conducting an affair with his children's nanny.Research uncovers that Pinnock is the illegitimate child of the liasion between Revill and the nanny and there are other ,less welcome suprises lurking round the corner as he delves deeper into the case .These include a stalker,an assailant with a knife and other relatives emerging from the woodwork.
Barnard has tackled political themes before (see Political Suicide)and his view of politicians stops some way short of idolatory.He makes some sharp observations about our political lords and masters and his disillusion with the present adminstration comes through loud and clear
Well and clearly written with compassion and warmth this a good book and merits reading by devotees of the British crime novel
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Entertaining crime thriller
9 May 2000
Format:Hardcover
Colin Pinnock feels he is on his way up the ladder of success when he receives an appointment as junior minister. Everyone congratulates Colin on his new assignment. his euphoria is disturbed by a strange post card that states,"Who Do You Think You Are?" Colin knows the card was sent before news of his appointment, leaving him to interpret the message quite literally that it has to do with his past. A second card follows shortly afterward.
On his first day at the job, his "boss" Margaret Stevens is stunned because Colin looks just like Lord John Revill who vanished in 1962 after allegedly killing his wife. Colin knows he was adopted and begins a search for his roots.
A MURDER IN MAYFAIR is an entertaining thriller that centers on the real identity of the lead protagonist (or for that matter, anyone). The story line is crisp and filled with unexpected surprises that never reveal the climax. The characters are intriguing, especially Colin. The villain is crazy, but does things at the end that seems a bit loose. Still, Robert Barnard shows his talent to hook an audience from the start and keep them interested until the novel is finished.
Harriet Klausner
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