I always look forward to the novels by Robert Goddard and his latest book, The Fine Art Of Invisible Detection (due out in March 2021), is another clever, twisty tale that kept me engrossed and surprised from beginning to end.

The plots of Goddard’s books are always difficult to explain because they move in such unexpected directions that it is hard to describe them without ruining the joy of the many surprises. Suffice to say, The Fine Art Of Invisible Detection opens in Tokyo with Umiko Wada trying to get to get through another day. Widowed at a young age, and with no children, she is trying to avoid scrutiny, and her mother, by working as a secretary to a private detective. Her life is pleasingly simple and mainly consists of coffee runs, diary management and paperwork, until she becomes involved in a new case involving the suspicious death of a Japanese businessman in London in 1977. New details have come to light about his death and Wada, who speaks fluent English, travels to London to meet with a man who claims to have information about who was with him when he died. Meanwhile, Londoner Nick Miller is contacted by an old family friend about the true identity of his father, who he has never met. Two seemingly unconnected events, but in Goddard’s skilled hands they weave together into a clever, surprising plot that slithers along like an out-of-control snake.

In recent years Goddard seems to have moved away from his complex, intriguing historical crime novels into the thriller arena, with faster moving and often more violent tales about conspiracies and desperate characters. The Fine Art Of Invisible Detection is certainly more in the thriller field and is a pacey, exciting novel that races from Tokyo to London to the English countryside and Iceland, before returning for a tense climax on a beach in Cornwall.

The storyline is interesting, and involves some very up-to-date ideas, and the characters are well crafted and engaging. Wada in particular is a very interesting and credible character, who turns out to be more resourceful than she first appears. It is a fine piece of characterisation by Goddard.

The end result is a very enjoyable thriller that kept me guessing all the way to the terrific conclusion and the final reveal. My only reservations are the cover and the odd title, which makes it sound like some sort of Sherlock Holmes pastiche, which it is not!

I have read many of Robert Goddard’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them so it was with great anticipation when I picked this new novel up to review. If my memory serves me correctly, his work often has an unexpected turn to them and this was no different.

Umiko Wada if a Japanese widow, living in Tokyo, she is small in stature and frame, has a quiet demeanour and a determined air. Her husband died in the sarin attack in Japan years before. She now works as an assistant to a private detective in Tokyo and we are introduced to her at the beginning of the book when her boss asks her to travel to London to meet with someone on their client’s behalf.

In her unobtrusive manner she embarks on this quest which will lead her to meet many people, travel to various countries, confront danger and death, and meet with Nick Miller, a teacher in London.

Wada’s character is very finely drawn, her age, her sex, even her Nationality lends her the ability to melt into any background and escape those who wish her harm. Her slight frame belies her inner strength, and sharp mind and she continually outfoxes her foes.

When I finished reading the book, I could not make up my mind about my review – is it a great book? No, I don’t think so. Is it a bad book? No, definitely not! So, somewhere in between?
No, not that either. There is something so subtle about this tale of a little Japanese woman, who is able to melt into the background, so unassuming… So, is the plot intentionally subtle to mirror the protagonists? Yes, I think that is it; and if it is that, great, clever writing.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

As a long term fan of Robert Goddard, I was delighted to be given an early copy of this book.
If you are familiar with his work then you will know what to expect.
A well written, complex story with plenty of twists and turns that keep you on your toes right to the end.
Unusually the central character is a Japanese woman rather than the male protagonists we have come to expect but the book is none the worse for this.
The writer manages to portray a believable and likable character who meets the challenges of the complex plot without losing the authenticity and well-researched backstories that we expect from a writer of Goddard's quality.
It is hard to give much detail without spoiling the plot but let's just say I really enjoyed it and if you are already a fan I am sure you will too.
If you are new to this writer then this is an ideal introduction.

This is an interesting and unusual story based on the sarin murders in Japan. The action begins in Japan but moves to the UK and elsewhere.
I liked it - but I did feel that it hopped between periods of discussion and explanation and the whizzed into periods of intense and dangerous activity. I liked the central Japanese character and her calm endurance of her situation but found some of the other characters, particularly the descriptions of their pasts, rather irritating.
This book is certainly a little different and worth recommending.

I really did think I would care as much as I did to read to the end. It was a real page turning. The story is basically one of corruption and murder against the background of the sarin attack on the Tokyo underground system years previously. Our protagonist, Wada, travels all over the world to find the truth. I really had no idea what was going to happen. To read a book that the ending isn't clear from the beginning is a joy and this one falls into that category for me. I would reread it with pleasure if I didn't know the story already!

I was lucky enough to be given this book by a lady at Penguin to read as an ARC because of another book I’d read previously and reviewed.

This was such a refreshing change from the usual murder/crime/mysteries I usually read. It starts off in Japan and spans the globe to places I’d actually been to and could therefore relate quite easily.

I did like Wada and think she stoically got through the various trials and tribulations well, having to travel from one side of the world to another and different cultures to try and find out who was behind what was going on in a new investigation. When her boss is involved in an “accident” things take a sinister turn.

Coupled with that is the involvement of Nick Miller who’s found out his father isn’t who he said he was. He therefore decides to try and find his father and the two of them Nick and Wada become linked.

It all has something to do with what happened years ago on a beach in porthtowan in Cornwall and as the secrets are uncovered they are both up to their necks in intrigue and deceit, and are fearful for their lives.

It is a great story and the ending is just brilliant. I’m not sure if the author would consider a follow on, but I’m sure Wada could find some excellent work in her field as a PI.

My thanks to the publishers and the author for the ARC.

A convoluted plot that starts in London and Japan, plays out in Scandinavia and has an explosive ending on a beach in Cornwall. Intrigued? Rightly so. Concentration needed as one man attempts to discover who his real father is whilst 5870 miles away, in Japan, a PI’s PA carries on her by now murdered boss’s last case and is on her way to London where paths cross and mysteries deepen. Pacy, if a little overworked, this intriguing novel revolves around crime, kidnap and climate change and the tenacity of central character, Wada, the Japanese PA. Very much enjoyed the read.

Fast Moving Mystery,Menace,Mayhem....
A chance meeting brings together Umiko Wada from Tokyo and Nick Miller from London and there the adventure begins. A fast moving tale of mystery, menace and mayhem. A different direction of sorts for this author but as is usual a clever, snaking and twisting plot with plenty of misdirection and sly swerves. An excellent read with some guaranteed and satisfying escapism.

Umiko Wada works for a Private Detective in Tokyo and is asked to travel to London for work. Nick Milller is a teacher living in London. A series of events lead to these two people crossing paths.
A wonderfully written adventure that has intrigue, threat, menace, action and great pace. Wada at first seems to be a quiet older woman but she will need her sharp mind if she is to survive this trip. Enjoy.

A clever story spanning fascinating settings. Robert Goddard brings us characters which are interesting but not quite interesting enough for us to feel overly invested in them. Sometimes this can detract from my enjoyment of a book but, in this case it was a good things as it made me focus on keeping up with a fast paced plot.

Private detective's secretary Wada finds herself taking on her boss's latest case, ending up in London on the track of some long shadows

Nick never knew his father. But there are things he needs to know about his parents.

Their paths cross by chance, with disastrous consequences.

What started off promisingly descended into convoluted circumstances, and unfortunately I didn't care sufficiently about the characters.