I will be honest and say I requested this book from Netgalley having misread the author's name and thought it was the guy who wrote 'Death in Paradise'. Bit of a difference! I knew nothing about the Algerian War of Independence or of any of the horror that went on in Algeria and France. Found the early part of the book a bit of a slog and kept confusing some of the names as the chapters switched between UK/France/Algeria. Glad I persevered as I definitely became more involved in what was going on and found maybe, the last third of the book the best. Don't know whether there will be any further adventures with Taleb and his new partner but I will keep an eye out. Thanks to Netgalley for reconnecting me with Robert Goddard. I realise that I have read many of his books, including his Harry Barnett series, but nothing by him for about 10years.

Adored this thriller set in modern day Algeria but rich in both characters and Algeria’s colonial past, with its links to France. This is the second Goddard book I’ve read - the last was partly set in Japan, so he clearly likes roaming around the world. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this; it really shows.,

This is the Night They Come For You is well written and absorbing novel by Robert Goddard that is full of political intrigue and very good to read.

Rich In Character…
Political intrigue, corruption, scandal and dirty dealings aplenty in this complex and intriguing thriller from the very talented pen of Robert Goddard. The reader rides along with Superintendent Taleb as he coasts into dangerous territory and into making decisions which may be completely out of his control. Rich in character, keenly observed and written with sleight of hand this is another compelling read from a natural born storyteller.

Robert Goddard is the master of the unexpected twist. His latest, This Is The Night They Come For You, is another cleverly plotted story that ably mixes suspense, obscure historical detail and a regular supply of surprising turns into an enjoyable concoction that kept me engrossed 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, This Is The Night They Come For You, opens in Algiers with Superintendent Mouloud Taleb being seconded to work with a female agent, Hidouchi, from the country’s feared secret service. They are instructed to pursue a former agent, now on the run after twenty years in prison for his part in a high-level corruption scandal. Taleb is close to retirement and does not want to become caught up in dangerous conspiracies, but he is gradually drawn into Hidouchi’s search for the former agent and his mysterious backer. Meanwhile, an unexpected visit from someone in his past draws Stephen Gray out of his rural lethargy in Hampshire and sets him on the search for the real truth about his sister’s disappearance in Paris nearly sixty years ago. Two seemingly unconnected events, but in Goddard’s skilled hands they weave together into a well packaged 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. This Is The Night They Come For You is certainly more in the thriller field and, after a slightly slow start, the book quickly picks pace in the second half, and races from Algiers and Hampshire to violent confrontations in the French countryside and Paris.

The storyline is interesting, and Goddard’s background information on the struggle for Algerian Independence and the subsequent violent events that gripped that poor country is fascinating. The characters are well crafted and engaging, particularly the world weary Taleb who has suffered so much. The Algerian Secret Service agent Hidouchi is also an interesting character and Goddard rounds her out in unexpected ways. It is also clever how Goddard subtly weaves in references to COVID without going overboard. He makes just enough references to masks and deaths from the virus to give the book a contemporary feel, and uses the international travel restrictions to explain certain plot developments.

The end result is a very enjoyable thriller that kept me engaged all the way to the exciting conclusion and the final surprising revelations.

The only thing I didn't like was the cover!

I have read several of Robert Goddard's books but this was not as enjoyable as the others. The story begins slowly, lots of characters were introduced and I found it really hard going and hard to follow. Set in Algiers and England it is interesting for those hoping to find out more about the history of Algiers, with the ability to follow a very complex story.

For storytelling mastery you need look no further than Robert Goddard. While some may struggle to grapple with the number of characters and things going on, it is this richness which adds to the engaging nature of the book. I have read the entire Goddard canon and find it interesting that in each new book he takes off in a new direction. The background research which must go into the writing is worn lightly and you learn much from this tale.

So grab yourself a cuppa and settle in for a good read. Heartily recommended!

I was first introduced to Robert Goddard when I read The Fine Art of Invisible Detection last year, so was delighted to be offered the opportunity by the publisher to read his latest book This is The Night They Come For You. Having read it, I think Robert Goddard now has himself a new fan and I will definitely be looking at his back catalogue of work as this book was as thoroughly absorbing as the last.

This one is set both in Algeria and England, with a trip over to France some way into the book. I have absolutely no knowledge of the history of Algeria, indeed I didn’t even really have much of an awareness where it’s located. Just before I set about putting down my thoughts about this book I googled the history of the country and found it has a complicated and troubled past. Whilst you don’t need any knowledge of its recent politics, you will certainly need to be absolutely focused as you read the book. There are a lot of names and characters you need to get your head around, along with names and terms of the different organisations involved and to help you with this there is a glossary at the back of the book. I suggest you bookmark it, because I certainly needed to keep referring to it as I read.

It is partially based on real people, though all of the central characters are fictional. I enjoyed how it was set around real past events, however this does make for both enlightening but also quite emotive reading. The book evoked in me quite a lot of time sat just thinking about the situations and often felt some of the corruption perhaps a little close for comfort. It made me think about our own political situation right now and how easy it is for the powerful to manipulate and take too much control.

I wouldn’t even begin to try to summarise the story. It’s a complex one and at times it was a bit of a struggle to remember who was who but as you get further into the book it all begins to make sense and reading becomes easier. I loved the working relationship between Superintendent Taleb and the Secret Agent Hidouchi. Both highly suspicious of each other when they first start out on their quest to find the truth, they gradually grow a mutual respect and there is some wonderful dry wit between them bringing lighter moments to the narrative.

Anyway, absolutely brilliant. I can’t wait to read the next book, not to mention catching up on all the ones that have gone before.

*To be posted to my blog on publication date*

In present day, with Covid raging around the world, we meet Superintendent Maloud Taleb at Police HQ Algiers where he is in pensive mood contemplating his imminent retirement. He suddenly finds himself summoned to the Directors office, where he is told that he has been appointed to undertake a dangerous mission and that he will be under the direction of Agent Hidouchi of the hated Algerian Secret Service. Their job is to track down Nadir Laloul and/or Wasim Zarbi, both of whom were heavily involved in corruption during the Algerian uprisings prior to the country’’s independence in the mid 20th century.

Their job inevitably turns out to be much more serious and dangerous that either of them expected, as they undo et the murder of one of General de Gaulle’s minister that appears to be connected also to further murders of two British subjects.

As they get closer to their objective they soon realise that corruption and double dealings are still rife and also that they now appear to be on the hit list - can they possibly achieve what they set our to do and can they survive??

This is a gripping novel in true Robert Goddard style. I read late into the night to see what would befall them next.

I confess to nearly giving up on this such was the slow start (in my opinion). What kept me going was that it was an era and events abroad that I really knew little about, The Algerian War of Independence and eventually the more engrossing the story got as I read on. An Englishman obsessed with the disappearance of his sister some 50 odd years ago in Algeria, an Algerian police superintendent, shuffling through to retirement then paired with a female Algerian secret service agent and it turns into a pot boiler. The horror and reality of what really happened shouldn’t be dismissed and this storyteller attaches just enough reference for you to picture the background to an enthralling tale. I liked the main characters Taleb and Hidouchi and the development of the chemistry between them and I enjoyed being taken to somewhere different.
Would thoroughly recommend.

This is a first by this author for me, an interesting read which I did struggle with a little as it isn’t my usual read. However, it was a good book and I would try other books by this author.

I struggled with this initially, which may have been more down to reading it in the run up to Christmas than the writing, but I couldn't seem to keep track of who was who or what was going on. Slowly though, the story began to build, and I managed to grasp hold of who I should be rooting for, and the final third of the book was great, very readable, and almost nudged this to a 4 star.
I hadn't really known anything about Algiers prior to reading, so I found that very interesting. And by the end I really liked the characters of Taleb & Hidouchi. I just didn't much care for Stephen, or anyone else much, and so I think that slowed things up for me to begin with.

I was gently drawn into this book. The plot built up slowly and intricately. I thought it was an extremely good book. Not only did I learn a considerable amount about the history of Algerian independence but I enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. I thought the characters were well drawn and well developed, they were interesting. The plot is almost in two halves and when I was almost halfway through I could not see why there was still half of the book to go. In the event I was drawn in even more by the second half of the book I have nothing but admiration for the author for this plot. An excellent read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of This Is the Night They Come for You, a stand-alone thriller set in Algiers and Paris.

Superintendent Taleb of the Algerian Police is asked to work with Agent Hidouchi of the Security Services to find Wassim Zarbi who has absconded after serving a sentence of twenty years for corruption. As they start to investigate they find a story mired in Algeria’s blood soaked past and links to a murder in Paris fifty five years ago.

I enjoyed This Is the Night They Come for You, which tells an age old tale of greed, corruption, double dealing and treachery. This is no surprise with Security Service involvement, so it the setting, Algeria, that sets it apart. I confess that I know virtually nothing about the country, so its history and troubles were eye opening, almost like a well kept secret and offer the author extremely fertile ground for any theory, conspiracy or otherwise, he wishes to propound.

I dipped in and out of the novel for the first few chapters, partly because I had other things to do and partly because it’s slow to start. The wide sweep of the novel in time, motive and characterisation necessitates a fair amount of scene setting and as this takes in multiple changes of perspective and timeline it is hard to get settled in initially. Once it gets going, however, I found it absorbing and informative.

I always enjoy the author’s tone in his writing, there is a certain slyness and dry humour to it that makes me overlook any outrageousness in the plot and this novel has plenty of it. The novel paints an awful picture of French meddling in Algeria after independence that any sane person would dismiss as improbable and probably isn’t, just as the actions of the present day DSG would seem unlikely except they have a track record of unlawful activity. Whatever, all the double crossing and secret agendas make for an exciting and unpredictable read.

To add an extra dimension to the plot the author also tells the tale of Stephen Gray, who is still attempting to find out how his sister died fifty five years ago in Paris. It is he and Taleb who provide the continuity across the long timeline of the novel, linking the past and present into a cohesive story.

This Is the Night They Come for You is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I was delighted to be accepted by Netgalley for this book.
Robert Goddard is my favourite author and I was not disappointed. As usual an intricate tale with interesting characters. Have to admit I did struggle a bit with the unusual names but well worth reading nonetheless

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book

Another intricate and intriguing plot from one of the best authors in the business. This is a clever story told around sinister historical events, scandals and conspiracies, that have been thoroughly researched by a storytelling master craftsman. The two main protagonists, Taleb and Hidouchi, are reluctant heroes with plenty of flaws, guile and humour. Their partnership and chemistry develops as the story unfolds, and they seek to discover dangerous secrets from the past, which are still affecting people and critical decisions being made in the present. As they search for the answers there are plenty of dark and disturbing characters from the past and the present that will do anything to stop them and cause plenty of twists and turns in their eventful race against time and battle for survival. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

Taleb is a superintendent in the Alegerian police force and overdue for retirement so when he is summoned to his boss' office he is understandably worried. However he is given an important assignment working with Agent Hidouchi from the secret service.
Hidouchi is young, motorbike riding, leather jacket wearing and female. She disapproves of Taleb's addiction to cigarettes and is dismissive of his knowledge of their country's history.
Stephen Gray is obsessed with learning the truth about the disappearance of his oldest sister, Harriet 55 years ago.
This book tells a little about Algieria's fight for independence from France. The characters are well written and believable.

I can always count on this storytelling genius to get me completely engaged in his novels within the first chapter - and this is no exception. The trademark elements are here again - intricate plots, woven around impeccably researched historical events, and complex, usually flawed protagonists dragged unwillingly out of their mundane lives into a maze of narrative twists and turns. There is conspiracy, political intrigue and scandal, but also some humorous banter to lighten the darker aspects of the period and setting in Algeria's colonial past.

What can you say about Robert Goddard that hasn't already been said?
If you have read any of his books you know you will get a finely crafted, intriguing plot, interesting characters, a few surprises, and a story that grips to the very end.
This book ticks all the boxes with the added bonus that it is set in an unfamiliar but well-researched setting so there is something new to learn on almost every page.
Highly recommended.

I love receiving a new book from Robert Goddard. He is a natural storyteller, and This is the Night They Come For You is yet another riveting read. The last book The Fine Art of Invisible Detection was superb (and also reviewed in RdrStr)! This is the Night They Come for You is a completely different, and another classic Goddard novel.

At the heart of this novel is the struggle for an independent Algeria in the 50s and 60s. France cannot be proud of this time in history. Algeria had many activists in France especially in Paris and “terrorist” activities were frequent against de Gaulle and his government. de Gaulle became annoyed and frustrated and secretly activated a “committee” to punish the Algerian protesters. In particular, at one night of demonstrations police and other associates slaughtered hundreds of Algerian protesters – many ending up in the Seine.

The Algerians were extremely angry and wanted revenge. The Algerians (Laloul and Zarbi) targetted one of de Gaulle’s cronies (Guy Tournier) who was instrumental in organising the murders. I think this is where fact meets fiction! Nigel Dalby and girlfriend Harriet Gray move from London to Paris to join a film crew. On the film set, they meet Zarbi and consequently Nigel and Zarbi strike up a relationship. Nigel was a witness to the Algerian massacre in Paris and Zarbi believes he can use Nigel to further his aims. Laloul and Zarbi recruit Nigel Dalby to meet Guy Tournier in a bar, and they return to his flat allowing Laloul and Zarbi entrance to Guy’s flat, and there they assassinate Guy. Nigel is persuaded (!) to live in Algeria and opens a bookshop but Harriet mysteriously disappears – perhaps she knew too much? Nigel dies in Algiers in mysterious circumstances.

Many years later the scene switches to Algiers and Superintendent Taleb is tasked with apprehending Laloul. Zarbi has served 20 years in jail whereas Laloul escaped to Europe. Zarbi is annoyed at his incarceration and Laloul’s freedom. The police believe Zarbi will lead them to Laloul. Reluctantly Taleb has to accept Agent Hidouchi of the DRS (Algeria’s intelligence and security service) as an assistant. Meanwhile in the UK, Stephen Gray (Harriet’s brother) has met Suzette Dalby. They appear to have received a confession written by Nigel admitting his part in the assassination of Guy Tournier. This confession is a valuable document to many parties. Who wants this confession most? Zarbi and Laloul? The French government or even the Algerian government. All parties are interested and some are prepared to go to any length.

The novel is full of intrigue and scandal. The political history between France and Algeria is examined and woven into the story. The story unfolds quickly and other interested parties get involved in trying to gain possession of this dynamite confession. Taleb and Hidouchi appear to have different agendas. Stephen and Suzette have differing opinions on the confession too. The two governments have opposing reasons to bury the confession. So many conflicts of interest drive the yarn to a climax in Paris.

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.

Here is Taleb responding to his Director: “‘The avoidance of problems is my guiding purpose in life, Director.’

Later, in another exchange with his director:
“What would you do if you had to chase a criminal on foot, Taleb?’ he asks, still smiling. ‘I wouldn’t back you to beat my mother-in-law over a hundred metres.’

‘I suppose . . . I would . . . have to shoot them.’‘

“Mmm. Maybe I should arrange a race for you with my mother-in-law.’”

So in summary, another intriguing story from Robert Goddard. A great five star read … yet again!