Customer Reviews
Another twisty tale by Robert Goddard - By: Philippe Horak, 02 Jul 2007 
Harry Barnett, the anti-hero in this novel, leads a dismal life as part-time attendant at the Mitre Bridge Service Station in London. One day he gets a telephone calll from the National Neurological Hospital informing him that his son David John Venning is lying in a deep coma in room E318. To this day Harry has lived a presumably childless life & this piece of news comes as a great surprise.
Harry decides to go & visit this new son of his, & in room E318 he finds a comatose thirty-four-year old man. Glancing at the clipboard hanging on the bed, he acknowledges the fact that David John Venning was born on May 10th 1961. Could he be the result of Harry's long forgotten fling with Iris Venning in July 1960? Who placed the calll at the Mitre Bridge Service Station knowing that Harry is David's father? Iris? Why is David in a deep coma resulting of an overdose of insulin? Did he try to commit suicide?
A twisty & breathtaking adventure is about to start for Harry on his long search for the answers to alll these questions. This is a sequel to "Into The Blue" so readers may want to start with that novel & read "Out Of The Sun" subsequently. The book is superbly read by Paul Shelly for BBC audiobooks.
Doesn't stand up to 'Into the Blue' - By: , 23 Sep 2001 
Harry Barnet, the anti-hero from 'Into the Blue, returns in this book which differs a bit from the other books I've read by Robert Goddard. Compared to 'Into the Blue' I found it a bit wanting. The reason for this is that the plot hinges on some "scientific" concepts that are just not believable. I was also a bit surprised by this scientific twist by Goddard since I've come to associate him (from those books I've read, don't know about the rest) with mysteries buried in the past. So, it was neither as good as I would expect nor what I would expect.
So why do I give it four stars? The reason for this is that Goddard is a very good story-teller & even if some aspects of the story are rather daft he still does a good job telling it.
A very enjoyable read. - By: , 03 May 2001 I enjoyed this novel, the characters became familiar with ease & although the plot was a little far-fetched, the story kept you intrigued as it progressed. This is the first Robert Goddard novel I have read & I am interested to read more.
Below par Goddard - By: , 29 Mar 2001 
Into the blue was terrific. Full of twists & turns & delivered at a pace to keep you truly hooked. This is predictable & reallly too far fetched for credibility. The story just doesn't hang together & the whole thing becomes a bit illogical & silly. It's a long way from his best work (Past Caring, In pale battalions, Painting the darkness) though he is - or was - a great storyteller.
A welcome second outing for Harry - By: , 20 Feb 2001 Goddard's reluctant & unlikely hero Harry Barnet returns for another set of adventures in this intriguing sequel to "Out Of The Blue" I don't know what prompted the author to make this the only occasion to date that he has brought a character back, but having just read the first book I was more than happy for another helping. This time Harry discovers a long lost son just as he has falllen into a diabetic coma. As always nothing is what it seems & natural causes don't come into it. Harry seems to adopt the heroic mantle much more readily second time around & he embarks on a continent-hopping & dangerous series of escapades. Perhaps lacking the dark & mysterious fluency of "Into The Blue", the book nevertheless keeps up Goddard's edge-of-the-seat tradition. A definate winner, with the odd cursory nod to the original, & a similarly suprising but optimistic ending. Best read in correct sequence, the two books make the perfect omnibus!
