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

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

This Is The Night They Come For You Release Date? Robert This Is The Night They Come For You Release Date? Robert

While Taleb is well aware that no-one in Algiers wants to be reminded of the violence associated with the Algerian struggle for independence, his need for truth outweighs his desire for self-preservation. He and Hidouchi make a formidable team as they search for the former agent. And their search for this agent takes them into a mystery surrounding a murder in Paris around the time Stephen Gray’s sister went missing. This is one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time. It’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and spine chilling. Goddard is a master at creating suspenseful stories with unexpected twists and turns.” Meanwhile, in Hampshire, England, Stephen Gray is working on his father's cottage when he receives an unexpected visit from Suzette Fontaine. Stephen met Suzette over thirty years ago when they were both in Algiers. This visit will set Gray on a path that sees him search for the truth about his sister's disappearance in Paris nearly sixty years ago. We find out that Suzette's father, Nigel Dalby, was a witness to what history is calling, the Paris massacre of 1961. Where protesting Algerians were tortured and massacred by an out of control French police force. There is never a dull moment in a novel by Robert Goddard. His plots grab one in a vice-like grip and hold tight through the many twists and turns of each new revelation. Yet despite the brilliance of his plotting it is his intensely drawn characters that drive the mysteries forward. Most usually they are chameleons with more than a skeleton or two in their closets.The difference between convicted criminals and unconvicted ones is that the unconvicted ones run the country.'” 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.

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

Police HQ Algiers, and all soon to retire Superintendent Taleb wants is air conditioning. and to be left alone. Summoned by his superior he is handed a job which forces him to work with the feared secret service, hunting down a former agent. To his dismay, he is assigned to work with Agent Hidouchi, an intimidating representative of the country's feared secret service, who makes it clear she intends to call the shots. 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. But their search will lead them inexorably towards a greater mystery, surrounding a murder that took place in Paris more than fifty years ago. 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. My 2nd read from Roger Goddard is every bit as good as the first in this complex intriguing, intricate and stunningly well plotted literary thriller.Goddard proves himself a master of suspense once again in this taut, atmospheric mystery. The characters are realistically drawn and the plot is fast-paced and tension-filled. This Is the Night They Come for You is another winner from one of my favorite authors.” 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. Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

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

Meanwhile, in Hampshire, Stephen Gray is approached by Suzette Dalby. She was given a manuscript by Swiss-French layer, a "confession" made by her father, Nigel Dalby, who was a witness to the horrible brutality and violence used by the Paris police against Algerian protestors in October 17th, 1961. He was involved in the murder of the aide to Charles De Gaulle by two Algerian "terrorists". She Asks Stephen to help her decide whether the confession is authentic- if not, there's a financial reward for her. Stephen, who knew Nigel- who dated his sister Harriette, who herslef disappeared in France after the death of De Gaulle aid's murder- can deduce whether it was really her father's writing or not. But Stephen knows more than he lets on, and he has a plan- a dangerous one, to finally bring those who murdered his sister to justice. But his thirst for revenge will cost him a lot, and will put the people close to him in danger. He’s a forgotten man. But not by all, apparently, since at that moment his telephone starts to ring.’ On a hot and clammy afternoon in Algiers, veteran Police Superintendent Mouloud Taleb—on the verge of retirement after close to five decades of service—is handed what is probably the biggest, and most perilous, case of his career. He is to join Souad Hidouchi, a young female agent of the Algerian Secret Service on the hunt for Wassim Zarbi, who himself was a mighty intelligence operative for a long time until being thrown in prison for corruption twenty years ago. Zarbi is absconding from his house—where he was kept due to old age—and is presumably in pursuit of his former partner Nadir Laloul who had abandoned him all those years ago, skipping the country with the entire ill-gotten wealth. Two apparently unconnected events bring past and present together as this complex story unfolds in locations across France, Algiers, and Hampshire.The difference between convicted criminals and unconvicted ones is that the unconvicted ones run the country.’ I don't think I've ever read a Robert Goddard novel and was disappointed. And if anything, I believe he has outdone himself with this remarkable, breath-taking, overwhelming, haunting novel. My very first Robert Goddard novel and it certainly will not be the last, This Is the Night They Come For You is a fictionalised political thriller based on real-life events in Algiers and Paris, with an almost retired Superintendent and a hot-shot Agent tasked with hunting down a former agent. 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! On a hot and clammy afternoon in Algiers, veteran Police Superintendent Mouloud Taleb—staring at an unwelcome retirement after close to five decades of service—is handed what is probably the biggest, and most perilous, case of his career. He is to join Souad Hidouchi, a young female agent of the Algerian Secret Service on the hunt for Wassim Zarbi, who himself was a mighty intelligence operative for a long time until being thrown in prison for corruption twenty years ago. Zarbi is absconding from his house—where he was kept in consideration of his advanced age—and is presumably in pursuit of his former partner Nadir Laloul who had abandoned him all those years ago, skipping the country with the entire ill-gotten wealth.

This is the Night They Come For You: A TIMES - WHSmith

With alternating timelines between past & present, we’re taken on a thrilling ride of how a film assistant goes missing in France, the lifelong search her brother will go on to find answers to her disappearance, to how it ties in with the murder of a powerful presidential aide.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. Once again with the author I am so impressed with the research into the subject that so many want to forget. He produces very believable characters in a plot from the 60s and its repercussions for Governments today. Goddard sprinkles head-turning double-crossing with delightful by-play between his two leads' The Times The naive young man is is persuaded to help 2 algerians whose actions result in the disappearance of his girlfriend in the murder of a french government adviser . Highly original and very good indeed...a delightful double act, crunchy dialogue, strong action scenes and provocative historical apercus. * The Sunday Times *