The Ways of the World: A James Maxted Thriller - Hardcover

Goddard, Robert

3.76

2,149 ratings by Goodreads

9780802123596: The Ways of the World: A James Maxted Thriller

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802123597 ISBN 13: 9780802123596

Publisher: Mysterious Press, 2015

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From the Edgar Award-winning, internationally bestselling British writer Robert Goddard comes a captivating new trilogy of historical thrillers, set at the tail end of World War I and featuring the devilishly charismatic James "Max" Maxted, a Royal Flying Corps veteran who has a hard time keeping himself out of trouble.

Four years of horrific fighting have finally ended on the battlefield, but in the spring of 1919, Paris is filled with delegates from around the world who are still trying to hammer out the terms of peace. One such delegate is British diplomat Sir Henry Maxted, in charge of liaising with the Brazilians regarding seized ships. But before a deal is reached, Sir Henry turns up dead outside a Montparnasse apartment building, apparently having fallen from the roof. His sons Max and Ashley are sent to Paris to collect the body, and it quickly becomes clear that the theory the French police have put forward is flawed. But since the murder of a diplomat could be disastrous for the peace conference, no one is keen to ask questions--except Max.

What begins as an innocent inquiry into his father's death soon leads Max into a dangerous world of secret allegiances, international espionage, and people double-crossing each other at the highest levels of government. How far is he willing to go to discover the truth about the death of a father he barely knew? And how much will the authorities--and others--let him find out before threatening Max's own life?

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Review:

"Robert Goddard is the master of complex, tricky thrillers that dazzle with surprises. . . Another stellar performance."--"Sydney Morning Herald"
"Enjoyable . . . Goddard evokes time and place with an expert hand . . . Fans of period mysteries set in times of historical transition will be satisfied."--"Publishers Weekly"
"[Goddard is] still producing the riffs on historical crime fiction that are his sweet spot, but his new book's absorbing language and artful depictions of physical locations, along with a plot that falls somewhere between Georges Simenon and Graham Greene, should keep readers rapt . . . A sly, highbrow take on the espionage thriller with a rich background that lends sophistication to an already opulent story."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"Dashed good yarn-spanning. . . . The action is insistent and often deadly."--"Toronto Star"

Former Lt. James (Max) Maxted, the dashing protagonist of Robert Goddard's historical espionage thriller . . . is a refreshing throwback to an earlier romantic tradition of heroes . . . A rip-roaring adventure . . . Paris in 1919 is a snake pit of spies, counterspies, traitors and turncoatsjust the setting for this convoluted tale . . . We re sure to see this charismatic chap again in what the author promises will be a trilogy of high-action adventures. "New York Times Book Review"
Wildly entertaining . . . Goddard has long been one of the genre s cleverest plotters and most accomplished prose stylists . . . Goddard assembles around Max as savvy, as well spoken, and as treacherous a band of double-dealing con artists as we ve seen since Caspar Gutman, Joel Cairo, and Brigid Shaughnessy joined forces to hunt a black bird. "Booklist" (starred review)
Goddard paints the Paris of that era with sure strokes. "St. Louis Post-Dispatch"
Robert Goddard is the master of complex, tricky thrillers that dazzle with surprises. . . Another stellar performance. "Sydney Morning Herald"
Enjoyable . . . Goddard evokes time and place with an expert hand . . . Fans of period mysteries set in times of historical transition will be satisfied. "Publishers Weekly"
[Goddard is] still producing the riffs on historical crime fiction that are his sweet spot, but his new book's absorbing language and artful depictions of physical locations, along with a plot that falls somewhere between Georges Simenon and Graham Greene, should keep readers rapt . . . A sly, highbrow take on the espionage thriller with a rich background that lends sophistication to an already opulent story. "Kirkus Reviews"
Dashed good yarn-spinning. . . . The action is insistent and often deadly. "Toronto Star"
Cleverly plotted . . . there is plenty here to keep the pages turning . . . Most of all, it is exceptionally well written. Reviewing the Evidence"

"Former Lt. James (Max) Maxted, the dashing protagonist of Robert Goddard's historical espionage thriller . . . is a refreshing throwback to an earlier romantic tradition of heroes . . . A rip-roaring adventure . . . Paris in 1919 is a snake pit of spies, counterspies, traitors and turncoats--just the setting for this convoluted tale . . . We're sure to see this charismatic chap again in what the author promises will be a trilogy of high-action adventures."--New York Times Book Review

"Wildly entertaining . . . Goddard has long been one of the genre's cleverest plotters and most accomplished prose stylists . . . Goddard assembles around Max as savvy, as well spoken, and as treacherous a band of double-dealing con artists as we've seen since Caspar Gutman, Joel Cairo, and Brigid Shaughnessy joined forces to hunt a black bird."--Booklist (starred review)

"Goddard paints the Paris of that era with sure strokes."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Robert Goddard is the master of complex, tricky thrillers that dazzle with surprises. . . Another stellar performance."--Sydney Morning Herald

"Enjoyable . . . Goddard evokes time and place with an expert hand . . . Fans of period mysteries set in times of historical transition will be satisfied."--Publishers Weekly

"[Goddard is] still producing the riffs on historical crime fiction that are his sweet spot, but his new book's absorbing language and artful depictions of physical locations, along with a plot that falls somewhere between Georges Simenon and Graham Greene, should keep readers rapt . . . A sly, highbrow take on the espionage thriller with a rich background that lends sophistication to an already opulent story."--Kirkus Reviews

"Dashed good yarn-spinning. . . . The action is insistent and often deadly."--Toronto Star

"Cleverly plotted . . . there is plenty here to keep the pages turning . . . Most of all, it is exceptionally well written."--Reviewing the Evidence

About the Author:

Robert Goddard is the Edgar Award-winning, internationally bestselling author of Long Time Coming, Into the Blue, which won the first W H Smith Thumping Good Read Award, and Past Caring. He read history at the University of Cambridge and lives in Cornwall.

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