In Pale Battalions

Robert Goddard

Jan 2010 · Random House

About this ebook

Six months after the sudden death of her husband, Leonora Galloway sets out on a trip to France with her daughter Penelope. At last the time has come when secrets can be shared and explanations begin... Leonora takes her daughter to the battlefields of WW1, where her father is commemorated on the Thiepval Monument. But the date of his death is surprising, and reveals that Captain John Hallows cannot possibly have been Leonora's real father.

This is only the start of a series of revelations that span three generations of a distinguished aristocratic family who are not what they seem. Penelope must piece together a tale of war, of loss, of greed, deception and vice - and the perpetrator of a murder left unsolved for more than half a century...

OUT NOW the thrilling BBC2 Between the Covers Book Club pick by Robert Goddard: THE FINE ART OF INVISIBLE DETECTION.

Ratings and reviews

Wow! A fantastic book captivating to the last page. The First World War was sad in its own right, the way that Mr Goddard has managed to put another level of sadness on top of that is almost sickening.

Twist upon twist with an underlying air of sadness. A great human story.

This is one story I did not want to end.

About the author

Robert Goddard's first novel, Past Caring, was an instant bestseller. Since then, his books have captivated readers worldwide with their edge-of-the-seat pace and their labyrinthine plotting. He has won awards in the UK, the US and acrossEurope and his books have been translated into over thirty languages. In 2019, he won the Crime Writers’ Association’s highest accolade, the Diamond Dagger, for a lifetime achievement in Crime Writing.