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Painting the Darkness cover art

Painting the Darkness

By: Robert Goddard
Narrated by: Michael Kitchen
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Summary

On a mild autumn afternoon in 1882, William Trenchard sits smoking his pipe in the garden of his comfortable family home. When the creak of the garden gate heralds the arrival of an unexpected stranger, he is puzzled but not alarmed. He cannot know the destruction this man will wreak on all he holds most dear.

©1989 Robert and Vaunda Goddard (P)2012 Audible Ltd

What listeners say about Painting the Darkness

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Goddard at his best

I have read or listened to all Robert Goddard's book and rate this one the finest. I read it many years ago and it is one of the most memorable books I've encountered for the sheer roller-coaster of twists and turns. I had forgotten many of the details so greatly enjoyed re-visiting this amazing story. It's one of those books that entice one to keep listening, eager to find out what happens next. Michael Kitchen, as always, does an admirable job of narration. Highly recommended.

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55 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Robert Goddard at his best. HIS VERY BEST

Robert Goddard is a very underestimated writer, this book was gripping, full of Roberts usual threads (the main character always follows a series of actions), the story delightfully long, as it needed to be with the plot unfolding through a first person and third person nattative. It was brought to life by Michael Kitchens reading. At first I was unsure of the reading style, but it proved to be perfect for the story. Without giving anything away, you will be kept guessing up to the end. Typical Robert Goddard. Listen to this book and I will eat my hat if you don't want to order another Robert Goddard book.

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50 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Robert Goddard wins again

I'm a fan of Robert Goddard and have listened to all of his books, enjoying the maze of plots and unpredictable characters he creates. If you like Victorian novels, this one is up to his usual high standard, transporting us back and putting us in the shoes of poor William Trenchard whose cosy family life is destroyed by the arrival of a stranger at his house one day, who presents himself as a man everyone thought had been dead for 10 years. Michael Kitchen's narration is calm and unhurried, the plot twists and turns with surprises round each corner. Will you be able to predict the ending?

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intense

I am actually listening to this for a second time, it is full of intrigue and suspense - one can 'see' our hero's downfall coming - but cannot do anything to stop him falling headlong into disaster.

I have enjoyed this book, though now, on the second reading I am feeling quite stressed on his behalf, and sometimes I have to leave it alone for a little while. Consequently it is taking me longer to read than I usually take over books. I think that this shows that the writing is superb, Robert Goddard is excellent!



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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Painting the Darkness

A solid mistaken identity story told with Goddard's usual mix of layered characters, flawed motives and heartbreak.
We folllow a young woman who has been married a few years when her fiance 'returns' having supposedly drowned 7 years earlier. We 'watch' this situation develop from the point of view of the girl, her husband, the fiance's brother - who has inherited a large estate- and the fiance's mother. Some believe him, some dont, others seek to find proof to have it decided one way or the other. The listener is pulled from one side to the other - manipulated deftly by Robert Goddard's handling of the plot.
Great book, well and clearly narrated.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Written well, and engaging from first page to last

This is what makes Goddard one of the best writers of fiction alive today. And I do not say that lightly. He paints an innocent picture with believable characters so calmly and well timed. The story, starting plainly becoming more complex and interwoven until all you assumed was, might not be. The plots are so believable and put a mirror to the human condition so well. I have never found a poor piece of work by Goddard and have been reading his books since 1978.

Get it, you will enjoy it. Andy McNab it is not. Goddard shows you how complex ordinary life can get. So if you like a complex believable story with real flawed and human characters each with failing's, courage, hope and regret. This is for you.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Painting the Darkness

The combination of Robert Goddard's text and Michael Kitchens narration is a superb marriage that brings to life the late Victorian world and the pressures and protocols that existed. The story keeps you on the edge until the very end, initially It all seemed straight forward and in fact I could not see how it would cover such a long playing time but Goddard gradually unfolds the slight twists and turns of the plot. An intriguing tale of inheritance and dalliance and the long term consequences that continue down the years and envelope so many in their wake; totally fascinating and an absolue joy to listen to. I like Michael Kitchen from his TV appearances but he is perfect here and has that correct degree of Victorian understatement. Highly recomended a great read.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

masterful twists upon twists

Robert Goddard has no equal in the intelligence, twist and cunning of character and plot. If you like your books to be thrilling and unpredictable then no Goddard book would disappoint. This and his other books are rich is subtly, observation, personalities, emotions and moral issues. Nothing is bland nothing is straightforward. All is entertaining and rewarding.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Twists, turns and an unexpected end.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes,

What did you like best about this story?

Kept me guessing right up to the end.

What does Michael Kitchen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Excellent, just the right tone.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

As it was a very long book of more than 20 hours, I knew that it would be a book to savour.

Any additional comments?

What I particularly like about Robert Goddard's characters is that they are distinctive and there aren't too many of them.
My only criticism is that it was a little slow at the beginning.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

slow and monotonous

The narraters voice was the same for almost all of the characters,so it was hard to know who was speaking,I found it very hard to follow and got fed up half way through

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4 people found this helpful