Roger Rider and Geoffrey Paradine had known each other since childhood. Roger was the intelligent, good-looking, successful one, and Geoffrey was the one everyone else picked on. When years of suppressed anger, jealousy, and frustration finally surfaced, Geoffrey took his revenge by sleeping with Roger’s beautiful wife. Was this price enough for all those miserable years o Roger Rider and Geoffrey Paradine had known each other since childhood. Roger was the intelligent, good-looking, successful one, and Geoffrey was the one everyone else picked on. When years of suppressed anger, jealousy, and frustration finally surfaced, Geoffrey took his revenge by sleeping with Roger’s beautiful wife. Was this price enough for all those miserable years of put-downs? When Roger turned up dead, the police certainly didn’t think so.
The Plot Against Roger Rider
Roger Rider and Geoffrey Paradine had known each other since childhood. Roger was the intelligent, good-looking, successful one, and Geoffrey was the one everyone else picked on. When years of suppressed anger, jealousy, and frustration finally surfaced, Geoffrey took his revenge by sleeping with Roger’s beautiful wife. Was this price enough for all those miserable years o Roger Rider and Geoffrey Paradine had known each other since childhood. Roger was the intelligent, good-looking, successful one, and Geoffrey was the one everyone else picked on. When years of suppressed anger, jealousy, and frustration finally surfaced, Geoffrey took his revenge by sleeping with Roger’s beautiful wife. Was this price enough for all those miserable years of put-downs? When Roger turned up dead, the police certainly didn’t think so.
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Lukasz Pruski –
A friend of mine has forever been raving about Julian Symons' classic British mysteries so I decided to try one, to lighten my mood after finishing J.M. Coetzee's "Elizabeth Costello". Quite randomly, I chose "The Plot Against Roger Rider". Unfortunately, I find the novel rather disappointing. It is totally unexceptional - average in writing, slightly above average in characterization, and below average in plot development. Maybe I chose the wrong book out of about 30 mysteries by Mr. Symons. On A friend of mine has forever been raving about Julian Symons' classic British mysteries so I decided to try one, to lighten my mood after finishing J.M. Coetzee's "Elizabeth Costello". Quite randomly, I chose "The Plot Against Roger Rider". Unfortunately, I find the novel rather disappointing. It is totally unexceptional - average in writing, slightly above average in characterization, and below average in plot development. Maybe I chose the wrong book out of about 30 mysteries by Mr. Symons. One day, I will give him another chance. Roger Rider and Geoffrey Paradine have been friends since their youth. Roger was a big boy who protected the smaller Geoffrey from bullying at school. Now Geoffrey works for Roger, who has become a tycoon. However, when Roger hires a detective to spy on his wife, he learns it is the timid Geoffrey that his wife sleeps with. This is just the beginning of a complicated plot that includes disappearances and murders, and which takes place in early 1970s in the UK and Spain. The three aspects of the novel that I like are occasional sharp observations of motives of human behavior, the well presented portrayal of how politics influences police work in Franco's Spain, and the Sheila and James' thread. The major weakness of the book is that the plot development depends on several major coincidences. Sure, coincidences happen in real life, but in mystery novels they signify sloppy design. There are also three major "twists" at the end of the novel, and I find the last one strained and contrived. Two stars.
Kenneth McMahon –
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I thought this was mostly average going and then with about 30 pages left I thought I twigged what the twist was going to be, or at least I came up with a twist and hoped that the book was leading that way (Geoffrey Paradine and Amanda contrive to murder Roger for revenge and his money but make it look like Roger has faked his own death. The body in the water is actually Roger but they had Hubert break into the dentist office in Australia and put Rider's dental charts in Summers' file and make s I thought this was mostly average going and then with about 30 pages left I thought I twigged what the twist was going to be, or at least I came up with a twist and hoped that the book was leading that way (Geoffrey Paradine and Amanda contrive to murder Roger for revenge and his money but make it look like Roger has faked his own death. The body in the water is actually Roger but they had Hubert break into the dentist office in Australia and put Rider's dental charts in Summers' file and make some other paperwork disappear. The police are lead to believe that Roger is on the run after faking his death and go down that investigation, leaving Geoffrey and Amanda to get away scot free.) There are some scenes that wouldn't make sense with that twist - Amanda breaking up with Geoffrey for one - but I liked my idea better. The reveal of the culprit was disappointing in the end.
Alan –
Well plotted and fast paced. Many machinations within.
Jack Heath –
Synopsis: Roger and Geoffrey knew each other for years. Geoffrey was tired of being picked on and slept with Roger's wife. Murder followed. Synopsis: Roger and Geoffrey knew each other for years. Geoffrey was tired of being picked on and slept with Roger's wife. Murder followed.
Katrina –
A good read which kept me guessing.
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