Book description
The Skeleton In The Grass, reminiscent of Robert Barnard's
much-acclaimed Out of the Blackout, illuminates an earlier time and
place: a small English village in 1936, as Franco's troops are
conquering Spain and Hitler's legions are preparing to overrun Europe.
The world at large may be sliding into the abyss of disaster, but life
at Hallam, country seat of the glamorous and renowned Hallam family,
still represents the ultimate in British civilization. Teatime, with its
cucumber sandwiches and cream cakes, continues as it has for a hundred
years. It's not that the Hallam family ignores the world outside its
gracious doors. On the contrary, Helen and Dennis Hallam care
passionately about peace and principle, and Dennis dramatically conveys
these views to the nation in his controversial weekly review column.
Avowed pacifists, Helen and Dennis represent a political stance that the
villagers mistrust and fear. That fear and suspicion turn to nasty
pranks when a sinister Fascist major gains control over some of the
local youths. Helen and Dennis, and their sons Oliver and Will, become
the victims of cruel taunts and the kind of teasing that leads to
terror. As the Hallams and villagers grow more hostile, we see the story
through the eyes of Sarah Causeley, and idealistic young woman who has
recently come to be nursery governess at Hallam. To Sarah, the Hallams
represent beauty, brilliance, and style-an idyllic life in the midst of
chaos. But as she watches, the Hallams' world begins to disintegrate,
and a tense and unexpected encounter leads to a shocking murder. Much
more than a crime novel, The Skeleton in the Grass is an extraordinary
piece of fiction that captures the essence of a family that captures the
essence of a family and a world on the brink of extinction. With
subtlety and skill, Robert Barnard amazes with his versatility and
storytelling power. Robert Barnard is a well-established crime writer.
He has won the prestigious Nero Wolfe Award as well as the Anthony,
Agatha and Macavity Awards, has been nominated eight times for the Edgar
Award and was the winner of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award in 2003
for a lifetime of achievement. He has also written crime novels under
the pseudonym of Bernard Bastable. He lives with his wife in Leeds and
has had over 45 titles published in the UK and US.
