A Review By Frances

There are influences of both “Brideshead Revisited” and the life of TE Lawrence in this story of a house which seems to absorb the ghosts of the past.  The three separate times – 2006, 1996 and 1936 are atmospherically described.  The house, Tyme’s End of the title is beautifully described as it slowly decays through time.  The story is told backwards, starting with the recent past and a stroppy teenager, Bibi meeting the owner of Tyme’s End, Oliver Gardner.  Looking back we learn more about Oliver and the difficult relationship between his father and his grandfather, also named Oliver Garner.  In the final part of the book we learn more about Oliver Gardner senior, the house, Tyme’s End and the fatal motorbike accident which killed the original owner of the house, HJ Martin – Jack to his friends.

The book is well written and nicely structured, but for me the plot did not quite hang together.  I was not convinced by the lack of paternal feeling shown by Oliver Gardner senior for his son, nor by his death.  Mysteries remained unresolved, which is a pity because this is very nearly a memorable book.