Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive By Stephen Goldenberg

Jeremy Halliday's idyllic new life in South-West France comes to a shocking end when gendarmes arrive to tell him that his partner Julia's body has been found in her burnt out car. In the ensuing murder investigation, Jeremy becomes the chief suspect when the investigating judge discovers that he has withheld important and incriminating evidence.

For Jeremy, it becomes painfully reminiscent of an investigation in London six years earlier which cast a shadow over his relationship and his career. This time he decides to prove his innocence by doing some investigating of his own. Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive

summary Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive

Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive is a mystery story. Jeremy Halliday's girlfriend has just left him, tearing a hole in his heart. Several days later, the police contact him to let him know that she never made it home to England from France. Her burnt body and car had just been found.

What follows is not just a chronicle of the investigation but also of a past accusation of sexual assault and its complex fallout. This is not a police procedural, but feels more like a drama. Much of the story is concerned with emotional fallout of traumatic events: the sexual assault accusation, the murder, an affair, and much more. The plot takes some odd turns, but all of them fit perfectly in the genre.

The relationships and personalities feel very real. These seem like things real people, would think or feel in these situations, from intense emotional agony to challenges with a non-native language. There's a sort of modern ennui that drives the characters and is a bit sad. There is enough going on here to break from the stereotypes of modern novels.

The flashback chapters are a bit jarring and it is not always immediately obvious that they are flashbacks. Some dating or a list of how many years ago the chapter occurred could have been useful at the chapter headings. This is not an action-field novel, and a lot of it consists of talking. There are long paragraphs of dialogue, which may not be some people's cup of tea.

Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive is an interesting, entertaining mix of murder mystery and interpersonal drama. It has enough different about it to warrant your time. Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive OK Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive interesting book. well written. great twist at the end.
won this in a giveaway. thank you! Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

This was a suspenseful, well-written mystery.

Jeremy and Julia moved to France to start a new life together, until Julia breaks up with Jeremy and is murdered, leaving Jeremy as the main suspect.

I liked the way that a scandal from Jeremy’s past was woven into story to cast doubt upon his character and leave the reader wondering. The way the Jeremy and Julia’s relationship unfolded seemed realistic and the characters were engaging. I really got into it and read it almost in one sitting.

The only thing I don’t know about is the ending. I don’t know if the reader is just supposed to extrapolate quite a bit or if the mystery is left unsolved, but if I read a murder mystery, I much prefer to find out exactly who the murderer is.
Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive