The Inheritance

Written by Simon Tolkien

Narrated by Leighton Pugh

Simon Tolkien’s gripping Oxford-based thriller which sees Inspector Trave in a race for justice against deception, conspiracy and the long shadow of the past.

When an eminent art historian is found dead in his study, all the evidence points to his estranged son, Stephen. With his fingerprints on the murder weapon, Stephen’s guilt seems undeniable.

As the police begin to question five other people who were in the house at the time, it is revealed that Stephen’s father was involved at the end of World War II in a deadly hunt for a priceless relic in northern France, and the case begins to unravel.

As Stephen’s trial unfolds at the Old Bailey, Inspector Trave of the Oxford police decides he must go to France and find out what really happened in 1944. What artefact could be so valuable it would be worth killing for? But Trave has very little time – the race is on to save Stephen from the gallows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9780007584789

Simon Tolkien

Simon Tolkien was a successful Criminal Justice barrister in London specializing in serious crimes before moving to California with his wife and two children to take up writing full time. He has been acclaimed as a naturally gifted storyteller with a terrific command of language and a unique perception into the darker sides of human nature. The grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, with whom he had a very special relationship, Simon Tolkien’s writing is set firmly in this world.

Reviews for The Inheritance

[estellechauvelin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read all of the Robin Hobb novels, but the three stories included here were new to me, and I had never read Megan Lindholm stories before; I knew that the Lindholm stories were said to be a very different style from those the author rights as Robin Hobb, and they are. I am happy to report that I like them both.The Megan Lindholm stories are twisty little self contained tales, as likely to be SF as fantasy, and the fantasy is a quieter sort of magical realism. I think fans of Neil Gaiman's short stories would be a natural audience for them.The Robin Hobb stories are all set in the Realm of the Elderlings world, and are best appreciated as a part of the larger series, as some concepts are only hinted at that the full series explains. I found "Cat's Meat" somewhat anticlimactic for spoilery reasons that I won't mention, but even in that case I enjoyed the chance to revisit the world.

[mooingzelda · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Inheritance is a mostly great collection of short stories by Megan Lindholm and Robin Hobb, both pseudonyms for the author Margaret Ogden. I'd only read Robin Hobb's novels before picking up this book, so I was intrigued to see how I'd get on with her writing as Megan Lindholm, which is more in the realm of urban fantasy. I loved A Touch of Lavender and Strays for their memorable characters. The other Lindholm stories were pretty good, but they didn't wow me quite as much.There are three Robin Hobb stories in the collection, all fairly lengthy and set in the Realm of the Elderlings. Homecoming, a story told through journal entries by a woman exiled to the Rain Wilds, was my favourite of these (although I did have to question how she was able to write some of the journal entries while in some rather sticky situations!). I really enjoyed this collection and am now going to hunt down the other Hobb stories that I haven't read yet, as well as the Lindholm novels!

[infjsarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Robin Hobb's writing and this short story collection is I think the only item of hers I have not read. She writes very different styles under her two pennames and I prefer the Hobb style. But these were an enjoyable set of short stories in both styles. But I did prefer the longer stories.

[edwinkort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Boek met een aantal korte verhaaltjes. Heb alleen de laatste drie gelezen, omdat die nog enige binding hadden met de verhalen uit de 'Zieners' reeks.

Ben niet echt liefhebber van korte verhalen, omdat je je dan niet met een karakter kan identificeren, en ook deze verhalen waren daarop geen uitzondering.

3 sterren.

[junipersun · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stories with a twist. Nothing formulaic here, but plenty to think about--I'll keep an eye out for more Lindholm and Hobb stories. Only "Homecoming" was a bit slow, due to the journal entry format, so actions and feelings were only talked about.

[tortoise_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I quite liked "A Touch of Lavender", the opening story in this collection, about an a young girl and her impoverished mother dealing with an alien refugee culture, and "Finis", a vampire story whose character dynamics were interesting enough to support the story despite a perhaps overly-telegraphed twist ending. Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn't live up to them. "The Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man" was overly cutesy; most of the rest of the book seemed pointlessly depressing, often with hamhanded political messages thrown in (as in "Cut" and "Drum Machine"). There was also a recurring theme of "people who like to analyze things don't get to appreciate the joys of life" that I found seriously unpleasant (probably most present in "The Fifth Squashed Cat", but it recurred throughout).

[leahsimone_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is my first time reading any of Hobb's Lindholm stories. Perhaps my favorite aspect was I had no idea where she was going with each story despite her introductions to each. She writes with a gritty sense of realism that pulls you in immediately and keeps you invested despite the strangeness of the fantastical or bazaar elements. My favorite of these would have to be A Touch of Lavendar, Cut, Strays and Drum Machine. In her introduction to Cut she says "I like to think...that I write stories because I have a question. Not the answer, mind you, but just the question." I found myself thinking about the stories for a time afterwards wondering how I would feel and what would I do in those situations.The second half of the book is her more well known fantasy writing as Hobb. I am about half way through and enjoying those as well although in a different way. After reading Homecoming, I am really looking forward to reading her Realm of the Elderling series. Recommended.

[helcura_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've long been a fan of Megan Lindholm, so I quite enjoyed the first half of this book. I was surprised, however, by the fact that I also really enjoyed the second half of the book. I've always found Robin Hobb to be a good, but tedious writer. These shorter stories worked well for me and interested me in her work. Megan/Robin clearly has two very different styles depending on which name she is writing under, and this book is a good introduction to both. Worth reading - it may open up new frontiers for those who are a fan of one pseudonym or the other.

[bgknighton · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I always find it interesting to follow an author's development. You can see how she formed the ideas for her long fiction in some of these stories. Some of them are raw, she has definitely gotten better with age and practice, but I have to say I really prefer her novels. I much prefer it when her female characters have more spunk and fight in them.

[djmng · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

great book of short stories by robin hobb and her other pen name megan lindholm. I'm not usually a fan of short stories but these were all absolutely engaging and once i started reading i couldn't stop.

[janarose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have always been a fan of Robin Hobbs, but had never read any of her Megan Lindholm stories. After reading this collection of short stories that will soon change. From science fiction to fantasy, this book had it all. I highly enjoyed the stories and would love to read more.

[kmaziarz_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Robin Hobb is one of my favorite authors, and though I knew she also wrote under the name Megan Lindholm, I had never read Lindholm previously. This anthology was a great introduction to both of the author's signature styles. In reading the Lindholm stories, I discovered that I had actually read one of them before, "The Fifth Squashed Cat." It was a story that stuck with me for a long time after reading it the first time, and still resonated this time around. Though I do have to say that the story which most sucked me in was the first, "A Touch of Lavender." The world created in the story unfolds with perfect timing, bits and pieces dropped along the way, building a picture of the strange, dangerous place lived in by the young protagonist.Being a fan of Hobb to start with, I of course enjoyed the stories set in the world of Hobb's most intriguing creations, the Elderlings. The real stand-out here was, again, the first story, Homecoming. I find the Rain Wilds and the ruined cities there to be a fascinating setting, and I loved getting a glimpse at the early years of that civilization. The second Hobb story, The Inheritance, was certainly enjoyable, but I felt it was also a bit...uninspired. It didn't have quite the emotional depth I've come to expect from Hobb.Over all, this is a most satisfying collection. Whether you're a Lindholm fan, a Hobb fan, or a fan of both, you will find much to enjoy here.

[somewhatbent · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Inheritance: And Other StoriesRobin HobbHarper Voyager (2011), Edition: Original, Paperback, 400 pagesThe many voices of Megan/Robin/Lindholm/Hobb. A collection of short stories ranging from Bingtown and Rain Wild to a suburban Sears and more. There is a delightful cast of characters and creatures; from cats to 'coons, vampires and aliens. The tales stand well on their own, but some provide glimpses into worlds we're familiar with from her other books. Nice pace and lengths for those times when you just have a short time and can't get entranced in something you can't put down. A fine selection of 'tea time' reading.

[unreachableshelf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read all of the Robin Hobb novels, but the three stories included here were new to me, and I had never read Megan Lindholm stories before; I knew that the Lindholm stories were said to be a very different style from those the author rights as Robin Hobb, and they are. I am happy to report that I like them both.The Megan Lindholm stories are twisty little self contained tales, as likely to be SF as fantasy, and the fantasy is a quieter sort of magical realism. I think fans of Neil Gaiman's short stories would be a natural audience for them.The Robin Hobb stories are all set in the Realm of the Elderlings world, and are best appreciated as a part of the larger series, as some concepts are only hinted at that the full series explains. I found "Cat's Meat" somewhat anticlimactic for spoilery reasons that I won't mention, but even in that case I enjoyed the chance to revisit the world.