The plot on its own is engaging . . . but woven into the fabric of the story are hidden Beatles references like Easter eggs waiting to be discovered by the reader. * British Beatles Fan Club Magazine * Witty, tragic and emotional. If there's a better-observed comic novel about the 1960s, I'll eat my kaftan. -- Cindy Kent MBE, former lead singer of The Settlers Goddard's knowledge of popular culture is extraordinary, and the way he weaves it into a believable range of characters makes this book utterly compelling. A splendid read is guaranteed for all. -- Don Maclean MBE, former presenter of BBC TV's Crackerjack! [Of RATTLES AND ROSETTES, author's first novel published in 2014]

There are football biographies by the bucket load, but a football-themed novel that is as utterly compelling as Rattles and Rosettes doesn't come along very often. And a rare gem it is, too. Superbly written in a way that captivates from the first sentence of the first page, this novel grabs hold of you, pulls you in and won't let go . . . [it] unfolds in an increasingly entertaining and intriguing way and the climax is not only unexpected but really tugs at the heart-strings. Highly recommended! -- The Revd Chris Roe, Chaplain to Crystal Palace FC It will come as no spoiler to hear that eventually, somehow, Goddard cunningly ties the two stories together in a manner which is as surprising as it is masterful, with a mesmerising, twisting and turning crescendo that builds over the final chapters before spilling over onto a genuinely emotional epilogue . . . a book of immense substance. -- Tim Pike on Ship of Fools