Inspector Ian Rutledge brought home more than just memories of the trenches in France, he brought the voice of a dead soldier, Hamish MacLeod. Keeping the memories and Hamish at bay for the past two years has forced Rutledge into the vigorous pursuit of the criminals lurking in the London countryside.
Restless after the wedding of his beloved sister, Frances, Rutledge goes for a drive on dark country roads. Running from the emptiness of his London flat, he drives straight into a messy murder, when he suddenly has to swerve to a stop to avoid a young woman whose hands are covered in blood and the body of a dead man at her feet.
Her story seems unbelievable. A man standing in the middle of the road stopped their car, and her companion, Stephen Wentworth, stepped out to see if he could help. They spoke. Then the man drew out a revolver and shot Wentworth point blank in the heart.
Now, intrigued and determined to avoid the loneliness of London, he begins digging into Wentworth's life. Piece by piece he unravels Wentworth's past, his secrets, but Rutledge struggles to find the piece that links to the cause of his death.
Charles Todd, a mother and son writing team, have, once again, woven the war, it's damage; the unique characters of Rutledge and Hamish; and a murder into a brilliant mystery. Characters become real, unique and rich as the writing team fleshes out the life of the victim. And, Rutledge, well, he remains the poignant, painful hero who cannot shake his demons.
Inspector Rutledge is at the top of my list of favorite detectives. He's real and the post-war world of England is drawn with the muted colors of a confusing time. I come back to Charles Todd each time a new book is released, and each time I am rewarded with exceptional story-telling and new insights into the people of the past.
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