On a deserted road, late at night, Scotland Yard’s Ian Rutledge encounters a frightened woman standing over a body, launching an inquiry that leads him into the lair of a stealthy killer and the dangerous recesses of his own memories in this twentieth installment of the acclaimed New York Times bestselling series.Hours after his sister’s wedding, a restless Ian Rutledge drives aimlessly, haunted … aimlessly, haunted by the past, and narrowly misses a motorcar stopped in the middle of a desolate road. Standing beside the vehicle is a woman with blood on her hands and a dead man at her feet.
She swears she didn’t kill Stephen Wentworth. A stranger stepped out in front of their motorcar, and without warning, fired a single shot before vanishing into the night. But there is no trace of him. And the shaken woman insists it all happened so quickly, she never saw the man’s face.
Although he is a witness after the fact, Rutledge persuades the Yard to give him the inquiry, since he’s on the scene. But is he seeking justice—or fleeing painful memories in London?
Wentworth was well-liked, yet his bitter family paint a malevolent portrait, calling him a murderer. But who did Wentworth kill? Is his death retribution? Or has his companion lied? Wolf Pit, his village, has a notorious history: in Medieval times, the last wolf in England was killed there. When a second suspicious death occurs, the evidence suggests that a dangerous predator is on the loose, and that death is closer than Rutledge knows.
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When I was given a copy of this book, I hesitated because it’s #20 in a series in which I’ve only read two, including the first. So glad I read it — although I’ve missed quite a few installments, I never felt I’d missed critical info or couldn’t follow the story. Rutledge is a terrific character, and his on-going relationship with Hamish is so well-down, just the perfect illustration of what was then called shell shock and how men live with the horror of war. And though the horrors of the Great War do take a turn here, as possible motives for murder, the explanation turns out to be much closer to home — though that does not make it any less awful. Beautifully written and completely engaging. If you haven’t read the series, do start with the first — but don’t hesitate to read this one next.
How in the world did I manage to miss this series until it was up to the twentieth book in the series? I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with our damaged WWI hero. It is two years after the war is over and he’s still struggling with his shell shock and has to constantly fight to stay in control. You have to admire him for his valiant fight and his way of dealing with his issues. I’m not sure how Hamish was explained in earlier books, so my explanation probably isn’t a good one – but – I think Hamish is Ian’s way of dealing with the shell shock. Ian carries on a constant dialogue with Hamish – in his head – and Hamish’s comments often save Ian from injury. It wouldn’t take much, even two years later, to push Ian over the edge.
I love mysteries, but usually only like them long-term if there is a romance involved, so I’m not sure if it is a series I’d stick with for very long. The series is twenty books in, and there is no love interest and doesn’t appear to be headed in that direction. This book also made me sad because the victims were genuinely nice people whose lives were cut short.
The writer’s descriptions of the time and people just transports you to that era – lovely cottages still heated with wood fires, motor cars that had to be hand cranked, telephones were almost non-existent, ladies wearing lovely feathered hats – just a gentler time in a country that had been devastated by war.
Ian Rutledge’s much-adored sister has just married and Ian is having a bit of a panic attack, so he flees London. No destination in mind – just mindless driving – somewhat lost and reliving scenes from the war – he ends up much farther afield than he had intended. He doesn’t actually even know where he is and then he spots a car stopped in the middle of the road and a woman, covered in blood, standing over the lifeless body of a man.
Knowing that he can’t face returning to London at the moment, he finagles around to take over the investigation. As he learns more and more about the young man who has died, Ian comes to like and respect him and can’t imagine that he’d have an enemy in the world. He was a very nice, generous and caring young man – who in the world could have wanted him dead. As he investigates, he finds some intriguing clues, but can’t find anything to which they actually relate.
Then – a few days later – a second murder committed in the same way and with the same intriguing clues left behind. Again, the victim is a war hero, widower, nice, generous and not an enemy in the world. Again, as Ian investigates and gets to know the man, he comes to like and respect him.
As the investigation continues there is no link that Ian can find between the two men – yet they had the same enemy. Then – Ian hears of another death, assigned to another investigator, that sounds the same as Ian’s case.
Ian does good solid police work and continues to investigate until he has all the answers. You won’t like some of those answers, but I’d say that it is probably a very true-to-life investigation and case. The writing is excellent, the plot well laid out, the pacing was good and you come to like and be invested in the characters.
I recommend the book.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Well written, great plots, engrossing.
CharlesTodd is the Author
I really enjoyed this Ian Rutledge for all the usual reasons: intriguing world and plot, compelling characters, twisty mystery, and impeccable setting with the historical detail that I love. But there was something extra-mysterious and interesting about this one. The title alone, when you figure out what it means, is something I’ll never forget. This is a memorable read and leaves you wanting to immediately go grab the next one!
Great detective novels in post war I England, like all his books
Ian Rutledge has a lot of clues to follow in this tale, but he does so with unwavering determination to uncover who caused the death of a man shot in the street. The outcome was unique. Well worth a read. A definite police procedural.
This was the first Charles Todd book I read. It is 19th in the Ian Rutledge series. I so enjoyed it, I started reading the series from the beginning (which I recommend). I am now on book 8 and continue to look forward to each new book.
The protagonist, Ian Rutledge, strives daily to speak for the dead in his role as a Scotland Yard inspector while he is haunted (one might say literally) by the tortured men, carnage and waste he experienced in WWI. He is a truly engaging character who one keeps hoping can somehow through his persistence, dedication, and resourcefulness will someday rid himself of the demons of the past that plague him and find peace.
I loved it. All their books are quality literature
Love Charles Todd novels. Time period is one I enjoy, and characters are well developed.
Love the writing. Love the damaged detective. Engrossing story with believable ending.
Have read many of his books and have enjoyed them all/
Love this series. I am unhappy when I get to the last page; I want to read another.
A great read with characters, Ian that I truly like and only wish the best and Hamish who still haunts Ian and the readers.
If you like gritty murder mysteries that take place “across the pond” this might be the book for you. I thought it was an entertaining excellent read.
Another great read from Charles Todd
It’s the 20th book in the series and I’ve enjoyed them all. An interesting protagonist investigating crimes in rural England in the years after WWI.
keeps you guessing. Well written
This was a disappointing and very sad story — even sadder because it was plausible. Skip this one and re-read one of their others.
I’ve read several Ian Rutledge books and I’ve enjoyed all of them. The main character is believably tortured by his WW 1 experiences and it’s easy to sympathize with him. Other characters are also complex. In fact this book has characters that even several days after reading it I found myself still thinking about-particularly the relationship between a mother and son as a Mom of boys myself. One of which was the murder victim and I think it’s hard to make the victim so memorable unless they are truly despicable. And isn’t that always the murder mystery trope-the victim was so horrible, there are too many potential perpetrators to count? Not in this book and it was refreshing. I also find it easy to usually guess the end but I never can with these books. That’s partially because you aren’t given hit-you-in-the-head foreshadowing when you meet the murderer or often never meet them until the end. But what you do get is a real feel for what it feels like to be a policeman, following leads, following leads, following leads.
For me, though, the best of these novels is the portrait of England post the war and the great scars it left. You start to feel it was all such a tragic waste and in this book in particular it’s echoed in the storyline because the loss of the victims lives was such a waste. You feel for Ian and the country as whole which seems dazed and mourning from the loss. I constantly find myself thinking in 20 years it will all happen again, how did Europe ever recover?