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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I didn’t expect the ending. Main character is intriguing and the setting is after WWI a time I seem to be drawn to lately. Excellent interplay between Rutledge’s wartime experiences and the crime/mystery at hand.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this because I've been enjoying the Bess Crawford series. This one was a little different, but still enjoyable. I knew who the killer wasn't from the very beginning but I didn't realize who it was until the very end when Rutledge figured it out.
I’ve listened to all of the later Ian Rutledge books narrated by Simon Prebble, but I had never read A Test of Wills, the first book in the series. This is an excellent series I highly recommend. The books are not all uniformly good, but this one is very good.
Rutledge, an Inspector at Scotland Yard, served in the Great War, and an extremely traumatic event causes him to hear Hamish, the voice of a dead man he served with. He seems so real to Rutledge that he sometimes responds out loud to him in front of others. The Rutledge books are an interesting depiction of PTSD. Rutledge is the best part of the series, more so than the sometimes so-so mysteries. He is a well developed and an appealing character.
Rutledge’s “relationship” with Hamish is more contentious and antagonistic in this first book. In the later books Hamish comes across more as a friend. Maybe this represents Rutledge working through his guilt over Hamish’s death.
The resolution of the mystery in A Test of Wills is a bit gimmicky, but I didn’t see it coming and it was fine. Charles Todd (a mother and son writing team) excels at character development, little details, and a narrative style that consistently pulls me forward through the story. I’m glad I finally got around to reading the first book in this series.
Rutledge, an Inspector at Scotland Yard, served in the Great War, and an extremely traumatic event causes him to hear Hamish, the voice of a dead man he served with. He seems so real to Rutledge that he sometimes responds out loud to him in front of others. The Rutledge books are an interesting depiction of PTSD. Rutledge is the best part of the series, more so than the sometimes so-so mysteries. He is a well developed and an appealing character.
Rutledge’s “relationship” with Hamish is more contentious and antagonistic in this first book. In the later books Hamish comes across more as a friend. Maybe this represents Rutledge working through his guilt over Hamish’s death.
The resolution of the mystery in A Test of Wills is a bit gimmicky, but I didn’t see it coming and it was fine. Charles Todd (a mother and son writing team) excels at character development, little details, and a narrative style that consistently pulls me forward through the story. I’m glad I finally got around to reading the first book in this series.
The audio version of this book really brought the characters to life. I liked the setting and the quirk that the main character had to deal with. There were some parts that dragged, but it is a good first in series book.
Pretty good mystery -- most of the pieces were there for the reader to put together, except the last twist that sort of appeared out of nowhere. I was more interested in Rutledge and Hamish than I was in whodunnit.
I liked this post WW1 story of a Scotland Yard Inspector struggling with his war demons, in way of a fallen soldier that haunts him. Going to try another.
3.5 - very interesting spin on the detective with an issue who had to face his ghosts. The is somewhat like Murder at Downton Abbey.
Very enjoyable. I didn't manage to solve the murder before the end, but there were a couple of plot twists I did see coming. I liked the way all the shell-shocked stories entwined, with multiple characters echoing Ian and Hamish.