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northstar 's review for:
A Test of Wills
by Charles Todd
I read a lot of mystery fiction and this book is much better than average. Inspector Ian Rutledge is home from the trenches of France and has reclaimed his job at Scotland Yard, but he is haunted by the voice of a Scottish soldier he executed on the battlefield. Rutledge struggles to maintain his composure and equilibrium and fears he will sink back into the depths of shell-shock if he cannot continue to work.
A colleague who hopes to destroy Rutledge's career sends him to the countryside to investigate the murder of a retired military officer, and the chief suspect is a decorated pilot and friend of the King. Rutledge finds himself immersed in village politics as he struggles to uncover secrets, and as mystery readers know, no one keeps secrets better than English villagers.
I normally would think the number of significant characters high for a short novel but Rutledge keeps them in balance, ties up most loose ends and illustrates the sorrow of post-WWI Britain without (usually) coming up maudlin. I guessed only part of the twisty ending. I read a few things that felt anachronistic but I can't remember them now--otherwise the book flows well, with a few abrupt changes in POV.
This series came highly recommended and I cannot wait to read more of Charles Todd's books.
A colleague who hopes to destroy Rutledge's career sends him to the countryside to investigate the murder of a retired military officer, and the chief suspect is a decorated pilot and friend of the King. Rutledge finds himself immersed in village politics as he struggles to uncover secrets, and as mystery readers know, no one keeps secrets better than English villagers.
I normally would think the number of significant characters high for a short novel but Rutledge keeps them in balance, ties up most loose ends and illustrates the sorrow of post-WWI Britain without (usually) coming up maudlin. I guessed only part of the twisty ending. I read a few things that felt anachronistic but I can't remember them now--otherwise the book flows well, with a few abrupt changes in POV.
This series came highly recommended and I cannot wait to read more of Charles Todd's books.