A review by nonna7
Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd

5.0

The latest in the Ian Rutledge series doesn't disappoint. It's 1920 and there's a funeral for a soldier who has spent the last two years in the hospital dying from gangrene. One of the people there stands in the shadows and is angry when he sees an army captain among the mourners. He's angry because he doesn't see any reason for him to be there other than to further his own ambitions. Shortly thereafter, the same captain, Hutchinson, is a guest at a society wedding. Everyone is shocked when he is killed by a single bullet to his heart. Shortly thereafter, an aspiring politician, Swift, is also shot. There doesn't seem to be any connection between the two. When the local constabulary can't solve the case, they call in Scotland Yard. Rutledge is sent and instructed to wrap things up quickly. Of course, the case turns out to be more complicated than anyone can imagine. As always, there are so many fascinating twists and turns to the story although there IS a generous hint woven within. Rutledge is such a fascinating character. He wrestles with his own demons from WWI, is haunted by his Sgt who he was forced to condemn to death because he disobeyed orders. He also keeps a gun at his home for the time when he can no longer bear the nightmares and guilt. Every time I read one of these, I marvel at how an American writing team - in this case a mother/son - can capture this period so well. They write like British authors which, for me anyway, is high praise.