My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On a fine summer’s day in June, 1914, Ian Rutledge pays little notice to the assassination of an archduke in Sarajevo. An Inspector at Scotland Yard, he is planning to propose to the woman whom he deeply loves, despite intimations from friends and family that she may not be the wisest choice.
To the north on this warm and gentle day, another man in love—a Scottish Highlander—shows his own dear girl the house he will build for her in September. While back in England, a son awaits the undertaker in the wake of his widowed mother’s death. This death will set off a series of murders across England, seemingly unconnected, that Rutledge will race to solve in the weeks before the fateful declaration in August that will forever transform his world.
As the clouds of war gather on the horizon, all of Britain wonders and waits. With every moment at stake, Rutledge sets out to right a wrong—an odyssey that will eventually force him to choose between the Yard and his country, between love and duty, and between honor and truth.
**********
What a fabulous book! I loved that Charles Todd decided to write a book that takes Ian Rutledge back in time to before the war. To when he still was carefree, in love and not haunted. Now, I do think he got away when it came to the marriage issue. Especially when there is someone in his life that definitely suited him better. On a side note, I still hope to one day read a book where he and Bess Crawford meets!
As for the case, it took an awfully long time for the dots to be connected. But, then again it's a case, or rather or cases that don't seem to have not much in common. And, it was interesting to read about this frustrating case, how Ian tried to solve them. Not giving up when a man he thinks is innocent is charged with murder. Ian just keeps on trying to solve the murders...
This is one of the best books in this series. A bittersweet book. If not the war happened, just imagine what kind of life Ian would have had. Not to mention poor Hamish...
Thank you! We wrote #AFineSummersDay in tribute to the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI. Along the way we learned so much about Ian and Hamish we only thought we knew.
ReplyDelete