My least favorite in the series thus far.

Right off the bat, there are two negatives. The storyline initially seemed to involve a spiritualist. Thank heavens, she did it more as a lark and the story wasn't bogged down in mysticism.

The second disappointment is that any hopes of a developing relationship between Ian and Elizabeth Fraser are shattered in the first scenes with Rutledge. Either give him a love interest or don't. Quit with the teasing!

And if that's not enough, the very ending also extinguishes any lingering hopes with Elizabeth. Boo!

From the excerpt on the book jacket, I thought Frances was going to play a more significant role in the story. Another letdown. I simply did not enjoy the mystery at all. Neither of them. Rutledge seemed to be fumbling along, completely clueless.

The one thing that might have salvaged this particular book was if he had uncovered evidence implicating Bowles in some misdeed, but even that proved disappointing.

I surely hope the next book is better and a bit more creative. The Bess Crawford series appears to be more nuanced, while Ian Rutledge has become a little too formulaic. I'd like to witness some growth or healing or something here. Have Ian do something that will astonish me instead of the same old thing.

I really liked this one. It had 2 mysteries intertwined in one story.

However, I must admit that the resolution of the 2nd mystery plot didn't quite meet my expectations. It wasn't as satisfactory as I would have hoped.

In fact, now that I'm reflecting on it, there were actually 3 plots.

Anyway, Rutledge is once again on the move, traveling to solve a crime.

During his investigation, he encounters several likely suspects. Among them is a mysterious woman who follows him all the way from London.

Her presence adds an element of intrigue and mystery to the story.

As Rutledge delves deeper into the case, he must untangle the web of lies and secrets that surrounds the crime.

Will he be able to solve all 3 mysteries and bring the culprit to justice? Only time will tell.

The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to find out what happens next.

After reading the previous book in this series, A Cold Treachery, I was intrigued to discover where Inspector Ian Rutledge's cases would lead him next. So, I eagerly decided to delve right into the next book in the series. After all, it was already conveniently waiting for me on my Kindle, just a click away.

We first come across the inspector on New Year's Eve, 1919, shortly after the conclusion of his last case. He accompanies his sister, Frances, to the home of mutual friends for a dinner party. At the gathering, one of the guests is purported to possess some psychic abilities, and she is requested to conduct a seance, a popular activity in the London of that era. This makes Inspector Rutledge, who has an intimate acquaintance with and connection to the deceased from the recent war, extremely uneasy. He is relieved when he receives a phone call from Scotland Yard, which provides him with an excuse to depart.

As he is leaving, he discovers a brass cartridge casing on the steps outside. He picks it up and notices that there is an engraving on it. He places it in his pocket and proceeds on his way, but soon he begins to find other such engraved casings. It appears that someone is following him around and leaving the casings for him to find. For a man already teetering on the brink of mental collapse due to PTSD, this seems like a deliberate attempt to unnerve and menace him.

Fortunately, he is called away from London to a small Northamptonshire village where the local constable has been shot and severely injured by a bow and arrow in the woods that the locals believe to be haunted. Rutledge finds it challenging to uncover what has occurred because the local folk are extremely reticent and tight-lipped.

Rutledge learns that there are other mysteries that the villagers seem determined to conceal for some reason. For instance, a teenage girl vanished from the village approximately three years earlier and has never been located. Her grandmother, with whom she resided, claims that she must have gone to London in search of her missing mother. But did she? And was the constable searching for her grave in the woods when he was shot?

It quickly becomes evident to Rutledge that there is a connection between the missing girl and the wounded constable, but precisely what that connection is remains completely unclear.

Meanwhile, distressingly, Rutledge continues to discover engraved cartridge casings in strange places. Then, one day while he is out in his motorcar, a bullet shatters his windscreen, narrowly missing his head. Who is this unknown adversary who appears to be stalking him?

To further complicate the situation, the psychic from the New Year's Eve party shows up in the village and expresses concern for Rutledge. However, is her concern sincere, or is she somehow linked to the stalker?

In order to solve the mysteries, Rutledge must find a means to break the silence of this unfriendly and secretive village. He must also uncover the motive behind the disappearance of the teenager and the wounding of the constable and discover the connection between the two.

This is yet another eloquent tale of suspense told in captivating prose with an emotional depth that enables the reader to perceive Ian Rutledge as a very real and empathetic, albeit flawed, character. He is a character that we can care about, and one about whom we can anticipate reading more.

The original article is: "Very good"

Expanded article:

"Very good" is a simple yet powerful expression. It can be used to convey approval, satisfaction, or a positive evaluation.

When we say "very good," we are indicating that something meets or exceeds our expectations. It could refer to a job well done, a performance that was outstanding, or a quality that is highly regarded.

This phrase can have a significant impact on the person or thing being described. It can boost their confidence, motivate them to continue performing at a high level, or simply make them feel good about themselves.

In conclusion, "very good" may seem like a small thing, but it has the power to make a big difference. So, the next time you have the opportunity to use this expression, don't hesitate. Let others know that you appreciate their efforts and that they are doing a great job.

I'm putting a caveat on this review.

Somehow I read it out of order, and I'm really hoping that once I go back and read the previous book, this one will make a little more sense.

I just had this feeling that I was missing a lot of things, which eventually led me to the discovery that I'd read the wrong book.

Basically, I felt that this book suffered from an excessive number of mysteries.

I simply couldn't keep the plots straight.

I also had trouble figuring out which characters were supposed to be involved in which crime.

It was all very confusing!

I'm really looking forward to going back and reading the previous installment to see if that clears things up and makes this book more enjoyable and understandable.

Beware Frith's Woods, so say the folks of Dudlington. This warning has been passed down through generations, instilling a sense of mystery and unease in the hearts of all who hear it. But what exactly lies within those woods? What is it that casts a long shadow?

Some say it is the presence of an otherworldly being, a spirit or a demon that haunts the forest. Others believe it is a natural phenomenon, perhaps a trick of the light or a strange formation of trees. But whatever the cause, the long shadow that stretches across the ground is enough to send shivers down one's spine.

For those brave enough to venture into Frith's Woods, the experience can be both thrilling and terrifying. The dense foliage and twisting paths make it easy to lose one's way, and the eerie silence that fills the air only adds to the sense of foreboding. But perhaps, just perhaps, there is something truly remarkable hidden within those woods, waiting to be discovered by the intrepid explorer.

I think I am awarding this three stars as I am simply a little weary of the series.

It has reached a point where I truly require to witness some alteration in Inspector Rutlidge.

Hamish, who has been a constant presence throughout the books, is starting to become a bit tiresome by the 8th installment.

The storylines seem to be following a somewhat similar pattern, and I渴望 something new and different to rejuvenate my interest.

I hope that in the future installments, the author will introduce some fresh elements and develop the characters in more unexpected ways.

Perhaps a new case with more complex and challenging aspects, or a significant event that forces Rutlidge to confront his past in a whole new light.

Until then, I will continue to read the series with a glimmer of hope that it will recapture my attention and enthusiasm.

Rutledge has a stalker. His awareness of this begins as he leaves a New Year's Eve party in 1919. As he steps out into the night, he discovers a machine gun shell that has been etched with a poppy design. This strange find immediately puts him on edge.

His experiences in the trenches during WWI haunt him throughout this series. Like so many others, he has returned home broken, burdened with guilt at having survived when so many of his comrades did not. Despite this, he is determined to carry on with his work at Scotland Yard and try to forge a new life for himself.

When a constable in Dudlington, Northamptonshire, is shot in the back with an arrow, Inspector Rutledge is dispatched to investigate. This initial case quickly leads him to probe other crimes as well. To make matters worse, the stalker continues to play a deadly game of cat and mouse with him. The small village of Dudlington proves to be a hotbed of suspects, secrets, and suppressed hostilities. There is so much going on that the reader will find themselves completely unable to put the book down, eager to see how Rutledge will untangle this web of mystery and danger.

Ok, so another one bites the dust.

I think this is the fifth book in this series that I've read since I discovered it a week ago.

It's truly amazing how quickly I've become engrossed in this fictional world.

The storylines are captivating, and the characters are so well-developed.

So, I probably don't need to say much more about it - except that perhaps my favourite character is the one that doesn't really exist except in the protagonist's head!

This character adds an interesting layer of complexity to the story.

The way the author has created this figment of the protagonist's imagination is truly remarkable.

It makes me wonder about the power of our own minds and how we can create such vivid and engaging characters within our own thoughts.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait to see what happens next.

Another good old-fashioned English detective series featuring Inspector Ian Rutledge did not disappoint.

He is constantly engaged in a battle with his own inner demons, which haunt him from the battlefields of World War I. Despite this, he is assigned to leave London's Scotland Yard and travel to a small village to investigate an attack on an officer.

As he delves deeper into the crime, seeking answers, he discovers that he himself has become a target. The book is filled with murders from years ago, a mysterious and haunted woods that adds an air of eeriness, fascinating characters with their own secrets and motives, and the charming setting of 1920's English villages.

The combination of these elements makes this series always a pleasure to read, captivating readers with its engaging plot and well-developed characters.

I truly love these books. They have always been a source of great joy and entertainment for me. However, when it comes to this particular one, I would have given it 5 stars without hesitation, but unfortunately, it was a little more disjointed for my personal taste.

The story seemed to lack a smooth flow in some parts, which made it a bit difficult for me to fully engage with the narrative.

On the positive side, there were some characters that were extremely well developed. Their personalities, motives, and backstories were presented in a detailed and engaging manner, which made them feel very real and relatable.

Nevertheless, there were also some characters that could have used a little more development. They seemed a bit one-dimensional and lacked the depth and complexity that would have made them more interesting and memorable.

Overall, while this book had its flaws, it still had enough redeeming qualities to make it an enjoyable read. I would still recommend it to others who are fans of the genre, but with the caveat that it may not be as perfect as some of the other books in the series.

Inspector Rutledge once again finds himself deeply immersed in a case.

This time, it is in the small village of Dudlington in Northamptonshire. Here, a constable has been brutally struck in the back by an arrow. Fortunately, he is not dead but is currently hospitalized, fighting for his life.

The constable had previously served in London and worked for Rutledge's nemesis, Bowles. As Rutledge delves into the investigation of this attempted murder, the web of clues and strange happenings begins to expand.

The tale is a complicated one, filled with numerous characters, each with their own secrets and motives. Along the way, Rutledge is not only continuously haunted daily by the voice of Hamish in his head but also faces a new threat from a living ex-soldier who seems to bear a grudge against him. This ex-soldier tries to cause the Inspector harm in a variety of devious ways, adding yet another layer of complexity and danger to the already intricate case.

Rutledge must navigate this treacherous landscape of mystery and malice to solve the crime and bring the perpetrator to justice.