This book was, without a doubt, one of the finest books I have ever had the pleasure of reading!

It possessed a distinct Sherlock Holmes-like atmosphere, which I found truly captivating. The characters of Ian Rutledge and Hamish were so well-developed that they effortlessly drew me into the story.

Ian Rutledge, with his complex past and inner turmoil, added a layer of depth and mystery to the narrative. Hamish, on the other hand, provided an interesting and unique perspective, constantly challenging Rutledge's thoughts and actions.

The author's ability to create such engaging characters and a thrilling plot made this book a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down until I had reached the very end. It was a truly enjoyable and unforgettable reading experience.

\\n  \\n    Stalked!\\n  \\n
Rutledge is in a terrifying situation as he is being stalked by a menacing killer. The killer has a strange habit of leaving a calling card - an empty.303 caliber Maxim Machine Gun cartridge. Rutledge discovers the first cartridge when he is leaving a lively party at a friend's house. It sends a shiver down his spine. Later, to his horror, another one mysteriously appears on his bed at the place where he is staying. As if that isn't enough, while he is driving down the road, someone shoots out the windshield of his car. A small boy who witnesses the shooting claims that the shooter was a "dead soldier." What on earth does that mean? Dead? How can a dead person be shooting at him? The mystery deepens and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

All the secrets are eventually revealed in a thrilling climax, and this is yet another outstanding effort by the talented authors. I was completely engrossed in this book from start to finish and I highly recommend it to all mystery lovers. It's a must-read that will keep you guessing until the very end.

I have a deep affection for these books that center around a Scotland Yard inspector. He is haunted not only by the memories of World War I but also by his own actions during that tumultuous time.

I had thought that I had managed to figure out the plot of this particular book in two different ways. However, to my great surprise, I was completely wrong. The ending took me by storm and left me astounded. But for me, a surprise ending is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the intriguing aspects of these books.

What truly intrigues me the most is the remarkable quality of the writing. The authors have a way with words that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked from start to finish.

I am also utterly fascinated by the fact that these books are written by a mother/son team. I would absolutely love to have the opportunity to ask them a plethora of questions about how in the world they manage to create such captivating stories together. It must be an incredibly unique and interesting process.

I can't wait to see what other masterpieces this talented duo has in store for us.

There may be some significance to the fact that I chose A Long Shadow, one of Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge mysteries, as my last book of the year.

I’m not a party animal (at least, anymore) and the idea of a quiet New Year’s Eve night finishing a historical mystery seemed pleasant—even though I knew that these mysteries have elements of unpleasantness in their subject matter. They always have to do with death and, by doing so, they deal with life of necessity. A Long Shadow is no exception.

So, with the death of the old year and the beginning of the New, I started a journey that began at a New Year’s Eve party (in 1919) with a séance that threatened Rutledge and his secret of Hamish, the executed soldier who lives in Rutledge’s brain, regarding his PTSD (more likely referred to as combat fatigue in his era). Using a flimsy excuse to flee the séance, Rutledge finds an engraved Maxim machine gun casing and discovers that he is likely at risk at more than being exposed in a séance.

As often happens, Rutledge ends up investigating a mystery in the north of England (though not as far north as in previous novels). I say mystery because it hinges upon an attempted murder which has tenuous connections to other crimes—including, of course, at least one murder. But these country folk are suspicious of police and very closed in communicating with them. So, the investigation (and its solution) is incredibly and to some extent unnecessarily convoluted.

This, of course, is not unusual in a mystery. There are many convoluted plots. A Long Shadow, however, adds in the complications of a mysterious stalker and of an overt “stalker,” for lack of a better term for the latter. Just when one thinks one is untying the knot of the conundrum, the thread slips. This story was so fascinating (though, at times, frustrating).

I always welcome the insights about loss, death, the futility of war, and the human condition in these novels, but sometimes, I just enjoy the simple pleasures. More than once in the novel, Rutledge is told that he is a good listener. In fact, most of the time, it is a begrudging compliment. At one point, the rector says: “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a kind listener? You might have gone to the church, rather than the police, you know.” (p. 304) Naturally, Rutledge in the midst of his haunting with Hamish feels that the “blackness of his own soul” works against him. But it’s an interesting thought of the active listening required by both professions and the horrors and tragedies both must experience. Indeed, listening (as it often does) plays a key role in the resolution of this case.

Despite the fact that the woman who ran the initial séance admitted that she was a fake, there is an intriguing eeriness to the encounters between Rutledge and the lady which was not resolved by the unsettling dialogue at the end. And, since I often note that I perceive the murderer early on in a book, let me clarify that in A Long Shadow, I did not figure out the murderer nor the identity of the shadowy stalker at all. There were a couple of small mysteries of which I was reasonably sure, but I swung and missed on the major ones. Of course, that’s a good thing. A Long Shadow is a solid and entertaining mystery that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The complex plot, well-developed characters, and historical backdrop all combine to make this a must-read for mystery fans.

The story truly kept me engaged, as I eagerly read on to determine if my suspicions held true.

To my satisfaction, I was correct on a few points, but not all. This only served to heighten my anticipation and curiosity.

I find myself extremely anxious to discover what lies ahead in the series.

Will my remaining suspicions be confirmed? Or will there be unexpected twists and turns that completely catch me off guard?

The unknown is what makes this series so captivating, and I can't wait to continue the journey and uncover the next installment of this thrilling story.

I'm sure it will be filled with more excitement, drama, and surprises that will keep me on the edge of my seat.

Dang, I truly love these books.

I'm not even entirely certain why. I can easily spot the flaws in them, yet for some reason, they have completely captivated my imagination. I adore Ian Rutledge, the setting is truly fantastic, they are easy to listen to....they are just superb.

This particular one has a couple of mysteries unfolding. First, there is the mystery of the shotgun shells that keep mysteriously showing up. Then, someone takes a shot at Rutledge. Ian is convinced that someone is playing games with him, attempting to rattle him and make him nervous. He can't fathom who it is that has it in for him, but he's certain it's related to the war.

Next, there is the mystery of who shot the sergeant in the field with an arrow. Rutledge is dispatched to a small town (as always!) to solve it. While he's there, he stumbles upon the mystery of the missing village girl and is sure it's somehow connected to the arrow incident.

This one was quite twisty, and I honestly couldn't figure it out. I'm not sure how I feel about Mrs. Channing (name?). She's a medium that Rutledge encounters at a party. For some reason, she worries about him due to the shotgun shells (which he'd asked her if she knew anything about it) and comes to the village. A lot of the women act rather ridiculously in this series, throwing random fits and getting in a huff for no reason. But even when they don't act that way, I'm biased against them. I think I want to keep Ian all to myself. :D

In the end, it turns out to be the crazy old grandmother who killed everyone in her family and some wackadoodle soldier who thought Ian was an officer and wanted to punish him for the war. That guy got away when he accidentally killed the old woman while trying to kill Ian. I was absolutely furious with that guy for going after poor Ian.

Another great installment in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series of mysteries!

A constable is wounded in a deep wood, and Scotland Yard dispatches Rutledge to conduct an investigation. Just as in all of these mysteries, once Ian arrives on the scene, more questions are posed than answered.

What I truly adore about these mysteries is the time period. This particular one is set in the winter of 1920. Ian still endures the shell shock from WWI. On top of the mystery he is tasked with unraveling, he is being stalked by someone who knows his whereabouts and leaves empty shells from the War to demonstrate to Ian that he has access to him.

As the mystery regarding the constable deepens and Ian discovers the legend of the woods, another old secret comes to light, and suddenly he has a second mystery that might very well be connected to the current one.

Filled with believable characters, twists, and turns, I was not let down by A Long Shadow. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.

I was really scratching my head when it came to the conclusion of this book.

Moreover, I had already grown tired of Hamish long before this entry in the series.

However, I had to give it three stars simply because I actually managed to finish it.

I sometimes have the tendency to give up after just a few chapters on books that aren't well written or interesting.

If you haven't read the previous book, you won't be able to understand the references to the woman in Westmoreland.

Although that's not necessarily a deal breaker.

The motive for the killings is rather silly and the sub-plot about the casings seems a bit of a stretch, leaving some questions unanswered.

Once again, the details about life in the village really bring it to life.

More maps, like the ones in Cold Treachery, would be greatly appreciated.

Overall, it's an okay read, but not without its flaws.

I found it extremely difficult to remember who was who in this novel. Especially those folks who were involved in a fire that was set deliberately years before the action takes place in the current case that Rutledge is sent to solve. It seems that there are just too many characters and their relationships are rather complex.

I think it's quite challenging for me to catch some of the red herrings and subtleties when listening to an audio book. I'm not sure I fully understand how Beatrice was killed. There are so many aspects of 'how' that were not answered, which is my main complaint about these books. I would really like more detail and explanations. While I do enjoy the psychological aspects of the mysteries, sometimes the details provided are just too few.

I wish the authors would spend more time on the 'how', 'why', and 'when' instead of going into all the details of buildings and scenery. I understand that the setting is important, but for me, the core of the mystery lies in these crucial elements. Without clear explanations, it's hard for me to fully engage with the story and solve the mystery along with the characters.

Rutledge has a stalker. Inspector Ian Rutledge is spending New Year's Eve with his sister and a few of her friends.

Just as the clairvoyant, Meredith Channing (who was invited to the dinner) begins her seance, Rutledge is summoned by his boss. As he walks to his car, he finds a spent cartridge from a machine gun in his path. Was it purposely left there or had it accidentally fallen there from a passerby?

When word comes from a village that Constable Hensley has been shot in the back with an arrow, Rutledge heads to investigate. It seems that Hamish is not the only passenger along for the ride. Two more casings are found in Rutledge's car.

There are mysteries within mysteries in this novel. The presence of the spent cartridges and the shooting of Constable Hensley add to the intrigue. Rutledge must solve these puzzles and figure out who is behind them.

Another good tale of murder and mayhem! The story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next. Will Rutledge be able to solve the case and catch the culprit? Only time will tell.

So far, this installment stands out as the absolute best within the entire series.

It truly exceeds expectations in every aspect. The story is engaging, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motives, making it easy to become invested in their fates.

The writing is superb, with vivid descriptions that bring the setting and events to life.

Whether you're a die-hard fan of the series or new to it, this is one that you simply cannot miss.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a great read that will leave them satisfied and eager for more.

I have a great passion for the Inspector Rutledge series. It would be wonderful if there could be a way to integrate it into history lessons. This is because it provides an outstanding portrayal of trench warfare, as well as the waste and tragedy that accompany all wars.

Moreover, it enables us to have an in-depth understanding of the pain and suffering endured by returning soldiers. I firmly believe that the pain is just as intense for those in 1918 as it is in the present day. After all, for soldiers, taking life in war is a difficult thing to come to terms with.

I am now starting to wonder when Rutledge will be given a case in London. Additionally, I am curious about the reason why Bowles harbors such a great deal of animosity and dislike towards him. However, I am certain that these aspects will be dealt with in the subsequent installments of the series. And when they are, I am afraid that the series will come to an end.

Nevertheless, in the meantime, I will continue to relish reading through them.