A Cold Treachery

charles todd

Called out by Scotland Yard into the teeth of a violent blizzard in the Lake District of England, Inspector Ian Rutledge finds himself confronted with one of the most savage murders he has ever encountered. Rutledge might have expected such unspeakable carnage on the World War I battlefields, but not in an otherwise peaceful farm kitchen in remote Urskdale.
Someone has murdered the Elcott family at their table without the least sign of struggle. Was the killer someone the young family knew and trusted? What had the Elcotts done to ignite their killer’s rage? Love, jealousy, greed, revenge—or was it some twisted combination of all of them?
When the victims are tallied the local police are in for another shock: One of the children is missing.Now the Inspector must race to uncover a murderer and save a child before he’s silenced by the merciless elements—or the even colder hands of a killer. With time running out, Rutledge knows all too well that such a cold-blooded murderer could be hiding somewhere in the blinding snow…preparing to strike again.

Genres mysteryhistorical fictionfictionhistorical mysteryhistoricalbritish literaturecrimeaudiobookdetectiveworld war i

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 25,2005

Series

Inspector Ian Rutledge

Places

northumberland england,

This edition

Format: 416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published: August 30, 2005 by Bantam
ISBN: 9780553586619
ASIN: 0553586610
Language: English

Characters More characters

Ian Rutledge

Scotland Yard Inspector before and after World War I. British Army Lieutenant then Captain in France from 1914-1918. Lives in London before and after WW1....
Cs Bowles

Chief Superintendent at Scotland Yard in London. Born a commoner, he is jealous of Rutledge for his educated background. His protégé is Inspector Mickelson. Bowles suffers a heart attack in The Confession and is replaced by CS Markham...
Mickelson

Sent by Bowles after a week to relieve Rutledge in Urskdale. A thin, balding man with a high voice, joked about behind his back for being a sycophant to CS Bowles. Ambitious son of a greengrocer, willing to overlook the truth for expediency....
Paul Elcott

Local man who discovered the murdered family. Owns a “licensed house” called The Rams Head, in Urskdale, but struggling to make a go of it. Younger brother of Gerald Elcott, son of Henry Elcott....
Gerald Elcott

Local man who owns a sheep farm outside Urskdale called High Fell. Married Grace Robinson and is now father to twin infants, as well as stepfather to her two older children. Elder brother of Paul Elcott; son of Henry Elcott....
Grace Elcott

Widow who married Gerald Elcott after she was told by the Army that her husband Hugh Robinson had died in the war. Mother of Josh and Hazel Robinson, and now two twin infants....