A Matter of Justice

This is one of the best, in my opinion, of the long running, 1920s set Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, featuring our shell-shocked hero who holds running conversations with Hamish, an avatar, as it were, of his WWI sergeant, who he was forced to execute for disobeying orders when he one day just refused to send the men on one more asinine charge to their deaths. He's not a ghost, but the embodiment of Rutledge's guilt and horror from his was experiences.

In this entry, war experiences are a key element, but not WWI. In the opening pages of the book we see a horrific incident from the Boer war and we know from the get-go that this will lead to a revenge killing, and who will be behind it. But when it happens, Rutledge, of course, knows show more none of this. And so many people loathed the victim in the present time, figuring out how Ian will be able to determine that this ties to a hidden past in very suspenseful. And as it all unravels, more present-day bitter and tragic incidents are uncovered. And it all ties back to revenge, and the futility of it all. It's a masterful and absorbing plot. show less

The cover of this novel said 'A Novel of Suspense' as opposed to 'An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery' as the previous books had proclaimed. This actually indicated a change in format. The reader all but knew who did it, if not how, and the investigation begins. Thoroughly entertaining, very well developed plot, quite clever twists and turns and a well done ending. What's not to like?

I really enjoyed this mystery - I knew there had to be a link between the first chapter and the solving of the murder, but didn't quite know how they fit together. I found this very suspenseful and also moving as it dealt with Ian's mental health issues.

Rutledge is sent to Somerset to investigate a bizarre murder. The death of the local squire, now a very successful financial adviser in London who got his start with money stolen during a honorific Boer War ambush, causes quite a stir in a rural community. Disliked by virtually everyone in his small town, Rutledge doe not lack for suspects. Beset by his usual WW1 demons, he sorts through sparse evidence, myriad motives and rampant attempted suicides to a painstakingly slow solution. Which solution, unfortunately, results in several more deaths from his pursuit of this matter of justice.

Very well done mystery. At first the reveal at the beginning had me searching for how the detective was going to uncover the evidence, since I was as much in the dark as he was. But then by the very end, there was one twist too many, and I kind of lost respect for the abrupt timing at the end... not to say that the bulk of the story was not interesting and most compelling- I couldn't put it down for 5 hours! Much enjoyed.
Definitely thought it better than the other Charles Todd I read about the disabled persons' house in the south.

Very well done mystery. At first the reveal at the beginning had me searching for how the detective was going to uncover the evidence, since I was as much in the dark as he was. But then by the very end, there was one twist too many, and I kind of lost respect for the abrupt timing at the end... not to say that the bulk of the story was not interesting and most compelling- I couldn't put it down for 5 hours! Much enjoyed.
Definitely thought it better than the other Charles Todd I read about the disabled persons' house in the south.

This is another great thriller from the Charles Todd mother son writing team taking place in 1920's England and featuring the tormented and shell shocked Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard. This time the roots of the savage murder reach balk to the dark days of the Boer war. A great story.