When I was in the classroom one of the many joys of the summer was catching up on my reading. I gather books year round but they'd pile up waiting for some time to dig deep into the pages. This is no longer such a dynamic now that I am in the office and can schedule vacation time whenever I want but there is still a pull to a more relaxed time in the summer months.
This mystery series came my way by accident . . . I can't even remember how. In hindsight I have to wonder how I have missed them all of these years (the first book was published in 1998). The books have everything I love in a mystery novel - well written, historical, and there is more going on than just the actual mystery to solve. Yet somehow missed them I did (of course the problem is even greater given that there are other series by the same authors)
The series I am reading feature Ian Rutledge. Of course I started with one of the middle books and had to work back to the beginning to pick up the thread.
Picking up one of these post-World War I historical mysteries is like starting off on an uncertain journey. In each book, Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard, a shellshocked veteran of the Great War, makes his solitary way to some provincial English town, ostensibly to assist the local constabulary with a baffling crime but also to bear witness to the incalculable devastation brought about by the fighting.
One of the odd things about the books is that they are written by two authors - a mother and son writing team. They don't even live in the same state yet somehow they are able to collaborate and write tightly crafted books which keep your mind engaged until the last page.
If you have been living under a rock like I apparently was and haven't read one of these I highly recommend them!
I discovered these a couple of years ago and loved them. The mystery itself is good but I really like getting to know the main character and his struggles after the war. I have been drawn to books about WWI since I read the Regeneration trilogy by Pat Barker. Very different since it is not a mystery but it did really enlighten me on the brutality and psychological consequences of WWI. I've also read most of the Bess Crawford series by the same author. They are not bad but I really like this series the best.
Posted by: Marta | July 30, 2015 at 12:54 PM
It's interesting that you say that about the Bess Crawford mysteries Marta. My mom said much that same thing. I'm devouring the Ian Rutledge ones but will hold off on the other series. I agree with you about the fascinating way each one explores a different aspect of the 'Great' war.
Posted by: JDeQ | August 15, 2015 at 01:13 PM