School Library Journal Review
Adult/High School-Scotland Yard Inspector Rutledge, a World War I victim of shell shock, is haunted by those he had to send out of the trenches to horrible deaths. His survivor's guilt is manifested in Hamish, whom he was forced to execute for refusing to fight, and whose ghost is his constant companion, always ready to chide, warn, and offer mocking opinions about the task at hand. The eighth in this acclaimed series finds Rutledge in an isolated rural village north of London, charged with bringing to justice the criminal who has gravely wounded its constable, sending an arrow through his chest while he was investigating a murder. And someone is hunting the inspector himself, leaving engraved cartridge casings behind to torment him. Authentic representations of the post-World War I era and an absorbing plot with twists and turns as challenging as the country roads that Rutledge travels make a gripping story. Well-drawn characters and scenes, wry local humor, and plot details steep the mystery in English country life. Frequent scene changes and puzzling dead ends may be a challenge for some teens, but their perseverance will be rewarded.-Molly Connally, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Set in 1919, Todd's excellent eighth psychological whodunit to feature the insightful but haunted Insp. Ian Rutledge picks up shortly after the harrowing events chronicled in A Cold Treachery (2005). Rutledge travels to the remote and desolate English village of Dudlington after the town constable is shot in the back with an arrow while exploring a forest shunned by the locals. The inspector suspects a connection between the attack and the disappearance of a young girl, but he finds himself in an unfamiliar role when an unknown stalker targets him, leaving ominous clues that indicate that he's vulnerable at all times. Rutledge's fragile psyche comes in for additional battering from an enigmatic woman who claims to be able to contact the dead. Todd's plotting and characterization are, as usual, first-rate, and the tormented motivations behind the novel's dark acts are presented with a sensitivity and refinement reminiscent of the best of P.D. James. The ambiguous ending will leave both longtime fans and new readers anxiously awaiting the sequel. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
When Constable Hensley is shot in the back with an arrow and left for dead in gloomy Frith's Wood, Inspector Ian Rutledge becomes convinced that this strange attack is connected in some way to the disappearance of young Emma Mason several years earlier. Will he find Emma's body in the woods as well, or did she start a new life for herself in London? Psychic Meredith Channing has uncanny insights into both cases, but Rutledge is reluctant to trust her. Meanwhile, he keeps discovering spent cartridge casings carved with skulls and poppies. These sinister casings, left only where Rutledge will see them, make him worry that an old enemy from the war might be stalking him. As with previous novels in the series (A Cold Treachery), this entry excels at intricate relationships among characters and the slow unveiling of Rutledge's personality. Another winning story from the East Coast mother-son duo. Strongly recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 9/1/05.]--Laurel Bliss, Princeton Univ. Lib., NJ--Laurel Bliss, Princeton Univ. Lib., NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.