I like Charles Todd’s Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries more than I do the Bess Crawford ones. However, I was disappointed in A Fatal Lie, the latest in the series.
Chief Superintendent Markham of Scotland Yard is not happy with Rutledge, so he assigns him a case in northern Wales, as far away from London as possible. In early spring 1921, a man’s body was found in the River Dee. The local police investigated, but finally call in Scotland Yard.
Soon after he arrives, Rutledge realizes the man was pushed from the top of the aqueduct that crosses the river. However, no one admits to recognizing the victim. Rutledge traces him to a small community where he finds the man’s widow, Ruth Milford, running a pub. According to all accounts Sam Milford was supposed to be traveling to work with vendors, hoping to keep the pub going. Rutledge suspects Sam was not just meeting with vendors. The Milfords lost a three-year-old daughter, Tildy, a year earlier. She went missing. Rutledge suspects Sam was looking for Tildy, and ran into trouble.
Rutledge uncovers a much more intricate case than he expected. Women lie. Lawyers keep secrets. As he travels across Wales, looking for a killer and a missing child, Ian Rutledge encounters danger and violence, along with cover-ups that lead to more murders.
The latest book in the series in a complicated investigation. However, halfway through the story, it bogs down. Rutledge has too many lies and missing people in this case. A Fatal Lie is more slow-paced than usual, but fans of the series will want to read the new book.
Charles Todd’s website is http://charlestodd.com
A Fatal Lie by Charles Todd. HarperCollins, 2021. ISBN 9780062905574 (hardcover), 352p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .PDF to review for a journal.
I read, I guess four books in the series. One of them was quite effective. Too bad this one was a miss.
I’ve read some very good books in the series, Glen. This one really was just a miss, as you said.
I have enjoyed his mysteries before. We have been warned of a near blizzard coming. Ice, sleet, higher winds and 3 to 6 inches of snow. I have a valentine for my husband but for the 1st time in 27 years, we will have no chocolates, We will have sweet red bean ball soup and some sweets today for Chinese New Year. Hoping that the power does not go off. Hard to keep our bird warm without any heat.
Carolee, We’re expecting a lot of snow this coming week, but we already had the ice and sleet. One of my co-workers said the same about her birds. She worries about the power. I hope you all are okay.
I like most of the Ian Rutledge books I’ve read. This one just dragged.
Oh, that’s too bad. I’ve read and enjoyed quite a few books in the Ian Rutledge series and was looking forward to the latest. Not so much for the investigation itself, but for the locations and historical setting. One or two others in this series have been disappointing due to excessive characters or complications.
But I’m sure I’ll read it as I have the Ebook on hold at the library.
Happy Valentine’s Day
You may like it much more than I did, MM. Everyone has different taste. I’d love to have you come back and tell us what you think after you have the chance to read it.
Will do, estimate is eight weeks out on the hold list
Just curious.